Tag: k. sinko

ARC Book Review: The Land That Binds Us (Marien Vineyard #1) by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance + Magical Realism
Length: 232 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 15th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The prodigal daughter returns to the land and the magic that betrayed her.

After her mother said goodbye on her death bed, Alana Marien fled New York and her family’s vineyard. Three years later, without a penny left to her name, she finds herself back at Seneca Lake, tending her family’s vines and attempting to make peace with her father and two sisters after everything fell apart. In her absence, without her and her mother’s guidance, the family hired Leo Calliet, a winemaker from France looking to escape a past of his own. He lives in the guest shed across the field, and is growing suspicious of the land and its secrets.

Her father has made it clear that he wants Leo around, but Alana is wary. The last time an outsider learned the truth, it ended in tragedy, and it was all her fault. She attempts to keep her distance, but when outside forces threaten the vineyard and the Marien family’s legacy, they need to work side by side to save the land that has evidently bound them together.

As their lives tangle together like grapes on a vine, Alana must decide if she trusts the magic to finally take care of her, or if she should give it all up one last time and run.

The Land That Binds Us is a retelling of The Prodigal Son meets Practical Magic, set on a magical vineyard in New York’s wine country.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GOOD START.

I have been a fan of K. Sinko’s books since the beginning and even though I struggled with this one a touch I’m still looking forward to the other books following two more sisters (especially the next one !! ).

As someone who’s never had a drop of alcohol I think a lot of the wine conversations went over my head. It was interesting to learn some of the processes towards creating it, but was a hard connection for me to find.

This book does have a touch of magical realism and while usually I don’t love the addition, I thought it worked great here. I think it worked beautifully with the plot and really brought those autumn vibes. This book is perfect for that season.

What it comes down to is that this book is only 233 pages and I feel like a lot was left out. I wanted a stronger understanding of the background with Alana’s family. I wanted a longer, slower burn for the romance and just more. I felt tossed into a story without quite knowing where I was supposed to be looking most of the time.

Also I’m really obsessed with this cover.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance + magical realism
  • Language: mild+
  • Romance: 1 brief open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), loss of a friend (recounted)

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Book Review: Ruin the Friendship by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 344 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It was just one kiss. It wouldn’t ruin their friendship at all. Or so they thought.

Samantha Carter knew it was all her fault; she was the reason they even kissed in the first place. So when her older brother Jeff made her promise to stay away from his best friend, she agreed. She loves her brother, and would never want to do anything to hurt him. But if that truly were the case, why can’t she stop Nico from pulling her into a dark corner at the pub the night before Thanksgiving after years of staying away?

It’s been four years since Nicolas Giuliano kissed Sam, and he’s done everything he can to try and forget about it. What started out as a joke that night quickly shifted into something far more, and it obliterated his sixteen year friendship with his best friend. Now he’s home for the holidays and Jeff wants to make things right. Yet all of that hard work to fix his friendship and forget about Sam instantly crumbles at the sight of her standing in front of him after so long.

Sam knows she should listen to her brother. Nico knows his wounded friendship with Jeff is still fragile. And yet…under the magical spell of New York City during the holidays, the two of them can’t resist the magnetic force that ruined their friendship in the first place.

THIS WAS A HOLIDAY ROMANCE?

I wish that had been more clear from the things I’ve seen about this book because I think it would find its audience on that avenue. There were holiday parties, a celebration of Christmas, being snowed in and more. I could easily call this a holiday romance, so if you’re looking, here you go!!

This book was pretty good. I found it easy to read and with a pace that kept me interested. I love having dual POV and seeing just how down bad Nico truly was for Samantha. There were many genuinely good romantic moments between them that brought the swoon factor I adore.

I did nooooot like the term of endearment, baby girl (and I’m a fan of good use of the word baby in most scenarios).

Another book from K. Sinko that I enjoyed and I can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Call of the Loon by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 286 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s 2020. Tea Richards sold off all of her apartment furniture and watched her master’s graduation on Zoom, with no future job prospects and nowhere to go. Her mother is on the front lines working at hospitals to fight the disease, so going home to New Jersey wouldn’t be safe. Instead, her mother suggests joining her grandparents at their cabin up at Silver Falls in Minnesota for the summer, a place she has avoided since her last visit when she was eighteen. It’s the only choice she has, even if it forces her to finally face her grief. But at least there’s open air, blue skies, golden sunsets, and less people she’ll have to deal with.

Until the boy next door knocks on the screen door.

Archer Vincent has spent every summer at the lake helping his family run Wild Pines Resort, and this year is his first as the resort’s manager. But throw a global pandemic into the mix, and nothing seems to be going to plan. Especially now that Tea Richards is back for the summer, and even though he hasn’t seen her in years, his boyhood crush on her remains. Despite his best made plans to keep everyone at the resort safe, Archer can’t help breaking his own rules over and over again, all so he can get one step closer to the girl that got away.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SUMMERTIME LOVE.

I loved how much this felt like SUMMER. It really made me want to run off and find a lake and sailboat to enjoy a hot day on the water. I love when a book can bring out such beautiful and engaging setting.

Having dual POV is always a bonus for me and I loved getting both Archer and Tea’s thoughts and mannerisms. I liked the instant rekindling of chemistry they had upon seeing each other and that they finally communicated a bit to be able to most forward from the past. I don’t love flashback chapters so it was great not to have those in this second chance romance. I felt like I still got the information I needed and it made the pacing much more smooth.

I just don’t think I was quite ready for a pandemic romance though. I don’t feel far enough removed from those years to be able to read about them. I do think the author wrote those aspects with care and mindfulness so that’s not an issue at all.

I love having heated closed door authors to read and K. Sinko continues to be a favorite. I always look forward to her characters, romance, and storylines.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild – moderate
  • Romance: vague/low explicit fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings; COVID pandemic, loss of a parent (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Sunday Supper by K. Sinko

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 321 pages
Author: K. Sinko
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 12th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s fall in New York, arguably the most beautiful time to be in the city, but Bella Russo doesn’t care. After experiencing the unthinkable three times in a row, she gave up on everything, and her husband packed his bags and left.

Thick in the fog of her disappointment, Bella takes a series of DNA tests to find out what’s wrong with her. Little did she know one of her tests would reveal a dark family truth: her grandfather had a secret family, and she has an uncle she never met.

Even though Bella spends every Sunday supper with her family at her Nonna’s deli in Little Italy—famously known for her iconic meatballs—they never told her the truth. Could she trust them to tell her now?

When she researches her uncle, she finds out he owns several restaurants, so she visits one. Her uncle isn’t there, but instead, she ends up butting heads with the executive chef Wyatt Henderson. He’s a little too pretentious for Bella’s taste, and yet, Wyatt is obviously close with the uncle she never knew. Before she fully comprehends what she’s doing, she befriends Wyatt to get her answers.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SMITTEN.

Oh this book took over my evening. And then suddenly it was 1 AM and I was puddle finishing this beautiful story. I loved the way two difficult topics (mentioned in the content warnings below) were handled. The honest and hard conversations were had with raw human emotion and a clear strength of soul.

And let me tell you, this book screams FALL IN NEW YORK. I’ve honestly never had big designs on going to NY but this book might have just convinced me. The setting is beautifully landscaped and had me wishing I was wearing a sweater right now.

THE ROMANCE. Gosh. This is how you write that instant kind of connection. There’s a fantastic slow burn with immediate chemistry. I was all for Bella and Wyatt from the get-go. These two souls who feel so broken about some deep things in their lives and how they finally found that person who seems them as a whole.

There was just the right level of family drama too. I was intrigued and drawn into this family. I loved the journey. I loved this book. Read it!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2 open door scenes; low explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: erectile dysfunction, miscarriage (recurrent theme), cheating (FMC’s ex-husband), brief physical altercation, grief and depression

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