You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan #bookreview @stmartinspress

Overview

All bets are off when a single-minded photographer and a professional hockey player are forced to spend a week together on his sister’s Christmas tree farm, perfect for fans of Jenny Holiday and Maggie Knox. 

Maisie Smart doesn’t look back. Not on the choice she made to be a photographer, and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. But sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Now she’s about to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farms with her family this Christmas—and then the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans.

Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury benches him, he has more time to dwell on his anxieties and the one-night stand he can’t get out of his head. With the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to sort himself out. That’s impossible when he learns Maisie is there, still beautiful and justifiably angry about the way he left. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.

Review

This is a fun, enjoyable read from start to finish.

Maisie is meeting her family at a Christmas tree farm for the holidays. Little does she know she is about to run into her one night stand…Nick.

Nick is a famous hockey player. He has had an injury that has sidelined him. After this time off, he is not sure he wants to go back. So, when Maisie walks back into his life after he left her after a one night stand, he knows he cannot ignore his feelings for her.

As predictable as this Christmas tale is (and most Christmas books are!), I found myself grinning and smiling through most of it. I loved Maisie and Nick. And the banter between all the characters just brought the whole group to life.

Not only is this a cute romance between Nick and Maisie. It also has some family drama (I mean you can’t have Christmas without that!😜) and some great friends that come through for both Maisie and Nick.

Need a novel with great characters, good Christmas spirit and is fast paced to get you in the mood for the holiday season…this is it! Publishes September 23, 2025.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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A Thousand Ways To Die by Trymaine Lee #audiobook #bookreview #nonfiction @macmillanaudio

Overview

A deeply personal exploration of the generational impact of guns on the Black experience in America

A few years ago, Trymaine Lee, though fit and only 38, nearly died of a heart attack. When his then five-year-old daughter, Nola, asked her daddy why, he realized that to answer her honestly, he had to confront what almost killed him—the weight of being a Black man in America; of bearing witness, as a journalist, to relentless Black death; and of a family history scarred by enslavement, lynching, the Great Migration, the also insidious racism of the North, and gun violence that stole the lives of two great-uncles, a grandfather, a stepbrother, and two cousins.

In this powerful narrative, Lee weaves together three strands: the long and bloody history of African Americans and guns; his work as a chronicler of gun violence, tallying the costs and riches generated by both the legal and illegal gun industries; and his own life story. With unflinching honesty he takes readers on a journey, from almost being caught up in gun violence as a young man, to tracing the legacy of the Middle Passage in Ghana through his ancestors’ footsteps, to confronting the challenges of representing his people in an overwhelmingly white and often hostile media world, and most importantly, to celebrating the enduring strength of his family and community.

In A Thousand Ways to Die, Lee answers Nola and all who seek a more just America. He shares the hard truths and complexities of the Black experience, but he also celebrates the beauty and resilience that is Nola’s legacy.

Review

WOW! Just WOW!

I don’t even know where to start. This book shares some hard truths about gun violence in America.

This is well researched and full of details that I had no clue about. AND it has a touch or two or three of personal experience by the author with gun violence.

It also touches on the tragedy of America’s past and its present. There were several places I gasped out loud at the shocking details. I was also shocked at where some of the guns are run through…one of them…my small home town of Ripley, MS and the neighboring towns of Holly Springs and Tupelo. Talk about research and details, it is all in here.

Y’all know I love a book narrated by the author. This just adds to the emotions. And believe me, this book..IT IS POWERFUL!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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The Red Knot by Monique Asher #bookreview @recordedbooks #audiobook

Overview

Gripping, atmospheric, and off-putting, The Red Knot is the perfect blend of occult mystery and small-town horror.

On a tiny, isolated island off the southern Alaskan coast, three girls have vanished without a trace, and Audra’s close friend—the island’s therapist—has been found murdered. A recent storm has severed all communication with the outside world, leaving Audra, the town’s lead detective, trapped and at the head of a very personal case.

Her lead suspect, Valorie, the daughter of a notorious cult leader and the town’s outcast, was discovered blood-covered and dazed at the crime scene. Valorie’s memory is a gaping void, a dark well hiding traumatic secrets, including the truth about the teenage kidnappings that haunt the island.

As Audra digs deeper into the town’s twisted history, it becomes clear other murders on the island, dating back decades, might be connected. The clock is ticking for the missing girls, and every clue leads Audra to question even those she’s known her whole life.

Valorie must confront the horrors of her past while Audra’s investigation becomes a descent into madness. On this cursed island, the line between neighbor and nightmare blurs, revealing that true horror often wears a familiar face.

Review

Well this is a dark, intense story!

On a tiny, isolated island off the southern Alaskan coast, three girls have vanished without a trace, and Audra’s close friend—the island’s therapist—has been found murdered. A recent storm has severed all communication with the outside world, leaving Audra, the town’s lead detective, trapped and at the head of a very personal case.

I loved the guessing game on the cult. Cults fascinate me. And this book takes you on a wild ride where this is concerned. As a reader, you are not quite sure how this plays into the story. But this author just kept adding to the drama with this monstrous riddle (pun intended if you read this story)

This has some major twists and turns. Yes it is classified as horror. And I knew this going in. And as I was reading, I thought, this is just a thriller. But just you wait. This ending is where the “horror” comes into play. And in a BIG way!

At first, it took me a bit to like this narrator, Jennifer Pickens. She tended to speed up during the intense parts. I became used to this as the story moved along.

Need an intense, edge of your seat read…THIS IS IT! This book publishes September 23.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adam #bookreview @macmillanaudio @minotaurbooks

Overview

With an expert hand, Rachel Louise Adams’s debut No Rest for the Wicked reads like an edge of your seat, heart-pounding scary movie.

In one Halloween obsessed Midwestern town, everyone’s on red alert after a local politician goes missing. Little do they know it’s only the beginning. 

It’s been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. The town is famous for its Halloween celebrations, but also its history of violent deaths linked to the holiday. To Dolores, it’s the place she fled, family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father–the former mayor turned US Senator–is missing under mysterious circumstances.

Some people count to ten to wake up from a nightmare. Dolores always counts the bones of her head instead: sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. But no matter how many times she counts them, it doesn’t change the fact that her father is missing, that his final words of warning to her were to trust no one, and that now, the rest of her family is giving Dolores a chilling welcome. With Halloween fast approaching, Dolores must face the past she left behind before it’s too late.

Review

This book is wicked…just like the title!! I loved the intricacies and all the twists and turns. This book keeps you on your toes for sure!

It’s been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. Dolores fled everything when she was younger…family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father–the former mayor turned US Senator–is missing under mysterious circumstances.

Dolores is a tough character but she has some major trauma as well. She covers this well…until she can’t anymore. I found her character heartbreaking but I loved her toughness and intelligence.

Then there is the huge twist I did not see coming. Talk about gasping when I read it…this knocked me for a loop!

This tale has quite a few moving parts and the author wove them around each other magnificently. I love how the author brought all the moving parts together…and not without consequences.

The narrator, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, is excellent! But he really had a very good tale to work with!

Need a good fall read that will give you a few surprises…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories by Lee Child #audiobook #bookreview #nonfiction @highbridgeaudio

Overview

After making his debut in The Killing Floor, Jack Reacher has quickly become one of the most popular―and most enduring―fictional heroes to emerge in the past half century. Now, his creator tells the stories behind the stories.

These are the origin tales of all of the Reacher novels written solely by Lee Child, chock full of colorful anecdotes and intriguing inspirations. One by one, they expand upon each novel and place it in the context not only of the author’s life, but of the world outside the books. And taken together, they chart the rise of an action icon, from 1997’s The Killing Floor to 2019’s Blue Moon. An afterword by crime fiction expert and bookseller Otto Penzler considers the importance of the character and novels in the canon of contemporary crime fiction.

In addition to the essays, this collection also includes an original Reacher short story―the first new Reacher appearance entirely written by Lee Child since 2019. Entertaining and enlightening, Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories is a must-listen for fans of the Jack Reacher series and a capstone to any collection of this excellent author.

Review

I find it fascinating to read about authors…their processes, how they got their start, how they come up with ideas. Being a fan of Reacher since the first book came out (he is one of my favorite book boyfriends), this intrigued me.

Lee Child’s life is a normal life…except he is a famous author. He goes through the start of Reacher. He also talks about how he named his novels. This is a process for sure! It was enlightening to learn about his book tours and his research. And trust me, his wit sneaks up on you.

I love that this audiobook is read by the author. This just made it more real. It was like he was sitting next to me talking.

Need a biography that all readers will enjoy….THIS IS IT! GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

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All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan #audiobook #bookreview @macmillanaudio @minotaurbooks

Overview

Engrossing—with a twist that left me reeling!”
—Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid

Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller by “master of suspense” (Publishers Weekly) and USA Todaybestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan. 

Debut sensation Tessa Calloway is on a whirlwind book tour for her instant bestseller, All This Could Be Yours. In a different city every night, Tessa receives standing ovations from adoring fans while her husband Henry and their two children cheer her on from their brand-new dream house.

But there’s a chilling problem with Tessa’s triumphant book tour—she soon discovers she is being stalked by someone who’s obsessed not only with sabotaging her career, but also with destroying her perfect family back home.

Tessa fears the fallout from an impossible decision she once made—what felt like a genuine deal with the devil—appears to be coming due. And she’s realizing that every high-stakes bargain comes with a high-stakes price. If Tessa can’t untangle who’s threatening to expose her darkest secrets, she’ll lose her career, her family—and possibly her life.

Review

Debut sensation Tessa Calloway is on a whirlwind book tour. But there’s a chilling problem with Tessa’s triumphant book tour—she soon discovers she is being stalked by someone who’s obsessed not only with sabotaging her career, but also with destroying her perfect family back home.

I will say, I enjoyed the second half of the book better than the first half. It starts a bit slow. And I really did not like Tessa in the first half of this book. She is whiny and over the top paranoid about her family. She truly did not trust her husband to handle the kids. This got on my nerves a bit.

But as the tale moves along, the intensity builds and builds. And Tessa finally seems to grow up and do something about her strange situation. And let me tell you…her strange situation is brilliant. HPR creativity comes shining through!

The narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, did a very good job. Lots of voices to deal with and she did it well, even the kids.

Need a twisted story which is full of life altering secrets…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon #audiobook #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Overview

Packed full of twists and tension, A Killer Motiveconsumed me until I’d turned the last page. The ending packs a wallop, and you won’t see it coming!” —Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Reminiscent of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley, A Killer Motivepulls true crime podcaster Stella Dixon—and the reader right alongside—into a deadly game… A twisty, compulsive, heart-pounding read!” —Daniel Kalla, bestselling author of High Society

You never know who’s listening.

To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace.

Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.

In a bid to find new sponsors and keep making episodes, Stella goes on a local radio show. But when she says on air that if she had just one clue, she’d find Max and bring whoever hurt him to justice, someone takes it as a challenge.

A mysterious invitation to play a game arrives, with the promise that if Stella wins, she’ll get information about what happened to Max. Stella thinks it’s a sick joke…until Max’s best friend vanishes. And she’s given new instructions: tell nobody or people will die.

Desperate and unable to trust anyone, Stella agrees. But beating a twisted, invisible enemy seems impossible when they make all the rules…

Review

Well! This book is intense. It may be a bit far fetched in my opinion. But, I have to say the intensity is spot on!

To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace. Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.

This story starts off strong and keeps you on the edge of your seat (cliché, I know! But it is true). When Max goes missing at the beginning of this tale…you are hooked.

There are a lot of moving parts in this tale. Stella and her husband, Stella and her mom, Stella’s dad, Stella and her best friend…just to name a few. And no, Stella is not necessarily the problem. You will need to read this to find out.

This is narrated by a wonderful team: Amy Hall, Mel Benjamin, Nick Thurston, Bernadette Dunne, Carol Schneider. Talk about amazing…this group nailed everything about this book.

Need a fast paced thriller to get your blood pumping…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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An Unlikely Prospect by Shelley Blanton-Stroud #bookreview #audiobook

Overview

For fans of Kate Quinn’s The Rose Code and Jacqueline Winspear’s The Consequences of Fear comes a gripping novel, set in post–WWII San Francisco, about a young female newspaper publisher and a story that could change the course of her city’s future.

In the jubilant aftermath of Japan’s surrender in World War II, San Francisco erupts in celebration. But for Sandy Zimmer, the thirty-two-year-old widow publisher of the Prospectnewspaper, the revelry masks a darker truth. In the chaos of the VJ Day Peace Riot, eleven deaths and six rapes take place.

Driven by journalistic integrity and battling her own instincts to maintain peace, Sandy directs her paper to investigate the riot. Her quest for truth pits her against formidable adversaries: her controlling civic-leader father-in-law, the newspaper’s resistant board, and authorities desperate to bury the scandal as they vie to attract the United Nations Headquarters to San Francisco.

Based on little-known historical events, An Unlikely Prospectfollows Sandy’s fight to find her voice in the male-dominated world of 1945 journalism. As she navigates power dynamics, gender roles, and the steep price of printing the truth, Sandy must confront her own transformation from a people-pleasing widow into a determined publisher willing to challenge the status quo.

Review

Based on little-known historical events, An Unlikely Prospect follows Sandy’s fight to find her voice in the male-dominated world of 1945 journalism. As she navigates power dynamics, gender roles, and the steep price of printing the truth, Sandy must confront her own transformation from a people-pleasing widow into a determined publisher willing to challenge the status quo.

There is a lot in this tale that is going to make you furious. I wanted to knock some heads together. And to be honest, not much has changed as part of “the good ole boy network” goes. Men still tend to believe men and not women, especially when it comes to S.A.

But Sandy, once she gets her backbone, comes through and does not let anything stop her. She grew on me and I admired the heck out of her towards the end of this book.

I don’t know if I would classify this as a WWII novel. (This is what it says on the cover) This is about the post war celebrations (and crimes) that occurred in San Francisco. This is also a bit redundant in places and a bit overly dramatic. But the story is what is fascinating. I loved the intensity and the way this novel made me think about things.

The narrator, April Doty, is good. But she is a bit too soft in some areas. I think I wanted her to get mad like I did 😜😂.

Need a novel that brings to light many issues past and present…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the author for a honest review.

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One of Them by Kitty Zeldis #bookreview @harperbooks #historicalfiction

Overview

The beloved author of Not Our Kind and The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights returns with a story of secrets, friendship, and betrayal about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar sophomore—one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she’s Jewish, or that her real first name is Miriam. Pretending to be a Gentile has made life easier—as Anne, she no longer suffers the snubs, snide remarks, and daily restrictions Jews face. She enjoys her college life of teas, late-night conversations, and mixers. She turns a blind eye to the casual anti-Semitism that flourishes among her friends and classmates—after all, it’s no longer directed at her.

But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish—and seems not to care that she’s an outcast among the other students. Knowing that her growing closeness with Delia would be social suicide if it were discovered, Anne keeps their friendship quiet. Delia seems to understand—until a cruelty on Anne’s part drives them apart and sends them scattering to other corners of the world, alone and together.

Review

Anne Bishop seems like a typical Vassar sophomore—one of a popular group of privileged WASP friends. None of the girls in her circle has any idea that she’s Jewish, or that her real first name is Miriam. But her secret life is threatened when she becomes fascinated by a girl not in her crowd. Delia Goldhush is sophisticated, stylish, brilliant, and unashamedly Jewish—and seems not to care that she’s an outcast among the other students.

This story is told from two different points of view, Anne and Delia. Both are Jewish but one is hiding it and one is not. This leads to some different experiences for both young ladies. I did enjoy Delia’s tale a little bit better, probably because I found her a bit of a stronger woman. But don’t go to sleep on Anne…she comes into her own.

Let me say, I did not like part of the section at Vassar. I really disliked the mean girls. Yes, I know…part of the story and also part of growing up. I just wanted to slap a few of them!

I did enjoy reading about Palestine. I have only read a few books with this setting. This part intrigued me!

This is an all around good tale that keeps you moving from place to place! I also loved another book by this author, The Dressmaker of Prospect Heights. So add that one to your list as well!

Need a good novel of full of secrets and betrayal…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson #bookreview @sbkslandmark

Overview

For fans of Elyssa Friedland comes a rollicking fall novel from beloved author Shauna Robinson, where the friend who left and the friend who stayed must reunite to save their hometown through the fall festival that once brought them together. 

Lauryn Harper had a plan. A high achieving, perfectly constructed, eight-year plan. But after a (totally blown out of proportion) mishap at work that plan is put to the test.

As punishment for her mistake she is transferred to the Ryser charity department, a branch that just so happens to be located in the hometown she abandoned long ago – and that her powerful corporate employer is responsible for running into the ground. Horrified at the thought of returning and facing those she left behind (one in particular keeps coming to mind), Lauryn quickly comes up with a new plan: impress her boss enough that she’s briskly whisked back to her big city life.

However, it soon becomes clear that sticking to plans isn’t that simple, especially when her ex-best friend enters the charity department demanding they help revitalize the town by bringing back the once-famous Greenstead Apple Festival. Confronted by her past wrongs, Lauryn immediately agrees to host the festival on Ryser’s dime, but soon enough Lauryn is swept away in town hijinks, chaotic planning sessions, and a second chance with a childhood friend that shows her why home isn’t necessarily a place she has to run from.

Review

Lauryn Harper had a plan. A high achieving, perfectly constructed, eight-year plan. But after a (totally blown out of proportion) mishap at work that plan is put to the test. As punishment for her mistake she is transferred to the Ryser charity department, a branch that just so happens to be located in the hometown she abandoned long ago.

I enjoyed the diversity in Lauryn. She is biracial and she is also partially deaf. She is a bit stubborn in places and tends to self-sabotage (this got a bit old). But, I enjoyed her intentions. She is going to make the best of her situation!

This story is funny and almost corny in places (I mean, the disaster in the town was it was flooded with mustard😜) but this just worked. This book hit me at just the right time. AND it is not a romance! It is a blend of friendship and family.

There were places I wanted the story to move faster. I also felt it was a bit redundant towards the ending. Almost like the author was trying to make it longer. But, all in all, it is a good read which will leave you smiling.

Need a novel of friendship and “sometimes you have to let go of your plan” novel….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received novel from the publisher for a honest review

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