New Book Tuesday!

It's New Book Tuesday! 

Here are my top 9 picks! (You'll have to get to the end of the post to see #9)!

Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves... A deeply moving novel about finding beauty in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death.

Travis is Death in the modern world. He lives with his cat in a small, gray town. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life, which he does without complaint or judgement. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite who he is, but he never tries to change anyone’s fate. He is responsible for maintaining the balance of nature, and every life must eventually end.

Then Travis meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall, and despite his best attempts to keep his distance, he finds himself wholeheartedly embraced by other people for the first time. So it is with this seemingly unremarkable family that Travis begins to understand what it means to be truly alive—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.

Written with radiant warmth, wisdom, and compassion, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a timeless and ultimately uplifting story about appreciating life, accepting its end, and finding our place in the universe—especially when it feels most impossible—that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost or worried about time’s passing.

This is July's Indie Next pick. We've had "Death" write quite a few stories before (The Book Thief comes to mind first), but this one seems to have an added twist of Death being part of a family. I'm intrigued. And with this book being chosen as the Indie Next pick for July, there are a lot of other people intrigued as well! On my TBR list. Published by Avid Reader Press (& Simon & Schuster)

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The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong... 
For lovers of The Midnight Library and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, discover a spellbinding novel about a mysterious bookshop that exists outside of time and space, where the past is only a page away…

If you're lost or grieving, you'll find The Memory Bookshop, where the shelves are endless; the books, strangely familiar; and where memories are bound in pages.

Jiwon’s life has been slowly disintegrating since her mother died. Until one day, caught by a sudden downpour, she stumbles into a mysterious bookstore. Inside, she is met by Manager K and offered no explanation, only a mysterious hourglass and a rare opportunity: to travel back to three chapters of her life.

But returning to the past isn't without risk. In exchange, Jiwon must give up time in her future.

As she wanders between the shelves, the bookshop humming with memories and regrets, she must ask herself: can the past truly be rewritten? Or does the real magic lie in the life she's yet to live?

Warm, wise, and full of wonder, The Memory Bookshop is a story about the journey of grief and the power of books to carry us home.

First, I love books about books and bookshops! Second, I love books about going back in time. This is definitely on my TBR list. This was wildly popular in Korea and translated & published by William Morrow Paperbacks.

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Helpless by Jessica Knoll... A"sexy new thriller" (New York Post) with a "shocking and mindbending" (SheReads) last page.

It's been twelve years since Faye Heron broke Henry Spalding's heart. Henry was her college boyfriend, her first love, but Faye was in danger of being subsumed by him and the intensity of their connection—a connection that took her beyond boundaries she'd only dreamed of crossing.

Now, Faye is one half of a power-producing duo with her Hollywood husband. Henry is a married father running the family business. On the surface, both of their lives have essentially gone to plan.

When a former and beloved college professor suddenly passes away, Faye and Henry find themselves back on campus for the funeral, circling something old and dangerous. Something, if Faye is honest with herself, she has been trying to duplicate for years. But Henry is one of a kind.

The kind who delivers a hypnotic apology for the way things ended.

The kind who suggests they go back to the hotel for a drink.

The kind who drugs and kidnaps her.

When Faye comes to Henry’s remote mountain cabin, she’s beside herself. Has Henry brought her here to punish her? She did, after all, write and star in a lauded episode of television based on their indelicate appetites and vicious breakup. As her week of captivity unfolds, Henry’s wanton demands intensify, and Faye finds herself pulled back into his irresistible gravity. But as Faye and Henry spiral into their old dynamic, a sprawling, years-old mystery begins to take shape—one that will rewrite history as Faye remembers it and reveal an astounding, cataclysmic truth.

This sounds like a slow irresistible hypnotic burn. On my TBR list! Published by Scribner. 

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The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders... The dead are relentless gossips, or at least these dead are.

An impulsive and heartbroken woman inherits her father’s share of a Tennessee farm that is rich in family secrets and occupied with busybody ghosts in this sweeping family portrait.

At thirty-two, Aubrey Lamb is stumbling through adulthood. An underpaid gig worker in Washington, DC, she’s grieving the end of a serious relationship and the recent loss of her father. When Aubrey learns she has inherited his stake in a sizable Tennessee farm she sees an opportunity to get out of the city—and to erase a mounting pile of debt.

Watching her arrival with great interest are four ghosts—Aubrey’s ancestors, who’ve staked their own claims to the farm and who never hesitate to pass judgment on the mistakes made by the living, whether romantic, financial, or sartorial. As Aubrey reconnects with her living family, another story unfolds in parallel: the history of the land, beginning with its purchase by Thomas, Aubrey’s great-grandfather and one of the first Black landowners in his community. Though Thomas hopes to give his children a homestead on which they could flourish, the land proves to be a burdensome inheritance. Over the years, it turns the Lambs against one another, culminating in a catastrophic tragedy that splinters the family and echoes through the decades.

Now, as the clock ticks on a potential sale of the farm, the ghosts fear expulsion from the home they’ve made, and Aubrey must weigh the hopes and burdens of her forebears with the very real needs of her future.

An expansive family saga told with a wry and distinctly modern voice, The Great Wherever is at once grand and intimate; it explores the ways we learn to define ourselves through and against our families, how we carry on after loss, and how the past lives on in all of us.

Okay, I LOVE ghost stories! I love when they appear in stories and I love when the main character dies and comes back as a ghost. This has an interesting twist to it as it's a group of dead relative ghosts imparting some lessons to a descendent. I'm interested to see where this goes. Published by Henry Holt & Co.

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An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton... 
When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.

When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.

It feels like NASA is part of quite a few love stories these days (Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid anyone?!) Going up in space is big in the movies too (Hail Mary!) But I love those stories where someone comes back from the other side to say hello, and this may or may not be messages from the other side, we just have to read it to find out. On my TBR list and published by Berkley. 

Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox... Secrets emerge as a Texas beauty pageant turns deadly in this rich and addictive novel with a jaw-dropping twist from psychological suspense author Kelsey Cox.

2000:Isabelle Whitmore vanishes at Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without a trace.

2025: The Lone Star Princess Pageant is about to begin, but this year it’s offering more than an annual dose of rhinestone heels and plunging necklines. Competition is stiffer than ever —and long standing grudges are about to resurface. Ingrid fled Anhalt in the wake of her sister Isabelle’s disappearance and has now returned, just in time for a construction crew to start digging up Sherman Ranch; the pageant brings up past traumas that Melanie can't forget; Cat, newly sober, starts to feel threatened in ways that bring back old demons; and Sarah Lynn, who comes from a long line of pageant winners, knows that losing is not an option.

When old resentments and new confrontations reach their boiling point, temperatures drop to deadly degrees as a record-setting storm brings down the state’s power grid. With everyone trapped under one roof, scores will be settled, and more than one person will end up dead.

Of course we have to have a creepy pageant queen thriller ! I'm not into beauty pageants, but this is suppose to be a "jaw-dropping" thriller and I'm definitely into that! It irks me a little that a book by the same name by Liv Lowry and practically the same cover. I guess pretty dead things are equivalent to dead flowers. On my TBR list and published by Minotaur books.

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The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley... The stakes are high, the love is forbidden, and the slow burn turns steamy in this swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .

Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Book 2 of a romantasy that brings enemies to lovers to another level, this is wildly popular series with a lot of buzz about book 2. Published by Ace.

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Where Lost Girls Go by Kody Keplinger... There are many reasons why six girls have ended up living with Sol in a cabin in the Kentucky mountains. But the girls don't talk about what has brought them each here or who they were before. They have become sisters and are grateful to have a place to call home.Iris knows she owes everything to Sol. He has promised to keep them safe from their pasts. All he asks in return is for their loyalty, which Iris freely gives. With her sisters and Sol as her family, she feels happier than she has in a long time.

Until a new girl arrives and everything changes.

Sol dubs her Rose and the sisters are quick to welcome her. Iris is drawn to Rose, but as they grow closer, Rose has Iris questioning things about this life in the woods. When Sol notices, he challenges Iris to prove her commitment to their family. Her sisters tell her that she should be willing to do anything for the man who saved her. But with each new ask, Iris realizes there is more to Sol-and her sisters-than she knows and some secrets should stay buried deep.

a stunning story about girlhood, power, and desperation that asks just how far we'll go to save ourselves-and those we love.

This sounds creepy, but in a good way. I want to read this just for Iris. She seems like a great protagonist questioning the whole creepy set-up and maybe liberating her sister friends from a dangerous situation. Published by Scholastic Press, but it doesn't sound YA to me. Maybe the writing is gauged more towards a younger audience?

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The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly... One sister offers her life in exchange for the other’s in this dark, Irish lore–inspired romantasy and “sizzling, high-stakes debut launching a series that readers will greedily devour”.

On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.

But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.

With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost—one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.

What would you sacrifice to survive?

You got me at Irish lore. And "mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann". Romantasy and sacrifice and all things in a great story! On my TBR list!

First Lines Friday... This week’s opening lines are from a twisty coastal thriller full of family drama, suspicious deaths, and the kind of small-town secrets that never stay buried…

 

"I did not plan to start the summer by dangling out of a ­second-​­story window. But on this breezy night, all that separates me from plunging to my death and living to see my eighteenth birthday is the grip my older sister, Lucy, has on my wrists from inside my bedroom."

I love the way this story starts out! How about you? Would you keep reading after these first few lines?

I just received this book in the mail from Penguin Random House and had to share just a peek. It is a romantic mystery thriller, and with all those three in a book description, I'm definitely in. Here's the book description from the publisher...

A razor-sharp murder-mystery set during the summer when a local teen's suspicious death exposes the devastating secrets three sisters keep.

Do you ever really know the people you love?

For the Gold sisters and Silver brothers, life has been idyllic, growing up in side-by-side waterfront mansions in a town where doors are never locked and the police do little more than issue speeding tickets. The Golds and Silvers have known each other their entire lives, as neighbors, as friends, as family.

But one carefree summer takes a dark turn when a beach party ends in tragedy and their perfect world cracks wide open. Suddenly, the bonds that tie these families together are strained by suspicion and fear. Painful secrets surface, revealing the fragile truths they've all been hiding.

Lucy, the oldest Gold girl, harbors a crushing secret from her boyfriend, one of the Silver boys. Millie, the middle sister, quietly yearns for the one person she can't have. And the youngest, Frankie, uncovers something that could blow their island apart.

A gripping novel about the lies friends tell, the façade siblings build, and how one summer tests—and breaks—the bonds of family.

The book will be released by G.P. Putnam & Sons (a division of Penguin Random House) on June 2nd! Look for my review before then!

First Lines Friday... How about a little magic in the stars?!

An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields

 “There is an old bookshop called the Wanderer's Wonders in the heart of Kulden -- a small, often forgotten town tucked in a far northern corner of England --and as far as Claudia Jolicoeur is concerned, it's magical, for it always has something she needs”

An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields was recently published by Red Hook (a division of Hachette Books) and has gotten a lot of buzz! It's a romantasy, but with the twist that it has "celestial magic", which is magic based on the stars and cosmos. I picked this out for my Allurial book choice this month and it is patiently waiting in the wings for me to dive into. 

Here's the blurb from Goodreads: a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares and offers her a bargain: he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. He takes a bite of her soul to seal the deal, and Claudia wakes to a letter from the High Sage of Cygnus stating she will take the place of Odette Dufort, a Rhetoric student who passed away.

Her arrival raises suspicions, rumors that she had a hand in Odette's death spread like wildfire, and Cassius MacLeod, the High Sage’s apprentice and Claudia's fellow Rhetoric student, seems hellbent on humiliating her. Determined to clear her name, she searches for any evidence that could prove her innocence. When someone—or something—starts slipping her pieces of Odette’s diary, Claudia uncovers a horrifying truth: over the last century, celestial witches at Cygnus have been murdered. Odette was one of them, and Claudia could be next. For her own protection, Claudia needs to free Dorian—and fast.

By night, she studies the stars, slowly unraveling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. As Claudia inches closer to the truth, she must decide: would trusting Cassius be the last mistake she ever makes?

Would you keep reading after the first line?

Did You Love The Time Travelers Wife?... Here's The Long Awaited Sequel!

I loved The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger when I read it way back in 2009. The story was so unique and so touching. I still love that story...

In October, we get to read the continuing story of the Time Travelers Wife, following the daughter of Henry and Clare, Alba, who is also a "time traveler".

Here is the blurb from the publisher... 

Alba DeTamble has never lived a life in order. Born with the same rare Chrono-Displacement Disorder as her father, Henry DeTamble, Alba is an involuntary time traveler: she slips unpredictably through decades, carrying the weight of a future she can witness but cannot change. Yet she strives to maintain a normal life: as a gifted violinist, Alba finds refuge in her music, as well as her tight-knit community of artists and activists who fight to take care of each other in an increasingly unstable world. 

As she dips in and out of time, Alba is haunted by secrets she must keep from those she loves most, including Zach, her safe, supportive anchor in the chaos. Her journey takes her from the riot-torn Chicago streets, to the eerie, timeless “Yellow House” – where she meets Oliver, a handsome fellow time traveler – to the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls, a virtual sanctuary of forgotten memories and lost artifacts. Curating the museum is Isadora, Alba’s mysterious stepsister and an increasingly unsettling presence in their family – whose fate may be intertwined with Alba’s in more dangerous ways than she knows.

At once intimate and sweeping, Life Out of Order is a kaleidoscopic tale of love, resilience, and hope amid our fractured world where time itself is the greatest adversary. With every leap through the years, Alba is forced to reckon with the choices that define her, the people she cannot bear to lose, and the question that haunts every time traveler: can you ever truly belong to the present?

AND, publishers also added that you don't have to read The Time Travelers Wife to enjoy this- it's a standalone.

Will we fall in love with Life Out of Order? 

I sure hope so! Looking forward to reading this!

Are YOU looking forward to it too?

Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter... A Deadly Duel. A Forbidden Love. One Jaw-Dropping Twist.

Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter

A centuries-old covenant forces the heir of the witches of Arturea to fight the heir of the dragon riders of Vatra… to the death.

Astrid—princess of Arturea—is powerful, proud… and not a warrior at heart.
Zryan—Vatra’s lethal champion—is a battle-hardened force of nature, bonded to a massive fire-breathing dragon… and completely obsessed with Astrid.

What should be a death sentence becomes something far more dangerous:
a forbidden, undeniable pull neither of them can resist. Blood Bound is the kind of romantasy that hooks you fast and doesn’t let go. 

The world-building? Incredible. From the witches’ distinct magic and their familiars to the dragon riders’ raw, elemental power—every detail feels vivid and immersive. I swear, I was living in Vatra the entire time. (Still waiting to find out if “reading” counts as a magical talent… I’m claiming it.)

What fills this story out even more is the political intrigue and the rebellion hiding in the shadows—adding layers of tension and depth that make the stakes feel even higher.

And the characters? I was in. Fully invested. Practically third-wheeling alongside Astrid. The friendships that develop are true and touching. I loved the way the female friendships unfolded.

But let’s talk about what really delivers:


Forbidden love…. Enemies to lovers….That slow burn tension…. Touch her and you’ll die… Dragons & Familiars… Political intrigue… Great banter!… Found family… Great female friendships… Magic & Potions… Did I say Dragons! And Familiars!
  

And then—THE TWIST. The kind that makes you stop, reread, and immediately need to talk about it with someone. I want to scream about it… but I won’t ruin it for you.

Just know: It’s big, it’s bold and it brings everything together in a jaw-dropping way. There is so much packed into the story - you’re going to love it. I know I did. This is the first book of a promised 3 book trilogy. 

And I am already whining that I want the second book! 

Published by Atria Books on April 28th! And available at your favorite bookstore right now! I want to thank Atria Books for an advanced copy of Blood Bound to read & review! I loved it!

 

First Lines Friday... Puck This!

Hockey Romances are all the rage these days. I was reading about this book and I loved the idea of someone getting the wrong text, answering the text and the start of a budding romance! 

Would you keep reading this after the first lines?

Here's the blurb about this book from Goodreads: One text to the wrong number…mine…and everything changed. He won’t tell me his last name, and maybe that should throw up a thousand red flags, but when I’m all alone in a new city and struggling to make ends meet, his texts are the lifeline I’ve been desperate for. But I never would have answered that text if I’d known that Lincoln Daniels, superstar hockey player extraordinaire was the one sending them. He’s trying to sweep me off my feet now. He says he’s obsessed. He wants me wearing his number…permanently. The question is…is he still the wrong number, or can this hockey god prove he’s Mr. Right?

* Lincoln Daniels is a morally grey antihero who is obsessed with his girl and will do anything to keep her.

This is a darker hockey romance. The Pucking Wrong Number is a hockey romance standalone from USA Today and International Bestselling Author C.R. Jane.

This book was published way back in 2024 by Podium Publishing. This is a stand alone story, but C.R. Jane has written quite a few books under the "Pucking" theme.😉

 

For All of Us Romantasy Girls...

For all of us Romantasy girls...

 

Rivals, Romance, and a Whole Lot of Heat: Two Can Play Delivers... and Here's My Review

 

 

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood is a sharp, playful spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope that leans fully into its flirty chaos—and has a great time doing it.

Set in the high-stakes world of video game development, the story follows Viola and Jesse, rival designers from competing companies forced into an uneasy alliance. Their task? Collaborate on a major adaptation of a beloved book they both care deeply about. What starts as professional tension quickly reveals deeper layers—years of crossed wires, lingering grudges, and just enough unresolved history to make every interaction crackle.

Ali Hazelwood builds the chemistry with a steady hand, letting the friction simmer before dropping her characters into a snow-covered retreat where being so close to one another turns the temperature up. Old assumptions begin to thaw, walls come down, and—fair warning—the sparks don’t just fly, they IGNITE! Forget about G rating this romance!

At novella length, it’s a quick, satisfying read that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Viola, in particular, carries the story with her drive, vulnerability, and sharp edges, making her an easy character to root for from page one.

If you’re in the mood for something fast, fun, and a little steamy with a nerdy twist, Two Can Play absolutely delivers.

Published by Berkley in February 2026, you can find this book in your FLBS now!

First Lines Friday... Does a Dystopian Love Triangle Sound like Fun?

 A Hologram filled the center of my office with a painting. Simple, small. Just a woman, a hint of a smile on her face. 

As usual, I was alone in the Ancient Art section of the Archives, buried deep underground. My job was to destroy, piece by piece, the remnants of the world ancient humans had laid waste to in the Last War. Elsewhere in the Archives, my friend Lo sat in the Books section, and there were others who sorted ancient tools, documents, and relics from before the war. Our screens dictated what was saved, reassigned, or --like this one--destroyed. A push of a button, and the ties to the past disappear.

We meet our "heroine" in a dusty old basement, showing us how times have changed. Dystopian? Check. But there's much more to this book... Further reading the book we find romance (in a twisted dystopian way), a love triangle and maybe a bit of a rebellion under the surface? This had me at the Mona Lisa. Then at dystopian (I can never resist a good dystopian story)... and I have it on my TBR list. 

Would the first lines of this book make you want to read it?

Conform by Ariel Sullivan was published by Ballantine Books in October 2025.

Immortal Game by Allison Saft is coming August 4, 2026! Mark Your Calendars and read my Review...

“Chess opens a door between two souls.”

That line lives at the heart of Immortal Game by Allison Saft — and it’s exactly what this book does. It opens a door. Step through it and you’re no longer in the ordinary world. You’re in the Otherworld, where the Fae are immortal, the magic hums beneath every breath, and Mortals are allowed to cross the veil only once every hundred years… to play a game of chess that could cost them everything.

I am not your typical fantasy reader. I don’t usually gravitate toward Fae courts and ancient magic systems. And yet? I was completely swept away. Allison Saft builds a world that feels lush and dangerous and achingly alive. The Otherworld isn’t just a setting — it pulses. The Fae cannot lie. The landscape shifts with thought. Magic is woven into speech, into bargains, into love. And at the center of it all is the Immortal Game, where chess becomes more than strategy — it becomes fate.

The characters are what truly anchored me.

Shea, a chess prodigy, is driven by fierce, almost desperate love for her sister Aideen. Every move she makes — on the board and off — is shaped by that devotion.

Daniil, brooding and sharp-tongued, carries his own complicated loyalty to his sister. His seriousness hides something tender, and I found myself softening toward him with every chapter.

Ciara, the Fae princess who adores everything mortal, brings spark and warmth into a realm that could easily feel cold.

And then there is Midir, the Fae King — immortal, powerful, and in love with Aideen enough to steal her away beyond the veil.

As for Fuamnach… trust me. You’ll want to meet her yourself.

What makes this story so compelling is how these characters — from different worlds, with different loyalties — collide over the chessboard. The relationships layer and tangle in ways that feel real and earned. Alliances shift. Motives blur. Love becomes both weapon and shield.

And the chess? It’s brilliant. Whether Allison Saft is secretly a grandmaster or simply did amazing research, she makes the game feel electric. The terminology, the strategy, the references to real-life masters — it’s all woven into the narrative so seamlessly that it never feels like a lecture. It feels like tension. Like you’re holding your breath between moves. I actually pulled out my old chess set just to follow along with some of the moves.

Immortal Game isn’t just about magic or competition. It’s about devotion. About the cost of love. About what we sacrifice for the people who define us. There were twists I didn’t see coming, tenderness that caught me off guard, and moments of quiet heartbreak that lingered.

When I reached the final page, I wasn’t ready to leave the Otherworld — but I was satisfied. The story closes its loops. The emotional threads are honored. Nothing feels rushed or abandoned.

If you’re hesitant about fantasy, let this be your doorway. Walk through "The Veil". Sit at the chessboard. Let Allison Saft show you what happens when strategy meets soul.

Immortal Game by Allison Saft is coming out on August 4th, 2026! Mark your calendars because you won't want to miss this one! (Categorized as YA teen, romance and LGBTQIAP+)

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for sending along an advanced copy for me to read and review. I really enjoyed it. 

BTW, Isn't that cover gorgeous!!

                           My travel chessboard and mini iPad

P.S. Shea Fury, our chess prodigy in Immortal Game reminds me of Judit Polgar, a 12-year-old who became the youngest Grandmaster in history, and eventually beat world champion Garry Kasparov. I watched a great documentary about her called Queen of Chess on Netflix. Her life was chess and the documentary shows how and why her Father raised her to become a world champion. 

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews... A Review

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

When two estranged sisters—complete opposites in every way—reunite after their mother’s death, they have one shared goal: sell the house and use the money to climb out of debt. But their plans unravel quickly. Instead of a tidy inheritance, they discover a $325,000 mortgage their mother secretly took out to send money to a televangelist in Texas. Worse still, her remaining savings sit in a tin can held by their Uncle Keith, the executor of the estate.

But that money isn’t meant to pay off bills.

Their mother’s dying wish was for the sisters to use it to travel to Ireland—to reconnect with each other and uncover their family’s roots. What follows is a journey filled with mystery and intrigue, a touch of romance, and even a bit of murder. Determined to piece together their family history, the sisters head to Ireland for what becomes the adventure of a lifetime. Long-buried secrets begin to slip through the veil of time—and not everyone is pleased about it. 

Part of those family secrets is the painting that hangs over their Mother’s fireplace. A painting supposedly brought over from Ireland by their great grandmother when she immigrated from Ireland. A painting of Lady Geraldine Fitzhugh. A painting worth millions... maybe. Could this be their real inheritance?

From the first pages of Road Trip, I was hooked. The writing drew me in immediately, and the unfolding family mystery kept me turning the pages. I became so invested that I actually sketched out a family tree as I read. As someone who has done my own genealogy research, I felt especially connected to the story. The Irish setting was vivid and inviting, filled with quirky characters—and yes, a hunky Irishman.

The sisters’ gradual reconnection felt natural and satisfying. I also loved the flashbacks to their great-grandmother’s immigration to the United States. The letters she wrote to her brother added depth and emotion, and for a while the story took on a dual-timeline feel as past and present intertwined beautifully.

Believe it or not, this was my first Mary Kay Andrews novel and it definitely will not be my last! I really enjoyed this book and want to thank St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Road Trip to read and review! I truly loved it! 

Add this to your TBR list now! 

Release date is June 2, 2026

Easy & Fun Summer reading...

I've always considered summer reading light and airy. Guilty pleasure reading... books you don't normally sink your teeth into but go perfect with a glass of sweet tea on the back porch. I've added quite a few books to my 'summer reading" pile over the last few weeks. Books I don't normally turn to, such as Fantasy, have sucked me in with great writing. I'll get to the fantasy books this weekend, but for now, let me share what I opened the cover on this morning...  I don't even know how I came to find this book. Somewhere between must read books of the summer and Kirkus starred book reviews. But here it is and so far so good... really good. In a fun, light, bit of romance in the air kind of way. 

Here's the publishers blurb... 

"An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics."

I've just met Clementine. She's told me about her larger than life Aunt Analea and invited me to the Upper East Side into the quirky "magical" apartment she just inherited from her Aunt. (Well, not just, because it's been 3 years since she passed.) In a wonderful old building Clementine now calls home, we also meet a few other... characters, one of which just nudges her awake the morning after her first night sleeping there. Oh and he's cute too... but why is he there?! Oh, the fun has just started...

What grabbed my attention about The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, (published by Penguin Random House this past June), was the "time travel" hook. I love time travel romances. Yup, my guilty pleasure from all my "serious" reading. This isn't exactly what I'd call a time travel book, but it's sprinkled with a bit of that magic. Of course there was also bookish people in the story, that was a plus. But what really hooked me was the writing. It invited me in and I felt like I was right there with Clementine walking beside her. Stay tuned for a review when I'm done, but if you'd like to read an excerpt, here's a link. And in the meantime, let me know what you're reading! Is your summer reading different from your normal reading?

Happy reading... Suzanne

Kidnapped By a Rogue by Margaret Mallory... A Review

I recently had the good fortune of receiving an eGalley of Kidnapped by a Rogue from author, Margaret Mallory.  Margaret posted on her Facebook page that she was looking for a handful of reviewers and I immediately volunteered! I love her writing and she has never, and I mean never, disappointed me! Her newest novel, out today (Monday, July 9th), is no exception.

Immersing the reader into a story rich in Scottish history and adding a hunky Highlander with a spunky independent lady is only the beginning... you'll find within the pages of Kidnapped by a Rogue, romance, sex, jealousy, deceit, intrigue, secrets, hope, humor and adventure. I loved this book! When I started reading it, I literally could not put it down! It is the 3rd book in a series, but the story stands on its own, so no need to have to read the previous 2 (but after reading this one, you're going to want more!)

Briefly (and without giving too much away) Finn is our hunk, who is a second son, meaning he will not inherit his father's lands. He's an amazing warrior who not only can wield a weapon, but can also wield a pretty good smile and has all the ladies aflutter. (Yes, he's very charming!) In his heart, he just wants a plot of land he can call his own, and it is this desire that causes him to accept a request to kidnap, Lady Margaret...

Well, Margaret is actually in need of kidnapping. Her husband has thrown her out and annulled the marriage (you'll have to read the book to discover why!) and now her older brothers want to marry her off to forge an alliance with anyone that they think will make their clan stronger, but she wants no part of that. So when Margaret finally "meets" Finn, sparks fly for a lot of reasons and Margaret willingly goes... and that's when the real fun begins...

If you enjoy romance, and if find Highlanders sexy as hell, READ THIS! Margaret Mallory's writing is wonderful, her stories are rich in details and are just fun to read. You will fall for Finn and be rooting for Lady Margaret and him to conquer all the obstacles to be together. You'll also be turning those pages as fast as you can! 

Still Me by Jojo Moyes... A Review

I laughed, I cried, and I became totally enamored. Jojo Moyes weaves a story filled with love, humor, compassion and the need to be true to oneself. She does this by creating full of life characters that we grow to love and allowing us to still love the characters we've grown close to. I loved this book! Author Jojo Moyes amazes me. How you may ask? Let me tell you...

First, What is the storyline? Still Me is about how beloved character Lousia Clark leaves everything behind, England, her close family, her hunky new paramedic boyfriend Sam and moves across the pond to New York City. She's still trying to live in the moment and experience all life has to offer as her precious deceased love, Will Traynor, Me Before You, has inspired her to do. She accepts a job working for a very wealthy family, who is as dysfunctional as you can imagine and along the way she meets so many wonderful people, all of whom we really get to know because Jojo Moyes knows how to delve deep into the souls of her characters. The pulse of the story centers around the quirky people in the building Louisa works in and New York City itself (and let me tell you, Jojo really captures the sights and sounds of The City! You really feel like you are right beside Louisa as she is walking those streets!) There are a few twists and turns in the juggling act Louisa must do in order to keep her job, her boyfriend and her sanity, but you'll have to read Still Me to find out how that all works out. *Hint... have tissues ready, it's a bumpy, emotional fun-filled ride!

Now how is this story amazing? Well, revisiting a well loved character in a new book can be risky business. We loved Louisa Clark in England and the previous 2 books, Me Before You & After You, we loved character Will Traynor, we even loved Louisa's new love interest Sam, but would we love her moving across the pond? Would this new story pull us in or would we be missing everything Louisa and Jojo Moyes leaves behind in the last two books including those characters? The answer is that author Jojo Moyes does a fantastic job on all counts and Still Me is a wonderful read!

If you love the character Louisa Clark, if you've read the previous 2 books, or just Me Before You, you will love Still Me! If you haven't read the previous adventures of Louisa Clark, you still can enjoy Still Me and will fall in love with quirky, full of heart character Louisa Clark for the first time. In any case, pick up a copy of Still Me by Jojo Moyes and be prepared to be swept up in Louisa's newest adventure! A little romance, a little heartbreak, a lot of fashion and a great story! Coming to your bookstore of choice January 30th! Published by Penguin Random House.

I want to thank Penguin Random House for sending along a review copy of Still Me for an honest review! I loved it!

Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift... A Review

Can I even do justice to this book? Mothering Sunday: a Romance by Graham Swift is beautiful, quiet, passionate, sensual. Filled with heartache, longing, books and secrets. Oh yes, the secrets... Jane, the maid, the orphan, the clever girl, the lover of Paul, the boy who's won her heart, owns her body and is the son of the wealthy family in the estate next to her employers estate and has been having secret trysts for years, since she was 17 and he was 18, until the one day, Mothering Sunday, where Jane will have her last day with him, because he will be getting married to a girl of his own "station" in two weeks time.

This book is a romance, but it is so much more than that. It is a play on words, a fairy tale, a look at a wonderful character who by 1920's convention is a lowly maid,  but who after a brilliantly wonderful morning turns into the darkest day of her life, will open herself up to be the person she really is meant to be.

The book flows wonderfully from present day 1924 England to flashbacks of Jane's childhood, her beginnings as a maid, and her coming into her present situation. We also meet Jane as an old woman, reflecting back on her life and what her life has ultimately become... a life of secrets.

I don't really want to give away any spoilers here, but let me say that Graham Swift's storytelling is simple wonderful. And his prose is beautiful. He brings to life the period of time in England, where maids were the keeper of the house (and their secrets) and their station in life well defined. But Swift plays with convention here, as Jane is an equal in her relationship with the wealthy boy, and we see how she is so much more than the clothes she wears. Though she knows the part she is to play. And Swift plays with the reader too, because he hints at things and quietly tells us things so important we could miss them if we weren't hanging on every word that is painted effortlessly across the page. There is a subtleness in the way he reveals the earth shattering news that Mother Sunday brings, like being shot with a silencer. I am still recovering. But at a mere 177 pages, Mothering Sunday is a powerful, sensual read. A story so tightly woven that no more pages are needed to feel its impact. I loved this book. And have already gone back and reread passages that I wanted to hear again. 5 stars from this reader! An enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction. A book not to rush through, but to leisurely enjoy.

I want to thank Knopf Doubleday Publishing for the opportunity to read Mothering Sunday prior to publication, and allowing me to share this with my Chick with Books readers!

P.S. Mothering Sunday refers to the Sunday in which all maids go to see their Mothers.  

Can an Erotic BDSM Graphic Novel also be a Romantic Comedy? Sunstone, Volume 1 by Stjepa Sejic... A Review

Can an erotic BDSM graphic novel also be a romantic comedy? I guess it can, because Sunstone by Stjepa Sejic has all the obvious elements of BDSM, but it also has warmth, humor, honesty and a real love story. Though I have read erotic romances, I haven't had any BDSM in my TBR pile, but when I read Sunstone, I wasn't so much into the BDSM as I was into the humanity of the characters. Stjepa Sejic was able to actually have me feel the butterflies Lisa and Ally were starting to feel for one another. A love story that goes beyond whether they are two women and digs deeper and makes us think about why we feel the way we do about someone. How we start to fall in love. What it means to care and trust someone.

The Gist of the Story... Ally and Lisa are two "over 21" women, who met at an online chat "group". After a few months of "chatting, webcams and yes, virtual sex", Lisa asks Ally if she'd like to actually meet. (You find all this out, along with some history of the women growing up with a few pages of backstory). It is at this point the story really starts, and we get to experience their pre-first date jitters. When Lisa finally knocks on Ally's front door, the fun begins. And not just the "sex", which is alluded to more than actually shown. You'll see these two beautiful women in sexy outfits (what man could resist drawing that?), and in some suggestive poses, but then the bedroom door closes and they are given some privacy. The "fun" of the story really is Ally and Lisa getting to know each other and the things they are thinking and "not saying". Outside the bedroom they are just two girlfriends navigating life. There is one other major character at this point in time and that's Ally's friend (ex-boyfriend kinda), Alan, who we meet when he pops in after date #2.

Reading Sunstone Volume 1, I genuinely liked Lisa and Ally. Their dialogue is great, and the story has substance. For me the BDSM took a backseat to Ally & Lisa's budding friendship and romance.  Good story,well developed characters, absolutely beautiful artwork and 5 stars from me. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

P.S. In the first volume, after the story, author Stjepa Sejic shares how Sunstone came about. That in itself is a great story! 

Circling the Sun by Paua McLain… A Review

A sweeping novel that brings the beauty of the African plains to life and shines a light on a woman many have never heard of... 

This book was so wonderful! It was one of those books you just never want to end because you just love being there. The writing was captivating , the story was amazing and her painting of Africa in the most beautiful hues made you feel you were hiding in the tall grass, an actual spectator to all that was going on.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain tells the epic story of Beryl Markham, the first woman racehorse trainer in Kenya and first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. Brought up in Africa, by her father, Beryl grows into an adventurous woman, who cares more for the beauty around her, the wild untamed country she calls home, then for the delicacies of being a girl. Horses become her destiny, tragedy befalls her, but she has the heart of a lion and continues on. I have to say that, though it tells the story of Beryl and how she came to be a racehorse trainer and made that solo flight across the Atlantic, it's more of a story of a girl, abandoned by her mother, learning to find herself and her place in the world. Learning how to love and be loved. READ this book!  Love, jealousy, betrayal, an unforgettable landscape and unforgettable characters, a story that will capture your interest and your heart, all make this book an unforgettable read. This would make a great book club selection! And this was one of my favorite books of 2015! I could not put this book down!

Hemingway in Love: His Own Story by A.E. Hotchner… A Review

“Loving two women at the same time is the worst affliction a man can have.” 

Hemingway was passionate. In his work and in his life. Hemingway in Love, His Own Story, a memoir by long-time Hemingway confidant AE Hotchner exposes the great love he had for his first wife Hadley and his lifetime of despair over betraying her and losing her. It's a love story and a glimpse into Hemingway the man, whose writing came from his passion for life.

Following a second plane crash that Hemingway didn't think he was going to survive (but he did), he confided in his friend Hotchner the story that was closest to his heart, the story of how he gambled and lost the one true love of his life, his first wife Hadley, the woman who believed in him, who championed him on through lean times, and the only woman who could complete him and meet life head on just like he did. As his health was failing him, Hemingway wanted to make sure the story would be told if he couldn't do it himself. And that's exactly what Hemingway in Love does, it tells the story of the love he had for Hadley, his true love, how he betrayed her, lost her and continued to try and find her in the women he became involved with after her.

Oh how my heart ached for him! Hotchner did a wonderful job revealing the true heart of a man whose facade seemed so unshakeable, and all the while layering it with the people and places that served as Hemingway's playground. Paris comes alive, Cuba is revealed, Josephine Baker makes an appearance, as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald. These are the people and places that became his stories, and here we see them without the flourish of the pen. Though Hemingway revealed his story to Hotchner prior to his suicide in 1961, it wasn't until now that Hemingway in Love was published out of respect for Hemingway's fourth wife, Mary.

Are you a romantic at heart? Then you will love this book! A slim 192 pages and small enough to fit in a pocket, it's a perfect little gift for that romantic on your list too! A definite 4 star book.

Perfection Combination Review & Book Tour!

Welcome to the Perfect Combination Book Tour! Chick with Books is hosting today's book tour with a review of Jamillah & David Lamb's book, Perfect Combination! Along with my review, we'll learn a little bit about the authors, Jamillah & David Lamb...

First, What did I think of the book? Perfect Combination is a wonderful book about Jamillah and David, how they met, fell in love and how they keep that love alive and growing. It's their wish to share how they've managed to overcome all the pitfalls of falling in love and become happy healthy partners. Their book is arranged in sections that cover what they call the "Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Together," and I have to say that they've done a great job. In a kind of dialogue, with Jamillah talking first and then David adding his perspective and then vice versa, we learn the lessons that Jamillah and David learned while navigating the dating game, getting married and eventually working together in a business. All these "Key Ingredients" are common sense, but sometimes we just need a kick in the butt to remember why we fell in love in the first place and this book is a perfect reminder. Some of the things I took away from reading Perfect Combination were to "Let your past be the past" (we are made up of all our experiences, but let's not bring all that bad baggage with us), "Create Lasting Memories" (these are things that enhances a good relationship), Appreciate your partner, always be a friend to yourself and your significant other, be supportive, and of course don't forget to add a little romance to keep things fresh.

With anecdotes, playlists and stories, Jamillah and David share with you what has worked for them and what could work for you. Unlike some dry self help books, Perfect Combination is an entertaining read and written from the heart. I definitely enjoyed my time reading this book. Would be a good book for your single friend navigating the dating game, as well as a good book for any young couple wanting to heed some great advice.

A Little About Jamillah and David Lamb... David and Jamillah Lamb are the creative and dynamic couple that founded Between The Lines Productions, Inc. to fulfill their co-mission: to spread inspiration, joy, and love through the power of theater and other media.

David was born in Queens, NY and raised in public housing in Astoria, Queens. He attended Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and New York University School of Law. The successful playwright of the hit off-Broadway play Platanos Y Collard Greens, David has found the love of his life in Jamillah. Despite knowing he had found the right person, David struggled to lower his guard and put aside his tendency to be suspicious of women. Before Jamillah, David would often find himself breaking up with girlfriends rather than risk being hurt by rejection. Recognizing he had found a “kind heart and sweet spirit” in Jamillah, he made the decision “to grow up and grow into feeling what love felt like.” As the relationship has deepened, he’s learned other lessons. He now smiles at his typically male (let’s be honest!) expectation that Jamillah be able to read his mind. The ability of love and romance to conquer hurts and overcome hardships is a theme that runs through David’s books and plays. He loves being a business, marriage, and parenting partner with Jamillah.

Jamillah grew up in Chicago in the same neighborhood as First Lady Michelle Obama. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wesleyan University and then a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University. A former Vice-President at Citibank, Jamillah uses her education and experience in the daily operations of their business. Just like David, Jamillah had baggage of her own to overcome. Raised in a strict environment with high expectations, she struggled to lighten up. She put men she met before David “through the ringer,” worrying that allowing someone to care for her meant being less independent. As she learned to overcome her fears and become more trusting, she came up against other challenges. Becoming a family with the birth of their daughter Kaira was not a straight path. The journey to this incredible blessing was filled with adversity and pain, but also the support of David. Jamillah made one of her most important life decisions in 2005. At that time, Jamillah was a VP at Citibank, while also helping get David’s first play off the ground. The play had been going well for a couple of years, but it was still a big leap of faith when she made the decision to leave a comfortable corporate job to work on their business full-time. Through ups and downs, and the typical financial worries of growing a business, Jamillah has never regretted her decision. The choice has allowed them to be together day in and day out doing creative, passionate work together.

For More Information...
       Visit the authors’ website.
       Connect with the authors on Facebook and Twitter
       Find out more about the authors at Goodreads.

I want to thank Jamillah and David for sending along a copy of their book to me to read for this review! And I'd like to that Pump Up Your Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of the Perfection Combination Book Tour!

Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin... A Review

Pour yourself a Sweet Tea and relax… 

Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin is like a welcoming breeze on a warm summer day. When I opened the book for the first time, I stepped into Charleston, South Carolina and didn't look back until the last page. Kim Boykin's writing is inviting, engaging and wonderful.

Vada Hadley is a sweet Southern girl, just out of college, from a wealthy family, who is destined to marry drop dead gorgeous Justin McLeod to solidify the ties of these two wealthy families. But it's just a marriage of convenience, with Justin, quite a ladies man, who doesn't intend to change his ways and Vada not really liking Justin at all. On the eve of her wedding, Vada's Murrah, Ruth Lee, the woman who practically raised her from birth, comes up to her bedroom with her suitcase, giving Vada the option no one else wants to give her - a way out. Without any money of her own, and a handful of her designer dresses, Desmond, Ruth Lee's husband, whisks Vada off to anyplace she wants to go to escape. Vada chooses Round O, a small rural South Carolina town about 50 miles from Charlestown, where she was offered a teaching job after graduating from college. No way her family would look for her there. And so, Vada starts life as a working girl, living in a run down boarding house with a bitter old woman as a land lady, and a handsome hunk running the local diner. Hmmm, maybe things aren't so bad… romance, friendship and a wonderful portrayal of the South, Palmetto Moon is more than I could have wanted when I opened the book for the first time. Even though the year is 1947, the book has a contemporary feel to it, and it just draws you in. The romance starts very sweet (1947), but the embers underneath are HOT and don't disappoint!

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. But there are two things I can tell you…

1. I'm going to be reading more of Kim Boykin ( and I just downloaded an advanced copy of her Christmas novella, Just in Time for Christmas coming out later this month.)

2. If you like romance novels and/or Southern fiction, YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

I give Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin a 5 Sweet Tea rating!

I want to thank Pump Up your Book Tours for sending along a copy of Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin for an honest review! Thank you, I loved it!

**Kim stopped by Chick with Books to us what inspired her to write Palmetto Moon… Here's the LINK!