Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Impactful. Eye opening. Drenched in emotion.  Women are heroes, and war is hell.  

 

This book has consumed my thoughts since finishing it.  

 

There’s no doubt that Hannah has written many books about significant timeframes and overlooked female heroes.  But this one, it’s quite possibly her most important to date.  

 

As a milspouse, this book hit particularly hard.  I’ve seen the impact of war first-hand.  And in this novel, Hannah gets it agonizingly right.  

 

It’s gut wrenching and raw.  It’s, “how can a person handle any more?!”  It’s sobbing tears and choking pain.  It’s being home and yet not free.  

 

Walking in Frankie’s shoes was an immersive experience.  To encounter such trauma and then to be overlooked and discounted.   It ripped my heart out.  I wanted better for her.  

 

It’s worth noting that Hannah utilizes two of my most detested tropes. I wanted to hate it.  Instead, I realized the brilliance in their execution.  They masterfully showcased the traumatizing, life altering effects of combat.  A person… irrevocably changed into something different, unrecognizable.  

 

It’s not all heartbreak and turmoil though.  There is deep, abiding, life impacting friendship.  There is hope and overcoming.  There is honor and recognition.  I was so proud of Frankie in the end.

 

And there are the real women behind this fictional account.  True heroes deserving a spotlight.  

 

A definitive must read, and a necessary lesson for us all.  

 

But grab a friend (like @books_and_biceps9155 ) and a box of tissues first! 

 

🎧 Narrated by the incomparable Julia Whelan, the audiobook is a richly executed, immersive experience.  Whelan fully embodies Frankie, bringing powerful emotion to life while also propelling the narrative with a sense of urgency.  

I could not wait to get my hands on this book after falling OH-SO-HARD for Divine Rivals.  But once I had my copy (copies ☺️) in hand, I dreaded the end.  

 

And now, with it indeed over, I bask in the beauty that it was.  Sad to say goodbye.  Yet my heart is full.  

 

Where the first book is focused on Roman and Iris (oh the longing!), the second book shifts focus to Enva and Dacre.  The history between the gods and the labyrinth of the underworld are given full scope, and in such, the roles that Iris and Roman play in the war take on a greater scope.  

 

While this shift brought about a new depth that I enjoyed immensely, I also found myself wanting more from the romance.  The first book oozed of longing.  As such, I wanted this book to feel equally overwhelmed with love.  Don’t get me wrong. It is there in part.  And what’s there is spine tinglingly good.  I just pined for so much more.  

 

Overall, this is a well done, satisfying end to a beloved series.  It’s one I will recommend with abandon over and over.  

 

And so, when asked my favorite series in the future, my pat answer must be amended.  No longer just Beartown.  Now, Beartown and Letters of Enchantment.  

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks for the #gifted copy of this book.  

 

I still remember the overwhelming emotion I felt as I closed the pages of In Five Years.  The friendship.  The romance.  I went into it looking for a love story, and I got it.  But not at all in the way I expected.  That book surprised me.  

 

So going into Expiration Dates, I had high hopes for a similar experience.  Oh, but… those expectations…

 

Each time Daphne meets a new man, a piece of paper appears.  On it, she’s given the expiration date for the relationship.  But one day, a paper arrives, and no date is to be found.  

 

It’s not often I feel this conflicted about a book.  Did I enjoy this book?  Is this a book I can recommend?

 

With short chapters and an interesting premise, I found myself easily immersed in the story right away.  And about halfway through, in typical Serle fashion, the reveal indicated there was much more to be gleaned from the storyline than mere romantic forays.  The plot brimmed with potential.  

 

But for me, the execution held back the possibilities within the premise.   For one, I love the way magical realism can enhance and enchant.  But in this instance, I found that the magic hindered.  

 

Most notably, the reveal had SUCH opportunity to expose us to important representation.  It could’ve made SUCH an important impact.  Instead, it fell… short….flat.  

 

Though this was a mixed bag for me, there were several people in my buddy read that really enjoyed it.  I think this one will find an audience that appreciates it in the way I had hoped to.  

 

Loved getting to chat about his one with friends!  Check out their reviews for other perspectives.  @brandy_reads @keepingyouonread @chicagobooklover @buckeye_jenna_reads_again @lit_with_kristen @laurenreadsitall @readwithras @meghan_reads @naesreadingnook @letsget.thisread @mybiblioescape

 

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @bookclubfavorites and @simon.audio for the #gifted free copies of this book.  

 

Clever.  Unique.  Unputdownable.  

 

The case of the Alperton Angels.  Mysterious indeed.  With more questions than answers, intrigue over the cult and its related deaths never died down.  And now, with the baby at the center of the case turning 18, true crime author, Amanda Bailey, is looking to uncover new details.   

 

Masterfully told in epistolary format, Hallett brilliantly utilized a broad range of mixed media- email, WhatsApp texts, interview transcripts, news clippings, screenplay.  This delivery made for a compulsive read that I easily found myself lost within, not wanting to put down.  

 

Deftly plotted with no redundancy.  Everything mattered.  All details had purpose.  The storyline was smartly woven and intricately crafted.  This book kept me on my toes.  Constantly thinking.  Constantly adjusting my theories.  And in the end, Hallett truly astounded.   

 

There was a surprising depth to the characters given the format.  Amanda proved to be quite the investigator, but it was Ellie, her transcriber, whose personality really shined and was my favorite.    

 

This is my favorite kind of read… one that surprises and satisfies.  I loved everything about it and can’t recommend it highly enough.    

 

This one begged to be read amongst friends!  What a rich discussion this book created.  All the way through, we compared notes, and that ending had us in awe!  @book_wine_and_thinker @chicagoboooklover @laurasnextchapter and @rachellelovesbooks

 

🎧 Narrated by a full cast, the audiobook is EXCEPTIONAL.  Truly extraordinary.   The best of the best.  It was an altogether immersive experience that brought the characters fully to life.  BUT.  Given the depth of details and quick moving storyline, I found the need to partner the audio with my print copy.  I highly recommend doing the same for an all-around remarkable read.  

 

Many thanks to @dreamscape.media for the #gifted copy of this book.  

 

Tender. Emotional. 

 

This book was ALL over my feed when it was released back in October, and every rave review I saw gave me such fomo.  So when I won a copy in a giveaway hosted by @allthebooksalltheways and @jess.sinclair, I was so excited.  

 

When Bluebell flees her soon-to-be ex-husband and returns home, all the confusion and grief surrounding her mother’s death 10 years prior are brought back to the surface.  To find peace, Blue must get to the truth of what happened that night.  But in doing so, she’ll ruffle some feathers as well as revive old connections.  

 

There was so much to love in this endearing story.  Finding your way back home.  Breaking old patterns.  Grieving the past but learning to live in the present.  Forgiving old wrongs.  Each theme brimmed with hope and healing.  

 

There’s a sweet romance here, no doubt. I rooted for Blue and Enzo all the way through.  But where this book shined was in the examination of family.  The flaws.  The complexities.   There were gritty details as well as beautifully warm moments.  This is a story of love- the integral bond of family- much more than romance.  

 

Blue’s journey was hard fought, making the happy ending that much sweeter.  

 

🎧 Full of emotion, the narration by Nan McNamara well depicted Bluebell’s experiences.  But for some reason, I found myself grabbing for the book more often than the audio.  

Many thanks to my friends @hankpryan @forgebooks and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

🍿🍷 Grab some popcorn and pour yourself a glass of red wine, Olivia Pope style.  Ryan is delivering all the fixer vibes in her latest, One Wrong Word.  

 

Words have power.  

 

Joy.  It should be one of the best words.  But crisis manager, Arden Ward has just learned that joy led to her firing.  (Damn jealous spouses.)  She’s one of the best at her firm.  But that isn’t what is important to powerful people.

 

Not guilty. Ned Banister is finally exonerated.  So why does his life seem stuck in the horror of the accusations?  

 

When Arden is given one last chance to save her reputation while also reforming Ned’s, her skillset is put to the test.  

 

I love a classic fixer storyline.  Fast paced.  Clever.  The need to stay one step ahead.  The ability to shift a perspective.  And this plot delivered!

 

This was a whirlwind of a twisted ride.  Each time new information was revealed, I altered my theories… constantly on my toes.  And in the end, I appreciated that the clues had been well laid, even the ones I didn’t catch onto, leading to a satisfying ending. 

 

The theme of this book provided an entertaining storyline.  Rumors.  Gossip.  Lies.  But it was also a stark and potent reminder at the power found in words.  

 

I could see this one turned into a series!  I know I would enjoy reading more adventures with Arden and Monelle! 

 

🎧 There’s nothing better than a propulsive audio to get me motivated to clean.  And I can attest to this audiobook being exactly what I needed to get the 30-year-old fridge in my BFF’s new house spic-and-span clean

Rich in culture and laden with terror. 

 

When an architect uncovers an ancient tomb while overseeing a renovation, her family is put in grave danger.  

 

Full of folklore and history with apt messaging on colonialism and sexism, this was a vividly told tale of possession unlike any I’ve read before.  The first half starts quite slowly but intensifies throughout the second half into a climatic finale.  

 

While it took me a while to get invested, the importance of the themes was worth the patience I extended.  

 

I recommend reading this with friends.  The plot points and messaging made for a worthwhile discussion with some of my favorite friends: @bookmarked.by.becky and @thats.one.for.the.books.  

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted free copies of this book.  

 

“One beetle recognizes another.”

 

Flirty and full of yearning!  (I’ve never wanted someone to call me a beetle more in my life!)   

 

Raine is a roaming musician with ADHD.  Jack is a tattooed Irishman that owns a bar and navigates life with OCD.  Two imperfect people. But a perfect match for each other.  

 

Oh, how this book charmed me!  It was funny.  It was tender.  It was such an earnest picture of attraction and all the associated complexities.  It overflowed with heart, and it also brought the heat.  A+ chemistry and banter!  

 

I loved how Raine and Jack complimented each other.  It was a beautiful picture of seeing and understanding…. of accepting the other person as is.  They took time to lift each other, support each other, and love through the hard spots.  Man, oh man.  THAT is a relationship worth falling for!  

 

The mental health representation in this book really shined.  It was real and raw.   It was honest and destigmatizing.  This was more than a plot device.  It was a true representation.    

 

I’m not generally a cat person.  But even I came to adore Sebastian Princess Ugly Floof.  

 

And that ending!  SWOON.  This is not your typical HEA.  It was better.  And it was absolutely perfect for this a-typical couple.     

 

🎧 Combining the print and audio made for a full-bodied reading experience.  With dual narration, the audiobook breathed life into our separate MCs and heightened the all-around experience.  Karissa Vacker is a favorite, and once again she provided a stellar performance.  But it was Gary Furlong who had me like putty in his hands.  It’s that damned Irish lilt.  Sigh.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

What a surprise!  This was a twisty, fun gothic mystery that I didn’t want to put down!

 

Honestly, I wasn’t sure about this read when I first saw it circulating.  But then, the buzz was hot.  So when @thats.one.for.the.books asked about a buddy read, the FOMO made it an easy yes. 

 

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore.  The richest woman in North Carolina.  Kidnapped as a child and widowed four times under mysterious circumstances.  Now THAT is a life with a story to tell.  

 

From the beginning, I found myself easily engaged with the storyline.  I was fascinated by Ruby.  Each chapter left me eager for more of her story.  

 

And then there was the rest of the family… what a tangled web!  

 

Rife with secrets and full of drama, this read was just the juicy entertainment that I needed.  It was twisty and fast paced, and the anticipation built into a satisfying finale.   

 

This is my favorite read by Hawkins to date.  Much like Ruby charmed her many husbands, I think this book will easily thrill many readers.  

 

🎧 The audiobook was excellently narrated by a cast, breathing life into the various point of views and showcasing the drama filled twists.  Extra shoutout to Patti Murrin, the narrator for Ruby.  She truly exemplified Ruby’s feisty and bold nature. 

Many thanks to my friends at @getredprbooks for the #gifted copy of this book.  

 

An eccentric character.  An endearing dog.  And a heartwarming message.  

 

I remember those early days of motherhood well… so busy caring for a tiny human that I forgot to take care of myself.  

 

So, my introduction to Olivia… listlessly walking the aisles of a Target devoid of purpose after sending her daughter off to kindergarten… felt oh so relatable.   

 

And when Patricia entered the scene… full of purpose and boldness, strongarming Olivia into a job as her assistant, well, I needed to see how that would play out.  

 

At just over 200 pages, this was an easy, read-in-one-sitting book.  I loved the premise of making a list to promote happiness and growth.  (It reminded slightly of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley.)   Yoga.  Ziplining.  Karaoke.  As Patricia and Olivia pushed themselves into new arenas, they came to learn new things about themselves (and others!).  

 

Truly though, the standout character was Marven the dog.  One of my favorite rescue dogs!  I wanted to snuggle him.

 

The Me List would be a good fit for anyone feeling a bit stuck in life.