I cannot even believe it but this is the twentieth installment in the series, how impressive is that? What’s even more impressive is that this still felt as fresh and exciting as book one did, there is nothing formulaic or repetitive here and is the reason I have stuck with the series so long. I’ll continue to do so as long as the author keeps writing, Kim and team may as well be part of my family at this point and I never tire of reading what they’re up to. I always get asked if you can jump into the series late and technically yes, you can and would be fine because each book follows a new case. But in this instance the twenty book commitment is well worth it so I say start at the beginning, enjoy the ride and thank me later! 

The team is tasked with not one, but two cases simultaneously here, someone is hunting down the mothers of former beauty pageant contestants and brutally murdering them and there’s a side case involving a long dead body found in a fishing lake. So no shortage of excitement here, I have always thought child beauty pageants are both fascinating and slightly creepy so that angle interested me greatly. It focused heavily on the relationship between mothers and daughters and if you’re caught up on the series then you already know about Kim’s complex relationship with her own mother so the parallels and introspection Kim had while working this case was highly engaging. I love how the author always lays the groundwork where you could, plausibly solve the case as you read but I never quite get there before Kim and the team crack it wide open themselves. It’s so fun to look back after I finish and think, oh I see what you did there, the breadcrumbs were all strewn about I just didn’t figure it out. Per usual this was fast paced, gripping and exciting with plenty of dark and disturbing reveals that were balanced by snarky comments and banter between Kim and her team. There are always moments of levity in these books and it is executed so well. Another winner, the author never misses for me and continues to write some of my very favorite crime fiction out there.

This one was so emotional, sexy and heartfelt I just adored it. I was totally invested right from the start, talk about an emotional ride and that connection never waned for me once as I read this. It’s such a beautiful story of loss and love, moments of tragedy and then moments of pure love and affection. It really had me all over the place emotionally and I so enjoyed the journey. The author handled some delicate issues with grace and authenticity and the relationship between Dakota and Christopher was beautiful and sweet. Her sweet daughters added so much innocence and light and I’m just obsessed with this family. If you like single parent, taboo, and hockey romance this was excellent. The narrators, especially Savannah Peachwood as Dakota did such an amazing job at conveying the wide variety of emotions these two experience. Connor Crais as Christopher was also an amazing performance, SO good! 

If you’ve read the authors previous release, On Fire Island you will recognize some of the characters here which was a pleasant surprise for me! Though connected you can still read this one on its own too though just fyi. I loved the setup with each section of this following Addison over seven summer weeks as a lively and colorful cast of characters rents out the guesthouse her aunt left her in her will. The estrangement added a level of depth and complexity to the otherwise fluffy beach read and opened up a bunch of emotional issues for Addison. The characters, both and main and secondary were all such a delight and charmed me almost as much as the setting did. This is ideal summertime reading, it has basically everything you would want in a seasonal read, there’s romance, drama, laughs and a dreamy setting. 

This was a pretty cute debut romance! Emerson and Theo were best friends in high school and they made a marriage pact to marry each other if they’re still single at 28. Fast forward to ten years later and the two haven’t spoken in years but they’re reunited on a fashion shoot where she is a huge supermodel and he’s a photographer. So you get a second chance romance, a beautiful Italian setting, a super slow burn and lots of angst. There is quite a bit of miscommunication and I know that’s not a fave for many people but it didn’t bother me too much here. Brittany Pressley is my queen so she was obviously great and Sean Patrick Hopkins as Theo was fantastic as well. There are some emotional moments and he did a great job portraying them. 

I’m kicking myself that I haven’t read one of the authors books before because this one was sooo good!! If you’re like me and you’re creating your summer TBR this one is perfect, it’s a summer romance with so much depth and heart. The location is charming and quirky, Fisher and Sage were both incredibly well developed and relatable characters and the romance aspect was so swoony. It’s sexy and flirty but also sweet and touching and has so much humor and wit. The audio version was such a delightful listen, Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber were the perfect Fisher and Sage and their performances were heartfelt and entertaining. 

The start of a new Catherine Cowles series is like Christmas to me, I’m obsessed with her books and this was one of my most anticipated releases for this year. It more than lived up to my expectations, it was incredible and may be her best yet! 

The author is the queen of sucking you in immediately with a heartbreaking prologue and this one absolutely gutted me. I instantly connected with Rho, she is pure sunshine and fierce determination and Anson was her total opposite. He’s dark and grumpy, but there are *reasons* and underneath his hard exterior is such a good man 🥹 When he starts to let his guard down a little with Rho it’s clear they have so much more in common than he first thought and these two complimented each other so perfectly. The found family trope was everything and just made me that much more excited about the future books in the series. And then the suspense, are you kidding me?! The stakes were so high and this was definitely one of the authors darkest and most intricately plotted books. If you like found family, brothers best friend, small town, romantic suspense, grump and sunshine, and age gap this is a must! 

I’ve really enjoyed several of the authors books but this one just didn’t work for me. I was disappointed because I had high hopes but I had too many issues with it. The premise had potential but the execution was lacking, the pacing was very slow and the payoff wasn’t there for me in the end. I failed to connect with any of the characters, I didn’t feel like they were well developed and in turn I just didn’t care what was happening. Then there were still some unanswered questions at the end and I hate when things are unresolved. Overall a flop for me.

Just when I think the author can’t possibly get any better she outdoes herself, this one was SO good! I’ve loved every book in this series but I think this is my top pick now, and really that’s saying something because every book has been a five star read for me. The familial connections here were so meaningful, at this point in the series I’ve gotten to know many of the players and it just makes the reading experience that much more special for me. Allegra wants to stay in Scotland and Jared needs help saving his family farm so they decide to get married. Cue the “my wife” moments and I’m just a puddle 🫠 I think one of the things I love the most about romantic suspense is the combination of romance and tension just adds an extra layer to the story and the author weaves things together so well. With the sizzling chemistry Allegra and Jared had together, the beautiful setting and the danger lurking around I was totally captivated. This series is top tier and if you haven’t read it yet you must! 

Looking at this you already know it’s a perfect summer read but I have to say, it would be absolutely ideal to bring on your summer vacation. It’s light and gossipy, plenty of drama and intrigue and has a pretty summer setting that makes you feel like you’re already on vacation anyway. This is a family drama that follows three sisters who are all at pivotal moments in their lives. I love a story about sisters and Kate, Bree and Shelby were entertaining and relatable at times. Besides an interesting family dynamic there is also a mystery sub plot that was a pleasant surprise. If you want an escapist read with all the summertime vibes this was really enjoyable.