I haven’t had the best luck with mafia romances so I wasn’t sure what to expect here. Oftentimes I find them to be a little far fetched and predictable but damn this one was sooo good. It was anything but predictable, there were so many really surprising reveals and I haven’t even gotten to the romance side. Frank and Elena are both broken and have been through so much in their lives and the way they brought comfort and safety to each other was so special. Despite their super complex histories these two are made for each other and seeing them reconnect was everything. Frank’s tender relationship with Elena’s sons was absolutely adorable and seeing two little kids bring this big, tough man to his knees was my undoing. If you like emotional, angsty, and spicy romantic suspense this was excellent!

I’m always on the hunt for a new romantic suspense series because it combines my two favorite genres and this was such a good start to a series. It was sexy, cute, funny and swoony and it brought some serious tense vibes too. I loved Sue so much, she was vulnerable and relatable and I need more neurodivergent heroines in my life. Leo was the ultimate protective hero and had the kindest soul and the way he took care of Sue was the sweetest. It’s narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Troy Duran and they’re both just such amazing narrators and they really brought Sue and Leo to life. Definitely recommended if you’re an audio fan this was really great! 

The authors books are always one sitting, binge worthy reads for me but this one was on a whole new level of addictive for me. Everything about this was heightened, it was more intense, it was creepier, it was even faster paced than usual and it was everything I want in a thriller and more. Things went super dark and disturbing and at this time of year that’s exactly what I crave. Everything about this felt slightly unhinged and I mean that as a compliment. I never really knew what would happen next so it definitely kept me on my toes and made for such a suspenseful reading experience. The combination of emotional upheaval for Mari and a series of unexpected twists made this one such a solid read for me, if you like dark thrillers that give you the creeps this was so good!

Throughout this series I’ve been dying to know more about Roan and Aspen so to say I was eagerly awaiting this book is a huge understatement. I knew there was way more to Roan than what we had seen in previous books but I had no idea just how much of a puddle I would be when I got to know him more. This man is my new favorite Catherine Cowles hero, he is everything I wanted him to be and more. His fierce protectiveness of Aspen and his relationship with Cady made me swoon so hard and I loved how him and Aspen just healed each other, so beautiful. The suspense was so freaking tense too, Aspen’s heartbreaking backstory really ramped up the intensity and I had no idea who the bad guy was, totally well played. This series will always have a special place in my heart and this book is definitely my fave, at least so far. Maybe the final book will change that, Lawson is pretty delicious and I’m a sucker for a single dad…Anyway, all the stars of course as always ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and if you haven’t read this series yet it’s a must! 

This was such an adorable read, from the minute I started it I was transported to Shelter Springs and I kind of never wanted to leave. Natalie is home to help her sister with her kids while she’s on bedrest and while she loves her family, she’s in town begrudgingly. Griffin was her brother’s best friend and when he tragically passed away they didn’t stay in touch. I enjoyed that while this was wholesome and sweet both Natalie and Griffin had some darkness in their pasts they had to overcome before they could find their way to each other. The senior residents of the Shelter Inn were a crack up and I loved the little community they forged together. Add inn Hazel and Nora, Natalie’s super cute nieces and this was beyond cozy and fun. If you want a feel good holiday read this is such a good choice.

I’m not totally ready for holiday reads yet but I couldn’t pass up the chance to read Shelia Robert’s latest, her books are so cute and cozy and even though this was Christmassy, it could definitely be read and enjoyed at any time of the year. this follows three women, Sunny, Arianna and Molly over the course of a year. All three have awful holiday celebrations so they decide to have a do over and they celebrate once a month for a year. While this was sweet and heartfelt with plenty of lighthearted moments it was also realistic and showed the lows in the women’s lives as well. If you like stories about found family, spreading cheer all year long and a little bit of romance this one was really fun!