Christmas Confidential Lily Chu, narrator: Phillipa Soo

I listened to this novella and enjoyed the narrator throroughly.
Hana Choi's ex-roommate and current best friend is marrying Hana's cousin, a super-famous K-pop star. But, as romance stories are wont to do, the wedding is getting out of hand. Papparazzi are everywhere, they've had to book three different luxury hotels to try and throw Jihoon's fans off their track.
What's making all of this so complicated for Hana is that it's happening right after Jihoon's former bandmate (Hana's big crush), Kit, has just announced his feelings for her. But what if them getting together destroys what they already have? They agree to do some trial dating. But the wedding, combined with Kit's new television show and fake dati
ng with his costar take a little bit away from the development of Hana and Kit's relationship.

Four stars

Connected to: The Comeback

This book came out October 15, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

The Comeback by Lily Chu, narrator: Phillipa Soo

Ariadne Hui defines herself by her job. She's a lawyer. A darn good one, even if her heart isn't completely in it. But, this is what her dad has planned for her and she is nothing, if not a dutiful daughter. But her job is stressful and she's not excited to come home and find a stranger in her living room. Just... peachy. 

Choi Jihoon has just gone through a breakup according to his cousin Hana, Ariadne's roommate. He's going to hang out at their apartment while Hana is traveling. While Ariadne isn't particularly keen on the idea at first, she discovers that Jihoon is actually a really good listener. She's just starting to fall for the man when his secret is revealed and Ari is pushed into a realm she never thought she would have to join. 

I didn't love the third act miscommunication, especially since everyone seemed shocked at what I thought was a perfectly reasonable reaction from Ari. But a cute story and I hope the rest of the band members find love. 

Four stars

Connected to: Christmas Confidential

This book came out July 14, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

The Alibi Club by Carrie Talick

By the time I read this book, I had completely forgotten the premise. So I was able to sink into the story which is one of alternating third person viewpoints. The prologue starts in chaos and then we jump to weeks prior. 

All of the characters are either part of a Dinner for Six or peripherally connected to Jamie. Dinner for Six is the brainchild of matchmaker Lorna. Her calling is to match people. Sometimes she even does it for free. But not this group. By the time the book is halfway done, she's collected her six  people, including Cliff and Lorna who have already met.  

There were some weird overlaps in the text (Cliff notices Lorna's beauty mark at least twice), and characters repeat information several times. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out on September 29, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Alcove Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Snow This is Love by Christina Lauren; Julie Murphy; Jasmine Guillory; Zoraida Córdova; Jesse Q. Sutanto

Deck the Heels by Julie Murphy

It didn't take me long to realize that this was a follow up to a book I hadn't read. It looks like it's called, "If the Shoe Fits." Henry and Cindy were the end game of a reality show called Before Midnight. Now,w they're just living their lives. Are trying to, anyway. Because they were a big hit, they've got a big following of people who want to see where the two of them end up. Hopefully marriage. So, they decide to go for it; and for the wedding to be filmed. But the course of true love never does run smooth. and Henry seems really distracted. Is this really waht they both want?

Three stars

Beauty and the Baking Battle by Jasmine Guillory

Another postscript novella. I had read the book this follows, "By the Book," four years ago and remembered most of the story. In this story, Izzy and Beau have been invited to be on a last-minute bake-off-type show but for celebrities at Christmas. Beau has even offered to let them set up the baking tent in his back yard. 

Four stars

Siren in the Snow by Zoraida Cordova

Singer-songwriter Eric Reyes just wants to make his way to his woman. He's having to go through snow, blizzards, and missed planes to find her. 

Ariel is looking forward to seeing Ariel. She was also a pop star but part of a family group that has since disbanded. She has no idea that her beloved is assembling her friends and family so that he can propose. 

I hadn't read the first book but now feel like I should. 

Three stars 

Best (New Year's) Day Ever by Christina Lauren

Following a trend, I had not read this book but this is the only story that I feel would have benefitted from reading the previous story. Ren is a manic pixie farm girl who met straitlaced Edward when she was finally allowed out into the world. Lots of information followed, most of which is recapped in this book. They are looking for their perfect New Year's Day but, novel, lots of things pop up to destroy what they are hoping to achieve.

Love Christina Lauren, this one wasn't for me.

Two stars

Dreaming of a Perfect Lunar New Year by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Mulan's finally stepped into the role of CEO after her father stepped down. We're invited along on her first day when she's meeting with Dina Foster, well-known in their area for helping women-run businesses succeed. Mulan really wants her acquisition company to be a part of that. And Dina will be attending Mulan's company Lunar New Year party. But everything seems to be going wrong. 
Will she survive the stress and win Dina's business? 

Not so much on building onto the romance though her beau, Shang, is featured as a supportive partner with an option for a future. 

Three stars

This book comes out October 13, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

How To Find A Nameless Fae by A.J. Lancaster

What is a princess supposed to do when she's turned forty-one and the curse that she was born with never comes to fruition? Giselle's mother failed to guess a fae's name and he was supposed to come fetch her in return. But that hasn't happened. And Giselle has lived her whole life with no one wanting to get close to her because she's just going to leave. So, she's going to strike out and write her own story, heading into the fairy realm to find the being who has prevented her from living her life.

It turns out, the fae has lost something as well. And the two are now inextricably linked. The more time she spends with the fae, the less Giselle is convinced she's like to leave.
There were parts that you can't think too hard about but an overall charming story.

Four stars

This book came out June 26, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Well Versed by Jen DeLuca

Six years ago Nina's heart was broken. That tainted her love of the Ren Faire and even made her change her major. Now, she's jobless and had to move back home where they desperately need ladies in waiting. Too bad the man who broke her heart is still there. And, through a series of unfortunate events, he is now spending more and more time with her family. By extension then, her. And she may not be as upset as she originally thought about that.
I didn't enjoy this book as well as the first one. I'm not sure if I'm just in a different place but the heroine seemed more caught up in her own issues that circled and  

Three stars

Well Met #5

This book came out September 22, 2026

Follows Well Traveled

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

A Ghost's Guide to Haunting a Witch (And Other Bad Decisions) by Sharon Ibbotson

Augustine Pepperday is a witch. Non-magical. She grew up in a family of witches, but, while they all had powers, she did not. However, a man has just walked into the store asking her to not only read his fortune, but to talk to the dead for him. She freaks out and kicks him out of her store. Why is she reacting to him so strongly? Neither talking to her roommate nor her sister yield any results. He returns and the story begins to skip around to various timelines and viewpoints.

The conceit of the book is an intereting one but I'm not sure about how successful Ibbotson is in pulling it off. For one, the blurb about the book isn't exactly how the story unfolds. We know that Augustine has two sisters but we really only ever see one until the end. Some of the world building that is purposely hidden until the end could have been introduced earlier in the story; it would have built characters better without spoiling the ending of the story. There is not enough time on page with Theo and Augustine. We get a beginning and an end but not enough about the middle. 

Three stars

This book came out September 10, 2026

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Joffe Books

Opinions are my own

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Two women are heading out to a former club to attend a speed date. Jamie Prescott and her best friend Laurie are hoping to meet some men. They are not hoping to get murdered. But that, somehow, seems to be an option for the evening as, halfway through the rounds, the bodies start to pile up. Jamie is a big fan of both horror and rom-coms (writing her thesis on them, in fact) and has the list of rules for how to be the Final Girl. But will the rules work in real life? 

Four stars

Followed by While You Were Screaming

This book came out February 3, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy by Jacqueline Firkins

Phillipa Flynn has a near-death experience and upends her life. She quits her job and moves into her grandmother's house. The only wrinkle? Her grandmother's writing partner is still in the house. But that's fine, they can both be there. Even if the house is falling apart, it's still large. 

At first, she and Dylan don't interact much, he doesn't really seem to have much to say. But then they start to open up.

And even though this seemed to be billed as a romance, the focus is more on Philippa and her personal growth. It took me some time to get into the book, but I really enjoyed the middle. Unfortunately, the end didn't match the rest of the story. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 1, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot

Dr. Francesca "Frankie" Giovanni loves living in her small town. She doesn't love summer people (tourists) and she really doesn't like the owner of the house next door, Ash Merit. He bought it from a lovely couple and now it's an AirBnB with Really. Annoying. People. The latest one is asking Franki if she can get rid of the ghost that's in her house. All of the woman's food has been taken, but it obviously wasn't a regular burglary. The Summer Person does leave and Ash comes to town. He's there for two reasons. One to see what is going on in the house and two to find a lost girl for his boss, the one he bought the house for. See, even though Ash has a real job that doesn't really play into this story at all, he's also really, really good at finding things. And this particular girl is just one in a series of missing girls that may actually be linked to the events of the previous book.

It took me a while to get into this book and I'm not sure the third narrator was needed but it was a nice follow up to the first in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out August 11, 2026

Witches of West Harbor #2

Follows Enchanted to Meet You

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager

Opinions are my own

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

Nolan and Harper are back again. Less killing in this book but they are still having to deal with all of the deaths in the first book. The true crime group who lost two members in the first book are in town trying to figure out what happened to their friends. There was also a big reveal at the end of the last book that is having consequences in this book. Consequences that leave Nolan and Harper at odds at the end of this book.

Three and a half stars

Seasons of Carnage Trilogy #2

Follows by Tourist Season

This book came out June 9, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Honey Pot Plot by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

How can there be even more dead bodies in Rocky Start? Weren't there enough in the first two books? Yes, this is a town with a higher number than average of former asssassins. But most have been retired long enough that no one should be after them any more. But now there are two attempts on the women in the town. 

At the same time there are kilings in town, someone tries to take Max out while he's just trying to finish the Appalachian Trail. Are the attacks connected or is something else going on? And will peace ever come to Rocky Start?

A fun series that seems like it is wrapping up. It's fast, fun, and fluffy but gave me something to listen to. 

Four stars

Rocky Start #3

Follows Very Nice Funerals

Followed by Rocky Road

This book came out March 20, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Blaire Kellermoon is still trying to find her footing after her divorce. Both of her children are now out of the house and she's moved back into the home she and her husband had kept even though they had moved into a much larger mansion. She used to be a rom-com actress but lately has been working as a producer. There is one book that she particularly wants to get done, The Green Light, but she's having problems. In the meantime, she's trying to get the rights to a book written by Jack Branksome.

Jack wrote the book when he was much younger. Since then, he's been teaching but he's trying to write another book. He's not much impressed by Blaire and denies her request. Too bad everyone assumed he'd do it and the news had already leaked. 

Now he's feeling bad. And shocked that she responds by inviting him to write in her pool house. Even more shocked that he accepts.

The two slowly start to get to know each other an themselves. The book has some weird bits that don't always get explained, but it made me smile a number of times.

Four stars

This book comes out July 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

Osric and Aurienne are back. In the last book, Osric had sought out Aurienne as someone who could possibly heal his rot, even though he was more morally black and she walked on the side of light. Together, they figured out who was creating a plague that was killing children. In this book, they find out that just because the people made the plague, that doesn't mean they were the BIG bad. Now, they are on an adventure to take down the evil behind the evil while trying not to hope too much that Osric's disease seems to be reversing. It is a fast, fun, fantasy ride that maybe goes a little long but is as delightful as the first book. 

Four stars

Dearly Beloathed #2

This book came out on July 7, 2026

Follows The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinons are my own

Very Nice Funerals by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

Max Reddy doesn't want to stay in Rocky Start. It's a town with two many secrets that he doesn't want to be a part of. And one person he's going to hate to leave. But on the next-to-last day before his self-imposed return to the AT, someone cuts a rope bridge while he's on it. So... now he's sticking around. 

Meanwhile Poppy's life is changing. She had a traumatic incident in the last book and now her life is changing. And she's not sure if she likes where it's going but she knows that it is not going to be what she had originally planned. 

Four stars

Rocky Start #2

Follows Rocky Start

Followed by The Honey Pot Plot

This book came out July 21, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Rocky Start by Bob Mayer, Jennifer Crusie with narrators Eric G. Dove, Cris Dukehart

This book is pure fluff and has Crusie's fingerprints all over it. If you know her writing, this book will feel very familiar. 
Rosalee "Rose" Malone has lived in Rocky Start for nineteen years. Ever since her 12-year relationship ended when she got pregnant and he threw her under the bus for fraud. Now her daughter is about to graduate high school and her mentor is dead. But there are weird things happening in Rocky Start including two gentleman. One who attacks her in her store and one who says he saved her (though she thinks she was doing a pretty good job herself, thankyouverymuch.)
Max Reddy and his dog Mags are in town to pick up a new pair of boots while he's out on the Appalachian Trail. This town is out of the way but this is where his old boss sent the package. It's an interesting little town, straddling the line of Tennessee and South Carolina. The people there remind him of the people he used to work with in his old job; lots of secrets to hide.
Rosalee bothered me a little; she sticks her head in the sand about a lot of things. But I still enjoyed the book quite a bit. 

Four stars

Rocky Start #1

Followed by A Very Nice Funeral

This book came out July 21, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle

The book opens with Alice Radstone returning to the Hotel of Dreams. Except this time, she's there on purpose. It's been ten months since she escaped a ward for the criminally insane after being dubbed "The Mad Bride." Everyone thought she had killed her husband, but she has no memory of that night. Nor has she any memory of that husband.

Owen March is feeling guilty. He helped a very wealthy man track down Alice, but he's beginning to thingk that the story he was told is a lie. He's going to make sure that Alice can return to her regular life a free woman. And to do that, he'll have to keep her safe by marrying her.

Is this book a little bonkers? Oh yeah. Did I still enjoy the ride? Mostly. It stretched my disbelief suspension to the max but I overall had fun.

Three and a half stars

Ghost Hunters #18

This book comes out June 30, 2026

Follows It Takes a Psychic

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

Arden is just starting out as an author at the beginning of the book. She's at a book signing and shrugs it off when one of her fans asks her to grab a meal or coffee with her. But then she sees him again. And again. And someone breaks into her house. Then again, when she's home. But he's wealthy so he gets off with a time of five years. 

In that time, Arden begins to heal, writes more books, and decides to move to Oregon, following her family. She also meets the people of her town, including Joe Riley who owns the hardware store as well as his grandson, Gideon. Gideon is a double-threat as a romance hero, being not only a woodworker but a former cop. 

Of course, the two begin to fall in love. But the danger still lurks.

If you like Roberts, you will enjoy this book. It definitely follows her formula but it's a good formula and enjoyable. 

Four stars

This book came out May 26, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Oh Susan Elizabeth Phillips, you do make me smile. In this book, Dean Robillard, quarterback for the Chicago Stars, picks up a woman on the side of the road dressed in a beaver suit. Blue Bailey hsd been dumped by her boyfriend and had her accounts cleaned out by her humanitarian mother, her car died and the woman who was supposed to pick her up from her recent roadside advertising gig never showed up. Instead, she gets picked up by a gorgeous man whose perfect body is splashed over billboards all around town. The two are not immediately attracted but definitely intrigued. Dean needs relief from boredom and Blue needs a ride to Nashville. She agrees to ride with him to his farm where he's resting up for the next football season. What neither of them knows is that Dean's estranged mother has been masquerading as a housekeeper in order to fix the house up for him. When his half-sister and estranged father also show up, a family special it is not. 

Love the book. Made me laugh. Witty banter and real family problems kept me interested. Will definitely read again (and again, and again...)

I wrote this in 2010 and have, indeed, read it again and again. Don't love it as much as I did in the beginning but still enjoyable.

Four stars

Chicago Stars #7

Follows Match Me if You Can

Followed by First Star I See Tonight

This book came out February 6, 2007

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Every girl dreams of marrying well, especially in the early 1800s. Not every girl would want to marry a man who is seventy years old, older than her father. But not every girl has a sister who also needs to marry and, while both are pretty enough and have a good lineage, their family cannot provide them with a dowry. And Genevieve would like to at least give her sister a chance at love. So she marries Lord Burnsby. And seven months later, she is visiting his hunting lodge in the Highlands. She will meet his heir and the heir's wife. She does not expect Lord Godric, boyhood friend of the heir, nor Lord Burnsby's seemingly mad illegitimate sister, and his daughter. Genevieve certainly doesn't expect to meet Sophonisba, Lord Burnsby's mistress of thirty years. And she certainly doesn't expect to find her own voice and start speaking up. Nor to find love while she's still married.

A Gothic novel in the best sense. I couldn't get past our heroine falling in love while still married but I enjoyed the ghosts, the drama, and, of course, the compulsory madwoman in the attic (although Mima is allowed to roam freely in this book.)

Four stars

This book comes out May 12, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own