Mindy

Alex Chen is one of the hottest chefs in the area of French haute cuisine, but his love for food is waning. When Eden Monroe joins his kitchen, he finds that the adorably perky sous chef is sparking his interest, not just for food but also in her. But Eden has a secret: she never finished culinary school. If she's found out, her career would be over, and she'd never get the money she needs to find her family. Can these two chefs navigate the kitchen and their growing feelings, or will everything implode?

I absolutely loved this book. Kwan does an excellent job of building incredibly likable characters and putting them in a high-stakes setting while building a beautiful romance. She does a great job of building the tension as the stakes grow, and I was so worried, she would break my heart with an awful third-act breakup. Spoiler alert: thankfully, there isn't one (I hate them so much!). Instead, readers get a great story about two characters finding themselves and learning what is important. I highly recommend this read!

Delilah has a secret. She's secretly a werewolf, and it tempers all of her actions. But when she literally bumps into the handsome but mysterious Cedric, she finds herself willing to let down her guard to spend more and more time with him. But Cedric is working against a deadline that will result in his leaving Delilah behind. As the days go on, they find themselves falling for one enough, but can they move past their secrets to find happily ever after?

What an absolutely lovely and fun book. From the moment, I started reading, I was pulled into the story. The characters are great. The story is compelling. I loved it so much, I couldn't put it down. This is an excellent series starter, and I can't wait to read the next one!

For those of us Millenials who grew up loving shows like Dawson's Creek, you'll love this novel.

Brynn's life sucks. She's newly divorced and unlucky at love. On the night of her 30th birthday, she goes out with “friends” and finds herself promptly ignored. Thankfully, she's saved from a disastrous night by her roommate, Josh, at the bar where he works. Josh gets her home safe, where she can watch her favorite show, Carson's Cove. But a birthday wish for a better life winds up with both Brynn and Josh being sucked into Carson's Cove. Not only do they have to navigate this new world, but Brynn is required to give the show's leads the happy ending they never got. But threatening that is her newfound feelings for Josh. Can she save the show and get them back to the real world?

I absolutely love this book. The main characters are relatable and fun, and the premise is literally out of this world. Kate Robb tells a great story filled with humor, passion, and magic. I love this so much I now want to check out Robb's first book.

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book, but I am so happy I read this book. It's fantastic!

A Misfortune of Lake Monsters follows Lemon Ziegler, who has just been tapped to take over her family's secret business: pretending the be the local lake monster in order to keep the family's business, as well as their town, afloat. She's heartbroken, as this means she will not be able to do the things she dreamed of, such as going to college to become a vet. In addition to Lemon, there's Troy Ramirez, son of the sheriff. He's fallen for Lemon, and he knows something's bothering her.

Lemon wants to tell her friends her secret, but before she can, one of her dogs is taken and killed by an actual lake monster. Then the school bully is killed. But because of the history of the lake monster, no one believes her, except for Troy and her other friend. Now, it's up to Lemon and her friends to save the town before anyone else dies.

I've followed Nicole on social media for some time but had never gotten around to reading her books before. Honestly, I wish I had. She is an excellent author, who knows how to tell a compelling, dark, and action-packed tale. With YA horror, there is always the fear that it will hold back, but Nicole doesn't hold back for her readers. As a result, the story takes readers down a dark trail, filled with bodies. Plus, there's a romance between Lemon and Troy that is beautifully crafted. Seriously, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a dark, yet sweet tale. After reading A Misfortune of Lake Monsters, I will absolutely be seeking out her other works.

A fun and engaging murder mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Capri's grandfather is the notorious Overkill Bill, but for as long as she's known about her grandfather's crimes, she has been convinced that he was innocent. Years after his death, a woman is brutally murdered using Overkill Bill's M.O. And then another, this time, Capri's monster-in-law. With the focus of the murders on her and her daughter, Capri knows it's up to her to find the killer and clear her grandfather's name.

As I said, this is a fun read. While the murders are dark, Capri is a ray of light and makes the story quite engaging. The cast of supporting characters kept the story fresh, and of course, the city of San Francisco is its own character here. Really recommend this to anyone who loves a good murder mystery that, while its subject matter is dark, manages to keep the whole thing light and refreshing.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I opened this book, but I immediately found myself drawn into this world. Mathieu follows the employees of Baldwin High School in the aftermath of the death of a beloved former teacher, who had been serving as a substitute. Each chapter shines a spotlight on one of the employees, from the brand new teacher who found the body to the principal who is trying to keep the district officials off his back. The chapters run the gamut from heartbreaking to hopeful and everywhere in between. I connected with each character and understood their experiences and choices.

If you're looking for a fairly quick read with a cast of motley characters, this is the book for you. Mathieu's experience working as a K-12 educator brings this book to life. I highly recommend it.

When Molly inherits her late aunt's horse ranch, she also inherits Shani, the grumpy farrier who expected to receive the business. Molly plans to fix up the farm and sell it to fund her event planning business, much to Shani's chagrin.

This is a cute enemies to lovers spicy romcom. While I don't usually like enemies to lovers as a trope, this one really worked for me. I think it also helped that Molly was out of her depth but still fought to make things right. My only issue with the book is that Molly's best friend did something unforgivable, but it was never resolved, but that didn't detract from the overall story. I still highly recommend it.

What a fun and clever murder mystery.

Annie is called to the house of her eccentric aunt Frances to learn about the elder woman's updated will. Of course, before they meet for the first time, Frances is found dead, Even more interesting, her death had been predicted when she was a teen by a local psychic. Frances had spent the rest of her life trying to solve it. Of course, there are quite the cast of characters who could be behind the murder. A budding mystery writer, Annie decides it's on her to figure out who killed her aunt.

This story is a delightful read. The cast is quite fun, and the plot is quite clever. As you read, you're not only learning about Annie's investigation but about Frances' youth as well, especially how her best friend goes missing around the time she meets her husband.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. It's that good!

I've been struggling to decide how I feel about this book. It has an interesting presentation that's difficult to talk about without spoiling it. Essentially, you're given three stories: the story of a boy haunted by a a house, the author of the first story, and then something I absolutely did not see coming and won't say, because it would absolutely spoil the end of this book. Of course, that makes it difficult, because the first two stories are fantastic ways to present the same story. But then you get to the final story, and I still can't tell whether I liked the twist. I don't know if it's creative or a cop-out, and that's having sat on the story for a while. It's definitely a creative book, and having only read one other book by Jo Nesbo, I can say that he is a great author. The horror presented in this story is good, although it does first come across as a YA horror. It's only when you get to the second and third parts that you realize there's so much more to it. I definitely encourage readers to check out this book. I'm curious to see what they think.

Kate Bishop has had many adventures, but when she takes on Kingpin and a children's book series that has the ability to hypnotize people, she faces one of the more unique challenges of her career as a superhero. Can she keep the books from falling into Kingpin's hands while battling the effects of the hypnotism?

What I love about this book is that you get to see Kate's heart. And you get to see a wonderful cast of supporting characters, including America Chavez, Clint Barton, and Kamala Khan. The case she's trying to solve is a great adventure.

I love Ashley Poston's fiction work, especially Geekarella. It's great to see her take on the Marvel world. She's crafted a fun and creative adventure. I loved reading this and seeing what crazy new thing was going to happen next. Plus, she did a phenomenal job of bringing this diverse cast of characters to life. I highly recommend this read.

Interesting mystery of one sister's fight to find her missing sister. Blair's influencer sister, Eviana, has gone missing. A cast of menacing characters leave you wondering who, exactly, is responsible. Not helping matters is the fact that Blair has her own secrets that prevent her from seeking help from the authorities. Can she survive the search for her sister when Eviana's friends and husband are out for vengeance?

I always enjoy Dea Poirier's thrillers, and this is yet another engaging one. She strings readers along, feeding them little bits that keeps you desperate to turn the page. When everything unravels, you're left with a fascinating conclusion that makes the heart-racing story worthwhile.

Maggie never knew she had an aunt, let alone one who disappeared 40 years earlier. As she asks around, she learns that her aunt went missing a week after a popular nun was murdered. It seems like the two cases were related, but the more she digs, the more she learns her hometown's terrible secrets.

I thought this was a fantastic book from a debut author. You're pulled into Maggie's investigation and are fed clues that keep you turning the page. The mystery was intriguing, and the answers were clever. I highly enjoyed this read and recommend it to others.

I tried, but it is very clear this older author was writing a 30-something character with no grasp for how we talk. No 30-something calls herself a gal. No one says they're going to eat “this hella cake” (that'd not even correct usage of the word). It just seems so contrived.

I love Carey's books ever since I picked up The Girl With All the Gifts a few years back. He tells a great story that pulls you along with it. This was my first time reading one of the books in this series, but now I want to go back and read the series from the beginning.

This book follows exorcist Felix Castor, who, along with a number of other exorcists, responds to an intriguing newspaper ad. He's selected to determine what happened to Gavril Ustinov by Ustinov's daughter Ksenia. He also wants to explore the matins that haunt Brierley House, where Ksenia lives. Castor's friends, including a zombie and a demon, help him along the way.

This novella features plenty of twists and turns and a clever mystery. Of course, it's the story behind the matins that leaves me wanting to read more. This is a fascinating world, and I want more of it.

This was a very intriguing read. Overall, I enjoyed it. I've not read anything by North before, but I definitely will check out her other works.

This book started off a bit slow as a family is turned on its head with the revelation that a girl has come forward claiming to be their long, lost daughter. But about midway through, North throws something at you that completely changes the trajectory of the book. She had hinted at it, but she left you questioning what was going on. And honestly, even after the twist, she continues to string you along with hints that something is going on. After a few more twists and turns, you're left with a stunning reveal. Even if you saw the end coming, the ride is wild enough that you don't even care. Seriously, this was an enjoyable book.

I love Laurel Snow. And Rebecca Zanetti.

I discovered this series about a month ago and instantly fell in love with Laurel Snow, Huck, and even Abigail. The mysteries are fantastic, the tension is always great, and the romance is perfect. So, when I heard there was a third book coming out, I was excited. Let me say, this book does not disappoint.

Laurel is called out to investigate the death of a man stabbed multiple times, but that's not all. His killer shoved handfuls of Valentine's candy hearts in his mouth. The dead man has a connection to someone close to Laurel, so she not only has to solve the death but clear a friend of murder. And then more men die in the exact same way. Through it all, Laurel's half-sister hovers, an ever-present threat.

It's a great premise, and Zanetti delivers on the suspense. There are some great, heartwarming moments as well. Seriously, it's a solid, well-rounded book. I highly recommend it.

This is a fun novella with lots of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. As a romantic suspense story, the romance is sizzling, and the chemistry between the leads is spot on. I really enjoyed reading this story, which focused on human trafficking in Mexico. It's setting up another story, so I definitely want to read on in the series.

My only negative is that there were a good number of typos that took me out of the story when I came across them. It really seems like it needs one more run past an editor.

This was my first Harry Hole novel, and I have to say, if they're all this good, I'll definitely go back to the beginning and read my way through the series. It would definitely make a few things more clear.

Overall, this is a great story. It's an interesting mystery. The murders are creative, and the MO of the killer is absolutely fascinating. That alone would keep you reading the page, but when you throw in strong characters and great pacing, you've got yourself an amazing book here. Harry Hole is a fascinating character, but the supporting cast is really where this book shines. I love all of the characters and want to get to know them better.

If you're like me and never read a Harry Hole book before, you won't be too lost reading this book. There are some references to past cases and a couple of characters who are no longer in the series, but nothing was spoiled in such a way that I wouldn't enjoy reading about them when I get to them in the series.

I've been on a mission to discover more romantic suspense authors and their works. This was a great discovery.

Kiera is being stalked by someone, and her new neighbor, Cade, who just happens to work in private security, comes to the rescue.

This book featured a lot of good twists and turns and some creepy interactions with Kiera's stalker. The tension and pacing were perfect, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. If you like great tension, strong pacing, and a sexy romance, this is an excellent choice.

Want a thriller that leaves you guessing all the way to the last page? Then this is the book for you. Told in alternating perspectives, you have no idea what is happening and who is at fault.

This book is very well-written. The tension is great, and the pacing is perfect. You don't know who to believe, but you know that, when everything is revealed, the story will be crazy. And it was.

This is my first time reading anything by Casey Kelleher, but I will definitely read more of her books now.

This book. Was so good.

Seriously.

I went into it not knowing anything about it. I had read one of Dodd's other books earlier this year, but pure chance led me to this one. And I loved everything about it.

Kellen Adams is a woman with a mysterious past. She lost a year of her life, and she knows it has something to do with the gunshot wound on her forehead. But that's not all. She's living a lie. As she takes on a job as an assistant manager for a resort in Oregon, her past comes back to haunt her when she's tasked with taking on a smuggling ring while the owner is on vacation. No matter where she turns, she faces danger, and she doesn't know who she can trust.

I read this book in an afternoon, and as soon as I hit the last page, I knew I needed to read the sequel to see what happens next. I haven't done that in ages, but trust me, you'll feel the same way once you read this fantastic book.

I've been a fan of Dea's for some time now. She write taut thrillers, and while this is different from her police investigation thrillers, it's still a great book.

Adele has it all: the perfect life, a successful business, and a loving husband.

Or does she?

When her husband goes missing, her perfect life starts to unravel. As you read, you question who's behind it all? Is her husband up to no good? Is it her bitchy assistant? The ex-patient who's accused her of pushing a client to suicide? Or does it have to do with the mysterious death of her parents? And then there's Adele, who isn't the most reliable narrator.

If you're looking for a nail-biter, the is the book for you. Enjoy!

FBI agent Riley Lambert has been working to find her sister, who was abducted fifteen years earlier. When Thayne Blackwood calls asking for Riley's help to find his missing sister, she can't help but rush to his side. As they track Cheyenne, Riley finds herself wondering if the same man who took her sister might be responsible. Great pacing and a slow burn plot. The romantic tension between Riley & Thayne is fantastic.

This was a cute read that perfectly describes dating in this modern world, especially if you're older and not just looking for a fling. I knew pretty early how it was going to turn out, but that's okay. I enjoyed the journey.

I wanted to like this book, but I just don't think I was the right reader for it.

I went into it thinking that it was a romantic suspense, but it's not. It's a closed-door romance where the characters happen to be solving a crime. In romantic suspense, the crime takes center stage, and the romance comes second. Here, it's the romance that's front and center. The crime just seems like an afterthought, especially when you have multiple chapters that focus on other characters, who are not involved in solving the crime, and their love lives.

All that said, I have some other issues with this book. I was worried going into it, because the author does not live in the United States, but her book is set in both San Diego and Independence, Colorado. Because of that, you do see some issues where things are said inaccurately, or the setting is not clear. For instance, a character is described as getting their Ph.D. from “the university in Denver.” I want to believe that the author meant the University of Denver, but there are multiple universities in Denver, several of which have Denver in their titles. In another scene, the characters are at the police department, which is run by the sheriff. That is simply not how things work here in the US. Maybe some of these issues are translation errors, but they just didn't land well with me as a result.

I really wanted to like this book, as I like both romance and romantic suspense novels, but it just didn't work for me.