Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery ~ a Review

by MK French

Margot Cartwright moved from Washington, DC, to Glenville, South Carolina, and doesn't fit in. Most resident would do anything to have their precious dogs star on Pawsh, a reality TV show about couture canines. Margot isn't interested and even steals her neighbors’ pro-Pawsh signs, making her the neighborhood pariah. When the local dog walker is killed in a bizarre accident, most think it was Margot. To clear her name, Margot must find the real killer before they strike again, but she needs help. She soon finds it in Anne, the widow determined to maintain her reign over the HOA, and Sally-Claire, a member of the “Mommy Mafia” who might not be as perfect as she seems. Together, the unlikely trio (along with their canine companions) dives into the mystery, navigating the quirky and secretive world of Glenville’s residents.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Read the Book Before Watching These Fall Screen Adaptations

by Donna Huber

Even the most bookish book nerd needs a little break from the page. Screen adaptations, when done well, can bring our favorite tales to life. A few fan favorites are coming to the big and small screens this fall. It is the perfect time to pick up the book before watching it on the screen. Which one are you most excited for?

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The House of Harrington by Kimberly Thomas ~ a Series Review

by Susan Roberts

Do you love binge-reading completed series? Then you don't want to miss Kimberly Thomas's new series. If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can read the whole series for free!

In THE HOUSE OF HARRINGTON, Thomas brings her readers a new series about SECRETS…LEGACY…SISTERHOOD

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  Free books were provided for honest reviews.

Guardians of Dawn: Suhwa by S. Jae-Jones ~ a Review

by MK French

Min Suhwa longed to see the world outside the convent she was raised in. While Suhwa learned to keep her illusion magic to herself, the Bangtan Brothers will perform, and she wants to see them. The world outside the convent is dangerous, especially with Huntsmen searching for magicians. When the illusion magic draws them in, she must flee for her life. Meanwhile, the Guardians of Dawn and their allies are fighting the northern insurrection seeking to claim the Sunburst Throne and destroy all magicians, and against the rising threat of as well as the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. Zhara, Ami, and Yuli must travel to the Azure Isles to seek the Guardian of Water and save the Morning Realms from annihilation, restoring balance to order and chaos once and for all.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

For Services Rendered by Will Thomas ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In London, 1896, private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker's world is upturned when his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Nightwine, previously believed dead, turns up with evil on his mind, launching devastating and secretive attacks against not just Barker, but his network of friends and close associates.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

3 Books for Horror Fans

by MK French

This summer has been slim on horror releases, and if you can't wait for pumpkin spice season and all things dark and scary, then I have 3 books for you today. Two of which you can get today, and the third you will want to pre-order.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran ~ A Review

by Donna Huber

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

With Her Baby on Her Back by Suzette D. Harrison ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Will she ever see freedom for her babies?

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Death Card by Jasmine Smith ~ a Review

by MK French

Mikaela Broussard reads Tarot in her family's shop, and suddenly has a vision of the customer stabbing her. Trying to figure out what causes it, Mikaela soon spends time with Joelle. At the same time, witches are turning up stripped of their magic. Mikaela is poised to be the next Witch Queen of her coven, so she's asked to figure out what's happening with the magic, a task that will put her own magic to the test.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Library Book Round Up: Mini Reviews

by Donna Huber

July wasn't a great reading month for me. I had to deal with a family medical situation which didn't leave a lot of time for reading. Even when I did have time, I often found my mind wandering. I only borrowed 4 books from Libby in July - all of them audiobooks.

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Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly a new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

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World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade ~ a Review

by MK French

Gwen Wexloff had never been a successful oracle, so most of her ability is used in trade with ordinary humans in the Containment Zone. She needs help now, and is forced to seek it from Hugh Blacke, the demon that once watched her bomb her oracle exam. He's highly placed politically, and now the two must work closely together to find the source of a conspiracy.

Affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Celebrate National Book Lovers Day With These 6 Must-Read Books

Today is National Book Lovers Day! And what better way to celebrate than with a good book. We often review books about books so we are featuring some of our favorites. We have a little bit of everything: magic, mystery, history, romance, contemporary fiction, and translated fiction.

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My Best French Wedding by Amanda Sellet ~ a Review

by MK French

Hildy and Walter were once friends, but her dreams were shattered as a teen and the two have been rivals ever since. He keeps trying to grab the headlines on the elite wedding circuit, undermining her and provoking her in public displays of temper. Hildy gets an invitation to a decadent week-long lavish wedding celebration in France, but she's not the only one. Walter tries to convince her they can get together again, but Hildy's got one week to convince him that she is living her best life and doesn't need him.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients' weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A captivating new novel about several intertwined stories of love, loss, courage, and redemption set over the course of one magical week in Paris.

Nine Americans in Paris. Seven intertwined love stories. One City of Light.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh ~ a Review

by MK French

Eira Eckhart can't remember much about her past, but makes the potions that are still legal in the Iron Empire along with her loyal rabbit familiar, avoiding the empire’s witch hunters. When Hugo Venton enters her potions shop, he knows more about her than she does. A terrifying encounter with soldiers puts a bounty on her head, so she joins his quest under duress. The two are seeking the missing princess, and gradually Eira recalls more of her hidden past. Eira realizes the forbidden magic simmering in her veins might be the very thing that could save them from the Iron Empire’s forces if she can remember how to control it in time.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Probable Caws by Donna Andrews ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Meg has finally found time to get some blacksmithing done when a call from her dad interrupts her—can she come out to Ragnar’s right away to help with the horses? Their friend Ragnar Ragnarsen, who is gradually turning the enormous house on his nearby estate into an authentic moated castle, has agreed to shelter nearly fifty horses for Hoof and Hearth, an equine rescue organization that has lost access to the farm where the horses have been living. The owner of the farm recently died without leaving a will, and while his older son Abel would be happy to let the horses stay, younger brother George wants to sell to a developer . . . and is suspected of sending a thug to harm the horses as part of his efforts to evict Hoof and Hearth.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

From Secrets to Lifelong Bonds: 8 Sister Stories for National Sisters Day

by Susan Roberts

I am lucky enough to have two wonderful sisters.  Even though we live far away from each other, we communicate frequently and take a yearly sisters' week vacation.  To commemorate sister’s day, here are a few books to read about the importance of the bond between sisters.

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Immortal Game by Allison Saft ~ a Review

by MK French

Six years ago, Shea Fury's sister was taken by the High King of the Otherworld, a land separated from that of humans by the Iron Veil. Those who win a chess tournament with the fae can ask for a boon, and Shea intends to get her sister back. It's a competition, and most of Shea's opponents bend the rules to try getting the boon. To win, Shea makes an alliance with her longtime rival, the sharply beautiful fae princess, Ciara of Bri Leith. One wrong move, and Shea could lose the competition, her sister, her dignity, and maybe even her life.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Everything We Found by Kerry Lonsdale ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A heart-pounding and suspenseful romance full of longing, heat and a second chance at love against the odds…

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Friday Free Read: The Island Affair by Helena Halme

School is back in session, so this will be the last of the summer Friday Free Reads. Unless, of course, you are enjoying this feature and want us to continue. If that is the case, please leave a comment. Either way, I hope you will enjoy today's featured free ebook. It has a bit of an exotic setting.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. The ebook was free at the time of posting. Please verify the price before purchasing.

Concept to Console: Exploring Life is Strange and Assassin's Creed

by MK French

Are you a gamer? These two art books would make a great addition to your collection of game-related memorabilia. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were used for an honest review.

In Case I Go Missing by R.N. Swan: A Gritty YA Thriller Review

by Donna Huber

Seventeen-year-old Fenny Allen has been Sarah Vincenty's sidekick for as long as she can remember. Over the years, Sarah has built a reputation in their small town as an amateur detective and a vigilante who has dispensed her own form of justice.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

4 New and Notable Fantasy Novels

by MK French

There are some great fantasy novels coming out today. Whether you are looking for a romatasy, young adult supernatural mystery, or a fantastical adventure, you will find something here. At the end, I've added a review of a fantasy novel that came out a few months ago in case you missed it.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

This Changes Everything Review: Lisa Scottoline’s Paranormal Thriller Sequel

by Donna Huber

Julia Pritzker loves her new life as a wife and mother in beautiful Tuscany – except that she misses her best friend Courtney, back in the States. One night, Julia calls Courtney and reaches her as she’s arriving at her grandmother’s farm in Pennsylvania.

Then the unthinkable happens.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Hive by Ronald Malfi ~ a Review

by MK French

Following a violent storm, the residents of Mariner's Cover are changing. There's a collective obsession developing, with random items calling out to them to be collected. The residents hide these precious trinkets, and will do anything to keep them safe from each other.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Sins of Summer Daughters by Lo Patrick ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A new searing Southern mystery from acclaimed author Lo Patrick. When her granddaughter is accused of murder, a woman must confront the buried secrets of a summer long past—because she can try to forget, but the Georgia land remembers.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Friday Free Read: Beach House Confessions by Kara Gorski

I'm not a big fan of the beach, so my favorite times would be when it rained because I did love the ocean. I would sit on the hotel balcony and watch the ocean waves without all the sticky sand and hot sun. It's a stormy day here, which makes me want to read a "beach book". Whether you've been binge-reading beach reads all summer or want to escape this weekend to the beach, here is a free ebook.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. The ebook was free at the time of posting. Please verify the price before purchasing.

The Makoto Murders by Richard Jerram ~ a Review

by MK French

Ken Kato is half British, half Japanese, and works as a photojournalist. He grew famous after publishing a photo of a drowning boy in the 2011 tsunami, and hasn't repeated that success since. His option to return to fame is to generate attention-grabbing bodies to photograph, increasing sales for the magazine he works for. Hoping to impress a colleague's estranged wife Makoto that he's obsessed with, he seeks out to murder people named Makoto. Though suspicion rises, he sees no reason to stop when sales are booming.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Sky Beneath Her by Mary Ellen Taylor ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

An unforgettable tale of lost love and buried truths, where the mysteries of a famous shipwreck hold the key to one woman’s future―and the truth of her mother’s final days.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Beat the Dog Days of Summer with These 9 Festive Holiday Reads

by Donna Huber

We are officially heading into the Dog Days of Summer, when the heat is relentless and staying inside with the AC blasting is an absolute must. What better time to catch up on the holiday TBR pile that got lost in last year’s end-of-the-year chaos? Celebrate Christmas in July by clearing out these 2025 festive reads—just in time for the brand-new wave of 2026 holiday titles landing on shelves this September! Not sure where to start? Don't worry, I've rounded up 9 of my favorite holiday books from last year to get you started.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Spindlewood by Freddie Kölsch ~ a Review

by MK French

Lilac Black pretended to talk to a ghost at a séance to help her uncle, and is now involved in the world of seers and spirits at Spindlewood School of Seeing. She's the only Unseeing student at the school, and must bluff her way through classes and make friends. But something is very wrong at the school, and all of the ghosts are sending messages warning students of danger. Something that adults won't talk about is in the library basement, so it's up to Lilac and her friend to save the school.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Skylark Series by Michelle Major ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A group of friends in Skylark are devastated to find out that one of their book club members has cancer.  She has asked each of her friends to try to do something on their bucket list - something that they want to accomplish but are afraid to try.  Each of the books in this series follows one of the book club members as she tries to meet their bucket list goal.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews,

12 Books for a Post-Apocalyptic Book Club

by Donna Huber

My post-apocalyptic book club recently chose its new year of reading. Since we are in a university town, we run on an academic calendar, so our new year starts in August. Have you read any of these books? Which one would you be most excited to read?

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Friday Free Read: The Unbound Bookshop by Rachael Bloome

A bookshop in a sailboat? That sounds so fun. This 4.7 star rated book is only 288 pages, making it a  perfect summer weekend read. Bonus: It's FREE!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. The ebook was free at the time of posting. Please check the price before purchasing.

Is The Imitation of Christ Audiobook Better on Paper? A Review of Kempis’s Classic

by Donna Huber

Thomas à Kempis's The Imitation of Christ is a timeless devotional guide calling readers to a Christlike life.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

by Susan Roberts

What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? I recently saw this question posted on social media and have thought a lot about what books I would list.  Part of the answer was easy because, although I rarely re-read books, I have several books that I re-read every couple of years.  These are books that frequently come to mind with characters I haven’t forgotten.  For the sake of brevity, I am ignoring classic books because, as an English major in college, including them would make this list way too long. 

Here are the top 5 books that I wish I could read again for the first time.

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Killer Vibes by Jack Friday ~ a Review

by MK French

Peter Key never apologized for being a lazy bisexual stoner. He inherits a dilapidated house in Austin from an uncle he barely knew, and everyone is pressuring him to sell. He's contrary by nature, but when he finds a bag of cash, he's sure his uncle didn't die of natural causes. People aren't playing by the rules, but he doesn't either.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A new thriller about life—and death—on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson Review: The Book Magic Trend Continues

by Donna Huber

Zoe Knight, a struggling romance writer, has sworn off men for good. At least…the ones in real life. Once a believer in a happily ever after, she now curbs her loneliness with the help of the best book boyfriends in literature – and there is no better man than Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy. So when she stumbles into a classic London bookshop and argues with the annoyingly attractive store owner, Nick, who refuses to sell romance novels, she decides to liberate him of a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice abandoned on a top shelf.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Red Sacrament by Sara Hinkley ~ a Review

by MK French

In 1869 Paris, only a select few ever received invitations to the Théâtre Saint-Siméon. Actors on stage are mesmerizing, and never seen in daylight; Arnault and his vampires are very careful to feed as little as possible on the audience and survive in the city by being unseen. The peace is upset by the arrival of Béatrice,  a witch who forms a connection with Arnault, then vampire siblings Victor and Françoise de Rouvray. Vampires bicker, the theater needs are time-consuming, and there are premonitions of blood, death, and starvation. Change is coming for everyone. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Friday Free Read: The Bicycle Book Club by Jessie Newton

Do you love multigenerational stories about the bonds of friendship? Then check out today's free read!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. The ebook was free at the time of posting. Please check the price before purchasing.

Summer of Love by Kerri Maher ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

In this moving novel about the transformative power of storytelling, three women make life-changing decisions set in motion by the 1967 Summer of Love in San Francisco, shaping the legacy of their family’s Napa Valley winery forever.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Bunk Beds & Bookish Vibes: The Ultimate Summer Camp Reading List

by Donna Huber

When I was a child, my favorite summer activity was summer camp. It was a week away from home where we sang songs, learned new skills, made crafts, and just got to be carefree kids. A few years ago, I found an adult summer camp in the Smoky Mountains, and it recreated all the great things about the summer camp of my youth. It seems to be an idea that is catching on, as I've seen advertisements for Pages & Pines, a summer camp for book nerds. I've heard of a few others. 

Are you nostalgic for your summer camp days, or wished you had gone to camp as a kid? Relive, or experience for the first time, the carefree days of summer camp with this list of books.

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An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

More Than a Home Renovation Memoir: A Review of Gutted by Maida Korte

by Donna Huber

When a successful designer, entrepreneur, and lifelong city dweller hesitantly agrees to follow her husband’s dream of country living, she doesn’t expect to be undone by a sagging Victorian farmhouse and the relentless wind howling through uninsulated walls. But as holes are patched and rooms slowly take shape, something surprising space opens up. Not just in their crumbling home, but in her heart.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Rewrite the Stars by Lindsay Hameroff ~ a Review

by MK French

Marissa Morgan has mostly given up on her acting career to keep life normal for her two children. When her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house. It needs renovation, and Marissa end up sharing space with the crew, including handsome foreman Jesse. Attracted, Marissa wonders if their fling could become something more.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Juniper Falls Ranch Series by Nan Reinhardt ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

I don't read a lot of romance novels, but after I've read deep or depressing novels, I like to read a good romance with a happily ever after ending to balance out my reading life.  Here are reviews of a new trilogy featuring rodeo cowboys.

 Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  Free books were provided for honest reviews.

Friday Free Read: 50 Core American Documents by Christopher Burkett

Since tomorrow the U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday, I thought today we should feature a book about the founding of the U.S. If you are hoping to learn something of our history and how we got to where we are today, then you should check out today's free read.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. The ebook was free when posted. Please confirm the price before purchasing.