Tag Archives: New Releases

Review: Wild and Wrangled

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Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
Publisher: Dial Press
Pub Date: 4/15/2025

Thank you PRH Audio for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After being left at the altar, Camille Ashwood moves into her dream house only to discover her next-door neighbor is her first love, Dusty Tucker. As old feelings resurface, the two must confront their past and decide if love deserves a second chance.

Wild and Wrangled is the final book in the Rebel Blue series. This has been one of my most anticipated April reads! I found it to be a solid book to the series ending. I loved Cam’s character so much and my heart went out to her. I  appreciated the dual timeline with her past and present POVs which helped explain her history with Dusty and gave us a glimpse on how she met Gus. I really loved how Lyla was able to incorporate the other couples from the series and showed where they are now. While I enjoyed getting glimpses of Dusty’s perspective, I was yearning for more character growth from him. Overall, it was a sweet ending to the series. I’m looking forward to what Lyla writes next!

Review: The Sideways Life of Denny Voss

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The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pub Date: 4/8/2025

Thank you Amazon Publishing & Brilliance Publishing for the free copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Denny Voss, living a quiet life in rural Minnesota, finds himself unexpectedly charged with murder after a series of well-meaning but chaotic misadventures. As he awaits trial, he unravels painful family secrets and learns what it means to take control of his future.

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is the first book I’ve read by Holly Kennedy. This gave me strong Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Maid vibes. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I devoured it. I ended up finishing it in a single day and absolutely loved it! Andrew Eiden did a fantastic job narrating. He truly brought the story to life! Holly Kennedy did an exceptional job capturing Denny’s perspective. I felt so much empathy for him.  I loved how certain characters showed their love for him in quiet but powerful ways. I also really enjoyed the multiple subplots and how well-developed each of the supporting characters were. I didn’t anticipate any of the twists and I had no idea how the story would turn out which made the reading experience even more engaging. There was one chapter near the end that made me cry which is something that rarely happens when I read so be prepared with tissues and maybe give your fur baby an extra cuddle. Overall, this was a 5-star read for me and I highly recommend it!

Review: Count My Lies

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Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
Publisher: Gallery
Pub Date: 3/4/2025

Thank you Simon Audio and Libro.FM for the free audiobook copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Sloane Caraway, a habitual liar, lands a nanny job with a wealthy New York family after a small deception. But as she gets closer to them, she realizes she’s not the only one keeping dangerous secrets.

Count My Lies is GMA’s March pick. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The premise sounded promising, but the execution fell flat. The writing felt more like telling than showing which lacked depth though it was slightly entertaining. This book was essentially a bland mix of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Housemaid, but without the intrigue that made those stand out. The characters were one-dimensional and the Taylor Swift references felt overused. I found the twists along with the ending to be predictable and underwhelming. The ending was especially unrealistic. Overall, it left me surprised that this was chosen as a book club pick. I would not recommend picking this up. 

Review: Wild Side

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Wild Side by Elsie Silver
Publisher: Bloom Books
Pub Date: 3/4/2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Wild Side by Elsie Silver, Tabitha marries Rhys, the man she swore to hate, to keep custody of her nephew, Milo. But as they live together, Tabitha sees a different side in Rhys which she can’t resist.

Wild Side is the third book in the Rose Hill series which features Rhys and Tabitha. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books first for the best experience. I’ve noticed a pattern in Elsie Silver’s books where the third book in a series becomes my favorite like Powerless in the Chestnut Springs series and The Front Runner in the Gold Rush Ranch series. Wild Side deserves all the stars! This is my favorite in the Rose Hill series so far. I loved how Elsie built up Tabitha and Rhys’s backstories, allowing us to see their individual healing journeys as well as their growth together. She also seamlessly integrated Milo, Tabitha’s parents, and other Rose Hill characters while keeping the story moving. The slow burn in this book was chef’s kiss! The epilogue was beautifully written. Now I can’t wait for the final book in the Rose Hill series, Wild Card!

Review: Story of My Life

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Story of My Life by Lucy Score
Publisher: Bloom
Pub Date: 3/11/2025

Thank you Bloom Books for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Hazel impulsively buys a house in rural Pennsylvania to break through writer’s block, she discovers inspiration in the town’s rugged charm and her grumpy yet attractive contractor, Cam. But immersing herself in small-town drama might complicate more than just her next novel.

Story of My Life is the first book in the Story Lake series. I had mixed feelings about it. I liked the plot which felt like a mix between Things We Never Got Over and Maggie Moves On. Hazel was sweet and I loved learning about her writing process. However, I wasn’t a fan of Campbell’s character. He was immature, ran hot and cold, threw temper tantrums, and needed to communicate like an adult. The romance between Hazel and Cam felt abrupt and awkward which shifted strangely from grumpy interactions to friends with benefits. On a positive note, the quirky supporting characters and charming small-town setting were highlights. Overall, the story’s pace was too slow and uneven for me. I missed the usual element of mystery that Lucy Score typically includes. Even though this book wasn’t my favorite, I’m still looking forward to reading Zoey and Gage’s story next.

Review: The Fall Risk

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The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
Publisher: Amazon
Pub Date: 3/1/2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Fall Risk was my February Amazon First Reads pick.

Charlotte, wary from a past stalker, and Seth, freshly divorced, have no interest in romance this Valentine’s Day. But when they get trapped together, their guarded hearts start to soften, leading to an unexpected and humorous connection.

The Fall Risk was such a cute and sweet romance short story. I was amazed at how Abby managed to pack so much depth into a short format while keeping it light and heartwarming even while tackling serious topics. Charlotte and Seth’s backstories were a bit wild, but they made for an entertaining read. I also loved how she tied in John and Holly from The Worst Wingman Ever which was a fun touch. The found family/friend group was endearing. The banter between Charlotte and Seth was a highlight. The ending felt a little too neatly wrapped up and sappy for my taste. Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read!

Review: Back After This

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Back After This by Linda Holmes
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pub Date: 2/25/2025

Thank you Random House for the free advanced copy. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Podcast producer Cecily Foster is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, hosting a series about her own dating life under the guidance of a controlling influencer. Torn between sparks with a charming photographer and the pressure to follow her mentor’s rules, Cecily must decide whether to trust her instincts or risk losing her shot at real love.

Back After This is the third book I’ve read by Linda Holmes, and the premise initially sounded intriguing. At first, I enjoyed getting to know Cecily’s character especially her personality at work, but the book’s pacing quickly became slow and drawn out. I wasn’t a fan of Eliza’s character and kept hoping she would improve, but she never did. Most of the characters felt underdeveloped, especially Will, whose backstory and personality were barely explored. The conversations between Will and Cecily felt stilted and their connection seemed based more on repeated encounters than genuine chemistry or spark. Cecily, as a protagonist, came across as a workaholic who relied too much drinking and lacked hobbies or interests outside her job. Her friendship with Julie felt one-sided where Cecily seemed to sacrifice unnecessarily for Julie who didn’t ask for such devotion and placed her friend on an undeserved pedestal. By the time I reached the 60% mark, I found myself bored and tempted to DNF, but since I’d made it so far, I pushed through. Unfortunately, the ending was underwhelming and it felt like the author added unnecessary descriptions and filler dialogue to meet a word count. Overall, this book confirmed that Linda Holmes’ style may not be for me.

Review: Beg, Borrow, or Steal

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Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Publisher: Dell Romance
Pub Date: 1/7/2025

Thank you to Dell Romance for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Walker’s life is thrown off track when her rival, Jack Bennett, moves back to town as her neighbor and coworker. When Emily accidentally sends her secret romance manuscript to their principal, Jack agrees to help her get it back, sparking an unexpected connection between the two.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the When in Rome series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. While I read When in Rome and wasn’t a fan, I didn’t realize Beg, Borrow, or Steal was part of the series until I was halfway through the book, as I hadn’t read Practice Makes Perfect. That said, I devoured this book in just 24 hours! I absolutely loved Emily and Jack—their personalities and chemistry were spot-on. Sarah Adams did a fantastic job developing their relationship from enemies to friends to lovers in a way that felt sweet, endearing, and natural. The banter between them was off the charts and the texts and emails interspersed between chapters showing moments from 10 years ago to the present added depth and kept the story engaging. It was also wonderful to see both characters grow and learn more about themselves and each other. Emily’s quirks might not appeal to everyone, but given her past, I found them relatable and understandable. I especially appreciated getting inside Jack’s head as his perspective felt unique and introspective. Seeing the previous couples from the series as supporting characters was a delightful touch. Overall, this was a solid 5-star read for me! I’m hoping for Madison and James to get their own book because their chemistry seemed electric!

Review: Under Loch and Key

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Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Pub Date: 12/4/2024

Thank you to Berkley Romance & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Keyanna “Key” MacKay heads to Scotland to uncover the truth about her late father’s hidden past but ends up being saved by Lachlan Greer, a grumpy Scotsman who doesn’t trust her. As they deal with family drama, strange powers, and a centuries-old curse, their growing connection might be the key to solving the mysteries they both face.

Lana Ferguson is one of my favorite romance authors and I love that she branches out into different subgenres of romance! I had never read a monster romance before, but if Lana writes it, I’m game! I enjoyed the premise of Under Loch and Key and loved how bingeworthy it was. The history behind the curse was the most fascinating part of the story and I was hooked on the mystery the characters were trying to solve. I also enjoyed learning more about Key’s family especially her grandparents, who added depth to the story. The book struck a great balance between contemporary romance and paranormal elements which worked well for me as someone new to monster romance. While I liked Key and Lachlan as individual characters, I found their romance a bit weak and wasn’t entirely sold on the monster romance aspect. The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, but the action-packed final quarter more than made up for it. Overall, this was a solid 4-star read and I’m glad Lana’s writing pushed me out of my comfort zone!

Review: Lightening in Her Hands

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Lightening in Her Hands by Racquel Vasquez Gilliland
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 10/15/2024

Thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Teal Flores, struggling to control her weather-manipulating powers and in need of a wedding date, agrees to pose as Carter Velasquez’s wife to help him secure an inheritance. As they search for Teal’s long-lost mother, their fake marriage sparks undeniable chemistry, leading to a love that can withstand any storm.

Teal is such a complicated character. I absolutely hated her in Witch of Wild Things so I was hesitant to pick up this book, unsure how Teal could be made even remotely likable. However, Lightening in Her Hands gave more insight into Teal’s childhood, strained family relationships, and her complicated past which made me sympathize with her. I appreciated how the author explored friendship breakups and the effort to mend family relationships. Teal and Carter’s romance felt more secondary in the story and I didn’t really care for their relationship. The ending was a bit too neatly wrapped up for my taste. We also get more insight into Sky’s personality in this book, but I’m not sure if I’ll read her story given my mixed feelings about Lightening in Her Hands.