Sophia Rose continues her review of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. This time she has Volume 4 narrated by Genevieve Gaunt. Come see why this historical fiction series continues to dazzle her.

"It all began very innocently. Truly."

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Sophia Rose’s Review

The London Season is over and the summer stretches into fall when Emma learns her home street is responsible for the All Hallow’s Eve festivities for St. Crispin’s and Lapis Lazuli House is slated for the token foreigner- her tenant, Nile Pierce- and for the lighted pumpkins- where did one find pumpkins? She wonders.  Beth Brower continues Emma M Lion’s engaging epistolary tale in this fourth volume of the series and by now, I am all anticipation both for her writing and Genevieve Gaunt’s sensational narration work.

So yes, Emma’s fall activities now include the Halloween festivities, keeping ahead of Aunt Eugenia’s attempts to meet Emma’s fictious companion, and face Maxwell’s burial and the frowns of his family.  But first, oh dear… there is one of dangerous Jack’s called in markers to fulfill and he sets to her a doozy of a payback.  It would have been fine- really it would have, if the Duke of Islington and St. Crispin’s vicar – not that Hawkes was judging her- weren’t privy to the scandalous job Jack foist upon her.  Oh, and yes we have a boisterous Ten scene and a Roman Ghost sighting to titillate Emma’s days.

The series just gets stronger as Emma forges deeper relationships with those of her home, her neighborhood, her friends, and her extended family.  In the first volume, it was sadly clear that Emma felt herself isolated and alone in her endeavors, but now by the fourth volume, she is coming to realize that she has friends and supporters and they want to be of help.  She proves she can accept it when Nile Pierce is with her during the most difficult goodbye she has to make.  There is chemistry there, but Emma is still locking her heart away after losing Maxwell in Afghanistan.

The Unselected Journals of Miss Emma M Lion continue to dazzle me and the books grow stronger as I progress.  If intrepid young ladies, quirky London neighborhoods, and a range of madcap mayhem to bittersweet reflective moments tickles your fancy, join me and the rest of the raving fans of this series.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Beth Brower

Beth Bower graduated with a degree in literary studies, and is working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of her mind and none of her characters are very patient to wait their turn. She lives with her wonderful chemist husband and has books in every room of their house.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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Dannika Dark is an autobuy for me, and I’ve been loving her Black Arrowhead series. The Forsaken, narrated by Nicole Poole, is the ninth audiobook, and it’s time for Virgil’s romance with a side story I wasn’t expecting that delivered a punch.

Two friends on a collision course with destiny find the courage to look forward instead of back.

After years of rejection, Virgil finally has the pack he's always wanted. But when a tenacious ghost latches onto him, dreams of a peaceful life begin slipping through his fingers. Desperate to escape, he joins a road trip with Krys: his packmate, his best friend, his quiet obsession.

Krys is a headstrong wolf who never shows affection, but cracks form in his steely facade when he must bid farewell to a packmate. During this turbulent time, his bond with Virgil strengthens and he's forced to confront a secret he's long kept hidden. His heart is buried in the debris of his past, and only Virgil can dig him out.

Two Shifters discover the bond was always there, but can their love survive their innermost fears?

Close proximity brings two friends even closer in this ferociously entertaining romance between the packmates least likely to settle down. An emotional awakening about the importance of choosing love and leaving the past behind.

While each of the novels in the Black Arrowhead series features a romance, there are overall series arcs, the one most dominate in The Forsaken is Cleo’s arc. I strongly recommend listening to them in the order of their release.

Virgil is a shifter, but he can also see and interact with spirits. Because of this, many traditional packs have rejected him. Virgil is charismatic, a tease, a charmer and outspoken with his sexuality, but also holds himself off a little because he fears rejection. The Arrowhead pack is unconventional and comprises chosen members. Krys, is a guarded wolf shifter who is grateful for the pack, but keeps his wolf away as he is volatile. He and Virgil are close friends, but Virgil’s feelings run deeper. When the two travel cross-country, the intense situation, and a little help from a spirit spark the flames between them. For those, like me, who have listened to all the books, their destination is familiar.

Holy hotness and intense storylines! I went into this blind, as I typically do, and was surprised to find an M/M romance… which Dark handled wonderfully. In retrospect, there were plenty of clues! I loved getting both Virgil’s and Krys’s backstories. Dark really peeled back the layers, allowing us to see the pain both men had experienced. All of which made me want a happily ever after for both of them.

Cleo’s arc continued in this novel and was woven masterfully into their story. Road trip anyone? The trip included Darcy, a ghost that followed Virgil home from a bar. I adored her and the trip was filled with laughter, wolf shenanigans and more until it turned dark. From the moment Krys’s phone rang, I could not stop listening. Intense scenes, battles, and horrors await you.

The romance felt genuine, and I loved seeing them open up and trust each other. The story didn’t feel rushed, and Dark allowed all the threads the time they deserved. We got to spend some time with the pack as well, and I finished with a smile.

Nicole Poole narrates and, as always, did a stellar job giving voice to these characters. She really captures Virgil’s unabashed self. I am curious to see how many more Black Arrowhead books we will get.

Amazon | Audible

About Dannika Dark

Dannika was born on a military base in the U.S. and spent her youth traveling abroad. She developed an interest writing poetry and song lyrics early on, eventually gravitating toward a job that involved writing procedural training documentation. In her spare time, she wrote novels before she decided to pursue a career in publishing. In addition to writing about supernatural worlds, Dannika is passionate about graphic design and creates all her own covers and series art. When not writing, she enjoys indie music, movies, reading, Tex-Mex, strawberry daiquiris, heaps of chocolate, and unleashing her dark side. All of her published books to date are written in the same universe and contain material suitable for adults only. Dannika's books have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.

Website | Facebook

About Nicole Poole

Nicole Poole is a classically trained actor with equal passions for literature and improvisation. She has toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has been a member of the critically acclaimed Walter Thompson Orchestra for over fifteen years, and recently became a member of the Parisian groups SPOUMJ and Anitya. She is honored to have been recognized for her narration by an AudioFile Earphones Award, a Publisher's Weekly Listen-Up Award, and nomination for an Audie Award.

Website | Instagram

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Channel Cleeton is an autobuy for me, and I look forward to each release. I had the pleasure of reading and listening to An Infinite Love Story. This standalone transports us to 1968 as Vivian Mitchell retells her romance, as she holds out hope that her husband will return when his space shuttle goes missing.

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, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.

When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.

Cleeton has a gift for writing characters and stories; I become completely invested in them. She blends history and the lives of the characters seamlessly. In Infinite Love Story, I was transported to the 60s, caught up in the space race and felt the pain and emotions Vivian experienced.

The story begins in 1968 after astronaut Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft lost contact with Misson Control Houston along with two other astronauts. Vivan Mitchell is sitting in her home, surrounded by people, staring at Graham Carlson on the TV as he shares updates about the spacecraft. All she can think is this must be a dream and of Joe’s promise… “I’ll come back to you. Always.“

The tale that unfolded made me laugh, cry like a baby, and reflect on the courageous men and women involved in the space program. The story moves from past to present as Vivian relives their romance. We met their friends and became caught up in their love story. I’ve always had a soft spot for a man in uniform. I was a child in the 60s and found the history fascinating and nostalgic.

I was lucky enough to listen as I read along and thought that Kelli Tager’s narration truly captured all the emotions and strength of Vivian. The story is told primarily through Vivian’s point of view. Occasionally we heard Joe, who was narrated by Barton Caplan.

Grab a box of tissues and a bottle of wine before reading or listening to An Infinite Love Story. It’s powerful, heartfelt, and romantic, even as it breaks you. It’s one you will remember long after you’ve finished.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton is the USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Website | Facebook

About Kelli Tager

Kelli Tager. Kelli is an award-winning narrator with over 150 audiobooks and classical theater training. Known for her authentic style, Kelli specializes in Women's Fiction, Thrillers, Rom Coms, and Contemporary Romance .

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

This week we celebrated America’s 250th Birthday. I wish I felt the excitement I felt in 1976 for the Bicentennial. I have been watching Netflix’s American Experiment and other documentaries about the birth of our nation. We enjoyed a picnic with our granddaughter Hazel and my daughter. If you are taking part in the 2026 Audiobook Challenge, be sure to check in. I hit 72/150, which is on target. For the month of June, I read/listened to 15 books, bringing my Goodreads challenge to 118/150. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji (audiobook review)
• Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle (book review)
• The Farewitch of Foxe Holler by Ellen Pauley Goff (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott (audiobook review)
• 2026 Audiobook Challenge Mid-Year Check-In (event)

This Week on the Blog

• An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton (audiobook review)
• The Forsaken by Dannika Dark (audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 4 by Beth Brower (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis(book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Unpredictable Magic by Faith Hunter
• A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber

A special thank you to PRH Audio, Ballantine Books

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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It’s the half-way mark for 2026 and time to check in on our Audiobook Challenge. This event is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. Are you on target? Perhaps you are ahead or falling behind? Check-in and be sure to enter the mid-year giveaway.

Just a refresher on 2026 Achievement Levels.

Achievement Levels

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
• Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
• Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+
• The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+
• I Can’t Hear You (earbuds always in) 125-150
• Audibly Addicted (listening to all the books 24/7) 150+

Will you increase your goal, or are you on track?

Share Your Mid-Year Stats

Link your bookshelf, blog post, etc. showing your work in progress, then comment below letting us know how you are doing!

Enter The Mid-Year Giveaway

Giveaway closes on July 13, 2026, at 11:59 pm (CST) One winner can choose a 2-month membership to Libro.fm (2 credits) or a $30.00 Chirp Gift Card. May the odds be forever in your favor.

There is an issue with Giveaway Tools. We have emailed them as the giveaway doesn’t show the entry questions, etc. If we can fix it, we will. Otherwise, the winner will be selected using random.org and the linky #s.

Drop a comment and tell me your favorite audiobook thus far in 2026.

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I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy and was delighted by the chance to review Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott, the first audiobook in the Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances series. A young summer fairy finds she has inherited her great aunt’s cottage and tea shop in Moss Hollow, Vermont—a magical community. Of course, there are stipulations and rules. I quickly found myself all in.

The author of A Vampire's Guide to Gardening and Obsidian Queen brings you a lighthearted fantasy full of humor and romance, set in a cozy contemporary fae town in Vermont. Welcome to Moss Hollow.

There are three things you need to know about my great aunt—she’s eccentric, she’s rich, and she’s dead. No, make that four things. She also named me as the sole beneficiary of her fortune. There are, however, a few stipulations.

1. I must move into her cottage in Moss Hollow, Vermont—a magical community that values tradition and tourists.

2. I must keep her beloved tea shop open and running for at least three years.

3. I must take care of her tiny owl, a prickly creature by the name of Rowan. He’s moody, opinionated, and he used to be a mage.

He doesn’t like me, he doesn’t like my dog, and he really doesn’t like the handsome fae councilman who starts hanging around as soon as I arrive in town.

But for a small fortune, Rowan and I are going to learn to coexist long enough for me to figure out how to turn him back into his normal self with my “cute and worthless” pixie magic—preferably before he ruins my dating life or drives me insane.

Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances is a rom-com style contemporary fantasy. The perfect lighthearted escape, this story is sure to delight readers who enjoy cozy magic and humor.

The books in this series feature smoldering-but-sweet, closed-door romance. (Passionate kisses and some innuendo, but no spicy scenes.)

This was a delightful start to the Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances series. Kathleen, or Kit as she prefers, is surprised when she finds out she has inherited her great-aunt’s estate. Kit is a summer fairy and arrives in Moss Hollow, Vermont with her dog, Chester and a list of stipulations regarding her inheritance. One of those is that she cares for her aunt’s owl, and another is that she must run the tea shop for three-years.

Moss Hollow is a hidden fae community that sells its wares to humans who come daily to shop and experience the town. No cars are permitted, and the magic of the town is kept secret. The residents comprise fae, fairies, shifters, and mages.

When she enters the cottage with its overflowing gardens and homey feel, she is both nervous and excited. Here she meets her roommate, an owl. His name is Rowan. Imagine her surprise when he talks to her. He is grumpy and must be close to her aunt’s age. I will leave you to discover his story, which I found fascinating. Kit meets Ash, a high fae who works for the city council, when he arrives on her doorstep asking if she has read the town’s rules, etc. There is a spark between them, and Kit shimmers.

The tale that unfolded was the perfect start to this series/trilogy as Kit navigates her new home, learning about teas and community. All while dealing with Rowan, her budding attraction to Ash, and a few other surprises.

I loved the cozy small-town, and we met some of the townsfolk. I am looking forward to meeting more of them. The story was well-paced, and the overall arc of the series was established. Natalie Duke did a wonderful job of giving voice to Kit, Ash, Rowan, and others. Her performance enhanced my enjoyment, and at just seven hours, this is perfect for a summer road trip.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Shari L. Tapscott

USA Today bestselling author Shari L. Tapscott writes romantic fantasy adventure and contemporary romance. When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing. She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave. Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and several extremely spoiled pets.

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About Natalie Duke

Natalie Duke is an Emmy and SOVAS award winning voice actor. A lifelong voracious reader, Natalie is inspired by excellent writing, complicated characters, and dark humor. She loves a snarky, strong, sarcastic heroine.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Sophia Rose is on the blog today with a new cozy paranormal fantasy romance. Come see what she loved about The Farewitch of Foxe Holler by Ellen Pauley Goff. If you love Southern-fried cozy fantasy this might be the perfect read for you.

Steel Magnolias meets Practical Magic in this charming contemporary fantasy debut in which a thirty-something kitchen witch whose recipes have the power to heal is recruited to help a reclusive warlock and discovers love on the other side of the next bake.

Self-taught chef and baker Honey Frost is Foxe Holler’s resident Farewitch. Proud of her family’s legacy for curing all manner of ailments with the right recipe, Honey is determined to be the Farewitch the Holler can depend on, even if she’s taken on the role twenty years too early.

Honey’s normal routine is disrupted when the reclusive Warlock living at the edge of the Holler appears for the first time in decades with a peculiar request: he needs a Farewitch. It seems the Warlock has been struck with a mysterious curse-born illness.

Initially reluctant to get involved—warlocks and witches do not get along—Honey changes her mind when he offers compensations she can’t refuse— access to his infamous library of old texts and kitchen grimoires. Now Honey is the newest resident of his moody farmhouse, Knight Manor. Which happens to have one gorgeous kitchen. And a lot of secrets. And a Warlock that maybe…isn’t so frightful at all. Or old. Or bad looking.

Curing people should a piece of Hummingbird cake for any Farewitch, but the grumpy farmhouse and even grumpier Warlock aren’t keen to help with their own healing. And that’s not the only trouble. The Widow Witch, century-long scourge of the region, is due to blow into Foxe Holler for her annual visit and this time, she has business with the Warlock.

Sophia Rose’s Review

A testy warlock hero, a sunshiny kitchen-witch heroine, a sentient farmhouse, country fantasy charm make up the ingredients to a tale as delicious as downhome cooking.  Ellen Goff is a new to me author and this is her debut fantasy novel which drew me in as soon as I saw the title and description.

The Farewitch in Foxe Holler opens with Honey Frost working the family bakery, Apothekery, serving customers the magic-induced baked goods while listening to her customers’ Kentucky small town gossip, worrying she’s good enough to keep the Frost women’s bakery alive after her grandmother dies, worrying her mom is wasting away no magic seems to be able to help, and contemplating her life as the girl who left home with dreams and come home feeling inadequate. 

Then, the ordinary day is interrupted by a message from the reclusive, cranky warlock living on the edge of town whom most of the town blame for every thing gone wrong in their lives.  He and his sentient farmhouse need a farewitch to heal them and he will pay generously.  And, he has grimoires that might possess the right magic to help her mom.  Its worth a try even though everyone from the pulpit-pounding pastor who hates magic on down to one of the local farmers warns her the warlock is bad news.

And, as Honey works out at the farm concocting her magically infused foods, she and Mr. Knight have their encounters, Honey is not doing well trying to hold her own.  Only when she opens herself to her hometown, relying on friends, and embracing who she is along with her found family group does the magic start to happen.

The Farewitch of Foxe Holler is a warm hug, comfy food, delightful friendships, everyone-knows-everyone small town charm.  It’s a gently-paced piece that delves deep into the Kentucky-Southern setting and character sketching, foodie and fantasy world details.  Relationships of family, friendship, and romance are all woven into the story. 

There are conflicts- the local pastor, the curse on the warlock and her mom’s health (interesting mystery), slow build relationship with said grumpy warlock (who is also a mystery element) and Honey’s personal growth thread among others.  However, its definitely a cozy with no sharp edges. 

It felt long at times, but was also in a mood tone that this drawn-out storytelling made sense.  The author wrote her family soul and food into it and it shows.  I think those who want a Southern-fried cozy fantasy should give The Farewitch of Foxe Holler a taste.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Ellen Pauley Goff

Ellen Pauley Goff (she/her) was born and raised in the wilds of Kentucky. Her short fiction has appeared in the Indiana Review, Hunger Mountain, F(r)iction, and New Millennium Writings, among others. Her poetry can be found in the Atlanta Review, and her creative nonfiction can be found in The Inquisitive Eater and Karma Comes Before. Her short story “S.P.A.M.” was F(r)iction’s Grand Prize Winner of their Short Story Contest, selected by guest short fiction judge Madeline Miller (Circe). She is also the inaugural winner of SCBWI's A. Orr Fantasy Grant for children's/YA speculative fiction.

Ellen received her BA from the University of Chicago, and her MFA dual degree in Fiction and Writing for Children & Young Adults from The New School. She has worked a lot of places to learn a lot of things: Kentucky Shakespeare, the oldest free Shakespeare festival in North America; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and The White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence under the Obama Administration. Ellen is the proud founder of a longstanding writing workshop and critique group in the heart of Manhattan, with the goal of providing publishing knowledge and resources to emerging writers, including un-agented, unpublished, and traditionally excluded writers. When she's not writing, Ellen works in publishing and international rights. She is the author of the fantasy novel The Farewitch of Foxe Holler.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle is the newest paranormal romantic suspense novel in the Harmony series. Each of these off-planet stories works as a standalone, featuring one couple and an adorable dust bunny. This was an addictive and suspenseful tale that I simply devoured.

Nightmares become real when a woman trying to rebuild her life enters the Hotel of Dreams in this exhilarating Harmony novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.

Alice Radstone should have known not to return. Her life before the Hotel of Dreams had been the perfectly cloistered world of a teacher at the Ballantine Academy. When the death of her mentor forced her out, she was left to reinvent herself in the big city. Since then, things have not gone well. Ten months ago, after her first trip to the hotel, she woke up in the locked ward of a hospital for the criminally insane, told that she had murdered her husband on their wedding night. She has no memory of the husband or the wedding but after escaping the asylum, one thing is certain—she is never going back.

Unfortunately, Alice’s second reinvented life is also deteriorating rapidly, which is why she finds herself once again at the Hotel of Dreams—this time hiding in the shadows of her room, a dead body in the shower, and two men wearing masks creeping toward the bed to kidnap her. Again.

When the enigmatic and decidedly dangerous Owen March shows up, claiming he’s there to rescue her, she has no choice but to accept his offer—and hope that he doesn’t intend to kidnap her, too.

With Alice and now Owen in the killer’s sights, time is running out. Alice and Owen must trust each other and the electric passion between them if they are to make it out of this hotel alive.

Alice Radstone finds herself back at the Hotel of Dreams after escaping from a locked ward for the criminally insane. She’s not crazy, but she was foolish to return here searching for answers. Owen March is a hunter and was hired to find her, but things aren’t adding up and he’s about to switch teams.

We quickly learn Alices history from time spent at the Ballantine Academy, her marriage and the subsequent murder of her husband, to waking up in a psych ward for the criminally insane. Alice doesn’t remember much about her wedding or her wedding night, but escapes the ward. Since then she has been living in city and helping folks using her gifts. In her search for answers, she agrees to meet someone claiming they have information about what happened, and she agrees to meet them at the Hotel of Dreams. It’s a trap, and to escape, she will need to trust Owen March. The tale that unfolds delivered. Who wants her kept in the asylum and why?

To find answers and to keep her safe, Owen and Alice arranged a marriage of convenience. Forced proximity and fake marriages are two tropes I enjoy, and Castle does them well. I loved the chemistry between them as they searched for answers. Both have powerful gifts and worked together in tandem. I of course, adored Sebastian. His mischief at the casino where they hideout left me giddy.

The mystery and build-up to suspenseful events at the Hotel of Dreams kept me reading way past my bedtime. Castle (Krentz) knows how to write characters I connect with, and the world she has created in Harmony is one I enjoy visiting. From the alien artifacts to the glowing and dangerous tunnels, I was all in.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Jayne Castle

The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print. She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries. Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington. Pseudonyms: Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Stephanie James, Jayne Bentley, Jayne Taylor, Amanda Glass.

Website | Facebook

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In the Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, Detective Shimada Kiyoshi works to save a group of paranormal investigators trapped in a house steeped in mystery as they are killed one by one. Narrated by Jonathan Yen, I found myself swept up in this locked-room mystery.

Brilliant detective Shimada Kiyoshi must save a team of paranormal investigators, trapped in an abandoned house, as they are picked off one-by-one!

Rumor has it that the mysterious Clock House—a remote mansion built by notorious architect Nakamura Seiji for a long-dead clock enthusiast—is haunted by the ghost of a young girl, who died there ten years earlier. No one is more intrigued by this than the investigating team from the paranormal magazine CHAOS. They decide to visit the mansion, along with a psychic medium, in an attempt to make contact with the spirit.

The plan is for the group of investigators to spend three days locked in the house, but their stay has barely begun when a gruesome murder is committed. And then the survivors find that they are trapped in the house, with no possibility of escape . . .

Meanwhile, the brilliant detective Shimada Kiyoshi is investigating the enigma of The Clock House from the outside, eager to unravel the mystery of another of Nakamura Seiji's twisted architectural creations.

But as his investigation proceeds, the team inside the house are being slaughtered one-by-one. Will Shimada crack the puzzle of the Clock House before all of them are dead?

I went into The Clock House Murders, not realizing it was the fourth audiobook of the Bizarre House Mysteries. Despite clues that Detective Shimada Kiyoshi had worked previous cases, this novel works as a standalone and contains a complete mystery. Perhaps next time I will pay closer attention to the Japanese letters above the title on Goodreads…LOL

If you enjoy puzzle boxes and locked-room mysteries, I think you will find this delightful. Be warned, there are a lot of characters, and while I am glad that I listened, this is one I would have liked to read along with, just to keep things straight in my head.

Jonathan Yen’s narration helped me keep track of who was who, and I enjoyed the clock details and history of the Clock House. Inside the house, we have a medium; college students and a reporter and his photographer are all locked in for three days to contact the ghosts of the house. Meanwhile, Detective Kiyoshi is outside with the curator and others trying to solve the mystery.

Puzzles, twists, and red herrings kept me on edge. This was my first Japanese detective novel, but it won’t be my last. I was truly kept guessing. In hindsight, the clues were all there. This is one I will re-listen to, perhaps along with the ebook so I can see the floor plans, etc.

The story works well on audio and was helpful with the endless names and pronunciations. The writing is simple but intentional, and I could visually imagine the house, clocks, and characters. Yen provided unique voices and enhanced my overall enjoyment of this mystery.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Yukito Ayatsuji

Naoyuki Uchida, known by his pen name Yukito Ayatsuji, is a Japanese writer of mystery and horror. He is one of the founders of Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan and one of the representative writers of the new traditionalist movement in Japanese mystery writing.

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About Jonathan Yen

Jonathan Yen was inspired by the Golden Age of Radio, and he's carried that inspiration through to commercial work, voice acting, and stage productions. From vintage Howard Fast science fiction to naturalist Paul Rosolie's true adventures in the Amazon, Jonathan loves to tell a good story.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

Source

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

The JIAM 2026 Audiobook Challenge wraps up this week. I managed three in my TBR pile. I met my new doctor on Monday, not sure if I told you mine was retiring and moving to Colorado. He recommended her, and I was relieved that she listens, follows the science and agrees with the plans my doctor was following. Some of my anxiety was lifted this week, but sleep continues to evade me. I am really hoping our vacation at the end of July resets things. In the meantime, I am reading, listening, and taking it one day at a time. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• The Probability of Murder by J.D. Barker (audiobook review)
• Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (book review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 3 by Beth Brower (guest reviewer/ book review)
• The Children by Melissa Albert (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji (audiobook review)
• Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle (book review)
• The Farewitch of Foxe Holler by Ellen Pauley Goff (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott (audiobook review)
• 2026 Audiobook Challenge Mid-Year Check-In (event)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott
• North Country by K.A. Tucker
• Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England

A special thank you to Simon Maverick Audio, Libro.fm, Sourcebooks Audio

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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I was looking for an atmospheric listen, and with its full cast of narrators, The Children by Melissa Albert promised a dark tale of legacy, memory, and magic. I am pleased to say it did not disappoint.

With a full cast recording and stunning sound design, this audio edition will immerse the listener in the novel’s atmospheric world.

The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic.

Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.

In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers she and Ennis are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the wild woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.

Now an adult coasting on her mother's name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family's legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she's spent the last twenty years running What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s fantasy world?

The Children is wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, and the way our most beloved stories grow up with us. It's for anyone who's ever revisited an old favorite and found its pages cast in a darker light, the line separating magic from reality blurring as we discover the books that once comforted us carry shadows of their own.

As we listen, we meet Guinevere Sharpe, whose memories of her childhood are overshadowed by tragedy and the never-ending popularity of the Ninth City books written by her mother. Guinevere and her brother Ennis bear the same names as the fictional children who visited the Ninth City.

The author shares both past and the present with Guinevere. We see her childhood from Italy to the isolated Vermont farmhouse where they grew up in the early 1990s as their mother wrote and their father painted. Edith Sharpe’s series was never completed after a tragic event. As an adult, Guinevere is promoting a ghostwritten memoir about her childhood when her estranged brother, Ennis, announces an art installation titled, simply, Mother. With it, Guinevere’s carefully created facade cracks, and with it come memories she’s buried.

 Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Saskia Maarleveld, Kristen Sieh, Leslie Aleman, and Iggy Costello, the author pulled me into this atmospheric tale, and I found myself drawn to the farmhouse and its strange quirks and ominous vibes. From the outside, their lives look idyllic, but the walls tell a different story. I highly recommend listening, as I believe the narrators themselves enhanced the overall story.

The story is a book within a book, a dark, genre-bending fairy tale that moves between life at the farmhouse and Guinevere’s current situation. The story unfolds slowly as the foreboding builds, and we see the carefully guarded walls Guinevere has built around herself. There was darkness, and a sense of supernatural madness that held me captive. The Farmhouse itself is a living, breathing character. Edith Share isn’t likable through Guinevere’s eyes, but the world adores her. The children’s father is charismatic but suffers from highs and lows.

The Children delivered a dark, eerie look at childhood, art, dysfunctional families,and fame that I found gripping.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Melissa Albert

New York Times and indie bestselling author of YA books The Bad Ones, Our Crooked Hearts, and the Hazel Wood series. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and included in the New York Times list of Notable Children’s Books. The Children is her first adult novel.

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About Kristen Sieh

KRISTEN SIEH is a stage, television, and voice-over performer. She was a member of the original cast of the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical The Band's Visit, and a founding member of the Brooklyn-based theater company The TEAM, writing and performing half a dozen new plays in the U.S. and abroad.

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About Rebecca Lowman

Rebecca Lowman is an American actress, writer, and audio-book narrator who has established herself as a versatile performer across television, film, and audio media. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Lowman pursued formal training in the performing arts, earning her Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University. Her educational foundation provided the technical skills and artistic depth that would later define her multifaceted career in entertainment.

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About Saskia Maarleveld

SASKIA MAARLEVELD is an AudioFile magazine Earphones Award–winning narrator living in New York City. Working full-time in the voice-over world, Saskia has recorded over 160 audiobooks. She switches seamlessly between accents and can often be heard speaking in British, Australian, New Zealand, and various European accents, in addition to her own American accent.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Sophia Rose continues her review of the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower, with volume three. Come see why she is enjoying these novellas on audio.

"It has been a day ordained by the fates, for how else could one explain the wholly cursed chain of events?"

The year is 1883, and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Sophia Rose’s Review

Emma’s latest journal entries in Volume three begin with a St. Crispin’s-style treasure hunt, continue with her ventures in the London social season at the behest of her Aunt Eugenia, and finish with another St. Crispin’s neighborhood curiosity.  Beth Brower’s Emma M Lion has grown on me with each subsequent volume and I have become insatiable for the next installment.

After having rescued Jane Eyre for the posterity of her old girls’ school haunt, established a new mysterious war photographer tenant in the other half of her home to help with the income struggles, satisfied Aunt Eugenia in helping put forward her gorgeous cousin for her first London Season while acquiring a few interested fellows of her own, Emma sets out on a new venture- the Julius Caesar-themed clue hunt partnered, of all surprises, with her annoying Cousin Archibald.  Emma’s misadventures along the way were entertaining.

Her thunderstorm of a tenant has requested the use of an unused downstairs parlor for his new portrait studio and, as a result, The Tenant and Emma come to know one another well and, it is to him, Emma shares her painful grief and loss of her first love dying on the battlefield.

But, Emma isn’t made for melancholy and the antics about her St. Crispin’s neighborhood and Lapus Lazuli House keep her in mischief and fill her journal pages.The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion are a series of Victorian Era long-novellas written in epistolary form to delicious and addicting results.  Beth Brower brings all the shades of emotion- led by lighthearted wit and mischief, superb quizzical characters, and an eclectic tale that grows on one as it progresses.  Narrator, Genevieve Gaunt, is the voice of Emma and her fellow eccentric characters, and I urge others to pounce on the audio versions and prepare for the marvel in store in this slow-build series.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Beth Brower

Beth Bower graduated with a degree in literary studies, and is working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of her mind and none of her characters are very patient to wait their turn. She lives with her wonderful chemist husband and has books in every room of their house.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

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Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan shares a suspenseful thriller set in Cooke County, Texas during the raining season. Ellen McKenna is trying to keep her family farm after the death of her husband and is being pressured by a wealthy investor. Suspense, danger, storms, and more kept me riveted.

Allison Brennan delivers a pulse-pounding thriller about one family fighting for their land against both human enemies and Mother Nature.

After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is doing everything she can to keep her Texas farm afloat. She and her family hope to expand their operation, but times are tough and making ends meet is more expensive than she imagined, much less trying to grow. Many of their neighbors in Cooke County have thrown in the towel and agreed to sell their farms to a local businessman, but despite similar pressure, Ellen refuses to let her dreams die.

On top of the usual hardships, a series of recent storms has left the region partly flooded, and as the heavy rain begins again one morning, all the members of the McKenna family jump into action to protect their land and animals. Ellen’s oldest son discovers an injured dog—and the dog leads him to a man barely clinging to life, the apparent victim of a brutal home invasion. Then, Ellen’s younger kids go to check on a nearby neighbor and walk into a threat none of them saw coming.

Before anyone can figure out what’s really going on in their idyllic rural valley, the storm picks up again in intensity, and the McKenna kids find themselves in over their heads with no way to call for help. To protect her farm--and her family—Ellen must face down all the forces trying to tear them apart.

Allison Brennan's talent for twisty, tense pacing combines with a deeply drawn family drama and the unforgiving power of nature in this compelling standalone thriller.

If you are looking for a good standalone suspense thriller, you can’t go wrong with Whisper Creek. Allison Brennan lives on her family farm with her children and their grandmother. She is determined to keep the family farm despite outside pressure. It’s storm season in Cooke County, Texas, and flooding has been an issue. A series of events, beginning with vandalism and ending with a threat that could harm her family, the author delivered as the suspense built.

Each of the McKenna children finds trouble: Ellen is called out to check on a pregnant woman, a man is shot in his home during a home invasion, and a barn cat is missing. I loved not only the mystery and troubles surrounding the small county but also the part mother nature played in building the suspense and danger. It was atmospheric and got my heart racing as I became fully invested in the outcome.

I liked the McKenna family. Ellen is tough, but also looks out for her neighbors. We got to know most of the children and interacted with them as they became caught up in events. The grandmother was cantankerous but caring.

Aside from the mystery/suspense angle, the story focuses on family drama. It hits on loss, neighbors, coming of age, romance, and the struggles of farm life. I loved the different points of view, the twists, and the reveals. While the reader is aware of the villain learning, the why was intriguing.

An engaging thriller, I recommend Whisper Creek; it’s perfect for the beach or a rainy Sunday. I will definitely read more from this author.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Allison Brennan

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year. 40 books and numerous short stories later, Allison relocated in 2019 from Northern California to Arizona with her husband and two youngest children. RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.

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Narrated by James Babson, The Probability of Murder by J. D. Barker and Patrick Logan introduces us to brilliant math professor Ivy Reeves as she is drawn into a deadly game where probability becomes a matter of life and death.

The wrong answer can cost everything.

When brilliant math professor Ivy Reeves receives a cryptic note bearing her name at a crime scene, she's drawn into a deadly game where probability becomes a matter of life and death.

Thirteen victims. Complex mathematical puzzles. A killer who understands that some games are designed to be lost.

As Detective Vaughn Ryan races against the clock, he needs Ivy's genius to decode the twisted logic behind each murder. But the closer they get to the truth, the more personal the game becomes. The killer knows Ivy's past—the fire that destroyed her family, the secrets she's buried, the father she visits wearing a mask over his melted skin.

Every number has meaning. Every equation points to the next victim. And time is running out.

From New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker and Patrick Logan comes a pulse-pounding thriller where mathematics meets murder, and one wrong answer means death.

I was looking for a standalone mystery thriller and was drawn to the synopsis of The Probability of Murder. Detective Vaughn Ryan and math professor Ivy Reeves must decode the twisted logic behind the crime scenes as the tension and danger build. Thirteen victims. Complex mathematical puzzles and a killer who is prepared to lose.

The tale that unfolded grabbed me from the outset. Detective Vaughn and his partner are dealing with ten murders when they enlist the help of Professor Ivy Reeves after watching a viral TikTok. They are hoping she can figure out what the numbers with each body mean. I loved the cryptic crime scenes and how the killer seems to know Ivy and her past.

This was my first J.D. Barker book, but after finishing this I am keen to try more. This collaboration with Patrick Logan paid off. If you love procedural crime novels, math, or puzzles, the story pulls you in; this audio is for you. The characters were flawed but likeable, and I rooted for them as they closed in on the killer. Despite piecing things together, a few twists and turns kept me riveted.

James Babson narrates and brings these characters to life while capturing the suspenseful tension. I highly recommend grabbing this on audio.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About J.D. Barker

J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS and the wildly popular 4MK thriller series. He regularly collaborates with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.

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About Patrick Logan

After seventy plus novels and more than a million copies sold, he's found his true calling, one that also includes a plethora of letters. He also has two spooky podcasts that are appropriate for ALL ages, so long as you like to be scared: P.T. Logan's Five Minutes of Terror and Camp Fear. Both are FREE and available on all podcast platforms. For MATURE audiences, he's created two fiction podcasts, Nightmare Residue and Bad Priest.

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About James Babson

James Babson is a highly accomplished voice actor, audiobook narrator, and on-screen performer with nearly two decades of experience. A graduate of the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, he is best known for voicing Sun Jian in the Dynasty Warriors video game franchise, Louie in BioShock 2, and Angel in the English dub of Netflix's Money Heist

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

Source

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads. We had a busy week. Sophia had her playoff games, Clayton finished up his season, and playoffs are starting. Poor Hazel got rained out, but had her first game yesterday. Kindergarten baseball is a hoot to watch. My anxiety has been out of control this month. As a result, I am seriously sleep-deprived and anxious. I am trying to focus on things I am responsible for (can change) without bringing others’ problems into my mind … HA (if you are a mom; you know this is impossible.) Any-hoo, books and audios help, so I’ve been escaping into them. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Death Meets Cute by J. Penner (audiobook review)
• The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston (book review)
• Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh by Aleese Lin (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop by Ember Holt (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• The Probability of Murder by J.D. Barker (audiobook review)
• Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (book review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Volume 3 by Beth Brower (guest reviewer/ book review)
• The Children by Melissa Albert (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• The Forsaken by Dannika Dark

A special thank you to Tantor Audio

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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Oh No! There’s a Dragon in Bookshop by Ember Holt has Caitlin and her cat moving out of the city to cozy, small-town Wisconsin to open a bookstore. Only the bookstore is occupied. What followed was a smart, funny, oh so steamy romance you won’t want to miss.

My work frenemy stole my promotion, so I cashed in my shares and bought a bookshop with a possessive dragon problem. Oops.

Oh, and he’s an infuriatingly attractive dragon whose magic grows stronger with every book I stock. He insists the shop is his hoard and flat-out refuses to leave.

Fine. Guess I’ll put him to work.

Except his idea of “work” is reorganizing my shelves by vibes instead of my carefully planned system. Worse, his taste in literature is atrocious, and he forbids me from displaying modern romances, though I’ve definitely caught him reading them.

Now, shady looking men are asking questions about him. But for all our bickering, I can’t ignore what we a fierce love of stories that has made us into something more than just reluctant roommates. He says they’re dragon hunters, and the more they pressure me, the more I believe him. When they threaten to burn down my cozy little shop unless I turn him in, I realize something impossible…

I’m ready to become the knight in shining armor my dragon never expected.

Prepare for a slow-burn enemies to lovers with a possessively deranged, spiteful dragon and a meek to strong heroine in this cozy, small-town Wisconsin booklovers romance.

This is the third novel in the Getting Cozy with Demons series, but don’t let that stop you from diving in. Each book features a different place, and yes, they are tied together, but in a way that allows readers to begin anywhere. My guess is wherever you start, you’ll end up grabbing the others, especially if you love cozy fantasies heavy with romance.

I loved Caitlin. How could I not? She loves books and even binds them. When she tires of others taking credit for her work, an unexpected ad for a bookshop has her pivoting. She loads up her car with her favorite books and feline companion and treks cross-country to a small lakeside community in Wisconsin. The place needs some serious work, especially in the adjoining upstairs apartment where she discovers a dragon. The tale that unfolds held me captive as Caitlin learns about herself, deals with opening the shop and making things work with her err- roommate. LOL

As with the other books, there is a threat that adds a suspense element, but there are also friendships that develop. Bastian, our dragon is a tad possessive of his hoard. The hoard is question- BOOKS! I loved this aspect and the back-and-forth banter that comes from it. Caitlin’s cat stole the show a few times. I loved seeing Caitlin unlocking powers and seeing the relationship strengthen between them. The romance was steamy and yet soft and slow.

If you are looking for a cozy escape that will leave you smiling, I recommend Oh No! There’s a Dragon in Bookshop and the entire Getting Cozy with Demons series.

Amazon*

*kindleunlimited

About Ember Holt

Ember loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too. When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well. Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)

Website | Instagram

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Sophia Rose is here with the eighteenth novel in the Guild Hunter’s series, Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh. Come check out her thoughts on this sentimental send-off for this paranormal urban fantasy series.

Elena and Raphael return for the hauntingly poignant conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s genre-defining Guild Hunter series.

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain . . . at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

Sophia Rose’s Review

They were the beginning of it all when the Guild Hunter series began with Angel’s Blood and now, for the final series book, Nalini Singh closes it all out with Raphael and Elena.

Archangel’s Eternity is the eighteenth book in the Guild Hunter series that is a combo of urban fantasy and paranormal romance with several connections between books, even the PNR ones focused on various couples making them best read in order.

Archangel’s Eternity opens with Elena feeling retrospective about her thousandth birthday.  All that has passed on, all that has changed, and yet all that is the same.  She worked hard to hold onto her spark of humanity and connection to the world she was born into, but also forged a new path as an angel and an archangel’s cohort.

Rafael has great power and responsibility as the Archangel of New York, but he is aware of his own vulnerability.  Elena is his touchstone and the heart of him.  They have weathered much in their many human lifetimes together, but now they face a new adventure for which he feels is the greatest challenge of all… fatherhood.

Archangel’s Eternity is a long, nostalgic, and brimming over with all the emotions, good-bye.  The spotlight is on Rafael and Elena and this final adventure they enter, but from Rafael’s Seven and beyond, the reader gets to farewell all the characters and where the future has taken them.  It has been so long since I spent time with some of the couples that this was a lovely reunion, through and through.  There was some tension and conflict, but not like past books. 

All in all, a sentimental, almost poetic and tear-inducing send off to a fabulous series and one I will return to again.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Nalini Singh

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives in New Zealand but travels as much as possible (the travel bug bit hard from when she escaped working as a lawyer to run away and teach English in Japan). Nalini loves to write, loves to read, and thinks chocolate is a food group.

Website | Facebook

About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

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I love the blend of magical realism Ashley Poston brings to her stories, and The Someday Garden delivered as we are transported to Lilymoor House off the coast of Maine, where the new head gardener Sophie Drear discovers a secret garden.

The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.

When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summer—for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor House—she doesn’t expect to fall in love.

But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.

And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.

This mysterious garden is not the only sign that the future of Lilymoor is unstable: the foliage resists Sophie’s careful nurturing, vines threaten to strangle the hedges, and the manor’s owner has wild ideas about who will take over when she retires—including her inconveniently attractive nephew who is also there just for the summer.

Despite herself, Sophie has come to care for the residents of Lilymoor just as much as she cares for its grounds. With the help of one man on the outside of the secret garden, and one man on the inside, she might be the only person who can figure out exactly what Lilymoor needs to bloom once more.

We meet Sophie Drear when she is in college, and she and her friend Harriet travel to Maine and explore the Lilymoor House gardens. Now, ten years later, everything has changed, and once again Sophie is traveling to Lilymoor House, this time for a temporary summer job as the head gardener. Here she falls in love with the gardens, the maze and the people. The tale that unfolded pulled me in as Sophia discovered a door that led to a secret garden with a man inside.

We learn about what Sophie has been doing and what became of her vibrant friend in interim. Sophie is a bit of a crossroads. The house and gardens are preparing for a celebration, but it is also at a crossroads, much like Sophie. Poston knows how to tell a story and delivers from the lush garden details to the found family. The owner’s family and their nephews are key components of this story, and I found myself invested.

Like Sarah Addison Allen, Ashley Poston is an expert in the craft of writing stories with magical realism. I loved the aspects of the door, secret garden, and the forces holding the man within its walls. We deal with grief, family issues, and romantic elements.

If you’ve ever found yourself fearful of moving forward and forgetting, Poston through Sophie shows us it is possible. The Someday Garden is the perfect read to enjoy on the deck overlooking your own garden. I laughed, swiped a tear, and was eager to unlock the garden’s many secrets.

Patti Murin narrates, giving voice to Sophie and the other characters. She enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story, and I recommend listening. She did well with both male and female voices, creating distinct voices for each.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Ashley Poston

Ashley Poston writes stories about love and friendship and ever afters. A native to South Carolina, she now lives in a small grey house with her sassy cat and too many books. You can find her on the internet, somewhere, watching cat videos and reading fan-fiction.

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About Patti Murin

Patti Murin is an acclaimed stage and screen actress, best known for originating the role of Princess Anna in Disney's Frozen on Broadway. Outside of her acting career, she is a sought-after audiobook narrator, frequently bringing contemporary romance and fiction novels to life

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Narrated by Samara MacLaren, Death Meets Cute offered a delightful cozy romance perfect for fans of Travis Baldree’s Legend & Lattes. Come meet Iris Weyward, a witch who truly wants to be evil.

I am more than capable of being evil today. I think…

Iris Weyward wants to be bad. Truly bad. Terrifyingly, gloriously villainous. But after helping her sisters unleash a spell to throw the realm into chaos, Iris is left feeling strangely empty—and still not the villain of her dreams. So, she sets off for the quiet town of Fraywell to build her wicked legacy alone.

Things start a crooked little cottage, a reputation for curses and potions, and a healthy dose of fear from the locals. But when her ogre bodyguard disappears, Iris needs new muscle. Good thing a fearsome orc just toppled over in her yard. Naturally, she decides to reanimate him. It’s a perfect solution.

Only, Talon isn’t the brooding warrior she was hoping for. He’s gentle. He bakes. Worst of all, he’s nice. But Iris can’t possibly have a thing for her new employee. She’s supposed to be the most wicked witch in town!

While Iris struggles to turn Talon into the enforcer she deserves, her sisters arrive seeking help—their magic is fading, and the cause may be closer than any of them realize. The timing couldn’t be worse, and falling for an orc wasn’t supposed to be part of her villain era, but it might turn out to be the best spell she’s ever cast…

Iris Weyward lives in a crooked little house and has a reputation for creating potions. Most of the locals fear her, and until a few weeks ago she had a bodyguard. Her ogre bodyguard never returns from his vacation, so when an orc shows up at her front door and falls dead, she reanimates him. The tale that unfolded pulled me in and never let go.

Iris and her sisters all want to be evil witches, but honestly, Iris likes dark things, but we slowly see another side of her. I loved her unique familiar and seeing her settle into a routine with Talon, her orc who ends up being anything but fierce. In fact, he is kind, fixes things, and loves to cook. Which frustrates and perplexes Iris. I loved their interactions both with each other and with the townsfolk. Poor, evil Iris doesn’t know how to handle doses of kindness and these feelings. Particularly with Talon.

Iris has bigger problems at the moment. Her magic seems to falter, and apparently so does her sisters because they show up unannounced. The story explores figuring out who you are and accepting it. I loved the town of Fraywell, the nosy neighbor, and even the chickens.

If you are looking for a layered cozy fantasy with romance and character growth woven with a little mystery and family, you’ll want to grab Death Meets Cute. Samara MacLaren narrates and does a lovely job of capturing the tone of the story and voices of these characters. I would certainly revisit this world.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About J. Penner

USA Today bestselling author, J. Penner bakes a little magic into every page of her cozy fantasies which are filled with friendship, found family, good food and the sweetest romance. She lives in sunny San Diego with her family, and of course, her cats.

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About Samara MacLaren

Samara MacLaren is a Scottish actor, writer and audiobook narrator. She is known for her work in Dept. Q (2025), Merlin (2008) and Carapaces (2018).

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

This week was spent with grandchildren, working, watching thunderstorms, and trying to fix our lawnmower. Husband worked on it until our son noticed part of the engine had exploded on the side. Yep, it’s toast. I’ve gone down the murder podcast rabbit hole and I am having fun exploring. If you have a favorite, let me know. I binge-watched the new Magnolias season on Netflix and read a few books. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• From the Dust by David Swinson (audiobook review)
• Inkpot Gods by Seanan McGuire (book review)
• Samantha Spuk Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Lead Me Home by Catherine Bybee (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• Death Meets Cute by J. Penner (audiobook review)
• The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston (book review)
• Archangel’s Eternity by Nalini Singh by Aleese Lin (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Oh No! There’s a Dragon in my Bookshop by Ember Holt (book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• You, Me, & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry
• Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts

A special thank you to Atria Books, St. Martin’s Press

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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Narrated by Laura Jennings & Alex Knox, Lead Me Home by Catherine Bybee is the first in the Queen Ann Hill series. This women’s fiction romance delivered romance, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural.

When spreadsheets are safer than people, falling in love becomes the ultimate risk in this powerful novel of trauma, healing, and unexpected courage from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee.

Luna Canning trusts numbers more than people—and for good reason. As a forensic accountant who specializes in exposing fraud, she knows numbers never deceive, unlike the toxic family she’s spent a lifetime trying to escape. Now living in her grandmother’s Victorian home, Luna has built a carefully ordered life behind walls she thought were unbreakable.

When her car is stolen from an airport parking lot, former FBI agent turned PI Nate Warren steps in to help—and proves more dangerous to her defenses than any thief. Despite Luna’s ironclad rules about mixing business with pleasure, their chemistry ignites, and for the first time, she considers letting someone past her guard. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Luna’s manipulative mother arrives unannounced, dragging with her a dangerous man and decades of unresolved trauma that threaten everything Luna has built.

Now Luna must confront the ghosts of her past—both metaphorical and possibly literal, as strange occurrences in her historic home suggest she’s not alone. With a violent threat looming and her heart on the line, Luna discovers that sometimes the hardest person to trust is yourself.

I enjoy Bybee and her rich stories and fleshed-out characters, so I was excited to begin the Queen Ann Hill series. Lead Me Home introduces us to Luna Canning. Luna is a forensic accountant who inherited her grandmother’s Victorian home and lives there with her best friend. Luna had a rough childhood and found comfort spending time with her grandmother. She is guarded and allows few into her inner circle.

While on a case, her car was stolen. FBI agent turned private investigator, Nate Warren, offers to help. The two are currently working on a case together. They have great chemistry, and we see the beginning of a spark as their friendship grows. The story is told in dual POV, providing both Luna’s and Nate’s perspectives.

When Luna’s mother shows up unannounced, we get an actual glimpse into why Luna has erected these walls around herself. We met Luna’s siblings: her brother, a protective police officer, and her married sister, Harper. The story touches on family trauma and toxic relationships while also showing the strength in siblings, friendships and healing. We get some suspenseful moments that kept me listening into the wee hours, but I will leave you to discover what happens.

Laura Jennings & Alex Knox did a stellar job of narrating. Laura captured Luna’s personality, fear, and strength. Alex gave Nate a voice and captured the overall tone of the story. I hope they continue to narrate the series.

You’ll want to grab your earbuds and enjoy Lead Me Home.

Amazon* | Audible*

*kindleunlimited read & listen

About Catherine Bybee

New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series. Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.

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About Alex Knox

Alex Knox is a classically trained actor, equally comfortable as a leading man and a comedic character performer. In addition to a long list of theater credits, he has appeared in commercials, hosted a web series ("Science Talks with Alex Knox"), and, as an improv performer, entertained thousands of guests at Southern California's theme parks. Alex wrote No Static at All, a one-man play about seeking spiritual enlightenment through the music of Steely Dan, and has performed the show to sold-out houses in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and the Yale School of Drama.

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About Laura Jennings

Laura enjoys a quiet lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest with her loving husband and aged beagle, Dottie. Her days are filled with narrating, yoga, hiking and, reading. . As an audiobook narrator and creative writing MFA graduate, literature plays an enormous role in her life, perfectly pairing with her tranquil Pacific Northwest lifestyle.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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We’ve got Sophia Rose on the blog today with a cozy paranormal romance filled with romance, mystery, and a little spooky fun. Come check out her thoughts on Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin.

Aleese Lin’s delightful, spooky—or Spük-y?—contemporary romance debut is perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and Netflix’s Wednesday.

Samantha Spük is your go-to wedding planner, be it for werewolf, vampire, or fae!

...even if that's the last thing she would’ve imagined. Samantha “Sabby” Spük has spent her life trying to escape her family’s legacy of supernatural chaos. She’s finally graduated and landed a nice, normal 9–5 at a New York accounting firm. But then she gets the call: Grandma Rose is gone, and Sabby has been named executor of her (ahem, magically binding) will.

Now Sabby is stuck in her dreaded hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, taking on odd jobs—some very odd, like wedding planning for not-so-human locals—until she can sell the family home. At least this means a date with Hanry, the mysterious hottie Sabby meets in the neighborhood graveyard. With help from Hanry, a talking-head sidekick, and a manic pixie assistant, Sabby might pull these weddings off in time to salvage her accounting career…but is she ready to say goodbye to her paranormal one?

Sophia Rose’s Review

Mad after the normal life of an accountant in the city, she gets cursed to return to kooky supernatural Salem to fulfill her grandmother’s last will.  Aleese Lin’s debut novel caught my fancy when I spotted the cover and title, the blurb was a bonus inducement.  A blend of lighthearted spooky, mystery, romance, and a finding-herself tale.

Samantha Spuk has a unique heritage of growing up where the supernatural and paranormal is all real tucked in among the mundane human world.  Some people want to leave their home town for the excitement and bright lights of the city?  Sabby just wants to leave the excitement and glowing lights of the macabre for the ordinariness outside.  She’s aiming for a solid, successful accountant job, a stolid human family, 2.5 kids, and the picket fence.

Then her grandmother’s will happens and she’s forced to wrap up her grandmother’s final wishes or else- curses!  That is a real curse will happen.  She’s none too pleased to be back in a place that is an always Halloween setting and people.  The way the magic compels her, she finds herself performing macabre and- okay, yes, fun paranormal wedding planning for every spook kind and style of wedding there is.  She’s making friends and working with a manic pixie assistant, a talking head without a body who is her help and advisor, and what is this, a new romance with a guy she met in the cemetery? 

Sabby is telling everyone and herself this is short term and she’s headed back to the city and that life of the staid accountant just as soon as she can.  She tries to keep her emotional walls up and her cynical side layered over her vulnerable heart.  Never knew her dad, her mom was always off doing her thing and even now is vacationing in Mexico, and her grandmother’s life in this mystical, magical world was not for her, or so she told herself because she felt alone and never in sync all her life.  Now, though, paranormal wedding planning not only is a good fit, but she now jives with the town and people who embrace her with open arms, fangs, etc.  But when the it comes down to it, which life will she choose?

Samantha Spuk, Paranormal Wedding Planner was an obvious debut effort and I never got quite settled into it.  I set it aside a few times and debated continuing.  It did pick up as to the plot about half way making my struggles diminish.  I didn’t connect with Sabby or her love interest, Hanry, and to be fair, I think there is meant to be more development coming later on them.  That’s the thing, this is a complete book, but it leaves some large threads loose for future books.  The humor was good as were the wry thoughts and dialogue, but it pushed that bit too far into trying too hard, for me.  And, while I liked that there are details about Sabby’s wedding planning work, again, it was that bit too much for me and I started skimming when it got into lots of details.

Now, that said, the worldbuilding and the haunted, always Halloween town and people setting, loved it.  The quirkiness of it all, again, that hit the spot.  The situation of Sabby and her paranormal wedding adventures was also a blast.  The mystery was a fun and foremost aspect.  I was waiting on baited breath there at the end to see, after the shocking twist about Hanry and her heartbreak, what she would choose to do- her old dream or her fun new life that she was almost afraid to want.

All in all, though I was put off by some, there was even more that kept me reading and entertained me.  I would like to see where the future goes for Sabby and her ghoulish group.  So, I think either in certain moods or for a certain niche group of paranormal readers, this will really tickle their fancy.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Aleese Lin

Aleese Lin is a fantasy writer who lives with her family in a hillside cottage overlooking Boston, Massachusetts. She is a 2022 Lambda Literary fellow, a Tin House workshop alumnus, and an educator. Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner is her debut novel.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

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Inkpot Gods by Seanan McGuire takes us back to the world of the Alchemical Journeys series. This is the fourth novel in this fantasy series that has held me captive from the dark alchemy to the Impossible City. An addictive installment with an ending that left me screaming for the next novel.

The New York Times bestselling author takes us back to the world of the Alchemical Journeys in this action-packed follow-up to Middlegame, Seasonal Fears, and Tidal Creatures.

The gods live and die at our whim.

More than a century has passed since Asphodel Baker refined the process allowing her to imbue alchemically created life with power in a way no one else had ever been able to achieve. More than a century since she built the Impossible City on the ruins of Olympus, forging it from nothing more than imagination and spite, and penned it in plain view, enabling it to be read and cherished and believed by children the world over.

And now, so long after her exit from the world, the descendants of her dark alchemy―who exist in a reality that inches ever closer to the hellscape of her imagination―step into a place of birth, of discovery, of horror, to make amends for the sins of the past.

Can the gods of today defeat the evils of their maker, or will the legacy of the most powerful alchemist the world has ever known prove to be their undoing?

While McGuire does a lovely job of recapping, I highly recommend that these novels be read in the order of their release. Events, characters, and understanding are deepened by fully investing in the series. Seanan McGuire is a favorite author, from her October Daye series to her Mira Grant books.

In Inkpot Gods we get Asphodel Baker’s origin story and spend time at Berkeley College with Kelpie, the incarnate moon goods and Rodger and Dodger, the living embodiments of the Doctrine of Ethos.

Our story begins in 1865 in a small village. A local woman, Elizabeth Turner (Baker) is with child. The villagers find this strange because she socializes with no one. This is where Asphodel’s story begins; we follow her childhood and introduction to alchemy. It was horrifyingly delicious.

We then head to August 2018 at Berkeley College and meet a young woman from Alabama named Lilianne. She is interested in alchemy and is searching for the abandoned labs of the American Alchemical Congress. She also believes the cuckoos are here. Lilianne is a little odd and feels like she has stood out all her life, but here she feels comfortable. She lives off-campus with other students. She doesn’t discuss alchemy, but David, who is an incarnate of Máni, suspects Lilianne is an alchemist. He sets out to alert Judy, the senior Lunar leader.

The tale that unfolded was suspenseful, provided answers, and kept me engaged. I love the world McGuire has created and the way she ties things together and weaves a story. Once the gang is involved and we find ourselves below ground, I could not put this down. The ending, though, killed me. It’s a cliffhanger in that we know danger is growing and our motley crew has been left at a disadvantage. Which means I am now counting down the days to devour the next novel.

Amazon | Audible

About Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire is a native Californian, which has resulted in her being exceedingly laid-back about venomous wildlife, and terrified of weather. When not writing urban fantasy (as herself) and science fiction thrillers (as Mira Grant), she likes to watch way too many horror movies, wander around in swamps, record albums of original music, and harass her cats. Seanan is the author of the October Daye, InCryptid, and Indexing series of urban fantasies; the Newsflesh trilogy; the Parasitology duology; and the "Velveteen vs." superhero shorts. Her cats, Lilly, Alice, and Thomas, are plotting world domination even as we speak, but are easily distracted by feathers on sticks, so mankind is probably safe. For now.

Website | Facebook

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Retired police detective Graham Sanderson returns to his family home in a small town in Upstate New York to look after his brother Tommy after the death of their father. When the local chief asks for help with a murder, Graham fears the worst in From the Dust by David Swinson.

When a murder occurs in a small town in Upstate New York, retired police detective Graham Sanderson, is drawn back into a vortex of violence, deception, and a series of murders which get dangerously personal.

Graham Sanderson thought he’d left it all behind. His years as a Washington, DC, homicide detective, his tragically dead wife, pain, violence. Taking over his father’s house in the remote Finger Lakes region of rural New York, and looking after his shut-in brother, Tommy, seemed like a respite. That is, until the first body is found.

The chief of the town’s small police jurisdiction, who is also a family friend, asks for Graham’s assistance. Graham’s instincts immediately kick in and he soon discovers there’s more to the area – the people, its brutally quiet, sophisticated hierarchies – than he or his family ever knew.

David Swinson's latest novel is a soulful, rural noir story about the extremities to which it pushes a community, the fear it instills in the hearts of adherents and doubters alike, and need for it nevertheless. As Graham delves deeper into the strange and then stranger circumstances of the murders, his own beliefs become challenged. What do you finally stand for when you’ve got nothing left to lose?

Graham is a recently retired and widowed DC Homicide detective who moves back to his ancestral home to take care of the home and his brother, Tommy. Tommy suffers from PTSD and agoraphobia. Graham is enjoying the quieter pace, drinks on the back porch, and time with his brother. When the local sheriff tells Graham about a recent murder, he is surprised, but it’s not long before the sheriff asks for his assistance. It seems they have a few murders and are looking for connections. Graham agrees to help, and it’s not long before he fears the worst is this suspenseful, small-town murder mystery thriller.

Narrated by Jonathan Davis, Swinson delivers a well-crafted police procedural with a touch of romance, interesting events and characters that kept me engaged. When one murder turns into two, it made sense that the Sheriff, Graham’s childhood friend, reached out for advice. The murders and how they were woven together, and the suspects had a believability that kept me guessing.

If you are looking for a tight, well drawn suspenseful tale, I highly recommend grabbing From the Dust, particularly on audio. Jonathan Davis delivered an array of voices and gave an atmospheric performance. I will definitely grab more titles from this author.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About David Swinson

David Swinson is a retired police detective from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, having been assigned to Major Crimes. Swinson is the author of the critically acclaimed Frank Marr Trilogy - The Second Girl, Crime Song and Trigger, and the standalones, A Detailed Man, City on the Edge and Sweet Thing.

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About Jonathan Davis

Jonathan Davis is a critically acclaimed narrator and voice-over actor. He is a three‐time winner and fifteen‐time nominee of the coveted Audie Award. Davis's documentary narration credits include films and programming for National Geographic Television, National Geographic Channel, VH1, and PBS.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

Source

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @CaffeinatedReviewer. It’s a chance to share news — a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join weekly, biweekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

This was the first full week of summer for the Royals. We are acclimating to the changes in our routine and are settling into the lazy days of summer. Other than a dental cleaning, and softball and baseball games, I did little. Mostly worked on things for clients and wrote reviews. This month is Audiobook Month, and we’ve got the JIAM Challenge going. Are you participating? It’s not too late to join the fun! Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• JIAM 2026 Audiobook Challenge Kick-off (event)
• The Final Target by Nora Roberts (book review)
• Out Law by Jim Butcher (audiobook review)
• The Midnight Train by Matt Haig (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• From the Dust by David Swinson (audiobook review)
• Inkpot Gods by Seanan McGuire (book review)
• Samantha Spuk Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin (guest reviewer/ book review)
• Lead Me Home by Catherine Bybee (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Death Meets Cute by J. Penner
• The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
• The Probability of Murder by J. D. Barker & Patrick Logan
• The Children by Melissa Albert

A special thank you to Sourcebook Audio, Libro.fm & Simon Audio

Around The Blogosphere

• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

Caffeinated PR

Link Up Your Edition Of The Sunday Post

Before you link up, please be sure your weekly post includes a link back to Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Post.

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