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

I turned sixty this week without much fanfare. My husband arranged dinner out with the children and grandchildren. We had a lovely time and there was cake. We have had rain every day but one for the last 20 days and honestly we are all over it. On Wednesday we saw massive flooding throughout the town when we had over 8 inches. Cars were trapped, basements flooded and some schools/shops were closed. Thankfully we are at the top of a hill and didn’t have any damaged. Our daughter made it through flooded roads but ended up with a flat tire. Thankfully she was fine. Mosquitos are out in full force and everyone has been bitten just walking to their cars. For the month of September I read/listened to 17 books. My stats are as follows; Goodreads Challenge 166/150, Audiobook Challenge 103/150 Library Challenge 14/12. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Worry Box by Chris Panatier (audiobook review)
• The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas (audiobook review)
• (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall (guest post/book review)
• 14th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon – Sign Up (event)

This Week on the Blog

• Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong (audiobook/book review)
• Evie Walters Takes the Wheel by Kathleen Fox (audiobook review)
• Murder at Sunrise Lake by Christine Feehan (book review)
• Godswar by Chris Tullbane (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Potions & Prejudice by Tee Harlowe
• The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson
• The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay
• Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King & Peter Straub
• Tales from the Territory by Travis Baldree
• The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan

A special thank you to Berkley Romance, Libro.fm, and Macmillan Audio & MIRA books

Around The Blogosphere

• 14th Annual 2026 Ho-Ho-Ho RAT (November 17th-December 25th) Sign up and join the fun. Challenge hosts needed.
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.
• Join Prime and enjoy special sales, free books and movies. Try it for Free.

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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It’s time to sign up for the 14th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, November 25th through Wednesday, December 17th, 2026. During the event, participants will read or listen to as many holiday or winter reads as they can while taking part in challenges. Prizes, hot cocoa, bookish friends and more!

13th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon

This year’s annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon will begin at 12:01 am on Wednesday, November 25th and will end Wednesday, December 17th at 11:59 pm in your time zone. Giving us twenty-two days to read or listen to as many holiday and winter reads as our hearts desire all while participating in fun games.

Get your holiday & winter setting books and be prepared to have fun! Audiobooks, library books, ebooks, old books or new books — we don’t care. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!

Host A Challenge

BE AN ELF: We need Challenge hosts. Please email me, if you’d like to host a challenge for the event. You will need to provide a small international prize. Create a festive puzzle, exchange recipes, create a spine poem, make a bingo board, a scavenger hunt, holiday movie trivia, Instagram Challenge or come up with your own clever idea.

Link up and join the fun!

*Linky will close on December 7, 2025, at 8pm.

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Get an email reminder one week before the event starts!

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Sophia Rose is here with a review of (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall. Come see what she thinks of this first in series, dark urban fantasy that dabbles in horror.

Amongst mountains as old as time, the jackalopes and ghouls are the least of your worries.

Working in Human Resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the company who categorise and manage the monsters and cryptids of the world. But after her dad was killed as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy... from behind the safety of a desk.

But when one of her new Wardens, Elliot, goes missing, her chances of promotion go missing too. Determined to find him safe and sound, she marches off into the mountains to find him herself.

Because Elliot had been talking about sightings of a highly dangerous and never-recorded monster, The Hollow Walker, and she's promised herself that no Warden will ever die on her watch.

Meanwhile Nic, Director of Research and Cataloguing, is not one to ignore the words 'never-recorded'. With Alexys, his work nemesis, leading the charge into the mountains, he's not going to let her have all the fun. If he can be the youngest Entity employee to discover a new monster, his name will go down in the annals of cryptozoology... and if it means spending some extra time with Alexys then he's not one to argue.

But Alexys and Nic are about to discover why the Appalachian Mountains are the last place you want to find yourself after dark.

Sophia Rose’s Review

When one of her Wardens goes missing, a paper-pushing human resources worker hits the trail into the dark Appalachians where cryptids and legends are reality.  Grace Viall’s nature meets gothic urban fantasy opener had my attention from the moment I spotted title, cover, and blurb.

In a world where the monsters are real, of course there is a business that tracks and hunts monsters.  Alexys works for them in charge of scheduling trained Wardens to follow up on sitings, tag and analyze new finds, and take care of monsters gone bad.  Her father was a Warden and died.  Alexys wants to continue his legacy, but from the safety of her desk.  She warned Elliott away from this assignment, but he went after the ‘Hollow Man’ anyway.  She’s determined to find him and leaves her files and computer behind to take to the trail.  Annoyingly, Nic, a workplace rival is determined to tag along to find Elliott.  Turns out Nic was the one who egged the young guy on.

Out on the trail, things are dark and there are more than whiskey-sipping jackalopes populating the woods.  Alexys is untrained and far from prepared, but she’s determined.  Slowly, she and Nic get past their irascible and illogical workplace rivalry and raillery turns to banter as they learn to work together because the monsters are playing for keeps.  The secrets of the Appalachia are not ready to come to light.

I was half-way through when I started to get an inkling that Mostly Human Resources was setting things up for a long haul and the plot was building toward something longer than a standalone read.  Turns out, upon investigation, this is the first in a trilogy.  There is no cliffhanger, but it does change a reader’s mindset to know how the story arc is going to flow.

There is some level of resolution, but Alexys and Nic (if I’m right that they are a romance pair) still have a ways to go on that count.

Another surprise came when, wow, this slid right past gritty urban fantasy and bumped into horror with some grisly monster antics.  There is a balance though because the light bantering of the lead pair swings things back the other direction.  But, yeah, fair warning for us squeamish types.

I confess that Alexys is a character I’m on the fence about.  She pulled some impulsive stupids including the big choice to dash out into those woods armed with nothing, but determination and lacking any skills.  She has some contrary motives, too.  I raised an eyebrow that one of her motivations to finding Elliott was losing a promotion and tarnishing her dad’s legacy?  Yeah, not very heroic even if its natural.  And, the rivalry with Nic was thinly-veiled envy because he got the job she wanted.  I’ll give it some patience as there are more books and she was growing plenty in this one.

The jewel in it all were the descriptions of the Appalachian region, the lore, and that ability to instill a spooky, mystical atmosphere that makes one believes there are indeed amazing beings out there in the woods.  I was intrigued by the Entity company, Wardens, and researchers into all things cryptid and legend.

The story is building to something and hints including certain other characters give one a tingly sense of anticipation for what comes next.

So, really dark urban fantasy and maybe even horror.  You determine if that attracts you or sends you to your blanket fort.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Grace Viall

Having been raised on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains by a pair of bookworms, Grace Viall can usually be found in a randomly selected state park or forest gathering inspiration for her monster-filled fantasy projects. Grace is currently living in Maryland (US) with her husband and two dogs and is an avid reader and book hoarder. She grew up with a grandfather who loved to spin stories around campfires, and that love of storytelling has stayed with her as she pursues her career as an author. Grace’s hope is to give a new life to old stories but with her own special twist.

Instagram

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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The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas is the ninth audiobook narrated by Kate Reading in the Lady Sherlock historical mystery series. Sherlock puzzles out a missing persons case when Mrs. Watson’s long-estranged sister goes missing. Another addictive tale in this beloved series.

Charlotte Holmes—aka Sherlock Holmes—becomes entangled in a puzzling missing person case that hits close to home for her beloved Mrs. Watson in this Victorian-set mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of A Ruse of Shadows.

It’s been three years since Charlotte Holmes struck a decisive blow against Moriarty's operations in Britain, three years of relative calm and benign developments. In a buoyant mood, everyone gathers at Lord Ingram's seaside cottage in North Devon for what promises to be a perfect summer holiday. Until Mrs. Watson receives an invitation from Mrs. Carstairs, her long-estranged sister, to attend a house party nearby.

Mrs. Carstairs has married spectacularly well. She is the mistress of a great manor, a doyen of all domestic arts, and still an unforgettable beauty. Now she clamors for a reconciliation with her sister. Mrs. Watson does not trust Mrs. Carstairs's motives. Yet she cannot help but feel tremors of the old admiration for this once-beloved sister.

Then Mrs. Carstairs disappears without a trace. The next day a woman is discovered floating on the waves, her build and coloring matching those of Mrs. Carstairs. But her husband insists that the corpse fished out of the Bristol Channel cannot be his wife. So where is the real Mrs. Carstairs? Would she have purposely dragged Mrs. Watson into a murder investigation? Or was it Sherlock Holmes's involvement that she needed from the very beginning?

While each audiobook contains a mystery, I recommend starting the Lady Sherlock series from the beginning. Particularly if character relationships and spoilers are important to you. In The Vanished Sister, we get to know more about Mrs. Watson, her family, and niece.

Three years have passed since events of the previous book, and Charlotte is at Lord Ingram’s seaside cottage in North Devon along with Mrs. Watson and her niece, enjoying a summer holiday. While on a boat, Mrs. Watson is taken aback when she notices her estranged sister, Justina, on the shoreline. Later that day she arrived at Ash’s summer home and invited Mrs. Watson and her niece to attend a dinner at her summer home.

We learn the backstory surrounding the sister’s relationships and the daughter Mrs. Watson has been forced to not claim. Hoping to mend fences, they attend along with Ash and Charlotte. Mrs. Watson does not trust Mrs. Carstairs’s motives, but at one time she adored her sister. That changes when Justina disappears without a trace. All hope seemed lost when a body washed up on the shore, but Mr. Carstairs is certain the body is not that of his wife.

Naturally, Charlotte investigates, and the tale hooked me and never let go. Thomas is a masterful storyteller and her mysteries superb and unique. Mix in the slow-burning romance between Ash and Charlotte and the tight-knit group, and you cannot help but be drawn in.

An absolutely addictive tale; I cannot recommend The Vanished Sister enough. Kate Reading narrates the series and gives voice to each of these characters. She captures the tone of the tale and the characteristics of each character perfectly. I cannot imagine not listening to this series. It has become one I look forward to each year.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed historical romance authors writing today, winning the RITA Award two years running, and appearing on innumerable "Best of the Year" lists, including those of Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Dear Author, and All About Romance. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and sons.

Website | Facebook

About Kate Reading

Kate Reading is an Audie Award–winning narrator who has recorded hundreds of titles in many genres. She has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, in addition to being named Narrator of the Year and Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. She has been recognized as Reader of the Year by Publishers Weekly and has appeared on Booklist's 2019 Top of the List for the American Library Association. She and her husband, narrator Michael Kramer, record at their home studio in Maryland, Madison Productions.

Website

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Tis the spooky season and if you are looking for an atmospheric tale with a house at its center, you’ll want to grab Worry Box by Chris Panatier narrated by Chris Sorensen.

An unsettling horror story with a mysterious twist from a celebrated voice in horror. Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts .

The Martins need a new home for their growing family. For Alison, Nathan, daughter Dru, and foster child Lailah, it's love at first sight when they see the house in Tumbling Hills. It even has a cozy attic, which is great for Lailah; she needs a quiet place to be alone when her intrusive thoughts creep in.

(crack an egg into the coffee machine)

The family gets settled. The house is perfect, and so is the timing—Lailah's adoption will soon be finalized.

(push your sister down the stairs)

But as the date approaches, her intrusive thoughts get worse, and Lailah fears she's losing control.

(burn them alive in their beds)

In this standalone horror, the Martins are looking for a new home for their growing family. Alison, Nathan, daughter Dru, and foster child Lailah all fall in love with Tumbling Hills. The home seems to welcome them. I was immediately pulled in as the house (yes, the house!) shared its dark past and excitement about the new family)

The family is interesting. They are in the middle of adopting Lailah, their foster daughter who suffers from intrusive thoughts. Dark, deadly thoughts. They are doing all the right things. She has a social worker, a therapist, and writes all of her thoughts to control them. The house seems perfect for them; Lailah even has a quiet spot in the attic underneath a round window.

The tension and suspense were slow-building as unexplained events happened, which caused division between them. I questioned whether the suspicions were correct or whether the house was responsible. Points of view from the house were fascinating and made me think about all an old house has observed. You know the adage, “If walls could talk.”

We get multiple points of view, allowing us to understand each character and see the love they had for each other. I felt bad for Alison, who was sleep-deprived and torn in her role as protector. The tension built, and the last few chapters kept me on edge.

Chris Sorensen narrates and captures the tone and increasing suspense. His voices, both the male and female characters from the spunky nine-year-old to the house itself, enhanced my overall enjoyment.

If you are looking for a spooky tale that leans more into suspense, you’ll want to grab the Worry Box on audio.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Chris Panatier

Chris Panatier lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, daughter, and a fluctuating herd of animals resembling dogs (one is almost certainly a goat). He writes short stories and novels, “plays” the drums, and draws album covers for metal bands.

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About Chris Sorensen

Chris Sorensen is the bestselling author of The Nightmare Room, The Hungry Ones, The Messy Man, Suckerville, and Bee Tornado. He’s penned over fifteen plays for Thin Air Theatre Company and the Butte Theater of Colorado, including A Haunting at the Old Homestead, The Vampire of Cripple Creek, and Dr. Jekyll’s Medicine Show. He lives with his wife and pups in Colorado, where he splits his time between writing spooky stories and narrating audiobooks. Chris has narrated 300 titles for Audible, Tantor Audio, Hachette, Podium, Bee Audio, Recorded Books, and many others. He studied under William Esper at the Rutgers Professional Actor Training Program and has taught/directed at Cornell University, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Atlantic Theatre Company School, Interlochen Center for the Arts. Additional credits: original company member of The Present Company Theatre (Edinburgh Fringe First Award) and member of SAG-AFTRA and the Horror Writers Association.

Instagram

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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

It was a busy raining week and fall certainly reared it’s head with cold temps. I’ve been reading books from the library and have started to watch Law & Order SUV. I have watched some of the seasons but not all of them when they originally aired. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire (audiobook review)
• Blue Jean Summer by Maggie C. Gates (book review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 6 by Beth Brower (guest post/book review)
• Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• Worry Box by Chris Panatier (audiobook review)
• The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas (audiobook review)
• (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall (guest post/book review)
• 14th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon – Sign Up (event)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Last Resort at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong
• Witches of Questionable Intent by Jenn McKinlay

A special thank you to St. Martin’s Press & Ace publishing

Around The Blogosphere

• 14th Annual 2026 Ho-Ho-Ho RAT (November 17th-December 25th) Look for the sign up post on October 3, 2026. Save the dates and gather your books!
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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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Adversary to the Villain is the fourth audiobook in the cozy, romantic fantasy series; Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Narrated by Em Eldridge, our sunshine assistant acts like a villain and our grumpy villain boss acts like a hero. If you are looking for a hilarious, magical story with a unique cast of characters, you’ll want to grab this series.

The fourth book in the bestselling fantasy rom-com series from the TikTok sensation about the sunshine assistant to the grumpy evil villain and their unexpected romance…

HR Update: The position of “adversary to the villain” has been filled. Evie Sage does not recall applying.

Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn – not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does – things are starting to feel… less like a career path and more like a serious problem.

The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit.

Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer – closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional – and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His.

Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

After the ending of book three, I was looking forward to jumping back in with Adversary to the Villain. Like most fantasy, this cozy requires that you listen to the novels in the order of their release. Based on the ending, it looks like Maehrer isn’t finished with these characters yet and that’s ok.

One of my favorite things about this series is the banter that makes me laugh. The back and forth between Evie and Trystan was perfection, as was their slow-building romance from the sometimes awkward moments to kisses. Things really heat-up, but with everything going on and the different points of view, it lost some of its pizazz. Don’t get me wrong, I love them as a couple, but Evie was overly emotional and changes hid her sunny disposition.

The prophecy keeps pushing Evie to embrace magic and become a villain. As she does, Trystan acts more like a hero from another story. I loved this look at kindness and unkindness, but again, the brief chapters and multiple points-of-view, all with their own stories, pulled me from the story. I wanted a more focused plot. Sure, it still had moments that made me laugh, cheer and become caught up, but they were scenes rather than an overall vibe. Sometimes I felt the plot got lost.

Once again, the ending left me hanging and even a little frustrated. If I didn’t love these characters, I would walk away. However, I plan to pick up the next audiobook.

Em Eldridge narrates and gives voice to each character. She truly enhanced my overall enjoyment while helping me navigate the different points of view. I could not imagine not listening and recommend grabbing this series on audio.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Hannah Nicole Maehrer—or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae—is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she’s not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she’s writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.

Instagram

About Em Eldridge

Em Eldridge's audiobook career really began when her little sister was born and she started reading to her. Em has narrated over 100 titles and has earned an Earphones Award from AudioFile magazine and a Voice Arts Award. She loves playing the piano and singing along when no one's listening.

Instagram

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Sophia Rose is here continuing her review of the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. Today she is sharing her thoughts on Volume 6, narrated by Genevieve Gaunt. Come see why she recommends this historical fiction series.

There is bedlam, and there is delightful bedlam.

This afternoon touched on the second, much to my pleasure.

The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way. It is The Season she must help Arabella secure a husband, while navigating the threat of Aunt Eugenia, the unflagging adoration of Charles Goddard, and the amusing unpredictability of St. Crispian’s. But the secrets of her trusted friends are what might very well bring about disaster.

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.

Listeners have compared The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion to Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse, L. M. Montgomery, and Jean Webster.

Sophia Rose’s Review

After heralding in the new year, the delightful Miss Lion comes of age and her journal is scintillating with sparkling scrapes and adventures.  Beth Brower’s epistolary-style series of books are a healthy addiction for the booklover and I can hardly wait for the next volume to begin.

The series are journal entries that progress through the life of Emma M Lion and, as such, really must be read in order and treated as serial of one story broken into seasonal segments.  Volume six begins the new year 1884.

Emma’s escapades include Emma invited to a Twelfth Night revel, her friends and family’s ways of marking her birthday, finding a way to mitigate the damage ‘the Lodger’ Nile Pierce does when he doesn’t take the St. Crispin’s neighborhood committee seriously, Aunt Eugenia’s sudden appearance at a most inopportune moment and Emma fearful of the secrets she may discover, St. Valentine’s Day- St. Crispin’s style, and then there is Emma’s employment hunt that proves successful, sadly, at last.

Emma M Lion has been coming into her own as each volume advances.  A mysterious invitation to a Twelfth Night masquerade arrives and of course she goes.  Now, she has reached her majority and Lapis Lazuli House is officially hers if she can find a way to afford to keep it.  She does have broodingly handsome lodger, Nile Pierce the photographer’s rent and she’s taken her banker’s advice to find ways to reduce her own expenses, but employment is a must and so she enters the workforce as a nouveau rich woman’s social secretary and now has to deal with her, her impish schoolboy son, and worse.

Her friendships with the Duke of Islington (her neighbor), Nile Pierce (her lodger), and Nigel Hawkes (her vicar) continue to strengthen even as the men are there for her in various ways.  But even she is wary when her aunt arrives at Lapis Lazuli House and encounters Emma’s eccentric household and her friends for the first time.  Forceful Aunt Eugenia’s reaction is one for the ages.

Dodging an unwanted courtship and discovering at last her broken heart over her first love’s death has healed, she is now open to the possibilities with another in this year of coming of age.  Does she meet the ghostly Roman?  Does she take a splash in the local fountain in the dead of winter on Valentine’s night?  Who addles her brains with a toe-tingling kiss?  Emma dishes all in her latest journal and I am a full-fledged member of her fan club by now.

Definitely recommend this multi-volume series all written in a lively young lady’s journal entries to light classical-style historical fiction and romance fans.

Genevieve Gaunt continues to dazzle with her superb storytelling and talent with all the character voices.

I love Emma’s irrepressible spirit and knack for getting into situations that leave her straight-laced snobbish aunt all a-gasp.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

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.

Instagram

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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Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates is the first novel in the Wilder Estates series. If you like arranged marriages, small-town, cowboy romances you’ll want to grab this. It looks like each book will offer its own romance all set in the small town of Honey Hollow, Virginia. Swoons, trouble and adorable cows await you.

Opposites become unlikely allies when a desperate cowboy needs to marry in order to save his grandfather’s land.

Hayes Wilder needs to find a wife—pronto. After returning to the small town of Honey Hollow before his grandfather’s death, he's shocked to learn that the sprawling Wilder Estate was left to him. All Hayes wants is the one thing money can’t buy—more time with his grandfather. Failing that, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his grandfather’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Even if it means marrying in order to satisfy the terms of the will.

Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native (who had a childhood crush on Hayes), is saddled with mountains of medical debt ever since her mother’s death. Running out of time to figure out her next move, Catherine reconnects with Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral.

Hayes and Catherine impulsively strike a He’ll pay off her debts, but only if they get married. Despite the situation, Hayes and Catherine look forward to getting to know each other as adults—after the wedding. Which is tougher than anticipated when the entire town has eyes on them and his half brother keeps circling the property like a vulture, determined to poke holes in their marriage. Most troubling of all, this pair may have miscalculated how much they have in common—enough for this cowboy to fall in love for real.

Coffee Dates with Blue Jean Summer

• First Date– We meet Hayes Wilder on the day of his grandfather’s funeral in the small-town of Honey Hollow on the sprawling Wilder Estates. He’ll soon discover he has inherited his grandfather’s legacy. However, there is a catch. He’ll need to be married and to give his new wife ten acres of the property. His step-brother is anger and determined to have it all. Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native, also attends the funeral, and we see some sparks. She is also home facing a mountain of medical debt from her mother’s recent death. I know where the story is headed, and I am all in.
• Second Date– Hayes is a little slower, but thanks to his friend and BFF of Catherine, an idea is formed to arrange a marriage of convenience. Hayes will marry Catherine and in exchange pay her and help her open her non-profit. Win-Win. But will Catherine accept? I adored Catherine from the outset. She is sweet, has a lot of goodwill, and is great with animals and children. Hayes has his moments, and there were plenty of times I swooned as their wedding day approached. We learned about his Asperger’s and, having a son with similar issues, I thought it was well done.
• Third Date– I enjoyed seeing the romance develop, even if Hayes messes things up a few times. I loved the secondary characters, who I assume will be our next featured characters in the series. The tension regarding the brother-in—law and Catherine’s biological father added some suspense and even laugh aloud moments that led to heat and swoons. I loved the non-profit, the cowboy moments, and the rescue cows. Lots of swoons, awe moments, laughter, and more await you.

I closed Blue Jean Summer smiling and loved the hints about book two. If you enjoy small-town cowboy romances you’ll want to add this to your reading list.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Maggie Gates

Author Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, collecting vinyl record, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.

Instagram

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A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire is the twentieth audiobook in the October Daye urban fantasy series. Narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal, McGuire takes us back to Blind Michael’s lands and once pulled me in as Toby and Tybalt hunt for their missing ward.

Seanan McGuire’s New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series finds Toby Daye torn between caring for her newborn daughter and keeping the world of Faerie—and her found family—safe.

October “Toby” Daye is settling into life with a baby, remembering the ins and outs of motherhood, and trying to find ways to balance her work with her desire to keep her baby safe at home and away from all the terrors Faerie has to offer. Her whole household is pitching in, from May all the way down to Raysel, the estranged daughter of Toby’s liege lord who is currently serving out a term of offense in Toby’s home.

Naturally, as everything is beginning to find a balance, it’s time for Raysel’s term of offense to end, and Luna Torquill very much wants her daughter back.

But Toby has been helping Raysel get the help she desperately needs, from giving her a safe place to hide all the way to finding her a licensed therapist who works with the fae, and Raysel isn’t ready to leave. Luna isn’t taking no for an answer, and before anyone can realize what she’s planning, she steals her own child away to Blind Michael’s lands.

Not even Luna knows all the terrible secrets her father and his works hid from the world, and not even she can protect her daughter from the monsters in their lineage. All too quickly, Toby must race the clock to save Raysel—before it’s too late for her to ever come home.

It’s been years, but now the question will be asked can she get there and back by the light of a candle?

Like most urban fantasy, it’s important to read/listen to the October Daye series in the order of its release. Toby’s transformation, allies, wards and romance all unfold throughout, as do many, many trials and dangers that bring us to the events in A Divided Duty. It’s a brilliant series with characters and stories I love.

Mary Robinette Kowal narrated the series except for the Innocent Sleep, which is in Tybalt’s perspective and narrated by another. (I recommend reading that one as the narration ruined it.) Kowal does a stellar job of capturing these characters and bringing the world to life.

In A Divided Duty, Toby and Tybalt are settling into life with Miranda and their motley crew. It’s absolute bliss. Therefore, Toby feels somewhat hesitant when she has to carry out official court duties. However, Raysel’s terms are about to end, and the child wishes to remain with Toby despite Luna’s protests. Things will be determined by the Queen. During the event, Luna gets angry and Raysel goes missing. Toby feels a sense of duty to Raysel and so she and Tybalt make a deal with the Sea Witch and set off to find her.

The story that unfolds takes us back to Blind Michael’s land as Toby places herself in peril despite the risks. McGuire sheds light on the fallout from Titania’s re-write and those left behind after Michael’s demise. While Toby is playing the role of hero and protecting those she loves, the story also focuses strongly on Raysel and her transformation and addresses Luna’s issues.

I loved the character interactions between Tybalt and Toby to seeing Luideag in the role of godmother and Aunt May babysitting. Fans of the series get exactly want they want as McGuire continues to develop secondary characters and Toby’s found family.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

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

About Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of The Spare Man,The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, and the Lady Astronaut Universe. She is part of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, four Hugo awards, the Nebula and Locus awards. Her stories appear in Asimov’s, Uncanny, and several Year’s Best anthologies. Mary Robinette, a professional puppeteer, also performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and John Scalzi. She lives in Nashville with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters.

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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 mornings were cold with rain everyday. The Royals will be staying at our house all week as their Dad attends a training class out of town. We shall be busy, busy, busy as Hazel and her mom are also here for a few weeks. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Wickhills by Premee Mohamed (book review)
• We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (audiobook review)
• The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne by Darcie Wilde (guest post/book review)
• World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire (audiobook review)
• Blue Jean Summer by Maggie C. Gates (book review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 6 by Beth Brower (guest post/book review)
• Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Emerald Lake by Nita Prose
• The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason
• Worry Box by Chris Panatier

A special thank you to Ballantine Books & Libro.fm

Around The Blogosphere

• 14th Annual 2026 Ho-Ho-Ho RAT (November 17th-December 25th) Look for the sign up post on October 3, 2026. Save the dates and gather your books!
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. You’ll get two audiobooks when you sign up.

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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I was excited to return to the Supernatural Entanglements series. World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade is the second novel and continues the overall ARC along with a new romance. Danger, laughs, and swoons await you in this paranormal romcom.

She can see the future . . . but never predicted falling for a demon from her past

Gwen Wexloff can see the future . . . just not when it matters. Her visions invariably involve trivial issues, which means - unlike most oracles - she's spent her life predicting for everyday humans instead of international power brokers. But when brain-eating zombies escape from their walled-off compound, Gwen gets her first truly world-altering vision . . . and now she needs help fast.

Unfortunately, that help comes from Hugh Blacke, the same buttoned-up (but annoyingly cute) demon who watched her bomb her oracle verification test years ago. To Gwen's dismay, the two of them will need to work together to unravel the deadly conspiracy behind the zombie breach, despite their complicated past and the secrets they're keeping.

Even with her newfound power, she couldn't have foreseen how quickly they'd both want more than a simple partnership. But the clock is ticking - and with the fate of humanity at stake, Gwen and Hugh will have to decide how much they're willing to risk for an unexpected, passionate love . . . and a future together that might prove very short indeed.

While the author does a stellar job of bringing readers up to speed and there is a new romantic couple, I one hundred percent recommend reading Zomromcom before beginning the World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon. The overall arc involving zombies and faction interference, not to mention spoilers regarding the previous couple—just trust me and binge them..lol.

The Supernatural Entanglements series is a blast. We’ve got a dystopian type of world with different parts of the city locked into zones after a horrific zombie uprising. In this world, the Fae, Vampires, Trolls, Demons, Humans, etc are all out after banding together, but some aren’t happy about it.

If you haven’t read Zomromcom, beware of spoilers going forward. After the motley crew of neighbors stopped the zombie breach, they realized they needed to alert the authorities. But who to trust? It looks like someone is trying to set up the demons to take the fall for what happened. it’s decided that Oracle Gwen Wexloff will go into the second sector and ask Demon Hugh Blacke for his assistance.

The tale that unfolded was delicious, suspenseful, and addictive. I loved the backstory regarding Hugh and Gwen, and from their first meeting I was hoping for a happily ever after despite what when down. Both good people and I loved seeing their romance kindle as we worked to figure out who was trying to set up the demons.

If you are looking for a laugh out loud paranormal romance with a bit of mystery, suspense, and fun characters from trolls to vampires, you will want to grab these books.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Olivia Dade

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her patient Swedish husband, their whip-smart daughter, and the family’s ever-burgeoning collection of books.

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Sophia Rose is here sharing the next novel in the Useful Woman Mystery series. Come check out her thoughts on The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne by Darcie Wilde and see why she enjoys these Regency era mysteries.

Brimming with intrigue, the latest novel in this charming Jane Austen-inspired mystery series finds resourceful Rosalind Thorne—a discreet sleuth for Regency London’s ladies of ton—facing her most perilous, and awkward, predicament yet…

Rosalind is newly, happily engaged to ex-Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, but lunching with the new fiancée of her old love is still discomfiting. Yet, Clara Kinsdale needs her help, and Rosalind is not one to turn away a lady in distress. It seems Clara's father, Sir Anthony Kinsdale, has fallen for beautiful widow Mrs. Sylvia Lynn—who may be a fortune hunter, or worse . . .

Sir Anthony is a profligate baronet, who has pinned his financial hopes on two Clara's marriage, and his horse winning the upcoming sweepstakes at Lansdown, on which he has wagered heavily. Clara is afraid that her father is being fleeced by the charming—and cunning—Mrs. Lynn and wants Rosalind to expose her.

But Clara does not realize that her sisters, Elizabeth and Cynthia, are harboring their own secrets and Elizabeth especially will do whatever she must to obstruct plans to separate their father from Mrs. Lynn.

Rosalind and Adam travel to Bath to meet the family. But their gathering is interrupted by Admiral Walsingham, who is leasing Kinsdale House. Despite his dire finances, Sir Anthony is evicting the admiral—though his reasons appear laughable. Not laughable is that Sir Anthony is found dead soon after their argument, having apparently tumbled from his bedroom window while intoxicated.

It would be easy to assume the tragedy was an accident, except Admiral Walsingham is found dead at nearly the same time. Secrets, schemes, fraud and forbidden love all drag Rosalind and Adam into a web of high-stakes gambling, murder—and extreme danger. But can they unravel it before they become the next victims. . .

Sophia Rose’s Review

A useful woman and her detecting partners is needed to save an impoverished, vain baronet from the charms of a grasping woman and a darker hidden plot.  Darcie Wilde’s Useful Woman series meshes a well-drawn Regency backdrop with a cunning plot and a brilliant leading lady who can help a debutante launch successfully into society or delve into a mystery track down a killer before her tea gets cold.

Beginning with the Rosalind Thorne mysteries and now under the new series title A Useful Woman mysteries, The Abduction of Rosaline Thorne is the ninth entry to the series.

Rosalind has finally come into her own.  After years of struggle to gain back what her profligate father lost her in reputation and income, she has forced a courageous new path that no gently-born woman let alone a working girl could hope to succeed in.  Rosalind made herself indispensable to society ladies without losing her level of class and in the doing, discovered over her first dead body that she has a knack for solving murders, too.  Building a solid, loyal band of friends about her including another daring choice, her working class love interest, former Bow Street Runner, private detective Adam Harkness, Rosalind is settled into her new life and looking forward to her wedding with Adam.

Into her parlor steps former love interest, Devon Winterborne, the Duke of Casselmaine and his fiancée, Miss Clara Kinsdale.  Clara’s father, Sir Anthony, has ruined the family wealth, their long-time horsebreeding and horse racing stables, and is now taken up with a mysterious widow, Mrs. Lynn, who has him hosting high stakes gambling parties and engendering speculation if she is a gold-digger or something more.  Clara wants Rosalind to find a way to get rid of the woman.  Rosalind puts her subordinates and friends onto getting the background and tracking an interesting side trail whiles she and Adam return with Clara and Devon to Bath to encounter Mrs. Lynn and delve into the mystery.  But, a death followed by a murder raises the ante on the game right when Rosalind and Adam think they have things figured out.  The case gets more twisty and fraught with further danger that might cancel their wedding plans for good.

I enjoyed being back in the late Regency period with Rosalind, Adam, and her other colorful friends in The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne.  It was even more special since this book gives more than a wink and a nod to Jane Austen’s Persuasion also partially set in Bath and focused on the family of an impoverished baronet and his daughters.  Added to the Austen-flavoring, there was an interest in Bath society, Regency era horse breeding, racing, and time period con-artistry.  I was curious about not just the main plot mystery, but several smaller ones involving several characters.  The development of Rosalind and Devon’s relationship passed her refusal to their second chance at marriage and seeing them both having moved on and happy with others was handled without melodrama which I appreciated since the mystery and the primary suspects were entertaining enough.

The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne drew me in from the get-go and kept me turning pages until the end.  Pretty sure I read it in three sittings and finished it late into the night when the exciting end had me refusing to close it until I knew how it all ended.  Historical Mystery fans really must delve into this series.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Darcie Wilde

Darcie Wilde is a pseudonym for Sarah Zettel, author of mysteries, science fiction, romance and Young Adult fiction, including the New York Times Notable Book Fool’s War. She also writes under the names C. L. Anderson and Marissa Day.

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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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Narrated by Nicola Walker, We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman is the second audiobook in We Solve Murders series featuring Rosie, Amy, and Steve. They are back at We Solve Murders HQ with an unusual case that will soon have them traveling the globe and searching for a killer.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman’s globe-trotting series We Solve Murders returns with the thrilling new mystery, We Chase Shadows.

Back together.
Back on the case.
And back to solving murders . . .

At sunrise, high in the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a beautiful private villa. On the body is a threatening note, signed by a mystery man.

Back at We Solve Murders HQ, Amy, Rosie, and Steve leap at the chance to take on their first proper case. So what if their new client seems to have his own reasons for avoiding the police? All they need to do is uncover who left the note, and then find them. Simple.

But once they start digging, the suspects keep piling up: there’s Sweden’s most-wanted criminal, a canny ex-wife and a fierce business rival – yet the murderer keeps evading them. And as the trio chase a villain through the shadows, danger travels closer to home . . .

Between Italy and Palm Springs, via Barcelona and Steve’s village pub, can the team catch an elusive killer who knows EXACTLY where to hide?

Osman has become a favorite autobuy author for me, and one whose books/series I love listening to. In We Chase Shadows, their client finds a body, but it more concerned with the threatening letter found on the body. He asks the team for help, and despite his fear of the police and unusual request, the team, excited for their first official case, accepts. The tale that unfolded quickly hooked me and held me captive until the end.

I loved the mystery from the unusual suspects to the additional bodies. They are chasing an elusive criminal and one of Sweden’s most wanted, to dealing with an ex and business rival. All could be involved, and the closer they get to uncovering things, the higher the stakes get.

I love the team. Amy, Steve, and Rosie are an unlikely pairing, but somehow they fit. Each has their strengths, and when they pull their resources and work through the clues, they make a fantastic crime-solving team. They get help from an Inspector whom fans will recognize from the first book.

The mystery has the team traveling across Europe and to Palm Beach. I loved all the twists, particularly those surrounding Sweden’s most wanted. While not a conventional case, it certainly was a memorable one.

Nicole Walker narrates and does such a fantastic job of voicing these characters. She enhances an already brilliant tale and makes listening a joy.

If you love murder-mysteries with a cozy vibe you’ll love We Chase Shadows and the Solve Murders series.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Richard Osman

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.

About Nicola Walker

Nicola Jane Walker is an English actress, known for her starring roles in various British television programs from the 1990s onward, including that of Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks from 2003 to 2011 and DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten from 2015 to 2021. She has also worked in theatre, radio and film. She won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and has twice been nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for the BBC drama Last Tango in Halifax.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

Source

Wickhills by Premee Mohamed delivered a rich fantasy perfect for fans of the Ana and Din Mysteries and the Inheritance of Magic series. In the magical city of Wickhills, Mohamed guides readers through a story where a streetwise secret agent is tasked with saving a defector and, perhaps, the entire world.

In the dangerous magical city of Wickhills, a streetwise secret agent is tasked with protecting a foreign defector from his pursuers... even at the threat of war.

Looking after a defecting scientist should have been Ferec's easiest mission. But now he's on the run from the intelligence agency she works for, dodging a handler who might have gone rogue, and relying on a secret patchwork of illicit resources and dodgy contacts. Turns out his defector might be carrying an apocalypse-level magical weapon — and protecting it requires Ferec and his team to go underground, literally. Down here, the rules are very different... and the tense peace between every city in the world will shatter unless Ferec can drag their darkest secrets into the light.

When I opened the pages of Wickhills, I expected an urban fantasy with a suspenseful plot, and while I got that; the author delivered so much more. Wickhills is a city (country) surrounded by a wall and is one of just a few cities remaining in the world, each isolated from the other. Within the walls live not only humans but others. There are avian types, sea types, vampires, a manticore, and more. All live out in the open. I imagined the city streets similar to old London or Diagon Alley.

We meet Ferec, a member of Seaborne, Wickhills’ Secret Police. He’s been a member for ten years, but as we soon learn, he has his own resources, hidey-holes, contacts, and allies. Seaborne doesn’t advertise, and he likes to think they are like our CIA. His boss, a manticore, gives Ferec and his partner an assignment on the sea docks to retrieve a foreign defector. Things go sideways, and Ferec soon finds himself not only questioning his boss but partnered with a motley crew he isn’t even sure he can trust.

I read Wickhills slowly over the course of a week as I immersed myself in this magical world and got to know the key players and villains. The story slowly unfolded and about midway I found myself completely caught up and secretly hoping this won’t be standalone.

I admired Ferec and felt like I understood him. I loved the underworld and the sidekicks who assisted him from there. We’ve got twists, betrayals, power grabs, and secrets combined with a deadly invention that not only questions the existence of the entire world but could end it as well.

A brilliant gaslamp fantasy filled with magic, rich characters, science fiction, and plenty of suspense and intrigue. I highly recommend this to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett and Benedict Jacka.

While the story wrapped up and left me satisfied, Mohamed left the door open for more and I sincerely hope he revisits this world.

Amazon

About Premee Mohamed

Premee Mohamed is a Nebula, World Fantasy, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is an Assistant Editor at the short fiction audio venue Escape Pod and the author of the 'Beneath the Rising' series of novels as well as several novellas. Her short fiction has appeared in many venues.

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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

Another busy week and an emotional one as we reflected on the anniversary of September 11th. I miss the unity we all felt as a nation on September 12th. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood (book review)
• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin (audiobook review)
• Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• Wickhills by Premee Mohamed (book review)
• We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman (audiobook review)
• The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne by Darcie Wilde (guest post/book review)
• World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade (book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
• The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas

A special thank you to Tantor Audio, PRH Audio

Around The Blogosphere

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

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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The newest Sunrise Lake novel, Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan, is a captivating romantic suspense story packed with murder, peril, friendship, and love.

Deception and danger lay in wait in the beautiful, harrowing California backcountry in this gripping suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Surgical and trauma nurse Harlow Frye loves the small town of Knightly, where breathtaking views of the Sierra and a tight circle of female friends provides a refuge from her professional life. But lately, it’s Harlow’s personal life that’s causing all the chaos.

First, a series of anonymous threatening letters are left in her mailbox. Then, Harlow is dealt a blow when her friend Lawyer dies after reacting to some sort of toxin. And to top it off, Harlow finds her secret obsession, CIA operative Hawkin Wilder, bleeding out on a mountain trail.

As Harlow turns her home into a makeshift hospital, her infuriating, attractive patient insists on distracting her. But even in the face of their increasing connection, there’s no way Harlow can ignore the escalating storm, when someone else close to her is struck down by the mysterious toxin.

With little more than intuition to go on, Harlow turns to the five friends who have proved themselves to be a better family than her own flesh and blood. As the women attempt to unravel the killings, they will need to rely on their instincts and their connection to each other—or else they’ll lose everything they’ve come to hold dear.

When I grabbed Frost and Venom, I was looking for a romantic suspense novel and didn’t realize it was part of a series. While we encounter couples from the previous books and get hints of the cases they were involved in, this can be read as a standalone. Of course, added the previous books to my library hold..lol.

We met Harlow Frye, a surgical and trauma nurse who owns a home in Knightly, a small-town known for its views of the Sierra. Harlow loves her job and the close-knit group of friends she has developed, even if her personal life is chaos. She’s been receiving death threats, and a close friend has died under mysterious circumstances. Then there is CIA operative Hawkin Wilder. He is part of her circle of friends, but also someone she cannot stop thinking about even as she erects walls to keep herself safe.

The tale that unfolds took off from the moment Harlow stumbles upon Hawkin on her evening walk. He has been injured, and she quickly calls her friend’s husband for help. With Hawkin’s life in danger, Harlow is keeping the patient safe in her home. As she tries to figure out the death threats and why folks are dying, she finds herself distracted by the sexy, determined man in her home.

I loved everything about Frost and Venom, and while I was mad at not starting from the beginning of this series, I delighted in discovering it. Harlow’s girlfriends (five in total) are all smart, successful, and married or involved with men who work/run an elite security team. As the women work to figure out who is threatening Harlow, her past threatens everything. Between the unexplained deaths from a mysterious toxin and Harlow’s own threats, I couldn’t put this down. Mix in a hot and sexy romance and I was all in.

If you enjoy small-town romance, special ops teams, and well-done romantic suspense, I recommend grabbing Frost and Venom, but maybe start with Murder at Sunrise Lake.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Christine Feehan

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, with 83 published works in seven different series: Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, Sea Haven Series, Shadow Series, and Torpedo Ink Series. All seven of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Judgment Road, the first book in her newest series, Torpedo Ink, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

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If you are looking for a witchy listen, you’ll want to grab A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin. Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, a witch in the present must undo an event in the past to save herself.

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever, in the dazzling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Our story begins in Savannah, Georgia. Lilith Legare’s mother has passed, and as she mourns, strange things occur. Plants and animals curl towards her, her birthmark burns, and her dreams turn to nightmares of being burned alive at the stake.

Lilith feels a powerful pull to find answers. Those answers take her to Brackenmere Manor in England. The story slowly builds, but the atmospheric tale will soon pull you in.

In 1645, Suffolk, Sybil Brantham senses a growing danger. Soon she will be accused of being a witch and will be burned at the stake. Bond by blood, Lilith must rewrite the past to save them both.

Martin delivered a clever tale, and I found myself swept up as both timelines converged. Magic is new to Lilith, and Sybil hides it for fear of discovery. I loved the atmospheric details as Lilith uncovered its secrets. I shivered as Sybil and others met true evil during the witch trials. Sybil’s was my favorite timeline. The story was well-researched and the execution believable.

A Time of Witches was cleverly written, but Saskia Maarleveld’s narration brought it to life in vivid color as she gave voice to these characters and set the tone. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one.

If you loved Weyward and other witchy tales, you’ll want to add A Time of Witches to your fall reading list. I know this will rank among my favorites for 2026.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of Scottish set historical romance. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (AKA OldestMinion and YoungestMinion) and Mr. Awesome. All shenanigans are detailed regularly on Twitter. Her hobbies include rock climbing, running, doing crazy races (like Mud Runs and Color Runs) and just about anything exciting she can do without getting nauseous. She's also a history fan (really more of a full on history dork) and loves to blog about random curiosities from her research.
After living in Europe for over a decade, Madeline enjoys traveling overseas whenever she can. Her favorite place to visit thus far: Scotland.
Writing has been a passion of hers since she was a child and now she finally gets to see her lifelong dream come true.

Website | Facebook

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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Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood is the third novel in the cozy standalone fantasy series Bewitched. Here Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood is the third novel in the cozy, standalone fantasy series Bewitched. Here we meet a reluctant witch named Sage Hemlock, who’s working on an exhibition on magic in the cozy town of Port Sylvan. When the grimoire of Lilara Mournfell appears, she and her friend and co-worker Casimi must fix the spell it opens.

Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.

Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven's radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.

But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage's quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairytales are coming true . . .

Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?

Disenchanted is the perfect autumn cozy with a little mystery, self-discovery, and magic. The romance in this one is served solidly on the side as a deliciously cute and loyal slow-burn.

Sage Hemlock is working on an exhibit about magic and the town of Port Sylvan when she isn’t giving magical historical tours. Sage may possess magic, but a tragic event in her past makes her avoid it. All magic comes with a cost, or goes sideways for her. Because of this, she keeps her head down and focuses on things she can trust, like books, history, and family.

Sage’s best friend from college and co-worker, Casimi, knows all about her magic, the tragedy, and Sage’s struggles. To anyone around them, it’s obvious Casimi has it bad. When a strange package is delivered containing a grimoire, Casimi, her family, and ghostly cook will all be there for her.

I got caught up in this one as the town transformed and Sage found herself. We learn more about the witch Lilara Mournfell and about Sage’s own tragic past as the story unfolds. The romantic development felt genuine and left me grinning.

From familiars to beanstalks, Disenchanted delivered a well-paced cozy fantasy filled with magic, character growth, family, and heart.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Lucy Jane Wood

Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader and cosiness-seeker from the Wirral. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.

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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

A three-day weekend is just what I needed. For the month of August I read/listened to 16 books and met my Goodreads goal of 150 books. I am not going to reset it, but rather see what more I can accomplish. For the rest of my challenges- 12/12 Library books and 94/150 for Audiobooks. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (book review)
• Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen (book review)
• Rapport by Martha Wells (audiobook review)
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (audiobook & book review)

This Week on the Blog

• Disenchanted by Lucy Jane Wood (book review)
• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin (audiobook review)
• Frost and Venom by Christine Feehan (book review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
• A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire

A special thank you to PRH Audio, Macmillan Audio

Around The Blogosphere

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

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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I love historical fiction blended with historical figures and was delighted to read along as I listened to The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon, narrated by Tara Flynn. You’ll want to grab this and discover the adventures of Grace O’Malley, the infamous Irish sea captain who protected her clan against the Elizabethan regime. Danger, Romance and adventure await you on the high seas.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia, a thrilling historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O'Malley, the infamous Irish sea captain and folk heroine who risked everything to protect her people against the powerful Elizabethan regime

Grace O'Malley was born to be at sea. Raised alongside her brother by their father, chief of the name of clan O'Malley, Grace learns early that her dreams of the open water are not compatible with the life she's expected to lead as the daughter of a noble family. And when her father marries her to the wrong man, a neighboring chief named Donhal, Grace's world shifts for the worse.

Undaunted, Grace raises a family without abandoning her passion, aiding her hot-tempered husband in his campaigns against rival tribes. Eventually ousted from her husband's land in the wake of his death, Grace returns to her childhood home and begins her career as a pirate in earnest, claiming new territories and finding deeper love, only to see her livelihood threatened by English incursions into Ireland, and her family endangered in an attempt to check her power.

Tenderly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's gripping latest channels the natural beauty of sixteenth-century Ireland alongside the brutality of the period as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine and defender of her people, who truly earned the title "the Pirate Queen of Ireland."

First, I have to commend Lawhon for shining a light on Grace O’Malley. She did an excellent job of delivering a compelling story with the limited amount of historical information available while still staying true to the details.

I will be the first to admit I have read very little fiction surrounding the Tudor era and Queen Elizabeth and her battles with Ireland. After reading the Pirate Queen, I fear I need to amend that.

The timeline in non-linear as we meet Grace and her clan. It begins when she is young and discovers her love of the sea, then it transports us through her life as she falls in love, is forced into an arranged marriage, bears children and ultimately commands a ship to protect her family and clan.

The tale that unfolded was addictive, and I loved Grace from her fearlessness to her sense of duty. She was clever, determined and used the disadvantages of being a woman to her advantage. I laughed, cried, got angry and slipped into the story and these characters.

Do not miss the author’s notes at the end. I had the pleasure of reading along as I listened to the narration performed by Tara Flynn. Flynn did a splendid job of capturing the force of Grace and made listening an immersive experience. I highly recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one.

If you love strong historical women, high seas adventure, and the shores of Ireland, you will want to grab The Pirate Queen.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Ariel Lawhon

Ariel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, four sons, and black Lab—who is, thankfully, a girl. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

Website

About Tara Flynn

Tara Flynn is an acclaimed Irish actress, writer, and prolific audiobook narrator known for performing popular contemporary fiction.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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It’s no secret that I absolutely love the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells narrated by Kevin R. Free. So when one of the shorts became available I had to listen. At just under an hour, Wells offers a glimpse into a mission involving ART, Iris, Tarik, and Matteo.

Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous new mission at a corporate-controlled station in the throes of a hostile takeover...

Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy features sound design and special effects to enhance your listening enjoyment

While Rapport was released after Systems Collapse, the events take place after the second audiobook, Artificial Conditions. It doesn’t matter when you listen to Rapport, but for the record, it is Murderbot Diaries 2.5, and if you haven’t begun this series, it would be more insightful to read it after Artificial Conditions.

Rapport is very short and just 53 minutes long. It’s not a complete story but a glimpse into the Perihelion crew as they begin a dangerous mission on a corporate-controlled station. The station is in the middle of a hostile takeover, making it extremely difficult. They are looking for pre-rim artifacts, and it’s a good thing ART has learned some new tricks.

I loved the inside look at the dynamics of this team. Especially the relationship between ART and Iris. Looking back, as I have listened to all the novellas, this short story hints at things regarding team members and gives us a closer look into the world itself.

Kevin R. Free narrates this series, and I was delighted to listen to this short. I had imagined that these shorts would be put into an audiobook anthology, but it appears TOR will release them individually on audio. At least for now.

Amazon | Audible

About Martha Wells

Martha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including The Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads), the Ile-Rien series (including The Death of the Necromancer) as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, media tie-ins (for Star Wars and Stargate: Atlantis), and non-fiction. Her most recent fantasy novel is The Harbors of the Sun in 2017, the final novel in The Books of the Raksura series. She has a new series of SF novellas, The Murderbot Diaries, published by Tor.com in 2017 and 2018. She was also the lead writer for the story team of Magic: the Gathering's Dominaria expansion in 2018. She has won a Nebula Award, an ALA/YALSA Alex Award, a Locus Award, and her work has appeared on the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Award ballots, the USA Today Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. Her books have been published in eleven languages.

Website

About Kevin R. Free

Kevin R. Free is an actor, writer, director, and producer whose work has been developed both regionally and in NYC. He is an accomplished voice actor, having created voices for commercials and, most notably, the voice of Kevin for the popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale. He is proud of his 20 years as an audiobook narrator whose work spans many genres.

Website

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen delivered a love story steeped in magical realism that pulled me in with the secrets that lie beyond the front doors of the Wester House. You’ll want to curl up with this southern fiction and uncover the Wester women’s secrets.

Part ghost story, part love story and steeped in magical realism, Paper Ghosts will transport you to a place where old secrets echo through the years and love finds a way of bringing us home.

Every family has its secrets . . .The Wester women live inside theirs.

For decades, the women of Wester House have unsettled and fascinated their small, timeless North Carolina town. Their home is full of whispers, old griefs, and uncanny knowing. But when Willamena Wester reaches out to the granddaughter she once pushed away, long-buried truths begin to stir.

1976:

Restless young Willamena falls for a stranded musician who brings freedom and the promise of another life to her carefully controlled world. Their brief, incandescent love story promises to escape the pull of the Wester legacy until Willamena makes a fateful choice that changes her life forever.

Present Day:

Returning home is the last thing Bailey Wester wants. Yet as she reconnects with Willamena, the grandmother she feared, Bailey begins to understand the love, heartbreak, and impossible choices that shaped the women in her family and realizes the past may not have been trying to haunt them after all.

A luminous novel filled with Sarah Addison Allen’s stunning prose and signature blend of romance, Southern charm, and wonder, Paper Ghosts reminds us that in order to have the future we really want, sometimes we need to live with the past, and not let go of it.

The story begins in 1976 in a small North Carolina town owned by the Westers. Here we meet Willamena Wester, who resides at Wester House with her grandmother. This is her senior year of high school, and her grandmother has her life mapped out for her, including who she’ll marry. All that changes when a band performs at the school with ties to the town.

The tale that unfolded was steeped in magical realism and pulled me in. Willamena is restless and feels the chains that bind her future even as she is determined to accept them. Her grandmother seems to be all-knowing, and the townsfolk readily do her bidding; some even fear her. When a young musician named Jack gets stuck in town and gives guitar lessons for bus fare, Willamena is like a moth to a flame. Allen pulled me into this forbidden romance and its outcome.

Then the story transports us to the present, where we meet Bailey Wester, Willamena’s granddaughter. When her son and granddaughter move into Wester House, we see a repeat of 1976, but also learn what happened to Willamena and Jack.

The tale was atmospheric, and the reveal of the title was cool. The conclusion, while sad, left me satisfied. If you are a fan of Garden Spells and Allen, you will want to add this to your fall reading list.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Sarah Addison Allen

New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility. Her big break occurred in 2007 with the publication of her first mainstream novel, Garden Spells, a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree and the family of North Carolina women who tend it. Booklist called Allen's accomplished debut "spellbindingly charming." The novel became a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection, and then a New York Times Bestseller. Allen continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as "Southern-fried magic realism." Clearly, it's a recipe readers are happy to eat up as fast as she can dish it out.

Website | Blog | Facebook

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The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury delivered an engaging historical murder mystery set against post-WWII Oxford University. Murder, spies and romance wrapped in a clever tale make this the perfect fall mystery to add to your list!

Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.

Oxford, England, 1951 - The Honorable Ginevra Bishop likes red lipstick, clever retorts, and earning top marks in her tutorials. She’s following her mother’s footsteps by studying at Oxford, eager to prove she’s more than a debutante.

Sidney Braithwaite likes brooding, Latin, and ignoring his nightmares. He’s determined to forge a new life for himself at Oxford, far from his childhood mining village and free from memories of the war.

Though Gin and Sidney have little in common, the British Security Service is keen to unite her charm with his espionage there’s a Soviet spy at the university, and the agent tracking them down was poisoned. MI5 wants Gin and Sidney to pick up the trail and identify the informant before more sensitive information is compromised. As a team, the pair of undergraduates clash in personality, upbringing, and taste––but have a connection neither can deny. Gin and Sidney must unite their respective talents to follow the clues before they’re caught in the traitor’s crosshairs…if the sparks flying between them don’t blow up the operation first.

We meet the Honorable Ginevra Bishop in the library of Oxford, where she attends college. She is following in her late mother’s footsteps and is studying languages. She has plans, even if her father is pushing her to marry. Sidney Braithwaite is determined to buckle down after dealing with the war and trouble at home. While the two don’t move in the same circles, I found their first interaction intriguing and was curious to see how things unfold.

After the two discover the librarian in the gardens suffering from an apparent heart attack, they are approached by the British Security Service. Sidney was an agent during the war, and they want them to help find answers. MI5 believes there is a Soviet spy at the university. The librarian was working for them and was close to uncovering the spy before he was murdered.

I was all in, from the mystery to Gin’s bold investigative skills and Sidney’s wish for it all to go away. The author did a splendid job of unraveling the mystery while sharing Gin and Sidney’s backstories and fanning the chemistry between them. The romance is a slow-burn and one I hope develops further in the next book.

From the historical backdrop to the problems that vex women, the story hooked me. I loved the spying, the gathering of clues, and seeing Gin and Sidney work together. I loved the nod to academia, from heated debates to the library itself. Outside interference dampened the romance before Gin set the record straight. I loved her spunky personality. She takes risks where Sidney is slow and methodical. Together they make the perfect team.

The case wrapped up splendidly, and I am eager to see what the next novel brings. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries served with a side of romance.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Kate Westbury

Kate Westbury grew up a voracious reader of detective fiction, and unraveling plot twists became her favorite pastime. She now puts her whodunnit obsession to good use writing historical mysteries. Beyond the page, Kate teaches Latin and dreams of moving to an English village with crimes to solve.

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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

Cooler mornings and the last weekend of August have me thinking of witchy books and horror whilst mourning the end of summer. It was a crappy news week and my heart goes out to the people of Nepal. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar (book review)
• Wolftamer by Maggie Rapier (book review)
• The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie, adapted by Charles Osborne (guest post/ audiobook review)
• Thaw of Spring & Burn of Summer by Rebecca Zanetti (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (book review)
• Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen (book review)
• Rapport by Martha Wells (audiobook review)
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (book & audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

A special thank you to Libro.fm

Around The Blogosphere

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

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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