Sophia Rose is here with the second volume of the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. Come check out her thoughts and see why she is enjoying the witty adventures of Emma, narrated by Genevieve Grant.

I was sitting at my desk reading, with a cup of tea, my windows flung open, when I heard The Tenant enter his garret, just on the other side of the wall from myself.”

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, which comprise a series of volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Listeners have compared Beth Brower's writing to Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and L. M. Montgomery.

Sophia Rose’s Review

After winning – and losing, the first skirmish of her war over Lapis Lazuli House and her independence, Emma Lion is settled in her half of the garret with ‘The Tenant’ occupying the other.  Beth Brower’s sparkling, witty Emma and her adventures are still being chronicled in her journal-style writing to fabulous results.

In Volume Two, Emma faces the precarious financial situation Cousin Archibald has left them all in, the London Season under the dictatorship of her Aunt Eugenia, curiosity over the required new tenant (which the Roman ghost stirred himself to give warning over, and the crisis of ‘the Jane Eyres’.

Emma is growing up.  She is still impulsive in word and deed, but has moments of pause and reflection as well as cleverness to see her through each time she’s in a pickle.  I loved learning some more about ‘The Tenant’, an escapade involving her friends and old school, and seeing how Emma and Society took to one another. 

There are ongoing plot threads that stretch beyond Volume Two and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Emma.

Genevieve Gaunt is Emma’s voice in my head and love all the familiar character voices from the maid’s chippy Scottish to the duke’s slow aristocratic drawl.  Very gifted with voices and ability to interpret the tone and pace of the story.

This second outing with the series was even stronger after all the intros in the first and I can only anticipate each new installment.  I’m setting this as a historical fiction, but there are hints that romance might be a growing element as the volumes progress.  Definitely recommend!

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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It’s time for the next Groom & Doom audiobook. The Mermaid in the Shot Glass is the third book in this cozy paranormal fantasy featuring dragons! Ana is training and getting closer to Rían as the story continues.

The time has come for Ana to conquer her doubts about her heritage and discover her inner dragon. Her lessons begin with summoning fire on the shore at Lendman Park, placing a buffer between her fledgling powers and town. Her flames prove eager to please, leaping to her fingertips, but a sudden burst of magic topples her and Rían into the lake. A lake one of the locals swears is inhabited by a mermaid.

Too bad the mermaid lore isn't the only story making the rounds in Brentwood. Rumor has it that Mercer Bates has challenged Carmichael Sartori for control of the Sartori pack. Ana doesn't want to care whether Carmichael lives or dies, but our hearts don't always listen to our heads. And that proves doubly true when someone Ana considers a new friend reveals her true loyalties in an explosive betrayal that shakes the foundation of the Walsh clan.

Narrated by Leanne Woodward, the Groom & Doom is a novella series featuring a latent shifter who was living among wolves until she learned she was stolen from her family. This is a series that should be listened to in the order of its release. Romance, suspense, magic, and found family await you.

Ana has begun her training and is growing more comfortable with the Walsh clan. Her bond with Rian is strengthening, as is her relationship with others. Mercer Bates has challenged Carmichael Sartori for control of the Sartori pack, and even though she is angry at Carmichael for what he did to her and her mother, she still struggles as she worries about him dying. With the unrest, Brentwood is still on lockdown, and Rian and his clan are spread thin keeping everyone safe.

A lesson with her flames has Ana and Rian at the bottom of the lake. When tensions get hot, Rian takes her to a special place. We see their connection grow stronger, and their chemistry is electric. I love how patient he is with her, and seeing Ana flourish was wonderful.

The audiobooks are delightful and capture the tone and emotions of the characters. At just under five hours, these are perfect for road trips. I’m excited for the next audiobook, The Pixie in the Pickle Jar.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Hailey Edwards

Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy. She lives in Alabama with her husband, their daughter, and a herd of dachshunds.

Website | Facebook

About Leanne Woodward

Leanne Woodward has always wondered what was happening elsewhere. In someone else's story, in some other universe. Now she spends her days immersed in fantastical, dark, and thrilling tales. She's been behind the microphone for more than thirty years, working in radio as well as on commercial voice-over projects. Her theater and improv experience bring risk-taking, emotion, and depth to her performances. She loves learning accents and languages—currently, French! When not narrating, Leanne explores the "real" world with hikes into the wild and dangerous culinary experiments.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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I was delighted to return to 1870s Scotland and the Rip Through Time series. An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong has Mallory and Duncan working an unusual case and creating alternative paths. Advancement in our slow-burning romance and a suspenseful case had me reading & listening into the wee hours.

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Victorian Scotland in the latest in the genre-blending Rip Through Time series.

Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Mitchell has grown accustomed to life in Victorian Scotland after travelling 150 years into the past into the body of a housemaid. She’s built a new life for herself. Even though she works as an assistant to forensic-science pioneer Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie, she considers them true friends. And with Gray in particular, perhaps, someday, something more.

Late one night, Gray and Mallory are summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business, and they assume there's been a death in the household. But instead, they arrive in the midst of a seance with a ghost demanding Gray's presence. The ghost is Lady Adler's former maid, who had gone missing but now requests that Gray investigate her murder. Although Gray and Mallory are skeptical, they agree to look into the matter, whether she's dead or alive. But unsure if there's been a murder or not, unable to call out the medium as a fraud, and concerned for the fate of the young maid, Gray and Mallory are once again drawn into a mystery much more puzzling--and more dangerous--than it first seems

The author does a wonderful job of bringing new readers and listeners up to speed, and each of the books in A Rip Through Time series has its own standalone mystery. However, if like me you enjoy seeing the slow-burning romance develop as well as the motley crew of friends Mallory Atkinson has surrounded herself with, I recommend devouring them in the order of their release. I also highly recommend reading all the novellas, too.

An Ordinary Sort of Evil is the fifth book in the series and takes place shortly after the events of Death at a Highland Wedding. Mallory and Duncan are enjoying a drink when there is a knock at the door. It seems Duncan is being summoned urgently to the home of Lady Adler, a patron of Gray’s undertaking business. Both he and Mallory assume there’s been a death in the household. They arrive to find the Lady hosting a séance and it seems a ghost, a maid in the Adler house, is requesting Dr. Grey’s help in finding her murderer. Yep, I was hooked. I love how Armstrong weaves in the history of this time period and séances.

Of course Duncan doesn’t believe in ghosts, being a man of science, but Detective Hugh reminds him he should be more open-minded, especially since Mallory is really from the twenty-first century. Speaking of Hugh, his romance with Isle continues, hampered only by Mallory being an unmarried woman in the Grey household. Because of that, we see some movement in the slow-burning romance between Mallory and Duncan.

I absolutely loved the mystery, Jack’s involvement, and the interest from a certain royal figure. It delivered some twists and suspenseful moments that had me holding my breath. I had the pleasure of switching between reading and listening. I have read the series and novellas, but jumped at the chance to listen along. Kate Handford narrates and did a lovely job of giving voice to Mallory and these characters.

I closed this one with a satisfied smile and look forward to the next book in this addictive series with characters I love. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries served with a side dish of romance.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Website | Facebook

About Kate Handford

Kate Handford is an award winning voice over artist, narrating audio books, voicing characters in video games, and international campaigns including The Modist & World Animal Protection. ​She has performed on stage at Shakespeare's Globe, the National Theatre Studio & in films shown at international festivals.

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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 was a busy week with baseball, storms, and a visit from Hazel. June is Audiobook month and we’ve got a fun month-long challenge with a chance to win The Murder of Crows trilogy from author Chris Tullbane and a Chirp gift card. I hope you’ll join us! Link in the sidebar. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (audiobook review)
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (audiobook review)
• The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker (book review/ guest blogger)
• Platform Decay by Martha Wells (audiobook review)

This Week on the Blog

• An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong (book/audiobook review)
• The Mermaid in the Shot Glass by Hailey Edwards (audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 2 by Beth Brower (book review/ guest blogger)
• Junkyard Riders by Faith Hunter (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Christmas at Honeycombe Bay by Liliac Mills
• The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

A special thank you to Ballantine Books & PRH

Around The Blogosphere

• Join the JIAM Audiobook Challenge and Win.
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support indie 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 Kevin R. Free, Platform Decay by Martha Wells delivered the newest installment with my favorite SecUnit, Murderbot. Murderbot is on a rescue mission, and there may be feelings involved!

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for … eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)

Platform Decay is the eighth audiobook in the Murderbot Diaries and a series that I recommend be listened to in the order of their release. Our SecUnit evolves, as do his relationships with the humans he interacts with.

Our Murderbot is totally out of his comfort zone as he goes on a rescue mission in the dangerous Corporation Rim. He is concerned that Barish-Estranza, the evil megacorp, is still a threat to him and the humans. He has a plan to rescue members of Dr. Mensah’s family, but of course, there are complications. The tale that unfolded was fantastic, addictive, and left me wanting more of this world and our bot.

I was worried that the emotions program our SecUnit installed was causing a systems collapse and relieved it was not; it is changing Murderbot, not that he would admit it, and its stats had me grinning. The rescue was long and complicated as we navigated the rim. It kept Murderbot busy, and our poor SecUnit could barely decompress and tune into any of his favorite programs.

I loved seeing Murderbot in charge, but also relying on others. The story is told completely from his point of view, and I absolutely loved seeing him realize that maybe, just maybe, he needs these humans as much as they need him. Brilliant.

Kevin R. Free narrates and is the voice of our SecUnit. His performance makes listening a must. Free captures the humor, tension, and tone of the story perfectly. Each of the audiobooks runs under six hours and is perfect for road trips. Fans of science fiction fantasies will love these diaries, but so will a broader audience.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

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.

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Sophia Rose is here with a review of the historical romance novel, The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker. This is a standalone romance featuring characters from some of her previous stories. It’s a romance filled with fireworks and redemption.

Ruined by scandal, Georgiana bargains with a duke to regain her place in Society. But their pretend friendship sparks real love, risking reputations, duty, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.

Eight months after a stolen kiss ruined her reputation, Miss Georgiana Wood is a recluse, cast out of Society without any hope of ever finding a suitable match. Longing for redemption, she never expects her salvation to arrive in the form of a handsome, temperamental duke.

After a failed bargain left the Duke of Marlow without a promised wife and heir, he must face courtship a final time. He plans to entice his future bride with a priceless family heirloom—one now in the possession of Miss Wood, who agrees to return it if he takes her on three outings in London during the Season to restore her reputation.

As the pair navigate Society’s expectations and whispered gossip, Marlow begins to see Georgiana as an ally and a friend. Her wit and courage, grace and allure far exceed that of the eligible ladies he intended to court, and soon, he’d do almost anything to secure her happiness.

As Marlow wrestles with duty and desire, Georgiana begins to hope that she could be loved for who she truly is. When hearts are tested, truth and secrets revealed, will love be enough to risk it all?

Sophia Rose’s Review

She needs his help restoring her to London Society and he needs the heirloom she has in her possession to achieve the dutiful, proper marriage befitting a duke’s status.  Megan Walker returns to her Proper Romance regency world with a romance full of fireworks and redemption.

The Duke’s Bargain is a standalone story- and I did fine reading it as such-, but I learned after I started reading that both characters were introduced in previous Megan Walker standalones.  I got that feeling readers know when its obvious that the character has a backstory that had to have been introduced in a previous book.  Though I haven’t read them… yet, I discovered that Georgiana was busy getting kissed and her reputation ruined in Lakeshire Park and the Duke of Marlow got jilted at the alter in Miss Newbury’s List.

And, so, Georgiana loves matching wits and witticisms and social activities that come with being about in Society and, more than anything she wants her reputation restored so she can return to that glittering world.  Fortunately, she has a bargaining tool to make a certain infuriated duke go along with her plan.  Three outings on his arm to high society exclusive functions ought to do the trick.

The Duke of Marlow is angry.  He wants to make a proper match, have his heir and do what’s expected of him, but the lady he chose embarrassed him nearly at the altar, no less.  Now, he must start again and he knows that a certain family heirloom will entice the right sort.  And, the female who has it will only part with it on conditions.

Circling one another warily, Georgiana and Marlow set out to keep their bargain, but somewhere along the way, the hostility eases and they become friends.  As things progress, it becomes more, but they are determined to stay the original course.  Even though…, but there are secrets and risks if they go there.

I kept seeing Megan Walker’s Regency era releases and they always looked good, but I finally had the chance to grab this one.  I loved the interplay between these two and loved that up front, it is obvious that they are two flawed people, both bright, but made mistakes.  Georgiana is not a black-hearted villain by any stretch, but she certainly isn’t dissuaded by some sketchy motives and choices.  She has a road to redemption in this one and fortunately, Marlow is her match.  They have both put up solid walls of protection that don’t allow people to see their real selves, but eventually, they both show each other what is beyond the walls and that was lovely. 

I blew through this one fast.  It pulled me in and the pages flew by.  I liked seeing this pair together among Society and the reactions they got and their reaction to each other.

The Duke’s Bargain turned out to be a steal of a deal of a read and I recommend it to other sweet Regency Romance lovers- though, go for those earlier releases to get the bigger picture first.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Megan Walker

Megan Walker was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn't leave her alone, so she picked up a pen. And the rest is history. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children.

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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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Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke delivers a mystery-thriller where a pioneer-woman, social media influencer, awakens to find herself in 1855 and is living the reality she portrayed. I went into this cold and found myself completely caught up in this story and our disturbed protagonist.

A traditional American woman, a beautiful wife and mother who sells her pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs to her millions of social media followers, suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of 1855—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister in this sensational debut novel.

My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the Republican equivalent of a Kennedy? What Natalie’s followers—all 8 million of them—don’t know won’t hurt them. And The Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They’re sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn’t simply living the good life, she’s living the ideal—and just so happens to be building an empire from it.

Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and now she’s expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a brutal reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.

A gripping, electrifying novel that is as darkly funny as it is frightening, Yesteryear is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood.

The story begins by introducing socially awkward Naomi during her college years. She gives off the impression of being a sheltered, religious girl, yet it doesn’t quite ring true. She is an unlikeable and unreliable narrator in this story.

Caleb, whose father was a politician, was someone she met in college. The couple eventually marries, and a daughter is born to them. Here, the problems start, and we discover that something is amiss with Naomi. Caleb is no better. He lacks direction in life and is satisfied with his father’s financial support. This is when the concept for the farm and subsequently the social media channel came about.

We see cracks in Naomi’s relationships, her methodical plodding, her cold nature, and plenty of things that contradict the image she is trying to create. She is barely holding things together, keeps forgetting about her children, and frets over perfection. Things escalate until something threatens to destroy this carefully constructed image/world Naomi has created. This is when she awakens in 1855. It’s her farm, but it’s not her children and not her husband, well, not exactly. She believes this is some type of reality show or that she is being held prisoner, and I couldn’t stop listening.

This is a fantastic listen/read for a book club. This story touches on a lot of topics and issues, from mental health to culture trends, but doesn’t really address them and offers plenty of topics to dig into and examine.

While the ending had me questioning the realistic aspect of some events, reality has forced me to understand that money, influence, and those with political reach don’t always follow the same rules, making it seem at least plausible. I have spent very little time on TikTok and don’t really follow any of these pioneer or trad-wife types. I don’t follow celebrities and absolutely hate reality TV shows. Give me books to escape into, and to heck with reality. Burke’s portrayal of these influencer channels is quite like I imagined. Staged.

Rebecca Lowman gives voice to Naomi and does a wonderful job of capturing her personality, flaws, and the wrongness of this character. It was an addictive listen and I’m glad I listened.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Caro Claire Burke

Caro Claire Burke received her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She is the co-host of Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast. YESTERYEAR is her first novel.

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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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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall delivers a mystery thriller when Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia revisit the events that occurred when they were eleven. The year they sent a killer to prison. Narrated by Karissa Vacker, I quickly found myself pulled into the story.

They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison. They were heroes . . . but they were liars.

Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.

And they were liars.

For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods―no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.

When Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia were eleven, they spent their summers in the woods playing the Goddess game until Naomi was attacked and stabbed over seventeen times. She survived and could identify her attacker. Together, the girls’ testimony put a serial killer in prison. They were called heroes. But they were really liars, and now Olivia wants to come clean.

Naomi does not know what actually happened that day; she just repeated her friend’s story, but now she is determined to find answers. What does Olivia want to reveal? The author delivers the tale in both past and the present. The point of view is delivered by Naomi and I quickly found myself pulled in.

I thought this was very well done with plenty of suspense, twists, and detail. We even get a little romance. I felt for Naomi, and even as I eventually guessed what Olivia wanted to reveal, I still felt surprised about a few things.

I highly recommend listening. The narration by Karissa Vacker was outstanding, perfectly portraying Naomi and the other characters. She set the tone and ensured a smooth transition from the past to the present.

Whether you read or listen, it’s the perfect book for a road trip or beach day. It’s easy to see why it was nominated for a Goodreads Award and lives up to the hype.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Kate Alice Marshall

Kate Alice Marshall writes horror and thrillers for all ages, from middle grade to adult. Her books have been nominated for the Washington State Book Awards and Bram Stoker Awards. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, where she spends her time gardening, gaming, and concocting stories of the uncanny.

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About Karissa Vacker

Karissa is an Audie Award Finalist and AudioFile Earphones award winning narrator. She is a classically trained actor with credits from major regional theaters and also has numerous film and TV credits. Karissa has narrated over 300 books for Penguin Random House, Macmillan Audio, Hachette, Brilliance, Tantor, Dreamscape, Harper Collins and Scholastic, among others. She excels at narrating suspense/thrillers, literary fiction and romantic comedies.

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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 Mother’s Day to all the moms! We celebrated my husband’s birthday yesterday. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey (book review)
• Among Her Bones by Kate SeRine (book tour)
• The Summer I Found You by Jennifer O’Brien (book review/ guest blogger)
• The Sea Spinner by Julie Johnson (book review)

This Week on the Blog

• What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (audiobook review)
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (audiobook review)
• The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker (book review/ guest blogger)
• Platform Decay by Martha Wells (audiobook review)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Inkpot Gods by Seanan McGuire

A special thank you to Tor

Around The Blogosphere

• Join the JIAM Audiobook Challenge and Win.
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support indie 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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We are back in Anwyvn in The Sea Spinner by Julie Johnson. This is the second novel in the fantasy series, Reign of Remnants. Twists, growth, and ever-growing danger held me spellbound as I settled in with this addictive tale.

Blazing with reawakened magic, a young woman challenges the tides of fate in this highly anticipated installment of Julie Johnson’s romantasy series.

Everything changed for Rhya Fleetwood in the battle of Fyremas. Her grief is heavy, her rage volatile. Caeldera lies in ruins. Her friends are dead or wounded. And Pendefyre, their newly crowned king, is shutting her out. The Remnant of Fire needs all his focus for his kingdom, his people, and—perhaps more than anything—his insatiable need for revenge.

When a twist of fate leads Rhya to the last place she expected—the Water Court—the novice wind weaver is forced to confront the limitations of her untrained power as well as her increasingly complicated relationships. For enigmatic King Soren of Llŷr is as different from Penn as sparks are from the sea. The more insight he offers into the maegic that binds them together, the more confused Rhya feels—about her future as a Remnant, about her deepest desires, and about her role in the coming war.

Enemies circle close, ready to strike. And if Rhya isn’t careful, she’ll lose more than just her heart.

She’ll lose her life.

Rhya, our wind weaver, has been healing those in the kingdom of Caeldera since the attack in book one, The Wind Weaver. When she and Penn keep butting heads, she takes a portal back to the kingdom, but ends up at the Water Court. Between the world-building and story arc, I strongly recommend reading these in order. Fair warning: the cliffhanger ending was brutal, and my need for answers is strong.

The Sea Spinner shares more of the world as we get to know King Soren of Llŷr, the history, and witness the magic and dangers of this world. Rhya grows into her powers under Soren’s guidance. Penn is moody, closed off, and because of this, the romance moves in a different direction. One I am quite pleased with.

In a festive gathering uniting the kingdoms, Soren’s sister’s wedding also marks the beginning of troubles. We delve deeper into the prophecy as the villain provides action, heartbreak, and a shocking conclusion.

Rhya’s loyalty and fierceness make her a heroine I continue to admire. The playful conversation and developing connection between her and Soren were fantastic. It was impressive to witness her skills grow as she grew more adept as the wind weaver. The narrative continues, and with the revelation of another prophesied individual, my anticipation for the next novel has me on edge.

Amazon

About Julie Johnson

JULIE JOHNSON (born July 3, 1991) is a New England native and internationally bestselling author. When she's not writing, Julie can most often be found adding stamps to her passport, drinking too much coffee, and avoiding reality by disappearing between the pages of a book. She published her debut novel on a lark, just before her senior year of college, and she's never looked back. Since, she has published twenty other novels, which have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and appeared on bestseller lists all over the world, including Der Spiegel, AdWeek, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and more.

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Sophia Rose is here with a review of The Summer I Found You by Jennifer O’Brien. A recently divorced woman returns to her family’s North Shore home to restore it and uncovers family secrets and maybe a second chance in this summer beach story.

A recently divorced single mom returns to her family’s fixer-upper beach house and finds romance amidst the heartbreak—and truths buried under generations of lies—in this summertime romance perfect for fans of The Beach House and Nora Goes Off Script.

When Dahlia Newberry escapes her terrible marriage and returns to Long Island’s North Fork to put her family’s beach house on the market, she discovers the property has fallen into disrepair, and she has no idea how she’ll get it from fixer to fabulous in a month’s time.

Things start to look up when she discovers her neighbor is Noah, a handsome reality TV star known for his Hamptons-set home renovation series. Noah turns out to be quite handy and pitches in to help Dahlia with the renovations and, as chemistry sparks between them, her self-discovery too.

Meanwhile, Dahlia discovers a letter from her Aunt Lil, whose dying wish was for Dahlia to find a key that unlocks a mystery spanning three generations. Soon Dahlia is unearthing mysterious clues buried in the garden which threaten to upend everything she believes about her world.

The truth is supposed to set you free, but excavated secrets have a way of shattering an already fragile life—unless Dahlia can find a way to bloom into the woman she was always meant to be.

This debut novel by an accomplished home design influencer is perfect for fans of HGTV shows and steamy summer romances.

Sophia Rose’s Review

When a thirty-something woman needs to start over after a difficult marriage breaks up, she has an old family home on the north shore to restore and only a month to do it.  A talented HGTV-style celebrity gives her a hand even as she uncovers family secrets and a new chance at love in a summer beach romance from debut author, Jennifer O’Brien.

Dahlia must heal after a devasting marriage situation so she gets away to Long Island and her aunt’s home that she inherited.  She plans to fix it up and only has a month.  Not realizing what bad shape it was in, she is ready to flail until Noah, a TV personality from next door steps up.  Noah has the no-how as a home builder and he turns out to be a wonderful guy.  In fact, they both notice one another and the time working on the house is a sweet time of relationship-building as much as home repairing.

But, Dahlia comes across a family mystery including garden clues left by her aunt.  The secrets revealed change everything, but Noah is right there with her.

The Summer I Found You was an easy-going, gentle low-angst story.  There are emotional vibes that could have dug deep resulting from her past and recovery, but instead these are noted and moved on from.  The pair of lovers came together rather quickly in some ways, but with all that was going on including the mystery, I went with it.  I loved the home improvement element and all the work they were doing.  The mystery, now, that was secondary, but yet pivotal to giving this book some great momentum and spikes of emotional excitement. 

All in all, this was relaxing and cozy and I enjoyed seeing Dahlia and Noah together and working the house and the mystery.  If readers want something easy-flowing and tender for their summer book bag, drop in The Summer I Found You.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Jennifer O'Brien

Jennifer O’Brien is the author of the debut novel The Summer I Found You. After her dream of buying a fixer-upper fell through, she decided to write about one instead. As a designer and content creator, she offers a unique lens through her ability to capture the life of home and the layers of love that live there. For over a decade, she’s been the author behind the popular design blog City Farmhouse, a Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker, and a guest on the Rachael Ray Show. She’s also a member of WFWA and LIRW. Currently, she’s working on her second novel and planning her third. She lives on Long Island with her husband, two boys, and fur baby.

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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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Are you looking for a gothic romantic horror that’s perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno‑Garcia, Simone St. James, Darcy Coates, and Riley Sager? Check out an excerpt of Among Her Bones by Kate SeRine, then grab your copy.

Among Her Bones

Amazon

In a house built on the sins of its past, where the walls conceal dark secrets and silence every scream, love may be her only salvation.

When single mother Zellie Dupont loses her last source of stability and is left with nothing but grief, debt, and a sick child she’s terrified of failing, desperation drives her to accept a stranger’s offer of refuge in a crumbling Savannah mansion.

But Dawes House is no ordinary home.

Once a grand estate, now faded grandeur shrouded in moss and mystery, the mansion is cold in ways it shouldn’t be, disquieting in ways Zellie can’t ignore. Yet her new neighbors welcome her like kin, offering the warmth and belonging she’s always yearned for. And her enigmatic benefactor possesses a quiet, wounded tenderness that draws her nearer with every stolen moment, kindling a desire she feels down to her bones—intense and undeniable.

But with every passing day in the house, the shadows creep closer. Footsteps echo in empty rooms. Ghostly whispers brush her ear. Visions of women cry out with silent mouths—women who loved, who suffered, and who failed to escape the house that claimed them.

As the mansion’s past unravels, Zellie is pulled into a dark history of misery, longing, and ghostly vengeance…and toward a truth that could devour her exactly like it did the women before her.

Because in Dawes House, nothing stays buried.

Not love.
Not betrayal.
And not the dead.

Perfect for readers of Southern Gothic fiction, atmospheric ghost stories, paranormal suspense, Gothic romance, and slow‑burn supernatural thrillers.

Available in KindleUnlimited and paperback.

Read an Excerpt

About Kate SeRine

Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it’s no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She’s the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES paranormal romance series as well as two romantic suspense series: PROTECT AND SERVE and DARK ALLIANCE.

Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.

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I enjoy slipping into Kristy Woodson Harvey’s summer reads, and Summer State of Mind transports us to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, and into the lives of burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens and high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden. The two cross paths when an abandoned newborn is discovered. Character growth, romance, and small-town charm pulled me in and transported me.

“Queen of the beach read,” (Cosmopolitan) New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.

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

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

Summer State of Mind delivers an engaging summer read perfect for a day on the beach. NICU nurse Daisy Stevens leaves her stressful job in the city after a hard patient and moves to Cape Carolina, a place with a slower pace and childhood memories of summers on the beach.

Mason Thaysden is the current baseball coach in his hometown, working in the very office that his own coach held. Mason’s dreams ended after an accident, but his love of the sport has him working to help young men reach their dreams. When he discovers an abandoned baby in the school dumpster, he ans Daisy cross paths, and the tale that unfolds pulled me in.

Harvey knows how to weave a tale and brings the reader along. As Daisy and Mason get to know each other, we meet his Aunt Tilley and learn her story. Daisy becomes attached to the newborn as the police search for the young parents. I found myself emotionally invested and felt compassion not only for those parents, but for Daisy and her story, as well as Mason and his dreams.

The story delivers romance, second chances, and character growth as secrets are revealed. Harvey shows us that sometimes life delivers exactly what you need.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Kristy Woodson Harvey

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodonsharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son.

Website | Facebook

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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

For the month of April, I read/listened to 15 books. Goodreads Challenge 80/150, Audiobook Challenge 50/150& Library Love 12/12. We have been unseasonably cold. I froze to death at baseball/softball games. This week, Sophia has a cello concert, and both kids have games. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood (book review)
• Cursed in Love by Emily Colin (audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (audiobook review/ guest blogger)
• Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire (audiobook reviews)

This Week on the Blog

• Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey (book review)
• Among Her Bones by Kate SeRine (book tour)
• The Summer I Found You by Jennifer O’Brien (book review/ guest blogger)
• The Sea Spinner by Julie Johnson (book reviews)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
• The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell
• Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen
• A Divided Duty by Seanan McGuire
• Unpredictable Magic by Faith Hunter
• One Shattered Crown by Rebecca Zanetti

A special thank you to Penguin Random House Audio, Bookouture Audio, St. Martin’s Press, Tor Books, Berkley Publishing Group | Ace, Kensington Books,

Around The Blogosphere

• Join the JIAM Audiobook Challenge and Win.
• Make the switch to Libro.fm and support indie 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 Cynthia Hopkins, Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire transports us into the fantasy world of the Wayward Children. Come, step through a door as Nancy leaves the Hall of the Dead seeking help from her Wayward friends. An addictive tale filled with suspense and mystery.

A fan-favorite character returns in this action-packed instalment of the Hugo Award-winning Wayward Children series.

After Nancy was cast out of the Halls of the Dead and forced to enroll at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children, she never believed she'd find her door again, and when she did, she didn't look back. She disappeared from the school to resume her place in the Halls, never intending to return.

Years have passed. A darkness has descended on the Halls, and the living statues who populate them are dying at the hands of the already dead. The Lord and Lady who rule the land are helpless to stop the slaughter, forcing Nancy to leave the Halls again, this time on purpose, as she attempts to seek much-needed help from her former schoolmates.

But who would volunteer to quest in a world where the dead roam freely?

And why are the dead so intent on adding to their number?

Nancy left our world for the serenity of the Halls of the Dead, and in Every Heart A Doorway, she was forced to leave and sent to Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children before finding her door again and returning to the stillness she enjoys. Now something is wrong in the halls and the living statues are dying at the hands of the dead. To save the hall, Nancy leaves in search of her friends, hoping for help.

Once again, McGuire pulled me in. I find the Hall of the Dead fascinating and understand why Nancy and the other living statues find peace there. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the halls, Nancy and the others’ fear, and the wrongness that has crept into the halls. Nancy has always been brave, and this quest will test her and her friends.

The reason the dead are uprising and this motley crew of friends will need to break Miss West’s rule of “no quest” to understand and stop what is happening. It’s a dangerous mission because the dead are very hungry.

Cynthia Hopkins narrates and did a stellar job of not only capturing each character but also the tone and atmosphere of the halls. I’ve listened to all the books in the series and highly recommend grabbing your earbuds.

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

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Sophia Rose is here with an audiobook review of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. Narrated by Genevieve Gaunt, this is the first volume in the series. Come check out her thoughts on this historical fiction.

“I’ve arrived in London without incident. There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.”

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.

Listeners have compared Beth Brower's writing to Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and L.M. Montgomery.

Sophia Rose’s Review

Told in epistolary style, a young woman’s arrival from the country to her quaint London neighborhood is not devoid of excitement – no, it is fraught with anticipation as she prepares to do battle with cousin Archibald, his sister, her aunt, and various sundry issues to claim what is rightfully her own, Lapis Lazuli House in St. Crispin, London. 

Last year, I could not help, but notice the simmer of excitement across social media for the Emma M Lion series and descriptions from one and all told me I needed to hasten to the local library and claim my place amongst the series readers and listeners.  Good call to go with Genevieve Gaunt’s stellar narration work in audio, by the by.  She took Beth Brower’s talented writing that one notch higher.

Emma’s narration of her present circumstances with dips into the past by perusing the previous pages of her journal, sparkled with verve and wit so that I could not wait to listen to what she would say or do next.  I was intrigued by the mystical neighborhood of St. Crispin’s and its bevy of residents including a ghostly Roman, the regular occurrence of disappearing personal items that reappeared in a different location so that the residents of St. Crispin’s had a designated drop-off/pick-up located at the tea shop, a mysterious vicar with highly entertaining sermons, and not the least, Emma’s home, Lapis Lazuli House with the bright blue door and the bizarre sections that include Lapis Lazuli minor.

Emma’s situation is complicated.  Her parents died and she has been left Lapis Lazuli House which was left first to her father’s older female cousin, then her father, but the cousin’s will stipulated her husband was to be allowed to live in the house and access the family’s moderate wealth for his life-time.  Archibald took this to mean he could pack orphaned Emma off to his parsimonious sister as a drudge companion and spend what should have been held in trust for her on piddling things like his lavish morning robe collection.  Her mother’s sister who married into the aristocracy bundled her off to a boarding school and only wants her around to act as ‘poor relation’ foil to her gorgeous daughter in her coming out.

 I was cheering Emma on from the outset as this intrepid gal set out to make her own way against the tide of conflict from more than one direction.  Her spirit is brought low a few times, but she dusts off and keeps going.  She has made a few friends- old school friends, her beautiful cousin, and now, including the kitchen maid at the house when her cousin and the lazy man servant foist her into the garret and she barely gets meals and a few discarded bits of furniture all to discourage her return.

This first volume was mostly introduction and the opening salvo leaving me eager to see what comes in the second installment.  Now, that I’ve listened, I, in turn, am eager to push the series onto others now.  If you like lively young Victorian misses just come of age and facing the world on her own with a great deal of pluck, join me in listening to Emma’s journals!

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.

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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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Narrated by Erin Bateman, Cursed in Love by Emily Colin delivers a standalone cozy paranormal fantasy complete with a curse and romance. Witches, suspense, and premonitions will keep you listening.

In the quirky, tight-knit town of Sapphire Springs, beloved for its chocolate-caramel milkshakes and spicy senior citizens' book club, Rune Whitlock has always felt like an outsider. Gifted with the ability to see the future but cursed to have no one believe her premonitions, she's accepted that romance isn't in the cards. She's got a cozy cottage, a fulfilling graphic design career, a loyal best friend, and Valentine—the sweet rescue kitty who is definitely not her familiar. So what if she's sometimes lonely?

But everything changes when she meets Donovan Frost. A brilliant, brooding data engineer, Donovan is everything Rune is not: methodical, reserved, logical. He's also grumpy, judgmental, and 5-chili-peppers hot. Thrown together on a mysterious work project, the two clash spectacularly—until an unexpected connection ignites between them.

Then, Rune's gift reveals a chilling truth: they are destined for each other, but their love story is doomed to end in tragedy on their wedding day. To protect Donovan, Rune must push him away, even if it breaks her heart. But the harder she tries, the more entangled they become. As dark forces conspire against them and secrets come to light, Rune must unravel the mystery of her curse . . . before it's too late.

The author takes us to the small town of Sapphire Springs, a place where the ley-lines merge. Here we meet Rune Whitlock. Rune gets premonitions and refers to them as her curse. Something she works very hard to hide from everyone, especially her nosy neighbors. We learn about Rune’s past growing up in foster care and her encounter with the monster. As an adult, she lives alone and works as a graphic designer.

When Rune is assigned to work a project with Donovan Frost, a socially awkward and grumpy data engineer, things get complicated. First, there is undeniable chemistry; I mean, those kisses! Then, there is his brother, a cop who has warnings for Rune, and then there is the nosy book club who are closely watching Rune. The tale that unfolded was engaging, with plenty of dangers, secrets, and maybe a romance if Donovan doesn’t die first. Only fate can tell.

I listened to the narration of Erin Bateman and thought she captured Rune perfectly. I wasn’t as impressed with her voice for Donovan as it didn’t match the description on the page, but ultimately I enjoyed the story.

If you enjoy cozy paranormal romances with secrets, danger, and an unsure protagonist, you’ll want to check out Cursed in Love.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

*kindleunlimited

About Emily Colin

Emily Colin's debut novel, The Memory Thief, was a New York Times bestseller and Target Emerging Authors Pick. She is also the author of The Dream Keeper's Daughter, which Publishers Weekly called “a splendid mix of time travel, romantic yearning, and moving on after grief.” One of her short stories appeared in the USA Today bestselling romance anthology, Dissent. For young adult audiences, Emily is the author of the award-winning romantic dystopian fantasy series, The Seven Sins. She is also the co-editor of two YA fiction anthologies. Emily's life experience includes organizing a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show, hauling fish at a dolphin research center, and roaming New York City as a teenage violinist. Originally from Brooklyn, she writes, teaches, edits, and indulges her mocha addiction by the sea in North Carolina.

Instagram

About Erin Bateman

Erin Bateman is a Canadian-born audiobook narrator of 250 titles. She has coached with Sean Pratt on narration, worked accents with PJ Ochlan, and takes private vocal lessons. Her versatility as a voice actor is evident, not only in her snarky narration or sassy characters, but in how she breathes life into all elements of an audiobook with her voice of an animated, positive, millennial. Think Little Miss Smarty Pants meets Carrie Bradshaw. Erin primarily narrates science fiction, fantasy, and its many subgenres, including LitRPG, sword and sorcery, and paranormal. When not in the studio, Erin can be found enjoying life with her three kids and two dogs, Roxy, the English Mastiff, and Harley, the Golden Retriever.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood is the second book in the Rewitched cozy fantasy series, but takes place before the events of Rewitched. Wood introduces us to Andromeda “Annie” Wildwood, a witch who prides herself on perfection, but is she truly happy? When she is assigned to train an orphaned teenage witch, life throws some unexpected turns.

A “perfect” witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic, from the author of Rewitched.

Andromeda "Annie" Wildwood is the perfect witch. She is sugar, spice, and everything nice, each element of her life finely curated and polished to irresistibility by her nightly hex-laced potion routine. She loves to please and nothing makes her happier than when everyone else around her is completely happy.

When Annie’s coven tasks her with guiding an orphan teenage witch through the process of getting her blossoming magical powers under control, Annie is excited for the chance to please and to prove herself. But the ramshackle cabin they’ll be housed in isn’t quite the staycation of Annie’s dreams—and she and Maeve, the headstrong teen, couldn’t be more different.

Just when they’re starting to understand each other, the owner of the cabin unexpectedly returns—and this quietly gruff and handsome warlock is not pleased to find that the coven volunteered his house to a high-maintenance witch and her angsty teen companion.

As this seemingly unlikely trio develop a loyalty and fondness for one another, Annie slowly learns that her people-pleasing may have led her down an impossible, lonely path. If everything about her is so right—why does it all feel so wrong?

I loved slipping into Uncharmed and meeting our witch Annie. Annie lives alone with her cat and runs a bakery with two non-magical employees. Her store is popular because she weaves just a little magic into her pastries and sells out. Her life is in perfect order, from her dating schedule to her daily hex-laced potion that makes her the perfect witch. When the coven asks her to train an orphan witch who has just come into her powers, she finds herself and the young girl transported to a little cottage in the woods.

I loved the tale that unfolded from the two practicing spellwork to the animals surrounding the cottage. We have side threads involving Annie and her friends, children from the secular group her family belonged to before their great fall, the coven, and what happens when the owner of the cabin returns. Will Annie be able to handle this grumpy and handsome warlock? Can he handle Annie and the pink makeover she has given his cottage? Then there is Maeve, our teenage witch who’s something more.

Wood delivered characters I connected with. I adored Maeve and Annie and loved seeing the growth both underwent. The suspenseful threads and Annie’s past made me want to fight for her. We get a slow-burn romance that will curl your toes as Annie finds her happy place.

The events in Uncharmed take place before Rewitched, and each book works as a standalone in the same magical world. I cannot wait for Disenchanted, the next standalone book in the series, coming in September 2026.

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.

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

Baseball season kicked off this week, and Sophia had her first softball games. Clayton had his first game on Saturday. Hazel starts baseball in June. I cannot believe we are already at the last weekend in April. The kids have only a month left of school. We have orchestra concerts, elementary school graduation and more. It’s busy season, but the warmer weather has me smiling. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (book review)
• Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (book/ audiobook review)
• The Body by Stephen King (audiobook review)
• The Goblin in the Sink Drain by Hailey Edwards (audiobook reviews)
• 2026 JIAM Audiobook Challenge Sign-up (event)

This Week on the Blog

• Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood (book review)
• Cursed in Love by Emily Colin (audiobook review)
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (book review/ guest blogger)
• Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire (audiobook reviews)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Bad Boy Era By Amy Daws

A special thank you to Harlequin Trade

Around The Blogosphere

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

Caffeinated PR

ARCs are now available for Kindle & NetGalley. Learn more & join the tour at caffeinatedpr.com.

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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Attention audiobook junkies  June is Audiobook month, and we are inviting you to join us for our third annual JIAM Audiobook Challenge (June 1st-30th) hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer & That’s What I’m Talking About. Whether you take part in our yearly challenge or just want to push yourself this month, it’s the perfect time to grab your earbuds and sign up. We’ll have fun prizes, including The Murder of Crows trilogy from author Chris Tullbane and a Chirp gift card.

Challenges

Complete at least one challenge to enter giveaway. See rules listed below.

• Finish/Start a series in a month. (listen to at least 3 audiobooks in a series)
• Love your Library (listen to 3 audiobooks from your local library)
• Let there be Monsters (listen to 3 audiobooks with monsters/paranormal elements)
• Going the Distance (listen to 3 audiobooks over 12 hours each)
• Tackle your Audiobook TBR Pile (listen to 3 audiobooks you already own)

Rules

• Challenge runs from June 1, 2026 through June 30th. The giveaway will close on July 2, 2026. Winners will be announced on July 3, 2026. Start-up post, prize details and giveaway will be posted on June 1, 2026.
• To enter, you must complete one challenge. You can complete more than one for extra entries, but no audiobook title can be used twice.
• Audiobooks must be a minimum of 4 hours.
• Audiobooks count towards your 2026 Audiobook Challenge goals and can be used for other challenges.
• Declare your intentions by posting a blog post or sharing on social media. Link back to this sign-up post. Let’s get everyone listening in June! #JIAMAudiobookChallenge
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The Goblin in the Sink Drain by Hailey Edwards is the second audiobook in the Groom & Doom series, narrated by Leanne Woodward. This cozy paranormal fantasy with its slow-burn romance and suspenseful plot is completely addictive.

Everything Ana Sartori knows about herself, and her father, is a lie. Or so the Walsh clan would have her believe. Their claims are convincing, the details too vivid to dismiss outright, but she can't imagine her father as the villain of her story.

Carmichael Sartori is a lot of things. Ruthless. Merciless. Pitiless. But alphas aren't known for being pushovers. Ana knows pack law is brutal for a reason, and her father enforces the rules with tooth and claw to protect his people. Including her.

But the more time she spends with the Walsh clan, the wider her eyes open to the possibilities of what an alpha could be, what a pack should be, and it makes her wonder if the Walshes are right about other things. The only way for Ana to be certain is to face her father. She'll have to throw herself to the wolves and hope she makes it out alive with her answers.

Each novella/ audiobook in the Groom & Doom series is a continuation of the story surrounding Ana Sartori, a latent shifter, and the Walsh clan; therefore, I recommend listening to the series in the order of their release.

Ana is struggling to come to terms with what she has learned about her alpha father, but the more time she spends with the Walsh clan, the more she questions her father’s motives.

Rain is a dragon shifter and her intended mate before her mother was taken. I loved seeing Rian and Ana’s relationship develop. Rian is the alpha, but he is patient and gives Ana the space she needs to find answers and come to terms with what she is learning. Carmichael Sartori, her father, is determined to have her returned, and we soon find out he will stop at nothing to get his wish.

Secondary characters, magic, and suspenseful moments kept me engaged. I loved the rescue and confrontation with her father. My only complaint is that I wanted more, and it ends on cliffhanger. However, the audios are releasing quickly, and Leanne Woodward does a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life. The story works well in the audio format and is perfect for anyone looking for a cozy paranormal fantasy.

Amazon* | Audible | Libro.fm

About Hailey Edwards

Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy. She lives in Alabama with her husband, their daughter, and a herd of dachshunds.

Website | Facebook

About Leanne Woodward

Leanne Woodward has always wondered what was happening elsewhere. In someone else's story, in some other universe. Now she spends her days immersed in fantastical, dark, and thrilling tales. She's been behind the microphone for more than thirty years, working in radio as well as on commercial voice-over projects. Her theater and improv experience bring risk-taking, emotion, and depth to her performances. She loves learning accents and languages—currently, French! When not narrating, Leanne explores the "real" world with hikes into the wild and dangerous culinary experiments.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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I read The Body by Stephen King back in 1982 when it was part of the Different Seasons collection and loved the movie adaptation. When I saw that Wil Wheaton was narrating the audiobook, I knew I had to listen.

Decades after starring in the film adaptation, Wil Wheaton narrates an all-new recording of the story that shaped a generation!

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King's timeless novella The Body, originally published in his 1982 collection Different Seasons and adapted into the 1986 film classic Stand by Me, now available as a stand-alone edition.

Four rambunctious young boys venture into the Maine woods in search of a boy from a nearby town who has disappeared. Gordie Lachance and his three friends set out on a quest to find the missing boy's body along the railroad tracks. The Body is set outside King's iconic fictional town of Castle Rock, which is the setting of many of King's most popular books including It and The Stand, and Castle Rock, a 10-episode Hulu original series, based on King's short stories. King's The Body is an iconic coming of age story that explores the loneliness and isolation of young adulthood.

How appropriate that Wil Wheaton narrates this new audiobook after starring in the 1986 movie adaptation Stand by Me. The Body is a coming of age story set just outside the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. When a young boy goes missing, Gordie Lachance and his three friends set out on a quest to find the missing boy’s body along the railroad tracks. 

As a mother, and now grandmother, I shudder to think of these four boys spending their day exploring, let alone staying out overnight in the woods. It’s mostly because as kids growing up in the 70s and early 80s our mothers did not know where we were from sunup to sundown. I did all kinds of things, from exploring the woods to placing pennies on the tracks. It was an idyllic time, a time of innocence. So, adult me worried about the dangers these young boys faced while it brought back memories of a different time.

As the boys begin their trek to confirm the body discovered is that of the missing boy, they will face obstacles, reflection and self-discovery. King does an outstanding job of peeling back the layers of these boys under their tough facades. He forces them to work together, to test themselves and see the world through a wider lens. I was pulled in all over again and found my heart racing as we crossed the tracks, nodded at experiences we’ve all faced, and shivered when things took a darker turn.

The Body is a fantastic coming of age tale, and Wil Wheaton did a wonderful job giving voice to these young boys. I felt their excitement, fear, laughter, and reflection. If you are unfamiliar with this story or looking to revisit a classic, I highly recommend the audiobook. What a great listen for a road trip!

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Stephen King

Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1973, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world's most successful writers. Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. They are regular contributors to a number of charities including many libraries and have been honored locally for their philanthropic activities.

Website | Facebook

About Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton loves to tell stories. He’s been doing it his whole life. By age ten, he had already been acting for three years. In 1986, at age 12, he earned critical acclaim as Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me; at 14, he began his four-year turn as Wesley Crusher on the hit TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Since then, Wil has appeared in dozens of films and TV series, with recurring roles on TNT’s Leverage, SyFy’s Eureka, and the hit webseries The Guild. He is the creator, producer, and host of the wildly successful webseries Tabletop, credited with reigniting national interest in tabletop gaming. Most recently, he played a fictionalized version of himself on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, one of the most highly rated and watched sitcoms of the last decade. An accomplished voice actor, Wil has lent his talents to animated series including Family Guy, Teen Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. His video game credits include four installments each of the Grand Theft Auto and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series, as well as Fallout: New Vegas, DC Universe Online, and Broken Age. His audiobook narration of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and was one of Goodreads’ 10 Best Narrator and Audiobook Pairings of All Time. He has also lent his voice to titles by John Scalzi, Randall Monroe, and Joe Hill. When he isn’t acting, narrating, or podcasting, Wil Wheaton is writing.

Website | Instagram

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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After beginning Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth in print, I transitioned to the audiobook. If you enjoyed A Man Called Ove, you absolutely should include this in your summer reading or listening plans. I laughed, cried, and got mad as Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick stole a piece of my heart.

From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies.

Meet Mad Mabel.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?

Told with Sally Hepworth's twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together--through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.

Mad Mabel was an absolute delight. At its core, it’s a mystery, but it’s also a domestic thriller and part women’s fiction. We meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, an eighty-one-year-old woman who has lived on Kenny Lane for the better part of sixty years. Elsie is unapologetically grumpy, sarcastic, sharp as a whip, and holds secrets close to her heart. I loved her narrative as we learned about the people on her street. There is Peter, who is kind, and Joan, who doesn’t seem to like her. Her next-door neighbor, who vexes her at every turn, and a precarious seven-year-old named Persephone, who stole every scene.

When the next-door neighbor turns up dead, Elsie’s secret gets out, and our story truly begins. Elsie was known to most of Australia as Mad Mabel, the youngest woman ever to be convicted of murder. The story goes back and forth between present day and Mabel’s childhood. Twists, turns, and character growth had me laughing one moment and crying the next.

Hepworth touches on many topics, from bias to mental illness, and does so eloquently. The tale is suspenseful and addictive. While admittedly the current-day mystery of the neighbor’s death isn’t very interesting, it is the catalyst for exploring Mabel’s story and had me worried she’d be charged.

I loved that two narrators were used in the audiobook. One for present-day Elsie and one for Mabel as a teenager. Hannah Fredericksen & Jenny Seedsman both did a stellar job of capturing the characters and their emotions. I highly recommend listening.

The story was well-written, and the characters were all memorable, making this a story I will add to my permanent bookshelf. An undeniably gripping tale I will remember long after you’ve read my thoughts.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister, The Soulmate and Darling Girls. Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages. Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her three children and one adorable dog. She has recently taken up ocean swimming (or to put it more accurately, ocean dipping)

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About Hannah Fredericksen

Hannah Fredericksen is an actor, vocalist and voice over artist with over a decade of professional performance experience. She is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Bachelor of Music Theatre. Hannah played Moaning Myrtle in Australia’s longest running stage play, ‘Harry Potter & The Cursed Child’ (MCG) and recently completed the national tour of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ (Crossroads/Shake&Stir) as Mollie Ralston.Hannah is also a sought after voice artist whose audiobook narration credits include ‘Mad Mabel’ (Sally Hepworth), ‘Molly’ (Rosalie Ham), ‘The Love Contract’ (Steph Vizard), ‘The Eleventh Floor’ (Kylie Orr) , ‘The Grazier’s Son’ (Cathryn Hein) & 'Milking Time' (Rachael Treasure).

Instagram

About Jenny Seedsman

Jenny Seedsman is an actress, known for Neighbours (1985), Blue Heelers (1994) and State Coroner (1997). Jenny won the TDK Audio Book “Narrator of the Year” in 1997, for her recording of “Kings In Grass Castles”.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge

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I love books about the Fae, and book covers with doors always draw me in, which is how I grabbed Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan. I was positively delighted by this enchanting tale from the dragon to the arrogant hero. Come see why you need to add Thistlemarsh to your reading list.

Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return.

Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin.

In the wake of The Great War, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.

When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.

It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh...for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

Thistlemarsh delivered so many elements that I love. We have a crumbling manor set near the woods with beautiful gardens and a rich history involving fairies. Corrigan weaves in suspense, quests, secrets and a romance while giving us characters that kept me engaged.

I loved the way the author shared the history of fairies in this world, as Moorea “Mouse” Dunne traveled by train to Thistlemarsh cottage. Mouse dreamed of a career as a Faerie anthropologist, but the Great War has left her brother shell-shocked and she will need to return to her mother’s ancestral home and meet the conditions her grandfather has set if she hopes to take care of her brother.

Mouse will need to rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time. If she fails, she will lose her inheritance. The cottage and wealth will go to an outsider. It quickly becomes clear that she will not meet the deadline without help. Enter Thornwood, one of the fae who offers her a bargain, and thus our adventure begins. I loved Mouse and understood her apprehension at making a deal with the fae. She was clever and brave.

We’ve got quests, secrets, a dragon, magic, danger, and a slow-building romance. I loved the different themes and balance between magical realism and darker twists that come with stories of fae. I loved the back-and-forth banter between Mouse and Thornwood. We get some diversity as well, involving the vicar and some just deserts for a scheming villain. The house itself is faerie-blessed and its history was fascinating, as was the reason the fae stopped coming to begin with.

If you love cozy fantasies, English country cottages, the fae, and quests, you’ll want to add Thistlemarsh to your reading list.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Moorea Corrigan

Moorea Corrigan holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in English literature from the University of Edinburgh and a master of publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. She currently works at an academic press in Boulder, Colorado. When she is not writing, you can find her singing, spending time with her menagerie of pets, or attending Jane Austen conventions in full Regency regalia.

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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

Nothing happening in the news has been on my bingo card this year. Honestly, you can’t even make this crap up. Our weather was a mix of rain and warmer temperatures, followed by a cold front just in time for the weekend. On Thursday, I went to Platte River State Park with Sophia and her fifth-grade classmates. The weather was perfect in the mid-80s with a slight breeze. We both needed a nap after spending the day exploring, throwing knives, using sling-shots and bow-fishing. On Saturday we picked up my new prescription glasses, and it’s nice to see everything all crisp again. Stay caffeinated & spread kindness.

Last Week on the Blog

• Paranormal Payback Anthology (book/ audiobook review)
• Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass (book review)
• Respect and Respectability by Clarissa Joy Thomas (guest post/ audiobook review)
• Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe (book/audiobook reviews)

This Week on the Blog

• Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (book review)
• Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (book/ audiobook review)
• The Body by Stephen King (audiobook review)
• The Goblin in the Sink Drain by Hailey Edwards (audiobook reviews)
• 2026 JIAM Audiobook Challenge Sign-up (event)

New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe

• Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis

A special thank you to Sourcebooks

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