We Live and Breathe Books

Library Loans

2026-04-23T03:00:00.054-04:00

Lucky by Sawyer Bennett
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on DATE
Age/Genres: Adult, Sports, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

Matteo “Lucky” Branson has it all—an elite hockey career, a massive fanbase, and the kind of charm that trends effortlessly on TikTok. As the fun-loving left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, he’s built a brand on superstition and swagger. But when a viral dating challenge puts him opposite a woman who couldn’t care less about his fame, Lucky’s about to learn the hard way that some games don’t follow the playbook.

They call me Lucky for a reason. My grandmother swears I was cursed at birth—yet somehow, I’ve been kissed by fate every day since. I’ve got my rabbit’s foot, a shamrock tattoo, and quirky rituals by the dozen—and it’s all worked so far. Life’s been smooth. Hockey, clout, fun... I’m skating through.

Until I meet Winifred Shaw. Winnie. She’s smart, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a TikTok following that rivals mine and a dating challenge that’s going viral. The premise? Thirty days of dating to prove an average woman can still land a decent guy. I’m the first to accept the challenge—one night, one chance, and then she moves on. But the moment she rolls her eyes at me, I’m hooked.

She thinks I’m just another overhyped athlete with a pretty face and a lucky streak. But I see her—confident, curvy, electric—and I don’t just want a second date. I want every single one after that.

I’ve always trusted luck to get me where I need to be. But this time? I’m ready to fight for it.

It was a match made on TikTok. Winnie was an "average" girl looking for an "average" guy, but her posts seemed to have attracted the attention of NHL star Lucky Branson. Will Winnie be able to become part of his world?

I LOVED this book! Lucky and Winnie were so easy to adore. Their rapport, banter, vibe - everything between them was fun and fabulous. Who wouldn't root for this situation? Winnie really underestimated herself, and it was so satisfying that Lucky could see how amazing she was.

As much I enjoyed all the interactions between Lucky and Winnie, secondary characters made this story even better. There were plenty of bromantic Titans moments, great family time with Lucky's mom and Winnie's family, and then there was Buttermilk. Who knew a judgmental rabbit would bring me so much glee.

I am not a big fan of drama, so I liked that this book was rather low on it. That noise came from the internet trolls, and though it was awful, it was also used in a great way. I was also treated to not one but TWO grand gestures which were unrelated but equally wonderful.

Overall: I had an incredible time watching these two social media stars collide, fall in love, and embark on their happily ever after.

Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair
Published by Create If Writing, LLC on August 31, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Sports, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

Before Logan Barnes was hockey’s hottest bad boy, he was my brother’s best friend … and my first crush. Oh, yeah—and the guy who ghosted me and broke my teenage heart.

Now Logan is back in Harvest Hollow, but not willingly. Recovering from an injury (and some bad press), he’s stuck playing for our minor league team.

Which means I’ll be working with him almost daily.

As the hockey team's social media manager, it’s my job to wrangle all the guys into filming TikTok trending videos. But Logan doesn’t want to be wrangled.

Turns out … neither does my heart.

Because my old crush never died.

And when Logan becomes my accidental fake boyfriend, those old feelings flare hot enough to melt the ice.

But this is all totally one-sided. Totally fake. Isn't it?

No matter what signals he seems to be giving me or how real things start to feel, I know Logan’s not home for good.

I survived Logan leaving me once. But this time, I’m not so sure my heart will recover…

When her family was giving her a hard time about her romantic life, Parker made up a fake boyfriend to get them off her case. Now, in order to cover up her lies, Parker must fake date someone, and who better than the newest Appie and her brother's former best friend.

I absolutely LOVED this intro to the Appies!

I am trash for friends-to-lovers and second chance romances, so this one ticked all the right boxes for me. Logan's backstory was heartbreaking while Parker's dating nightmares had me rolling on the floor. I liked that they had history but was all about them creating new memories together.

One of my favorite things was the dynamic between Parker and they Appies. It was as if she had a whole team of big brothers who adored and cared for her. And, it was easy to count Logan among them. Logan's small gestures were huge, and his attempts at grand gestures were adorable.

Overall: I adored meeting Parker, Logan, and the Appies, and I look forward to returning to this world.

Do you know any TikTok dances?
Let us know in the comments!

Sloth Goes Places - Nebraska

2026-04-22T03:00:00.059-04:00

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from the Literary Escapes and Read Around the USA reading challenges.

Today we are looking at books set in ....

Nebraska

Like many of the western states, I have not visited Nebraska. I always think of corn when I think of Nebraska, but I am sure the state has other things to offer. This is not an easy state to check off, but Lynn Painter and Rainbow Rowell have set some books there.

Chasing Home by Piper Rayne
Published by Piper Rayne Inc. on December 9, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

It was straight out of a rom-com—until two pink lines changed everything.

Zander Shaw is country music’s hottest star. So, when he singled me out of a packed arena and had me pulled backstage, I should’ve known I wasn’t his forever. One signed NDA later, I was sneaking onto his tour bus, wrapped up in his world, and him. But it ended before it really started when he ghosted me.

Then he shows up on my family’s ranch to film his new music video, a surprise to us both. Now I’m his appointed tour guide around the ranch, stuck sharing all my favorite places with the man who carelessly discarded me.

The more time we spend together, the harder it is to guard my heart because his flirty half-smile makes me forget my anger. But Zander’s made it clear, he’s not looking to ride out into the sunset with anyone.

Which would be fine… if I wasn’t carrying his baby.

[review]

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Published by Harper Teen on February 10, 2015
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

[review]

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Published by Simon & Schuster on May 4, 2021
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

In this rom-com about rom-coms, in the spirit of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, a hopeless romantic teen attempts to secure a happily-ever-after moment with her forever crush, but finds herself reluctantly drawn to the boy next door.

Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar - and maybe snag him as a prom date - even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love - and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.

[review]

Have you read any books set in Nebraska?
Let us know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday - April Showers

2026-04-21T03:00:00.039-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

April Showers!

Happy Tuesday! Today, we are taking on rainy days. I actually love rainy days if I don't have to be out and about in it. I love the sound of the rain hitting the roof, the window as well as the fresh smell. I suppose, I would want to read something warm and cozy, but I want to read warm and cozy stories all the time. I decided to feature books I read with covers that gave rainy day vibes.

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding
Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

June, Reimagined by Rebekah Crane
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins
First & Then by Emma Mills
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman

What do you read on rainy days?
Let us know in the comments!

One Old, One New - Katherine Center

2026-04-20T03:00:00.068-04:00

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Katherine Center.

The Shippers by Katherine Center
Published by St. Martin's Press on May 19, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Jojo is cursed! Cursed with being unlucky at love, but she may have found the solution. Her sister says Jojo is bad at love because of her unrequited feelings for her former neighbor, childhood crush, and first kiss - Finn. As luck would have it, Finn will be aboard her sister's wedding cruise where Jojo's goal is to woo him. This may be no easy task for love-challenged Jojo, but she is lucky to have her childhood bestie Cooper along to help her accomplish this task.

You will never see me not enjoy a book by Katherine Center. She writes fun and uplifting stories that never fail to make me smile. I had a good feeling about this one because the author's note pumped me up and had me eager to begin my reading adventure. Glad to report that this tale did not disappoint. In fact, my face could have cracked in half from how much I smiled as I read this book.

Jojo was an interesting character. Her adoration of math endeared her to me, and I enjoyed her energy. But she was so oblivious! I know, there would have been no book if she were better at recognizing love when it was smacking her in the face, but I was grateful when she finally slowed down, reflected, and realized what was going on.

Cooper - *swoon*. This man was the most dedicated friend in the whole wide world. He was a precious treasure who needed to be protected at all costs. Why? Because he loved out loud, even if Jojo wasn't listening. This man showed his affection and adoration, over and over again, with his actions. We could only be so lucky to have someone to cherish us in this way. I loved him so much, and I loved him for Jojo.

There was an interesting storyline involving Jojo's dad. It's seemed unimportant at first, but then I could see how it fit into this tale. I actually enjoyed dad's arc and that he had a chance to redeem himself. I didn't expect him to have such a meaningful storyline, and it was very touching.

Packed with humor and warmth, The Shippers was a most enjoyable journey which made me giggle and laugh as my heart filled with joy.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Everybody's Favorite Guy by Katherine Center
Published by Amazon Original Story on March 17, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

He’s the last man she ever wanted to see again—or get snowed in with. It’s going to be a rocky reunion in this bittersweet romantic comedy.

For Lily, falling in love with her childhood friend Walker was the easiest thing to do back in high school. His sudden rejection was unforgettably crushing. Seven years later, their families have conspired to bring them back together at a cabin in the Rockies when a sudden snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. Thanks to a cozy fire, a prowling bear, and a little forced time in an open-air gondola, they confront their unresolved feelings—and a past more complicated than Lily knows.

Lily was dreading this trip. Not because they were finally scattering the ashes of her father and his lifelong friend, but because she would have to see Walker again. Walker who she grew up with. Walker who pulled her closer after she lost her dad. Walker whose kiss she could not forget. Walker who betrayed her.

This was a story that was too short because I really did want more of Lily and Walker. I loved the good parts of their history and was eager to find out what Walker did to break Lily's heart. I was horrified by what he did. Seriously, HOW COULD HE!!! But there were reasons, and when I learned them, I was able to forgive that 16 year old boy who thought he was doing the right thing. It may have even earned him some respect from me.

Overall: Always happy to read something from Center as this story was funny, touching, and smile inducing.

Feelings about driving in the snow?
Let us know in the comments!

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

2026-04-19T03:00:00.158-04:00

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a great day. The weather was rough this week. I am not a fan of hot weather, and we got up to 90F at one point which is very unusual for this time of year. The good news is that it's back to normal.

We moved to our new location at work on Wednesday. The team we are next to talk all the time. I swear, they never stopped, and they don't get up and talk to each other. They just talk across the rows. Unfortunately, I am in a seat that is right next to them. I was so stressed out too because the report we review from the bank had over 4,000 complaint which is higher than normal. I could not focus with all their chatter. I worked from home Thursday and Friday and breezed through my review there. The floor where we are now has a small drop in room. I am going to see if it needs to be reserved. I will sign up for that next time I have to review the report.

I got my haircut on Saturday. I always feel it's a little short the first week or so, but I know it will be fine. Not much else to tell. I read and went to work. Same old, same old.

On the Blog

Monday: Reviews - First & Forever, Fake Skating
Tuesday: TTT - Adaptations
Wednesday: CWW - The Burning Side, Kindling Kissmas
Thursday: Reviews - Sylvia's Second Act, When The Cranes Fly South
Friday: Captivating Characters - Matteo "Lucky" Branson

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Stacking the Shelves

I almost cried when I got my approval for Experiments in Offline Dating. I LOVED Work in Progress and could not wait to read more from Mackenzie. I just got rejected for two books, so I was nervous but so thrilled when the approval email came. Now That We Don't Talk is a new-to-me author, but it was read-now and looked cute. I got a few invites. I am considering the Josie Silver and Mai Mochizuki books since I have enjoyed these authors in the past.

Netgalley/Edelweiss

Experiments in Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie
Now That We Don't Talk by Rachel Pologe

Purchased/Free

Catch Me, Cowboy by Jeannie Watt

Invites

Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver
Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
The Simp by Roshan Sethi

Read Last Week

I loved everything this week. I did read quite a few tried and true authors though. It came as no surprise that Dolly All the Time earned a high rating. Every year, I look forward to Monaghan's new release because her books are always so wonderful. I loved the couple, Dolly's family, everything - I loved everything.

Down with the Shipmans was also fantastic. It dealt with a family returning to their mother's beach house for the first time since her death to discover it was going to be sold. The story was packed with warmth and humor, and I really loved the way Moore explored the family dynamic, their grief, and the bond between the sisters.

Kristan Higgins is another author I know will make me feel something. I have loved meeting the Smith family and was so excited that I was getting another opportunity to return to this world. Winnie was the least successful member of her family (at least she thought so) and Lorenzo was a super successful doctor who felt like an outsider in his family. I loved that they were able to find and understand each other so well. Seriously, the ending was so beautiful. I was moved to tears.

Find all my reviews on Goodreads

Books

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett - ★★★★
Kindling Kissmas by Ellie Hall - ★★★★
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan - ★★★★★
Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore - ★★★★★

Audiobooks

Snow Kissed by RayAnne Thayne - ★★★★
Mama Moon by Tess Thompson - ★★★★
Once in a Blue Moon by Kristan Higgins - ★★★★★

Currently Reading

More Than Enough by Anna Quinden
One Last Summer by Piper Rayne

To Be Read

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer
The Great Outdoors by Kayla Olson
Arrivals and Departures by Amanda Eyre Ward

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

Captivating Characters - Matteo “Lucky” Branson

2026-04-17T03:00:00.024-04:00

On the last Friday of every month, Carol at Reading Ladies Book Club hosts Captivating Characters where you can share your post about the most captivating character (real or fictional) you encountered in the past month.

This Month's Captivating Character: Matteo "Lucky" Branson

Lucky by Sawyer Bennett
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on DATE
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

Matteo “Lucky” Branson has it all—an elite hockey career, a massive fanbase, and the kind of charm that trends effortlessly on TikTok. As the fun-loving left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans, he’s built a brand on superstition and swagger. But when a viral dating challenge puts him opposite a woman who couldn’t care less about his fame, Lucky’s about to learn the hard way that some games don’t follow the playbook.

They call me Lucky for a reason. My grandmother swears I was cursed at birth—yet somehow, I’ve been kissed by fate every day since. I’ve got my rabbit’s foot, a shamrock tattoo, and quirky rituals by the dozen—and it’s all worked so far. Life’s been smooth. Hockey, clout, fun... I’m skating through.

Until I meet Winifred Shaw. Winnie. She’s smart, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny, with a TikTok following that rivals mine and a dating challenge that’s going viral. The premise? Thirty days of dating to prove an average woman can still land a decent guy. I’m the first to accept the challenge—one night, one chance, and then she moves on. But the moment she rolls her eyes at me, I’m hooked.

She thinks I’m just another overhyped athlete with a pretty face and a lucky streak. But I see her—confident, curvy, electric—and I don’t just want a second date. I want every single one after that.

I’ve always trusted luck to get me where I need to be. But this time? I’m ready to fight for it.

I always tend to fall for the hero in a romance as is by design, but I adored Lucky for many reasons. Lucky was born on Friday the 13th and his grandmother told him he was cursed. He spent his life trying to prove her wrong, and he ended up being quite lucky. He was playing in the NHL and TikTok sensation. It was a TikTok challenge that unleashed the best parts of this man. He was determined to prove to Winnie how "average" he was and how perfect he was for her. He was hilarious and not ashamed to look silly if it made other people happy, but he was also willing to put his reputation on the line in order to support those people who were important to him. I loved his sense of humor, his relationship with his mother, and his great, big, beautiful heart. He is a memorable hero for me.

What captivating characters did you meet?
Let us know in the comments!

Library Loans

2026-04-16T03:00:00.040-04:00

Sylvia's Second Act by Hillary Yablon
Published by Pamela Dorman Books on March 12, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

Her husband’s cheating on her. She hates Boca. Sylvia is mad and she isn’t going to take it anymore. She’s moving back north, to the city of her dreams—with her best friend, Evie, in tow. Think a screwball comedy featuring a sophisticated Thelma and Louise with martinis in hand . . .

When sixty-three-year-old Sylvia finds her husband in bed with the floozy of their Boca retirement community, she’s shocked and furious . . . at first. By the time her head stops spinning, Sylvia realizes that actually, this isn’t what she wants anymore anyway.

So she enlists her best friend, the glamorous older widow Evie, to join her in setting up a new life in Manhattan. Sylvia’s ex-husband may have lost her life savings, but Sylvia and Evie are scrappy and determined, unopposed to pawning jewelry and roughing it in tiny apartments. And before long, Sylvia signs on to revive her decades-old wedding planning business with a former professional rival. Sylvia has a lot to prove, and beneath it all, she can’t help but Will she ever be able to get back into the dating game?

Sylvia doesn't want to be twenty-five or thirty again. Her age gives her wisdom, experience, and perspective. A career, sex, fun, and a new romance—her entire second act is stretched out in front of her, beckoning to her. It’s her time, and watch out, world, Sylvia is coming!

After catching her husband in a compromising position, Sylvia sets out with her friend, Evie, to start anew.

As I age, I find myself being drawn to books that feature older characters. Here's Sylvia starting over at 63. I had to admire that! It's challenging and terrifying at any age, but I always feel like it's much harder the older you get.So, that part of the story was quite inspirational.

I really liked Sylvia. I admired her courage, strength, and her pluck. It was quite a journey. She came to terms with truths about her life while discovering so much of herself along the way. I was a little disappointed in something that happened towards the end of the story, but it did set Sylvia on a new path to bigger and better things.

Overall, this was a fun and highly entertaining book.

When Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén
Published by Vintage on August 19, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left. These days, his quiet existence is broken up only by daily visits from his home care team. Fortunately, he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten to keep him company … though now his son, with whom Bo has had a rocky relationship, insists upon taking the dog away, claiming that Bo has grown too old to properly care for him. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, leading Bo to take stock of his life, his relationships, and the imperfect way he’s expressed his love over the years.

Bo was nearing his end, and he begins to reflect on his life and the people who were part of it.

This book was kind of sad, as one would expect. As someone caring for aging parents, I could relate to many things in this story. Growing old is not for the faint of heart. You will lose people you love, lose your ability to do things for yourself, lose parts of yourself.

Bo was trying to hold on to the few things that mattered to him, but it wasn't easy. He spent his lucid moments reflecting on his past - the things he regretted, the things he was grateful for. His emotions were visceral, and my heart broke over and over again for him.

Overall: It's a sad but honest look at growing older.

Favorite book with a senior character?
Let us know in the comments!

Can't Wait Wednesday!

2026-04-15T03:00:00.038-04:00

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.

This week I can't wait for

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
Published by Simon & Schuster on May 19, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads

From the author of The Bright Years, the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.

When April and Leo’s house burns in the middle of the night, they escape with their two young children and the quiet knowledge that the fire is not the only thing threatening their family. They retreat to April’s childhood home in Dallas, where her spirited parents and siblings provide both comfort and complication.

As the family reckons with the aftermath—grief, guilt, logistics, and memories scorched and intact—the fire exposes the cracks already forming in April and Leo’s marriage. The novel unfolds in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here.

A family saga suffused with humor, longing, and heartbreak, The Burning Side is about what we inherit and what we choose, about forgiveness and the ache of being known. It is, above all, about the meaning of home and the costs of long love.

Damoff's debut was a hit for me, so OF COURSE, I want to read her followup. Once again, she has written a family drama. Though this one promises humor, I anticipate it giving me lots of feels.

Kindling Kissmas by Ellie Hall
Published Independently on December 1, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads

Getting snowed in with my brother’s best friend wasn’t on the Christmas concert set list.

My life as pop star Rebecca Rios is one big glittery front. When my team books me last minute for a gig, cancelling my family plans, I snap. One breakdown and a snowstorm later, I’m hiding at a lodge that looks like a Hallmark movie brought to life.

Then Reese Marchiano knocks on my door—my brother’s best friend, firefighter, and my crush all wrapped up in a Christmas bow. Now we’re snowed in together, decorating cookies, hunting for a missing Christmas star, and falling for each other between sips of hot cocoa.

But my team won’t stop calling. They want me back. And when Reese accidentally tells me my niece has been sick—news I missed because I’ve been too busy chasing fame—I realize it’s cost me everything that matters.

Now I have to choose between the spotlight that’s suffocating me or a cozy mountain town where nobody wants my autograph ... just my heart.

Can I trade stage lights for starlight and find my way home for Christmas?

From USA Today bestselling author Ellie Hall, this sweet, closed-door Christmas noel novella with frosted kisses, a mini pug in a sweater, and a HEA will melt your heart faster than snowflakes on your tongue. Read for the perfect cozy holiday escape!

Tropes
•Best friend's sister
•Forced proximity
•Small town charm
•Celebrity goes incognito
•Finding home
•Swoony kisses
•Pookie the Puglet

I had to find a book for my reading challenge with a title that was an alliteration. I was scanning my library when I saw this book, and it sounded like a cute read to fulfill my monthly prompt. I adore holiday books, and there is a promise of pug. You all know I am trash for cute animals, but I also like small town romances. This book appears to have a lot to offer me.

What are you waiting on?
Let us know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday - Adaptations

2026-04-14T03:00:00.050-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Adaptations!

Happy Tuesday! Susan really was creative with this week's prompt, but I have to admit, I struggled with it. I am boring, and when I was scanning my titles, the list to described me leaned sort of dark and depressing.

Therefore, I have elected to do my own thing this week. I happened to see a social post for a new adaptation coming to NetFlix for a book I read, and I thought I would search for books I read that were adapted. Some are out, some are in development, but all were great books.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

What adaptations have you read?
Let us know in the comments!

One Old, One New - Lynn Painter

2026-04-13T03:00:00.051-04:00

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Lynn Painter.

First & Forever by Lynn Painter
Published by Berkley on May 12, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

After an unfortunate dust-up with the Minneapolis Coyotes mascot, Duffy needed to rehab her image. She appeared on a morning talkshow to make amends with the general public, but they also invited the Coyotes' tight end, Connor, to appear. People LOVED the energy between these two, and a PR stunt was born!

This book leaned in hard to its rom-com label, and I loved it! It was fun and sweet and surprisingly, low drama. I adored both Duffy and Connor and loved them together. Connor was way too charming, but he was also lonely as a new transplant who was slowly losing his beloved grandfather. Duffy was not new to grief and loss with the year anniversary of her mother's death quickly approaching and her father facing a serious health challenge.

Being together made it better for Connor and Duffy. They had each other to lean on, but they also had a great escape in one another. A big thing for Duffy was securing that second date. She always found herself in the friend zone. She was hoping for more this time, and I was right behind her with my fingers crossed. This union made me smile. They were both so kind and generous while also being honest, and their banter never failed to make me smile.

I adored Duffy's dad. He definitely could be one of my family members. I did wish we got to know her brothers a bit more, but Painter can do that when she gives each of them their own book. (Right, Lynn?). The family were just so present for each other. That is one of the greatest gifts in life.

Overall, I had a wonderful time watching this fauxmance turn into something real.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Published by Simon & Schuster on September 30, 2025
Age/Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter comes a heartfelt and banter-filled “feel-good rom-com” (School Library Journal) about childhood sweethearts whose icy reunion in their hockey-loving hometown unexpectedly thaws when they fake a romantic relationship.

Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend. Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t.

Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance to confront him on his MIA status for all these years). But teenage Alec is nothing like the kid Dani remembers. He’s a hockey star in a town where hockey players are worshiped as gods. Dani’s place as his shadow has been taken up by drooling female fans…and he loves it.

Dani is resolved to ice out her former best friend until an unlikely series of events brings them together—and forces them to fake being a couple. Once stuck together, the former childhood sweethearts begin to reconnect, unearth complicated family secrets, and face their true feelings towards each other…including the real reason Alec has been pushing Dani away all these years.

Alec and Dani looked forward to their month together each summer. Over the years, their friendship grew into something special, but after a falling out between her father and grandfather, a chasm grew between Dani and Alec. Following her parents' divorce, Dani was now going to call Southview home, but things were still tense between her and Alec. When they find themselves in a bind, Dani agrees to fake date Alec, but will this lead to mending the broken bridge between them?

Lynn Painter's young adult romances are always fantastic, and Fake Skating is a stellar example of why.

An incredible small town setting
Friends-to-fake-to-more romance
Characters with SO MUCH history
A grumpy and lovable grandpa
Fun and loyal friends

I really enjoyed watching this whole story unfold even if I thought Dani and Alec should have confronted the past a bit sooner. Regardless, I still adored their love story and both their personal journeys. Dani had some healing to do in order to trust again, while Alec had the whole weight of the world on his shoulders and was ignoring his dreams for what he thought others wanted and expected from him. These two won me over, and I had to root for them. I was so thrilled with the ending Painter gave them, too. Not gonna lie, I did shed some tears as I read this one. Overall, this was another hit from Painter!

Any mascot you would fight?
Let us know in the comments!

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

2026-04-12T03:00:00.141-04:00

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

Happy Sunday! I hope all is well. Another quiet week. I did have a day off. I got my serviced and went for what was SUPPOSED to be my third laser treatment. This treatment is exactly four passes across my face to try and reactivate my oil glands. The doctor did the first two passes, changed the probe, did the third pass, and then the laser stopped working. I sat there for a while with the goop on my face, and then they told me they would not be able to finish. Now, I still have two more treatments left. Fingers crossed the next two go off without a hitch.

Otherwise, nothing new. Elevator is still broken, I am still working and still looking for a place to stay for my trip in October. I hate doing this. I will probably end up staying a week in NJ instead because I cannot make decisions. I also cannot find anything for my mother for mother's day. I only seem to have people in my family who buy themselves the stuff they want. I am the only cheap one who deprives myself things I would like to have.

On the Blog

Monday: Reviews - A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity, One & Only
Tuesday: TTT - Bucket List Books
Wednesday: Sloth Goes Places - New York
Thursday: Reviews - The Paper Palace, Foster
Friday: Discussion - Reading for the Season You Are In

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Stacking the Shelves

Things have been quiet on Netgalley which explains my ratio now hitting 98%. My ratio was never terrible, but I didn't think it would ever get this high. There were a few books from my TBR on sale for $1.99, so I one-clicked those, and the Jenshak book was a freebie. I got two invites. I may download the Christmas book because I adore holiday books and I have read and enjoyed almost all those authors.

Purchased/Free

Broken Hearts by Rebecca Jenshak
We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents
A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa

Invites

Twelve Loves of Christmas by Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, Olivia Dade, Alexis Daria, Sarah Hogle, Zakiya N. Jamal, Rebecca Jenshak, Jessica Joyce, Susan Lee, Joss Richard, M. A. Wardell, Rebekah Weatherspoon
Infinite Shores by Pascale Lacelle

Read Last Week

I was very pleased with my reading this week as I had TWO five-star books. I never doubt that I will love a Jimenez book, but I was worried since the heroine was dating the hero's best friend for most of the book. The growing attraction between the two characters was done well, and I knew from the start that they belonged together.

Katherine Center is another sure thing for me, and her upcoming release was fun and warm. It's interesting comparing her last few books to the ones I first read by her (Things You Save in a Fire, How to Walk Away). The last few releases have leaned way more rom-com. Not a bad thing because I love to laugh, just a difference.

Find all my reviews on Goodreads

Books

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez - ★★★★★
Just Friends by Haley Pham - ★★★ 1/2
The Shippers by Katherine Center - ★★★★★
Before I Knew I Love You by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - ★★★★ 1/2
Everybody's Favorite Guy by Katherine Center - ★★★★ 1/2

Audiobooks

Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen - ★★★★
Penn by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★
The Nest Before Christmas by Piper Rayne - ★★★★

Currently Reading

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Snow Kissed by RayAnne Thayne

To Be Read

Kindling Kissmas by Ellie Hall
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

Discussion - Reading for the Season You're In

2026-04-10T03:00:00.046-04:00

This Week's Topic

Reading for the Season You're In

This was a Let's Talk Bookish topic that I enjoyed on Dini's blog a few weeks ago. I have always said I don't want to read about myself. If all the character did was go to work, do chores, and read, that would be one boring book. I do, however, appreciate seeing some older characters.

I always felt like the main characters in the books I read were mid 20s to mid 30s range. I haven't been in that age range in a long time, and I like to think I still have some stories worth telling. Seeing characters my age or older is encouraging. My life did not work out the way I had hoped, and it's easy to get discouraged. Seeing older characters starting over, falling in love, or accomplishing something worth noting gives me faith that there is something wonderful on the horizon for me. It pumps me up a bit and helps keep me going.

I very rarely re-read books. I had re-read several of the Little House books for a reading challenge (those mid-western states are tough to check off), and it amazed me how differently the books hit. Reading a book through a child's lens versus an adult lens was like night and day. I definitely had a very different appreciation for how difficult things were during that time period and couldn't help by admire their grit and gratitude.

I always related to single mom and STEM characters, but now I find myself seeing caregivers as kindred spirits. I also remember a time when my daughter started college where I wanted to read about empty nesters. Again, I think it's the comfort I find in seeing them make it through all these situations which works to restore some of the hope I may have lost.

In short, it's nice to read for the season I am in because it can be comforting. I do like to have some variety, though, as reading is my escape.

Now it's your turn!

Do you read for the season you are in?
Let us know in the comments!

Library Loans

2026-04-09T03:00:00.051-04:00

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Published by Riverhead Books on July 6, 2021
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at "The Paper Palace"—the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside.

Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn't forever changed the course of their lives.

As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families.

I had added this book to my TBR back when it first came out, and like a lot of books on my TBR, I forgot about it. It was back on my feed recently with many stars and rave reviews. I will admit that I went into this with some reservations given the adulterous event that kicks off the story as well as the fact that it is literary fiction. But, I attempted to keep an open mind.

This was a hard book for me. As is my experience with many literary fiction booka, it was often vulgar and very graphic. This was a story about people who did bad things and the bad things that made them who they were. I was taken aback by how many awful things happened to these people. Three generations of women were treated terribly and not cared for properly, and it made me sad. I suppose it's meaningful that I was able to feel terrible for these rather terrible people. Maybe it was how horrified I was by everything. And I just kept rereading the very end because I was not sure what happened there. It was driving me nuts, so I asked google about it, and then I was sad again.

It's a very intense and engrossing story but beware if you are a sensitive reader. There is nothing easy about this book.

Foster by Sawyer
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on May 21, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

When Foster McInnis’ ex-wife flakes and he finds himself with full custody of his daughter, the nanny he hires brings a new complication—an attraction he can’t ignore, no matter how hard he tries.

I love being on the ice and am grateful for my hockey career, but the off season is my favorite time of the year because it brings me my one true love—my daughter, Bowie Jane. Between my job and my ex-wife living across the country, the time I get to spend face-to-face with my kiddo is limited, though we make up for it with summers full of fun adventures. We’re thick as thieves and take full advantage of our time together, but the distance away from her is killing me.

My fortunes change when my ex walks away and I find myself with full custody. But with the hockey season looming, I know I’m going to need help taking care of Bowie Jane. Enter Mary Elizabeth Archer—otherwise known as Mazzy. Highly recommended to me through the Titans’ network, Mazzy crashes into our life like a hurricane. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met and to say I’m intrigued is an understatement. But no matter how attractive she is, no matter how I crave to know everything about her, I can’t go there. It’s inappropriate. Just wrong, wrong, wrong, even though she might be the most right thing I’ve ever known.

Being the indescribable force she is, there is soon no corner of our lives that Mazzy hasn’t impacted in a positive way. And my desire for more with her becomes far stronger than my misguided idea that I could ever resist this woman. Our attraction burns hot and keeping our eyes, hands and mouths off one another gets harder by the minute. It doesn’t take long for me to know that I’m all in with Mazzy. She’s my end game and, lucky for me, winning is my specialty.

Foster definitely won my heart with his love and affection for his daughter. I admired the way he was so quick to make big changes in his life in order to give his daughter safety and stability. I also appreciated that he tried to work with his ex and not make her the villain in this story.

Mazzy was a musician whose calling was caring for kids. I liked her vibe and enjoyed learning about her and her family. She had a great rapport with her charge, Bowie Jane, and was very sensitive to this delicate family situation.

I think I was pulled in by the picture-perfect family the three of them became. I liked that they put Bowie Jane first and respected her feelings throughout the entire romance and custody drama. It was also great to "meet" some of the new guys on the team and get updates on others. The ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but I love watching this world expand and cannot wait to read the next book.

Family vacation spot?
Let us know in the comments!

Sloth Goes Places - New York

2026-04-08T03:00:00.037-04:00

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from the Literary Escapes and Read Around the USA reading challenges.

Today we are looking at books set in ....

New York

New York is a popular book setting, especially New York City. I have already read 18 books set in New York, but I wanted to feature some set outside the city. All three are set upstate - Rochester and the Hudson Valley. These parts of NY are very beautiful and where my family escaped to in the summer for vacations.

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer
Published by St. Martin's Press on May 5, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

From the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she's been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there's a way for her to embrace the liberation that "Bad Joy" offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we're meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Published by Ecco on March 3, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

It’s 1977 and an air of restlessness has settled on the residents of Cambridge Road in Rochester, New York. When Nina Larkin is given a copy of The Joy of Sex by her newly divorced friend, she can no longer dismiss the nearly non-existent intimacy of her marriage. Just as her oldest child, Clara, is falling in love for the first time, Nina finds herself longing for the a midlife awakening. An intoxicating fling with a neighbour brings Nina a freedom she never thought possible—but also risks the reputations of both families and unravels Clara’s world, just as she stands on the threshold of adulthood.

Years later, Clara, now a successful food stylist in New York City, has never been able to move past the long-ago scandal. Drawn back home by the pull of a family wedding and wrestling with her own demons, she makes a pivotal decision that turns her life upside down.

Written with Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature humor and insight, LAKE EFFECT is a wise and probing look at love and desire, mothers and daughters, loss and grief, and what we owe the people we love most.

[review]

Honey Bee Mine by Sarah T. Dubb
Published by Gallery Books on February 10, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

In this sexy small town romance from the author of Birding with Benefits, a type-A beekeeper and a former bad boy join forces to plan a summertime Honey Festival.

Like the bees she keeps, Penny Becker lives by a golden rule: never stop working. That mantra kept Becker Farms running when her grandfather, dad, and ex all left for greener pastures. But after taking out a loan for an expansion plan that crashed and burned, Penny has to find a way to pay or risk losing it all, and she’s betting everything on the Sullivan’s Glen Honey Festival. To save the farm, she has to make the festival bigger, better, and more successful than ever before—and she plans to do it all on her own.

Reformed bad boy turned restaurateur Zander Bouras left Sullivan’s Glen in a blaze of glory and vowed to never return. But when his ex-wife wants to go back for the summer, Zander grudgingly follows. He refuses to miss time with his son, and figures it’s finally time to deal with the farmhouse his grandfather left, for some reason, to him.

His first day in town brings Zander face to face with Penny, the girl whose perfect life mocked him from next door. It’s just his luck that his son loves her and her bees, and before he knows it he’s been volunteered to help plan a honey festival with the sexy, stubborn beekeeper whose braid he just wants to tug. As they learn to work together, Zander faces his demons and learns to see Sullivan’s Glen in a new light as Penny realizes that accepting help isn’t so bad—especially from the right person. But as the festival day and Zander’s departure draw near, they’ll have to decide if the romance buzzing between them can last past the sweet days of summer.

[review]

Have you read any books set in New York?
Let us know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday - Bucket List Books

2026-04-07T03:00:00.049-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Bucket List Books!

Happy Tuesday! This week we are talking about bucket lists. I have many things on my bucket list and many places I would like to visit. One place that both my daughter and I hope to visit in the near future is Japan. I am obsessed with so many things Japanese, and in the past two years, I have fallen in love with Japanese literature. It's been wonderful to have so many Japanese books translated because these cozy stories with a touch of magic are a perfect fit for me. And seriously, there are cats on all the covers. They really know the way to my heart. Below are ten books set in Japan which I adored.

Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama
The Calico Cat at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi
Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
Menu of Happiness by Hisashi Kashiwai
Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
If Cats Disappeared From the World by Genki Kawamura
What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

What's on your bucket list?
Let us know in the comments!

In a Nutshell Reviews

2026-04-06T03:00:00.096-04:00

This week I am featuring two books with a magical touch. Both books involve women who are gifted with visions. For Emmie, it's a one time vision related to her future. For Cassia, it's a gift that allows her to see someone's past life to determine their soulmate. Though they both were privy to their future mate, their hearts had other ideas.

A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden
Published by Berkley on May 19, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family's struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.

Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.

But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?

Emmie put her dreams on hold to help care for her ailing parents while becoming a single mother. Following her father's death, she assumed the lion's share of running her parents' candy shop. Emmie was content with biding her time as she waited for her birthday vision. Every woman in her family gets a once in a lifetime vision on one of their birthdays to help them discover their purpose. Her vision held promises of the artisanal chocolate shop of her dreams as well as a proposal!!! But when she started trying to make that vision a reality, Emmie found that her heart didn't necessarily align with everything she saw.

This was Rachel Linden doing what she does best. This was a warm and heartfelt story of family, friendship, community, second chances, and following your heart that was helped along with a touch of magic. Linden has such a talent when it comes to crafting stories that make me fully invested in the outcome for everyone involved, and she also has a talent for making food part of the tale.

I know I would not have had the patience to make exquisite handcrafted chocolates like Emmie, but I sure enjoyed reading about them. I loved the focus on the flavors of the Pacific Northwest, and my mouth watered as I conjured images of these delectable treats from the rich descriptions provided.

Linden also crafted fantastic characters. Emmie won my heart and support early on. I can relate to her as a caregiver for aging parents and as a single mom, but I also believed in her and her dream. Every setback she experienced was painful for me, and at one point, I was wondering if the sky was going to fall because anything that could go wrong, went wrong. But you know what? Emmie picked herself up, dusted herself off, and kept going. I admired her grit and fortitude.

She also had an amazing circle of people who supported her. The auxiliary characters in this book were wonderful! I truly adored them all as well as the community at large. Love triangles can be a bit stressful for me, but this one was written the way I like them, so I was good with it.

Overall, I absolutely adored this sweet tale which warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

One & Only by Maureen Goo
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on February 3, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

In Five Years meets a millennial The Joy Luck Club in the adult debut from the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback— a funny and fresh love story of a woman thrown a curveball by fate, and the family secret that will make her question everything.

She’s seen what her happily ever after looks like. And it’s not him.

Cassia Park believes in soul mates. Fated love stories. It’s her family business, after all—for centuries, from Korea to Los Angeles, the Park women have peered into clients’ past lives to find their one true love, their “fated”. This magical secret is why One & Only Matchmaking has a 100% guarantee … for everyone but Cassia.

Afraid of ending up like her mom, Cassia asked to be told her fated—ten years ago. Now she’s days from turning forty and she still hasn’t found him.

Enter Ellis. He’s twenty-eight, indecently handsome, and not destined to be the love of her life. But destiny has more than one curveball ready, and her surprising connection with Ellis might be the key that unlocks finding her fated—and reveals a family secret that will make her question everything she’s ever her family, her belief in love, and truth itself.

Cassia will have to decide if she’ll follow her fate … or make her own.

Love was the family business, and the Park women could see into the past to identify someone's soul mate. Cassia was holding out for her fated mate, but it had been ten years, and her Daniel was still a mystery. Then Ellis came along. Sweet, thoughtful, kind, charming, handsome, and VERY young Ellis, and Cassie's whole world became uncertain. She struggled with if she should hold out for her fated or follow her heart.

I really enjoyed One & Only. The touch of magic was intriguing and used quite well. Goo did a wonderful job organically blending this element into the story, but it created quite a complication for Cassia, and me too! I must admit, I would never be able to resist Ellis. He was perfect and perfect for Cassia. He was a like a safe harbor for her, a quiet place where she could unwind and enjoy the moment. As much as I loved the idea of "the one", I couldn't help but wish there was a mistake with Cassia's reading.

There was a love triangle, and it was very stressful for me. It was utilize in a good way as this situation pushed Cassia on a path of growth and self-discovery. She began thinking more about her past and her future, and really, her core beliefs about love.

And it was quite a journey with many wonderful people to support her along the way. Though Cassia's father left and her mother passed away when she was young, she had two generations of Park women to be her life guides. There were a lot of great family vibes in this tale which I loved, as well as a ride or die friend.

One & Only was a magical romance which was packed with humor and charm that had me flipping the pages.

Would you glimpse your future?
Let us know in the comments!

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

2026-04-05T03:00:00.131-04:00

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

Happy Sunday and Happy Easter! I hope everyone had a great week.

Last Sunday, my daughter and I went to the city. We got some Korean fried chicken and then saw Bigfoot the Musical. It was campy and fun. The actor who played Bigfoot was the same person we saw play Damien in Mean Girls. He was great. Monday, I drove my daughter to Newark airport and made it back to the train station by 5 am. It was short work week. The stock exchange closes for Good Friday, so we had off. I went to the dentist for my six month check up - still cavity free. Today, we are going out to dinner with one of our neighbors. Another low key holiday.

They finally installed the chairlift. It's a little easier for my mother to get up and down now. I really hope they get that part made soon and repair the elevator. It's been over 6 weeks since they closed it.

Did anyone notice an uptick in spam? All of a sudden, I am getting like 50 emails a day that gmail correctly routes to my span folder. I didn't use to get that much.

This year, my daughter and I planned to do a car trip instead of our normal big vacation. The problem is that neither of us likes to plan trips. I have always done tours, Disney cruises, or theme parks (Disney/Universal) which require no real planning. It's tedious, and I am not enjoying the planning. We may end up going nowhere because of this.

On the Blog

Monday: Reviews - Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer, Know Your Newlywed
Tuesday: TTT - Bookish Buzzwords
Wednesday: Five on My TBR - Sequels
Thursday: Reviews - Lake Effect, Good Company
Friday: Five Star Friday - March 2026

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Stacking the Shelves

I picked up an auto-approval this week. It's the latest Before the Coffee Gets Cold book. I adore them. I saw The Cozy Nook Bookshop as read-now and downloaded that as well. The author is new-to-me, but it's a cozy bookshop, how could I go wrong?

I thought I had already purchased the Center short story, but I did not, so I did now. I love her stories! Both the invites sound good to me. I LOVED Skye's last book, so that one is a definite download for me.

Netgalley/Edelweiss

Before I Knew I Love You by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeannie Chen

Purchased/Free

Everybody's Favorite Guy by Katherine Center
If We Love Again by Linda Barrett
A Family Affair by Mary Campisi

Invites

Ideal Life by Evelyn Skye
So It Grows by Andie Burke

Read Last Week

My week did not start strong, but it finished with a bang. Brammer did it again with Good Joy, Bad Joy. I know I was supposed to care about Joy stepping outside her "good" image and doing some questionable things, but mostly I was here for the female friendship. Hazel and Joy had been best friends since they were eight, and here they were, 89 years old and Hazel was dying from cancer. Their friendship was one for the ages, and I loved learning about the important moments that shaped them and their relationship through the years. It was very moving.

I also really enjoyed Lucky. I generally like these books, but the characters and their fun romance stood out for me.

Find all my reviews on Goodreads

Books

Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti -★★★ 1/2
So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder - ★★★ 1/2
The Real Ones by J. Rose Black - ★★★★
Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer - ★★★★★

Audiobooks

Lucky by Sawyer Bennett - ★★★★ 1/2

Currently Reading

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen

To Be Read

Just Friends by Haley Pham
The Shippers by Katherine Center
Before I Knew I Love You by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

Five Star Friday - March 2026

2026-04-03T06:48:00.001-04:00

Five Star Friday is my version of the monthly wrap-up. On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.

This month, I was able to read 25 books, and I had 1 five-star read.

The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers
Published by MIRA on May 19, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

One book. Two strangers. An unforgettable journey as they rewrite the ending.

Daisy Douglas has spent her life behind the at work, in her relationships, and now, in planning a wedding she isn’t sure she even wants. As an entertainment journalist, she can spot the start of a story a mile away. So when her routine 4 a.m. bus ride to the newsroom takes a surprising turn, she notices.

For months, the same man has boarded at the same stop, reading the same tattered copy of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando over and over as if his life depends on it. When a broken-down bus and a shared walk through the quiet early-morning London streets finally throws them together, Tom reveals the heartbreaking truth as to why he can’t be without his novel.

Determined to help him find the answer to the riddle hidden in its pages, Daisy joins Tom on his strange literary quest—one that leads them to places neither of them ever expected. But as their friendship deepens, she starts to wonder if what they’re both looking for might not be in the book after all.

I loved this one! Both Daisy and Tom needed someone who really saw them and accepted them, and it was wonderful that they found that in each other. It may have taken them a while to figure that out as they held fast to the things in their life that they were accustomed to, but it was satisfying when it all finally clicked. Warm and funny, this story hit all the right notes for me.

Honorable Mention

March was a little disappointing with only read one book that earned the full five, but I was more disappointed by books I expected to be wowed by and wasn't. Anyhow, here are my honorable mention books. All earned 4.5 stars.

The Write Off by Kara McDowell
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Atlas by Sawyer Bennett
Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura
One & Only by Maureen Goo
A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden

What were the best books you read last month?
Let us know in the comments!

One Old, One New - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

2026-04-02T03:00:00.055-04:00

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Published by Ecco on March 3, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

It’s 1977 and an air of restlessness has settled on the residents of Cambridge Road in Rochester, New York. When Nina Larkin is given a copy of The Joy of Sex by her newly divorced friend, she can no longer dismiss the nearly non-existent intimacy of her marriage. Just as her oldest child, Clara, is falling in love for the first time, Nina finds herself longing for the a midlife awakening. An intoxicating fling with a neighbour brings Nina a freedom she never thought possible—but also risks the reputations of both families and unravels Clara’s world, just as she stands on the threshold of adulthood.

Years later, Clara, now a successful food stylist in New York City, has never been able to move past the long-ago scandal. Drawn back home by the pull of a family wedding and wrestling with her own demons, she makes a pivotal decision that turns her life upside down.

Written with Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature humor and insight, LAKE EFFECT is a wise and probing look at love and desire, mothers and daughters, loss and grief, and what we owe the people we love most.

When an affair between neighbors turns into more, two families find themselves broken, reformed, and intertwined in each other's lives.

I know people draw this hard line on cheating in books, but I found myself wholly engrossed in this story. Sweeney did an incredible job exploring the whos, whys, and whats of this situation. I witnessed the fallout right after everyone learned of the indiscretion, as well as 15 years later, when all the children were grown with lives of their own. This event sent ripples through these families with some not fully recovering. Hearts were broken, plans were changed, and though they all seemed to land on their feet, there were damages that still needed to be repaired.

I was alive during the time periods featured in this story and was fascinated with the way Sweeney worked some of that pop culture and history into this tale. These bits were selected and used thoughtfully, and I will admit I had a few nostalgic moments of my own as I read.

Lake Effect was quite emotional with the BIG emotions coming at the end. I appreciated the way these families were able to evolve, and in the end, they chose each other.

Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Published by Ecco on April 6, 2021
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

A warm, incisive new novel about the enduring bonds of marriage and friendship.

Flora Mancini has been happily married for more than twenty years. But everything she thought she knew about herself, her marriage, and her relationship with her best friend, Margot, is upended when she stumbles upon an envelope containing her husband’s wedding ring—the one he claimed he lost one summer when their daughter, Ruby, was five.

Flora and Julian struggled for years, scraping together just enough acting work to raise Ruby in Manhattan and keep Julian’s small theater company—Good Company—afloat. A move to Los Angeles brought their first real career successes, a chance to breathe easier, and a reunion with Margot, now a bona fide television star. But has their new life been built on lies? What happened that summer all those years ago? And what happens now?

With Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature tenderness, humor, and insight, Good Company tells a bighearted story of the lifelong relationships that both wound and heal us.

After more than twenty years of marriage, Flora unearths her husband's "lost" wedding ring which results in her reflecting on her life, her future, and what she thought was true.

This is my second book by Sweeney, and she creates messy characters as she throughly mines their emotions. In Good Company, they were all flawed and messy, but I was able to empathize with almost all of them. The storytelling really worked for me as well. The way the POVs slid from one to another and held connections gave the story this flow that I enjoyed.

My heart broke for Flora. She finally thought her family was in a good place. She and her husband had been working steadily, their daughter was graduating from high school and preparing for new adventures. They were happy, but apparently there were skeletons in the closet which she discovered while searching for a picture from one of her favorite summers. It must be devastating to think you had this great life, when in reality, you were betrayed by the two people you loved most.

The final trip to the lake turned into a more interesting choice than I thought it would be. There was this "moment" that was very meaningful and I must admit, was very moving. Upon reading the final page, I do feel like I missed something with David and Margot, but I was satisfied. It was an interesting journey watching how these people, their lives, and their relationships changed and grew.

Would you read a book with adultry?
Let us know in the comments!

Five on My TBR - Sequels

2026-04-01T03:00:00.042-04:00

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme that was hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook. Learn more about it here.

Sequels

I love any opportunity to feature more books and found this meme an interesting way to take a look at my TBR. I hope to also get some feedback from you. Should I keep these books on my TBR? Should I push them up the list? This week, I am featuring five books from my TBR which are sequels. I have read and enjoyed the previous books, I am terrible at keeping up with sequels.

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher by Katie Siegel

The déjà vu is strong for 25-year-old former kid detective Charlotte Illes when she lands back in Frencham Middle School – this time as a substitute teacher with a sideline in sleuthing – in the second zany mystery based on the much-loved TikTok web series from @katiefliesaway.

For fans of “Poker Face,” “Knives Out,” Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Series, and anyone seeking to satisfy their Harriet the Spy, Encyclopedia Brown, or Nancy Drew nostalgia!

Mention “returning to the scene of a crime,” and people don’t usually picture a middle school. But that’s where kid detective Lottie Illes enjoyed some of her greatest successes, solving mysteries and winning acclaim—before the world of adult responsibilities came crashing in . . .

Twentysomething Charlotte is now back in the classroom, this time as a substitute teacher. However, as much as she’s tried to escape the shadow of her younger self, others haven’t forgotten about Lottie. In fact, a fellow teacher is hoping for help discovering the culprit behind anonymous threats being sent to her and her aunt, who’s running for reelection to the Board of Education.

At first, Charlotte assumes the messages are a harmless prank. But maybe it’s a good thing she left a detective kit hidden in the band room storage closet all those years ago—just in case. Because the threats are escalating, and it’s clear that untangling mysteries isn’t child’s play anymore . . .

Kooky Spooky Love by Josie Silver

An up-and-coming ghostbuster and her motley crew tackle a devilish high-wire act, aided (or more often, interrupted) by her rakish ex and the sarcastic reporter she can't seem to shake—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Spooky Love.

Maplemead Castle is crawling with ghosts, and the new owners need them gone. When Melody Bittersweet and the Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency arrive on scene, they quickly identify the main troublemaker swinging from the chandeliers. A century ago, stunning trapeze artist Britannia Lovell plunged to her death in the castle's grand ballroom, and has continued to haunt it ever since. But did she really just fall, or was there something more to her demise?

Forced to work with Leo Dark, her scoundrel ex, and the infuriating, irresistible reporter Fletcher Gunn, Melody’s investigative powers are under the strain of a heart pulled in two directions. She needs her team in top form, but her best friend Marina’s cake pipeline goes AWOL, her assistant Artie’s distracted by a giant sausage roll, and the pug Lestat is scared witless by a lion. Melody has her work cut out for her.

Somewhere, hidden in the castle, is a heart-breaking secret, but what will it take to find it? And is there a chance it could set Britannia free, or is she doomed to repeat her last fateful act forever?

Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine

A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.

Reformed bad witch Grizelda “Zelda” Watson had hoped to never see another vampire again when she slipped away to sunny California for a fresh start. She'd grown tired of them and their nonsense ages ago. But when a vampire with amnesia unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep with a letter from her old friend Reggie, and asks for her help, she can’t say no. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Peter Elliott is tall and gorgeous, looks great in yoga shorts, and has the kind of dark hair and surly expression Zelda’s been a sucker for for hundreds of years.

Peter isn’t completely harmless—he is fanged, after all—but he’s harmless enough, and soon becomes the only person in Zelda’s new life who knows the truth about what she is. If she can help him decipher the cryptic notes in his journal, the only clues to his lost memories, she might as well try before sending him on his way.

But when an alarming message from Peter's past coincides with a clear sign that Zelda can't keep running from her own, they embark on a cross-country road trip for answers—only to find what they're looking for in each other.

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida

The Kokoro Clinic for the Soul reopens in this delightful follow-up to the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel We’ll Prescribe You a Cat.

It’s time to revisit the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

From USA Today bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun—the highly anticipated, hilarious, and heart-pounding next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series…

What sequels are on your TBR?
Let us know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Buzzwords

2026-03-31T03:00:00.065-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Bookish Buzzwords!

Happy Tuesday! Today, we are talking about buzzwords that make us want to or NOT want to read a book. My brand is pretty much low drama, warm, and fuzzy. I like to read books that make me happy and have a happy ending.

I think it's no secret that I read for escape, and as such, I rarely want to read books that are dark or seem like something I can read in the new paper. There are certain tropes I will always grab, so I cheated and have some trope instead of buzzwords under my YEAs. Please forgive me.

Buzzwords that are a YEA

Found family
Second chance romance
Friends-to-lovers
Uplifting
Charming

Buzzwords that are a NOPE (mostly)

"Important"
"Timely"
Political
"Realistic"
Dark

What makes you read or not read a book?
Let us know in the comments!

In a Nutshell Reviews

2026-03-30T03:00:00.075-04:00

Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer by Bellamy Rose
Published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books on April 14, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Mystery
Rating:
Goodreads

In this witty and delightful follow-up to the “glam and glorious” (Kat Ailes, author of the Expectant Detectives Mysteries) Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder, Pom finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery that threatens her up-and-coming charity foundation and—worst of all—her romantic life.

Pomona Afton knows how to throw a memorable party. After all, for her twenty-fifth birthday, she hosted a global extravaganza that included a masquerade ball in a Scottish castle, clubbing in Ibiza, and skinny dipping on a private island. So, throwing a gala for her fledgling nonprofit should be a breeze.

Unfortunately, she has to navigate the high-stakes (and snobby) world of philanthropy, a beloved boyfriend who just can’t seem to fit in, and of course, her dysfunctional family, all while planning a party that won't only affect the future of her charity, but her own future in society.

But Pom is no quitter. She pushes forward and perseveres…until, right in the middle of her party, she discovers the body of one of her biggest donors. Suddenly all her hard work is going up in flames. If she’s going to salvage her new life path, she must put on her (incredibly stylish) detective hat again and figure out who wants to bring her down. One more measly little murder mystery shouldn’t be that hard, right?

It had been a year since Pomona Afton So Solved a Murder, and she had been working hard to reinvent herself as a "serious" person. Pom was busy doing "serious" things like preparing for the first gala fundraiser for her new foundation. When one of the attendees ends up dead, Pomona switches back into killer catching mode. With a little help from her friends, she hopes to solve this murder and restore her image.

I was a HUGE fan of Pomona's previous book and was excited to return to her world. I have to agree that she is as lovable as another "Clueless" spoiled rich girl, and I was happy to see she was doing well. Her trust fund restored, her relationship flourishing, and her dedication to helping others garnering recognition. But a murder at her event sets off a domino effect causing all areas of her life to become unsettled.

Pom's search for the killer took some twists and turns as she experienced some ups and downs in her personal life. Pomona was charming and witty, just as she was is her last story, and I enjoyed cheering for her as she worked to solve this murder. I won't lie, the romantic storyline was stressful for me, but I kept the faith that everything would work out.

Overall, I had a great time returning to Pom's world. This cozy mystery was highlighted with Pomona's sparkling and hilarious observations as well as with an entertaining roster of characters. Here's hoping Pomona gets a third book so I can see how a certain storyline worked out.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylo
Published by Audible Audio on December 10, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) and Mary Mouser (Cobra Kai) star in this swoon-worthy, full-cast rom-com! When two super-fans of a beloved dating gameshow hear that it’s being rebooted, they decide to team up and fake a marriage to compete in the hilarious new audiobook Know Your Newlywed, written by Heather Taylor and Hillary Nussbaum, and executive produced by New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas.

Cleo is a researcher with big dreams of a PhD in anthrozoology, and a guilty pleasure obsession with Know Your Newlywed, a decades-old gameshow where married couples compete by answering obscure questions about each other. She’s more invested in her career than in finding a relationship of her own, though—that is, until she comes across Javi’s dating app profile, which says he’s “looking for someone to win Know Your Newlywed with.”

Sparks fly, and when Cleo and Javi catch wind of a reboot of their beloved show, they apply on a whim, pretending to be newlyweds themselves. Before they know it, they’re cast as contestants, playing the part of smitten married couple better than they could’ve imagined. Their very real chemistry is impossible to ignore, and as the competition heats up, they quickly become America’s sweethearts. But how far can Cleo and Javi take their secret? And as they inch closer and closer to a life-changing cash prize, will the mounting pressure and their individual ambitions get in the way of their blossoming romance? Or is their connection strong enough to last once the cameras stop rolling?

This was a lot of fun! A couple meet on an app but live in different cities. They continue to connect online and find they share a love for the same gameshow. They decide to apply and are selected. The only problem is - they are not married. Seems a bit unscrupulous, but as big fans of the show who both are in dire need of a cash injection to jump-start their futures, I couldn't help but want them to win.

The actual show was a lot of fun, and it was cute the way these two dug in and learned so much about each other. Along the way, it was easy to see they were great together. The gameshow was a great backdrop and a great way to accelerate this relationship. I had a fantastic time listening (shout out to Tyler Posey!). I laughed, smiled, and aww shucks plenty of times as I delighted in watching this couple's connection blossom and grow.

Do you think you could catch a killer?
Let us know in the comments!

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

2026-03-29T04:08:00.001-04:00

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

My Week in Review

Happy Sunday! I cannot believe March is almost over. My daughter flew in on Wednesday night. It's always nice having her here. Today, we are going to the city to see a show. The forecast is sunny skies and high 50s, so a beautiful day to be out and about.

I really thought I would have gotten more done this week since I had Thursday off for my eye treatment, but I cannot seem to get ahead. Since the elevator has been broken, I have to do the shopping for my parents. That means going to a third store, and it always takes me over an hour to get everything from my mother's list. I shop in under an hour even with going to two stores. Now, it's three. Not difficult work, but time consuming. I had to make four trips with the groceries too. Being on the third floor, I am getting some additional exercise.

On the Blog

Monday: Reviews - Dog Person, Your Soulmail is Attached
Tuesday: TTT - My Spring TBR
Wednesday: CWW - American Fantasy, The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop
Thursday: Reviews - The Time Hop Coffee Shop, Love Songs and Ferry Tales
Friday: Six Degrees of Separation - Heart the Lover
Saturday: Sloth Goes Places - Minnesota

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Stacking the Shelves

I cannot express to you how fast I clicked that read-now email for the new Tarah DeWitt. I love her books and have not been able to get an approval for her last few releases. This was a wonderful surprise. I also got approved for O'Malley's next Scottish Charms book. I loved the first one and can't wait to return to that world. I clicked a bunch of free downloads and got a bunch of invites. I am not sure I will download any of the invites though To Vex & to Hex appeals to me.

Netgalley/Edelweiss

Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt
A Taste of Magic by Tricia O'Malley

Purchased/Free

Make Mine Sweet by Genny Carrick
Against the Grain by Lainey Davis
A Match Made in Montana by Elsa Winckler
Take Me by Tawna Fenske

Invites

Love Variations by Victoria Lee
Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen
To Vex & to Hex by Neena Noon
Dangerland! by Erin Singer
I Kissed Her First by Betty Cayouette

Read Last Week

Just when I thought I would go without a 5-star read, The Night Bus won my heart. This was a sweet story of two people who connected on a 4 am bus with the heroine offering to help the hero figure out how to win back his ex. This is a light on romance romance where most of the story is about their growing friendship and their personal growth, but final impressions like that last chapter mean a lot.

Find all my reviews on Goodreads

Books

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura - ★★★★ 1/2
One & Only by Maureen Goo - ★★★★ 1/2
A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden - ★★★★ 1/2
The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers - ★★★★★

Audiobooks

Rebel Bride by Kate Meader - ★★★★

Currently Reading

Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti
Lucky by Sawyer Bennett

To Be Read

So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder
The Real Ones by J. Rose Black
Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!

Sloth Goes Places - Minnesota

2026-03-28T03:00:00.055-04:00

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from the Literary Escapes and Read Around the USA reading challenges.

Today we are looking at books set in ....

Minnesota

This midwestern state is one I have never visited, but I can usually depend on Abby Jimenez to bring me there via one of their books. Lynn Painter has a few set there as well.

Checking It Twice by Kendall Ryan
Published by Dream Press on November 25, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

Fake dating a hockey player for Christmas wasn’t on my bingo card.

Clare Johnson’s job is handling PR for the Dallas Stampede—not getting tangled up with one of the players. But when Mitchell Drake—charming forward, fan favorite, and very off-limits—asks her to pose as his girlfriend for one week in small-town Minnesota, she reluctantly agrees. What’s the worst that could happen?

Mitchell’s had six months to get over his very public broken engagement, and his family is done waiting. The last thing he needs is pitying smiles and whispered gossip. Clare is smart, sharp, and strong enough to hold her own with both fans and family—the perfect fake girlfriend.

But holiday lights and snowy nights have a way of blurring the line between pretend and real. Clare fits too easily into his world—bonding with his grandma, winning at pond hockey, and looking unfairly good in his flannel. The more time they spend together, the less fake it feels.

Full of small-town holiday magic, meddling relatives, and sizzling chemistry, Checking It Twice is a hockey romance about second chances and falling in love when you least expect it. Perfect for fans of fake dating, one-bed tension, forced proximity, and happily-ever-afters wrapped in Christmas lights.

Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t under the tree—they’re standing right in front of you.

This was a fun fake dating book. The holiday vibe and visit to the hero's small hometown were among the standout elements.

[review]

The Autumn of Ruth Winters by Marshall Fine
Published by Lake Union Publishing on November 5, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

In this heartwarming story about second acts and second chances, a no-nonsense retiree, very much set in her ways, must learn to adapt and make peace with her past in order to build a fulfilling future.

Ruth Winters is retired, widowed, and resigned to spending the rest of her life alone in her suburban home. She likes her routine and uses it to avoid having to spend time with other people. She probably wouldn’t call herself fulfilled, but it’s too late now to go chasing happiness.

Then three things happen at a beloved niece makes a big announcement, an old flame reaches out, and her estranged sister receives life-changing news. Ruth finds herself reconnecting with people she thought were long gone from her world, as she is forced to reconsider her expectations for this phase of her life.

None of this fits into Ruth’s routine—in fact, the whole thing just blows to bits. But when Ruth starts to pick up the pieces, she discovers that maybe it’s not too late to make something new after all.

Ruth was someone who seemed really set in her ways, but when push came to shove, she showed she had the capacity to pivot, grow, and change.

[review]

First and Forever by Lynn Painter
Published by Berkley on May 12, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads

A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

This one takes place in the Twin Cities and involves the local football team. I thought the premise was hilarious and Painter did a great job wringing the fun from it. The hero was top-notch, and I adored the heroine and her family.

Have you read any books set in Minnesota?
Let us know in the comments!

Six Degrees of Separation

2026-03-27T03:00:00.057-04:00

Six Degrees of Separation is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavoriteandbest. A book is selected each month as the starting point for us to link to six other books. I go a bit rouge by selecting my own book from the previous months’ Five Star Friday, but still maintain the spirit of the meme.

This Month's Book

Heart the Lover by Lily King
Published by Grove Press on September 30, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads

You knew I’d write a book about you someday.

Our narrator understands good love stories—their secrets and subtext, their highs and their free falls. But her greatest love story, the one she lived, never followed the simple rules.

In the fall of her senior year of college, she meets two star students from her 17th-Century Lit class: Sam and Yash. Best friends living off-campus in the elegant house of a professor on sabbatical, the boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. Youthful passion is unpredictable though, and she soon finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever.

Decades later, Jordan is living the life she dreamed of, and the vulnerable days of her youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news brings the past crashing into the present, Jordan returns to a world she left behind and is forced to confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self.

Written with the superb wit and emotional sensitivity fans and critics of Lily King have come to adore, Heart the Lover is a deeply moving story that celebrates love, friendship, and the transformative nature of forgiveness. Wise, unforgettable, and with a delightful connective thread to Writers & Lovers, this is King at her very best, affirming her as a masterful chronicler of the human experience and one of the finest novelists at work today.

We Live and Breathe Books

Library Loans

Sloth Goes Places - Nebraska

Nebraska

Top Ten Tuesday - April Showers

One Old, One New - Katherine Center

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

My Week in Review

Stacking the Shelves

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

To Be Read

Captivating Characters - Matteo “Lucky” Branson

This Month's Captivating Character: Matteo "Lucky" Branson

Library Loans

Can't Wait Wednesday!

This week I can't wait for

Top Ten Tuesday - Adaptations

One Old, One New - Lynn Painter

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

My Week in Review

Stacking the Shelves

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

To Be Read

Discussion - Reading for the Season You're In

This Week's Topic

Library Loans

Sloth Goes Places - New York

New York

Top Ten Tuesday - Bucket List Books

In a Nutshell Reviews

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

My Week in Review

Stacking the Shelves

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

To Be Read

Five Star Friday - March 2026

Honorable Mention

One Old, One New - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

Five on My TBR - Sequels

Sequels

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Buzzwords

In a Nutshell Reviews

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

My Week in Review

Stacking the Shelves

Read Last Week

Currently Reading

To Be Read

Sloth Goes Places - Minnesota

Minnesota

Six Degrees of Separation

This Month's Book

Heart the Lover

Just Don't Fall

Rebel Bride

800 Grapes

The Ex Vows

Emergency Contact

A Very Merry Matchup