Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
He’s Mr. Big-Time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

My first Ally Carter book, and I loved it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it more than met my unspecific expectations.

One of my fears about new authors is always stumbling upon scenes/chapters that are more descriptive than I prefer. And because I don’t read back cover copy, that happens a lot. Cozy mystery is usually pretty safe, though, so I decided to try this one.

It had much more of a rom-com feel to me than a cozy mystery, which I’m not complaining about! It sucked me in right away, and I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook. It was the perfect blend of romance and mystery without any explicit scenes. Lots of fun characters, the perfect setting, and I didn’t even mind the flashback scenes.

I’ll definitely be reading more Ally Carter books in the future.

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For more cozy mysteries, check out:

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams
Punch, Pastries, and Poison by Harper Lin

Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.

Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.

As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.

My first Ali Brady novel, I picked this one up because I liked the cover (yes, I’m one of those). It didn’t take long after I started the book to realize it was going to be steamier than I preferred, and I was right. If it wasn’t for the steam and overall casual approach to sex, this would have been a five-star read for me.

I didn’t realize going into it that it’s a new spin on “You’ve Got Mail,” with the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope, but that explains why I enjoyed it so much–I’m a huge fan of YGM! I loved Ryan and Josie as much as I love Joe and Kathleen, and the new approach the story kept me reading and anticipating.

A fun, easy read that makes me want to buy a bookstore.

Rated R for swearing and sex.

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For similar contemporary romance, check out:

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

I randomly borrowed this book from the library having no idea what to expect–I did not expect to laugh so much or enjoy the story so thoroughly!

My only real exposure to orcs is what I know from Lord of the Rings, so this type of orc was a new experience for me. It was interesting to see how all the species acted (and interacted), and I loved the twist on the cozy mystery genre with it being in a fantasy world (though it does include a bookstore, and it looks like the rest of the series includes a coffee shop).

The characters and their interactions were entertaining. I loved seeing the character growth (which doesn’t always happen in a cozy series). I laughed out loud several times. Overall, a really enjoyable read!

Rated R for lots of swearing. While there are not explicit scenes, this story does include same-sex couples.

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For more magical/fantasy mysteries, check out:

Murder on Millionaires’ Row by Erin Lindsey
Flea Market Magic by Bella Falls

In The Hallway Miracle, Cara shares a story of personal transformation shaped by early antisemitic bullying and a lifelong wariness of Christians. Years later, she finds herself working at an elementary school as the only Jewish staff member among Christian coworkers, uncertain what genuine faith truly looks like.

Set during the fall of 2002, as sniper attacks bring fear into everyday life across the Washington, D.C., area, the memoir unfolds against a backdrop of heightened anxiety and uncertainty. When a student is killed at a nearby school, the fragile sense of safety disappears.

Blending personal reflection with historical tension, The Hallway Miracle explores anxiety, identity, and faith. Through a small but unexpected moment involving a desk calendar devotional, a handful of M&M’s, and a powerful prayer, Cara encounters a moment of grace that reverberates far beyond the hallway where it begins.

A fascinating look at life in D.C. in 2002 during the sniper attacks, Cara Shine’s memoir shows how devastation and fear can lead even the most hesitant hearts to Christ.

Raised Jewish, Shine was never interested in learning about Jesus Christ until the right job at the right place at the right time opened her heart to question him and his influence in the lives of the people around her. While the story is Shine’s, it’s also a testimony to the people in her life, who didn’t aggressively try to convert her to Christianity but simply shared the gospel with her when she was ready to learn more.

A vivid look at what life would have been like for D.C. residents during a terrifying time. Also a true testimony to the power of prayer and living for Christ.

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For more Christian nonfiction, check out:

Discovering Your Spiritual DNA by Debra A. Elrod

From strip joints and gentlemen’s clubs to the ballrooms of Mar-a-Lago, Jeanne learns that pain is not without purpose. Shattered for A Human Trafficking Survivor’s Journey to Freedom recounts the extraordinary true story of Jeanne Roberson’s journey to freedom from the bondage of the adult entertainment industry. Her gripping memoir stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and transformation.

A month after turning seventeen, Jeanne is introduced to a woman who manipulates, grooms, and begins trafficking her into the adult entertainment industry as a stripper. She is catapulted into stardom in the dark world of sex, drugs, and alcohol. Jeanne spends twenty-two years trying to break free from an industry that has exploited her, stolen her youth, and stigmatized her.

In a miraculous twist of fate, after a near-death experience, God delivers Jeanne out of the devil’s playground and places her on a journey to freedom and unshakable faith. But not without a battle for her soul. Shattered for Glory is a powerful read for anyone who feels broken, lost, and is searching for hope.

A heartbreaking story grounded by forgiveness, Roberson’s memoir walks the reader through her troubled life, starting in a broken home but ending in God’s peace and forgiveness.

Roberson’s story of manipulation and pain could have easily led her to question God. Instead, a small seed that was planted in childhood seemed sat dormant in her heart until Roberson’s hardships inspired her to look for a better way. That small seed grew into a faith that allowed Roberson to look back at her rejections, abuse, and losses with compassion instead of judgment. Reading about what she overcame and how she let God soften her heart instead of becoming bitter is inspiring and encouraging, especially for anyone struggling to forgive.

A fascinating life with an inspirational ending, not rooted in a happily-ever-after but in a life surrendered to God.

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For more Christian memoir, check out:

When Hope Rises by Tammy Dove