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Thursday, May 14, 2026
Book Review for The Rulebreaker by Piper Rayne
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Spotlight for A Very Vexing Murder by Lucy Andrew
Harriet
Smith Investigates #1
A Very Vexing Murder: Harriet Smith Investigates – A
Witty Debut Jane Austen Mystery of Murder and Deception in Highbury by Lucy Andrew
Published: May
12, 2026 by William Morrow
Genre:
Historical Mystery, Retelling
No longer Emma’s naïve companion, Harriet Smith is a feisty con-woman-turned-detective tasked with breaking off Frank Churchill’s engagement and uncovering his aunt’s would-be murderer. The shrewd Mrs. Churchill suspects Frank’s unsuitable fiancée, Jane Fairfax, is out to kill her, while Harriet suspects little more than a society scandal. But what begins as a routine investigation among Highbury’s elite quickly spirals into a web of deception, deadly secrets, and a game of survival.
As Harriet interrogates a growing list of suspects with the help of her long-suffering best friend, Robert Martin, not only does she have to contend with a potential homicidal maniac and striking out as a single woman in Regency society but is also afraid her father (and former partner-in-crime) is out for revenge.
With a cast of unforgettable characters—including a charming scoundrel, a lovesick farmer, a ghoulish butler, and a ruthless heiress determined to hide her skeletons at any cost— this brilliantly reimagined mystery featuring the characters from Jane Austen’s Emma is as deliciously dark as it is delightfully clever.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
A witty debut whodunit that reimagines Harriet Smith, the
gullible sidekick of Jane Austen’s Emma , as a spitfire con
woman, hired to break off an engagement and uncover a murderer in the genteel
village of Highbury.
“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure.”
—Jane Austen, Emma
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Available Now!! Dangerously Ours by Krista & Becca Ritchie
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Available Now!! Gray Area by Kay Cove
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BOOK REVIEW FOR A Harlem Wedding by Tiffany L. Warren
A Harlem Wedding
by Tiffany L.
Warren
Published: May 12,
2026 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Historical
Fiction, African American
A century ago, Harlem’s glittering social scene had a single Yolande Du Bois, the only child of N.A.A.C.P. icon W.E.B. Du Bois. Yolande was bold, vivacious, and beloved of every gossip columnist. A true daddy’s girl, Yolande followed her father’s advice on from where she went to college (Fisk—Papa’s alma mater) to which sorority she joined (Delta Sigma Theta). But in matters of the heart, Yolande and her father did not agree. Dr. Du Bois himself curated a string of handsome suitors from the “Talented Tenth” for her, but Yolande’s true love was jazz musician Jimmie Lunceford, son of a working-class family from far-off Denver, Colorado. Their romance was an open secret, and more than a little scandalous.
Despite it all, Yolande wound up marrying her father’s famed poet Countee Cullen. Their lavish uptown wedding was the hottest social ticket of 1928. With three thousand attendees, sixteen bridesmaids, and Langston Hughes as a groomsman, it was truly a sight to behold.
But, immediately after the wedding, Yolande’s carefully constructed fairy tale begins to crumble. Torn between the expectations of her father and society and her heart’s true desire, Yolande is forced to decide whether she must leave Harlem to create a more authentic life on her own terms.
A Harlem Wedding is a heady read about love, notoriety, Black excellence, deception, and the très chic lifestyles of the Black elite, from speakeasies of Harlem and the green fields of Fisk University, all the way to Le Grand Duc in Paris.
My Thoughts: I
really enjoy reading American history books.
I love that I got to learn about Harlem. The people, the music, and the communities
that live in or around Harlem have so many stories to tell and some of them
were told in A Harlem Wedding.
The entire book seemed so true to the time and the
location. Women were raised to be wives
and moms, men worked to support their families, father’s found husbands for
their daughters. That is the story of
Yolande’s life. She is unique in that
she went away to college, she took a stand against her father when she
could. She followed her father’s rules
but she also knew when to push for her freedom to make her own choices.
I was pulled right into this book becoming quickly invested
in the characters and their stories to tell.
The sights and sounds of Harlem came alive as I read. I enjoyed every page, every word of this
book. Tiffany L. Warren, the author,
has been added to my must-read author list.
Thank you William Morrow Books for a copy of the book in
exchange for my honest review.
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Friday, May 8, 2026
Release Blitz for Roulette Rising by Brandy Hynes
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Thursday, May 7, 2026
Book Blitz for Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol by Bianca Rowena with a GIVEAWAY
Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol
Bianca Rowena
Publication date: April 28th 2026
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult
He who controls the media, controls the world.
In a world where a young woman only has two choices, marry by age 18 and procreate naturally, or be thrown into a fertility prison, AnAn finds herself in an arranged marriage to K-Pop Idol Taejung, who is running from the paparazzi and his government.
Can Taejung and AnAn stop the One World Nation’s plot to use K-pop concerts and fans, to win the world election, or will Taejung be pulled back into the K-pop world he left behind, and AnAn lose her first love?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
Taejung studied her silently from his corner of the room and AnAn’s face flushed. She looked away, but her eyes kept returning to him even as the Building Families Official continued to talk. He looked like he’d just walked off the set of a Hear4U music video.
“AnAn, let me be direct,” the Official said. “Your arrangement to Taylor here is a unique situation. Building Families is expanding its repopulation efforts, globally.” The lady gave her a forced smile.
AnAn’s reporter instincts told her this was far from the truth. Taejung didn’t look like he even wanted to be here, let alone volunteer to repopulate the West, with her.
Author Bio:
Bianca Rowena was born in Romania, Transylvania and has enjoyed writing from a young age. She now lives in Canada, which is the setting and inspiration for her novels. Bianca studied Cinema/Television/Stage/Radio at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
GIVEAWAY!
Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol Blitz
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Book Review for Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn
Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn
Published: May
5, 2026 by Bloom Books
Taken from Goodreads: From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a new laugh-out-loud summer rom-com.
He clicked "yes" on a dare. She bought a failing candy shop. Now they're neighbors for the summer―and neither is ready for what comes next.
Renley Gossage has one shot to prove she's more than Cape Meril's favorite cautionary tale: restore her favorite candy shop before the town writes her off like they did her father. No help, no shortcuts, and definitely no rich men wielding engagement rings and making things messy.
Theo Williams never planned on ending up in Cape Meril. A drunken game of truth or dare turned into a botched online engagement, and now he's across the ocean, escaping his father's control with nothing but designer shoes, misplaced confidence, and a rental next door to Renley.
She's practical, stubborn, and covered in paint. He's posh, persistent, and willing to use a sander if it means earning her trust.
Between collapsing drywall, gossiping neighbors, and the chaotic schemes of Renley's aunt, their forced proximity turns into something dangerously close to real.
But Renley's future depends on standing on her own two feet, and Theo's past isn't done with him yet. By the time the candy shop doors open, they'll have to decide if this is just a summer fling―or the happily ever after neither of them saw coming.
My Thoughts: This
book has 500+ pages and every single one of them is wonderful. They are fun and flirty, full of
friendships, lots of dares and many truths.
I enjoyed every page that I read and could not wait continue
reading.
I was not sure what to think of Theo and Renley. They both had their reasons for signing up
for the website, rather funny reasons, but they are so not right for each
other. Seeing privileged Theo come to
the US with his “butler”, aka best friend, and circle around Renley had me
giggling, cringing, and sighing in frustration. I enjoyed every interaction they had, hoping
that they would figure their lives out and their feelings for each other.
I am a fan of Meghan Quinn.
Every book of hers is entertaining, full of fun banter, great
relationships, and quirky characters.
Rules for the Summer is the perfect addition to my Meghan Quinn shelf.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list onGoodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Book Review for The Cove by L.J. Ross
Summer
Suspense Mysteries #1
The Cove by L.J. Ross
Published: May 5,
2026 by Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery, Crime
Gabrielle Adams has it all – brains, beauty, a handsome fiancé, and a dream job
in publishing. Until, one day, everything changes.
The ‘Underground Killer’ takes his victims when they least expect it: standing
on the edge of a busy Tube platform, as they wait for a train to arrive through
the murky underground tunnels of London.
Gabrielle soon learns that being a survivor is harder than being a victim, and
she struggles to return to her old life. Desperate to break free from the
endless nightmares, she snatches up an opportunity to run a tiny bookshop in a
picturesque cove in rural Cornwall.
She thinks she’s found the perfect escape, but has she swapped one nightmare
for another?
Suspense and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced
thriller, set amidst the spectacular Cornish landscape.
My Thoughts:
The first half of The Cove I thought I was reading a romance book. The second half I was reading a lightweight
crime mystery book. I enjoyed the book,
it was easy to read, I read it in just a few hours, but it was not a mystery
thriller book as I expected.
The characters were fun but did not have a lot of
depth. They are what they are, doing
what they do, but I was not surprised by any of it. Even the who-dun-it part was given away too
easily. I wish for more of a buildup,
more of a guessing game for the reader.
If you are looking for a quick and easy read, this is a book
for you. It is not a long book and the
story moves exactly as expected.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and
became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, more than thirty of
her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general
release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has
reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction
charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and
addictive storytelling.
Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel
story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals
audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris
and Alun Armstrong.
The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers
series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020:
Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor,
narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York
Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category. Louise was
shortlisted again in 2023 for the nineteenth novel in her DCI Ryan
series, Bamburgh.
In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious
Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an
author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library
borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of
libraries. She was shortlisted again in 2024.
Louise was born in Northumberland. She studied undergraduate
and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in
Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was
a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career. Now,
she writes full time and lives with her husband and two children in
Northumberland.
To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures
Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies
Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.
Book Review for Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Summer State of Mind by Kristy
Woodson Harvey
Published: May
5, 2026 by Gallery Books
Genre: Summer
Romance, Southern
After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.
Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.
But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.
My Thoughts: Southern writing its best. Kristy Woodson Harvey is must-read southern
hospitality writing. Summer State of
Mind took me right into Cape Carolina with Daisy, Tilly, and the rest of the
wonderful characters. Very quickly, I
became attached to Daisy. Her career as
a nurse, especially as a baby nurse, put her as a hero in my eyes and as I
learned more about her life she became more of a hero and someone I was
invested in. I loved seeing her find her
way in a new hospital and with her new friends.
Tilly, oh Tilly!
This character is a character.
Her spells had me giggling a little but realizing how much they affect
her life. As an friend and family
member, she is the favorite and the one that you know will always have your
back. She is also the one who is most likely to get you in trouble and then get
you out of it. The adventures she has have her living life to the fullest. She is learning to open her heart to new
relationships and adventures, while not forgetting her past.
Summer State of Mind is an amazing, must-read book. I will recommend this book to anyone who
loves a book with wonderfully developed characters, a storyline that pulls you
in from the very beginning, and a setting that is beautiful.
Thank you Gallery Books for a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon