Week 51 Review: Just Stab Me Now

From Goodreads:

A desperate mother. A dubious escort. And a deranged author who won't leave them alone.

Caroline Lindley is determined that her new romance novel will be her best one yet. Fantasy! Formal gowns! Fencing! And, of course, a twentysomething heroine to star in an enemies-to-lovers plot with all of Caroline's favourite tropes.

But Lady Rosamund Hawkhurst is a thirty-six-year-old widow with two children, her sole focus is facilitating a peace treaty between her adopted nation and her homeland, and she flatly refuses to take the correct approach to there being Only One Bed.

What's an author to do?

Based on her popular Fantasy Heroine YouTube Shorts series, Jill Bearup's debut novel brings us the best of worlds both meta and medieval-inspired. Terry Pratchett aficionados will enjoy the political intrigue paired with convivial, tongue-in-cheek satire. And then there's the slow-burn, fade-to-black romance too . . .

If you loved Stranger Than Fiction and The Princess Bride, you will soon find yourself cheering on enemies-to-BFFs Rosamund and Caroline as together they learn what it means to be the hero of your own story.

My Review:


Author: Jill Bearup
Read: December 20th, 2024 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book and a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Sword Lady Books
Published: February 5th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Dead Post Society

From Goodreads:

The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, they've encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time they'd decided to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property have been repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer had no use for the headmaster's house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day.

Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure's demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

My Review:
I had such a great time reading this book! I love this series, and a lot happened in the previous book in their personal lives, which carried over into this one. This mystery in this book, that happened so long ago, was interesting to investigate, since it happened before she was even born! I think this is the one that takes place over the longest period of time, which made sense given how long ago the crime happened. 

This is the first book where the main project isn't really connected to the mystery. Sure, it used to be the same plot, but the house flip is the headmaster house, and they're helping her uncle with the school for more ost the book instead of the headmaster's house, which is the focus of mystery. So that was interesting.

How it was solved was really interesting, with the slow gathering of what evidence might still remain after all this time, with interviews, and putting the pieces together! That ending was pretty shocking, but satisfying to read! 

Of course there's updates in their lives, with the birth of Buck's baby girl, and her and Collin being married, with questions about when they'd have a child of their own, but you know, they haven't been married for a year yet. At least not until the end of the book! That ending was so sweet! 

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Diane Kelly! 

Author: Diane Kelly 
Series: A House-Flipper Mystery #7
Read: December 19th, 2024 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Expected Publication: April 1st 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Legend of the White Snake

From Goodreads:

A snake spirit transforms into a boy and must hide his true identity after falling for a headstrong prince in this lush, romantic retelling of the traditional Chinese folktale.

When Prince Xian was a boy, a white snake bit his mother and condemned her to a slow, painful death. The only known cure is an elusive spirit pearl—or an antidote created from the rare white snake itself. Desperate and determined, Xian travels to the city of Changle, where an oracle predicted he would find and capture a white snake.

Seven years ago, Zhen, a white snake in the West Lake, consumed a coveted spirit pearl, which gave him special powers—including the ability to change into human form.

In Changle, Xian encounters an enigmatic but beautiful stable boy named Zhen. The two are immediately drawn to each other, but Zhen soon realizes that he is the white snake Xian is hunting. As their feelings grow deeper, will the truth about Zhen's identity tear them apart? 

My Review:


Author: Sher Lee
Read: December 17th, 2024
Source: Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, SAC 2024 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book! 
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Published: October 15th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Sanctuary Bay

From Goodreads:
In this genre-bending YA thriller, will Sarah Merson's shiny new prep school change her life forever or bring it to a dark and sinister end?

When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country-Sanctuary Bay Academy-it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation. 

In this genre-bending YA thriller, Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Sarah's new school may seem like an idyllic temple of learning, but as she unearths years of terrifying history and manipulation, she discovers this "school" is something much more sinister.

My Review:


Authors: Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
Read: December 17th, 2024
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Sounded really awesome, and it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: January 19th 2016

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Goblins & Greatcoats

From Goodreads:

A goblin with too many pockets and a disturbing affinity for cutlery, a rain-soaked night, four adventurers, a pair of corpses, a junk-drawer knife, some unfortunate taxidermy, and a beleaguered Gatewarden…

These are the primary ingredients in a locked-room mystery that can only be solved by the Territory's most unlikely detective.

Her name is Zyll.

Her eyes are keen, her teeth are sharp, and the chaos of her passing leaves no murder unsolved.

My Review:


Author: Travis Baldree
Read: December 17th, 2024 
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love his writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Subterranean Press
Published: June 24th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Influencer

From Goodreads:

Aaron Fortin is new in town. He drives a brand-new Acura—a gift from his parents for uprooting him in the middle of senior year. Showing up on his first day at the local public school in that nice of a car? He knows he'll never blend in, and he doesn't care to try. The car, the new kid mystique, he can use all that…

Crystal Giordano carpools to the same school in her friend Trevor's beat-up van. In the van along with Crystal and Trevor are Paul, Harmony, and Gayle. Crystal's technically part of their misfit group, but most of the time, she feels like she's the only one who doesn't fit.

When Aaron Fortin sits at their lunch table, Crystal can see he's not who he says he is. But how big of a fraud is Aaron Fortin? Crystal clumsily exposes Aaron and becomes his target, falling victim to his insidious campaign to erase her. Only then does she discover who he truly is—and it's so much worse than she thought.

As her friends begin to follow him one by one, Crystal wonders if she can protect them or if his influence is just too strong.

Please note: This Audible Original contains graphic violence and themes of drug addiction and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

My Review:


Author: Adam Cesare
Read: December 17th, 2024
Source: Audible 
Reason Why: Love his writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Audible Originals
Published: November 2nd 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Two Can Play

From Goodreads:

An enemies-to-lovers spicy romance set in the world of video gaming from the bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis—available only in audio!

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can't think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there's more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

My Review:


Author: Ali Hazelwood 
Read: December 17th, 2024
Source: Library
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Published: October 1st 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Snowed In

From Goodreads:

From beach-read favorite Rachel Hawthorne, author of Caribbean Cruising and Love on the Lifts , comes another winter romance perfect to get snowed-in with! Great for fans of Stephanie Perkins, Lauren Barnholdt and Susane Colasanti. Seventeen-year-old Ashleigh is about to experience a lot of things for the first time. 1) Snow. She and her mom are moving from sunny Texas to an icy island in the middle of Lake Michigan, which is completely snowbound. As in, no cars, just sleighs. 2) Small-town life. The icy island? Yep, it's tiny. Like, 30 people in the whole high school tiny. And scariest of 3) Boys. Of course they had boys in Texas. But none of them were as irresistible—or as hard to figure out—as Josh Wynter. And before the snow melts, Ashleigh might also be falling in love …

My Review:


Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Read: December 16th, 2024 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: November 27th 2007

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: The Girl in Question

From Goodreads:

Four teens. Three henchmen. Two thousand acres of remote forest. One very bad man. And a whole lot of new secrets to unearth. The unmissable, thrilling follow-up to The Girls I've Been (soon to be a Netflix film).

High school is over, but Nora O’Malley's life isn't, which is weird now that her murderous stepdad Raymond is free. Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a ten day backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. Her plans hit a snag when Wes's girlfriend tags along. Amanda is nice, so it's not a huge issue—until she gets taken. Or rather, mistaken…for Nora. All because of a borrowed flannel.

Now Raymond has a hostage. Nora has no leverage. Iris has a spear and Wes is building boobytraps. It'll take all of their skills to make it out of the forest alive.

There are three Someone is lying. Someone is keeping secrets.

And someone has to die.

My Review:


Author: Tess Sharpe 
Series: The Girls I've Been #2 
Read: December 16th, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and the first book, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: May 14th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: In Deeper Waters

From Goodreads:

A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family's kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.

Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.

That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…

My Review:


Author: F.L. Lukens 
Read: December 16th, 2024  
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love their writing and it sounded really good, and it's a Historical Fiction 2024 Book, SAC 2024 Book and WoW Book!
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: April 20th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: A Killing Cold

From Goodreads:

A woman invited to her wealthy fiance's family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she's been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

A whirlwind romance.

When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he's brought her to Idlewood, his family's isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Stay away from Connor Dalton.

Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can't ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

I've been here before.

Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.

My Review:
Oh, I loved reading this book! I really enjoy Kate Alice Marshall's writing, and the mysteries that she crafts, man, are stunning, thrilling, gripping, and addicting! I can't get enough, I have to know how it ends, and this particular one on a remote mountain, not knowing who to trust? Yeah, I loved it! 

We get the story of Theo, someone who has doesn't know her past as a young child, and the time between then and when she was a teen was pretty scarring, and I loved how we got snippets of that part. To have her fiance bring her to the family retreat, and finding a picture of herself from the time that she doesn't remember? The need for answers was strong.

Kate Alice Marshall just has a way with mysteries. The way things were set up, with the family, and their secrets, and presenting information so it looked one way, but once you had all the facts, it was almost a completely different picture. I didn't know what to expect, so I had to keep reading.

As the questions and answers mounted about what happened on that mountain all those years ago, to her mom, to his dad, the more apprehensive I became. Because someone didn't want her there, and this is a powerful family, and they're used to coming out on top at any cost-and she was in the way of that. It was so well done, and the way things wrapped up was almost fully satisfying, there was just that one bit that was unfortunate, but I think the right choice was made. 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Kate Alice Marshall! 

Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Read: December 16th, 2024
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book!  
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Expected Publication: February 4th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: If I Stopped Haunting You

From Goodreads:

An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she's a publishing pariah and hasn't been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling "book without a soul," as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they're stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn't have been enemies at all? But if they can't stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!

My Review:


Author: Colby Wilkens 
Read: December 15th, 2024 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book and a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: October 15th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: Rules for Being a Girl

From Goodreads:
It starts before you can even remember: You learn the rules for being a girl. . . .

Marin has always been good at navigating these unspoken guidelines. A star student and editor of the school paper, she dreams of getting into Brown University. Marin's future seems bright―and her young, charismatic English teacher, Mr. Beckett, is always quick to admire her writing and talk books with her.

But when "Bex" takes things too far and comes on to Marin, she's shocked and horrified. Had she somehow led him on? Was it her fault?

When Marin works up the courage to tell the administration what happened, no one believes her. She's forced to face Bex in class every day. Except now, he has an ax to grind.

But Marin isn't about to back down. She uses the school newspaper to fight back and she starts a feminist book club at school. She finds allies in the most unexpected people, like "slutty" Gray Kendall, who she'd always dismissed as just another lacrosse bro. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and write her own rules.

My Review:


Authors: Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno
Read: December 15th, 2024
Source: Edelweiss/Bought
Reason Why: Sounded really great and I enjoy Katie Cotugno's writing! And it's a SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: April 7th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars