Review | Where I Should’ve Been by Max Monroe

Everyone in the smalltown of Red Bridge, Vermont, knows Tad Hanson, the hot sheep farmer who can’t control his flock. He doesn’t believe in forever, but he’ll be the best time you’ve ever had―right now. What they don’t know is why.

He’s too charming, too good with that addicting smile of his, too committed to keeping his dark past buried, and too stubborn to imagine his life could be any other way.

Until a snowstorm―and one beautiful woman―send his carefully controlled world spinning.

Successful art director Beatrice “Breezy” Bishop thought she had life figured out―until her father gave her the middle finger from the grave and left the family galleries she built to her entitled younger brother. With nothing left in New York but resentment and regret, she temporarily heads to Red Bridge, looking for space to breathe.

Instead, she finds a sexy, flirty, secret fling with Tad, and a rivalry with the editor of Red Bridge’s newspaper. It’s chaotic, but it’s the happiest she’s ever been.

But secrets never stay secrets for long, and when hearts get involved―and the universe clearly has other plans―walking away isn’t as easy as they thought.

Amazon | Goodreads | Shop the Series

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was my first time reading something from Max Monroe and I didn’t realize this was the 3rd in the series (though I had no issues reading this one out of order) but I will definitely be picking up more.

Breezy – who has been breaking her back to run her family’s art galleries and then has the business yanked out from under her when her father dies and leaves the business to her younger brother (who knows nothing about the galleries) and Tad – a fireman turned sheep farmer who has a ton of past trauma and baggage that keeps him from getting close to people are complex characters who both carry a lot of baggage they need to work through. Breezy has come to Red Bridge to stay with her older brother and try to figure out what she wants to do with her life now that she no longer has the galleries.

Neither one of them are looking for a relationship but their attraction is undeniable so things move rather quickly to what they consider a no strings, casual relationship. Their banter is top notch and it’s great to watch them grow closer without realizing that feelings are developing. Though this was my first foray into Red Bridge, the other characters still had their own fully fledged identities and histories that gave the environment a three dimensional feel (and I can’t wait to check out the first two books in the series).

The only (slight) detractor for me was the lack of communication/miscommunication felt like it went on just a little too long – but that’s probably a me thing as I have a lower tolerance for excessive miscommunication. I understood the motivations behind not wanting to talk about baggage or old scars that kept trying to open, but at some point you just want to lock them in a room and make them talk. (haha)

The climax of the story though was a whirlwind and perfect turning points for both characters in a lot of ways. It definitely kept me on my toes there for a bit until the end and made me even more certain I want to catch up and read the first two.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop by

Under the energetic star of Neptune the doors to people’s hearts are opening…

In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a bright moon.

Under one such moon in August, Neptune pays the Full Moon Coffee Shop a visit, taking the form of a beautiful human called Sala. Sala’s special talent is giving people dreams and helping them to open their hearts. As the cats work with Sala, they find new ways to guide people as their customers face personal conflict.

When Satsuki, returning home after she spent three years away with minimal contact, decides to introduce her new boyfriend to her mother Fujiko, she learns an unexpected truth about her family’s past.

Meanwhile, Fujiko is struggling to come to terms with her true feelings about her place in life and author Wataru is facing writer’s block after years of success. Can Sala and the cats help Fujiko and Wataru open their hearts?

Beautifully weaving together three people in a story about love in all forms, this heartwarming novel in the USA Today bestselling series highlights the importance of being true to oneself and recognizing one’s innermost feelings.

Amazon | Goodreads | Shop The Series

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve loved the previous two books in this series, so immediately wanted to get my hands on this one when I heard it was coming out. Once again we follow the cats who run the Full Moon Coffee shop and the people who come to them. As with the other two, there are connections in this one to the previous one (Satsuki, who was prominent in one of the stories in Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop, returns in this one) and while it follows a similar format – this one is more insular. It focuses on Satsuki’s mother and her childhood friend. While it has a similar theme of their astrology and how the elements/signs in their birth chart may influence them, this one took a different spin in that it really touched on messing with space and time, and all the different possibilities of lives one may have depending on the choices they make.

While I’ve really enjoyed the way the previous books had more loosely connected people, this one being just about a small unit and piecing together the way they could adjust their paths in lives and satisfy their hearts. Some of the reveals were pretty easy to piece together, but seeing how everything came together and resolved was amazing. It’s definitely a tearjerker so make sure you have your tissues handy.

Dreamers of the Full Moon Coffee Shop comes out on August 25th, so make sure to pick up a copy!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Let’s Talk About AI

Hey all! I mostly had this on my mind today because of Instagram (do you follow me? If not, find me HERE) but thought I would talk about it here too.

As we all know Generative AI has been encroaching on creative spaces – art is being stolen, people are specifically asking AI to “create” art based on specific artists or authors, and they are illegally feeding copyrighted works into AI to further this goal. A lot of people who don’t use AI at all are getting accused of it and the latest wrinkle is that Meta’s AI detection (which is AI itself…see the irony) is incorrectly labeling posts made in Canva, Lightroom, Procreate etc as ‘possibly’ AI generated – I’ve even seen some instances where photographs with no editing are being labeled (make it make sense…). None of my posts have been labeled, but in case they ever do I want to be clear where I stand.

I do not and will not knowingly use generative AI in my posts, reviews, graphics or anything else.

Yes, I know there’s a typo in the first line…I saw it after posting on instagram and figured hey, at least you’ll know I wrote it myself! 😂

Now I’m going to go get some reading done so I can post some reviews!

Happy reading!

Review | Snacks, Schedules and Everyone’s a Suspect by Kristin Elizabeth

In a town where the carline is the social hub, everyone knows everyone.

Or at least, they think they do.

When a parent is found dead and another disappears, Maddie Carter finds herself pulled into a mystery she never meant to solve. Between school drop-offs, therapy appointments, and daily chaos, she begins to notice what others miss.

And the more she looks…

The less anything makes sense.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a fast paced cozy mystery featuring two best friends trying to figure out who murdered one of the dad’s from carline – pick this one up. We follow Maddie, a mom to autistic Lennon, who is struggling a bit with her identity and being more than just Lennon’s mom. Beyond Tara, her best friend who has a daughter Lennon’s age, she doesn’t really know many of the other parents and is feeling quite adrift.

While this is a fun, quick read with a mystery that definitely keeps you guessing – I also really appreciated some of Maddie’s internal dialogue regarding her struggles as Lennon’s mom, the juxtaposition of her love for her son with the stress and effort that went into his care. It was nice to see her break out of her struggle to try and figure out who the murderer was.

The writing was super easy to consume and the story was very fast paced, which made it a super fast read and could probably be easily consumed in one sitting. There were some phrases that were repeated perhaps too many times but it wasn’t a huge detractor.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the story and had a great time reading it.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Still Smitten by Catana Chetwynd

#1 New York Times Bestselling comics creator Catana returns with an all-new collection, filled to the brim with the heartwarming, cozy commentary on love, relationships, and growing up that fans know and love.

In Still Smitten, Catana welcomes readers into the next chapter of her love story as she shares the ups, downs, and laugh-filled in-betweens of being in a long-term relationship that both celebrates and challenges as you grow alongside each other. With an emphasis on keeping the spark alive, staying in love, and continuing to find your way back to your person after years of individual growth, Still Smitten is the perfect gift for anyone who has found their forever person.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve loved Catana Comics for many years now, starting with her instagram posts and then picking up the printed collections when they came out – so imagine my surprise when I saw a new collection came out that I hade missed.

This collection feels more settled than some of the earlier collections and by that I mean it’s more focused on a relationship that is stable, no longer new, but still immensely happy. A lot of the comics are relatable for relationships, earlier collections might be more geared towards newer relationships, but this one is definitely for those who have been in a relationship for a while and know their partner like the back of their hand.

As always the art style is charming and quick to consume, all of the comics are short form, but perfect in their bite size nature, highlighting snapshots of Catana and John’s relationship (though my husband and I often joke we feel like their watching us since so many of the comics are relatable for us).

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Rising Waters by Aleatha Romig

A dark atmospheric psychological thriller packed with small-town secrets, buried trauma, and shocking twists.

She escaped her past—and the man she never forgot.
Now with two girls missing, she’s pulled back into a deadly game she may not survive.

Jillian Thorne built her career making the unreal feel real.
On Hollywood soundstages, she stages murder, kidnapping, and violent crime with chilling authenticity—turning fiction into gripping entertainment.

But nothing she’s created compares to the truth waiting in Blue Gil.
Nearly six years after escaping her small hometown, Jillian is drawn back by the suspicious death of the town’s beloved high school football coach. What first appears to be a tragic loss quickly unravels into something far more sinister—a dark mystery no one is willing to confront.

Because in Blue Gil, secrets aren’t just buried… they’re protected.
As disturbing clues surface and a brutal tragedy strikes dangerously close to home, Jillian finds herself trapped inside a real-life psychological thriller. The instincts that made her successful in Hollywood may be the key to solving the crime—or the very thing clouding her judgment.

Everyone in this small town is hiding something.
Including Jillian.

To uncover the truth, she must break through an unspoken code of silence, deception, and loyalty—and face the past she thought she left behind. Because some secrets refuse to stay buried.

And in this twisted game of suspense, trusting the wrong person could be deadly.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Jillian is returning home the first time in six years, back to the hometown she has avoided, because the local football coach has died and she wants to find out the truth. From the get go it appears to be a simple mystery of finding out who killed the coach, but it’s so much more than that. Jillian soon realizes that while she’s from Blue Gil, she’s still being treated as an outsider and coming up against a lot of dead ends in her search for the truth.

I’m not going to give details but things swiftly take a turn and suddenly there are many more secrets to uncover other than just those related to the coach’s death…and why Jillian felt the need to return.

This book is full of twists and turns, a few well placed red herrings and tons of secrets to uncover – not just the town’s secrets, but Jillian’s as well. I will say I figured out pretty early on what happened to the coach, but the reveals (yes, there are multiple) still packed a punch and contained some surprises. Jillian as a character is complex, as she’s coming to terms with her past and motivations while also reconciling who she is now to people she’s known her entire life. Her family dynamics are pretty messy, but the reasons for that do also get revealed.

Romig’s writing was really easy to get into and once I got about 30-40% into the book I could not put it down. I’ll definitely be checking out more of her writing in the future as this was a really enjoyable read.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Ghost of What Remains by Maeve Garner

Sometimes the dead fight just as hard as the living to keep the past buried…especially at Jasper Lake…

Rhys McClaine doesn’t believe in ghosts. Or in wasting his time. So, overseeing a supernatural investigation at his family’s lakeside mansion wasn’t something he looked forward to. Until he met the beautiful paranormal psychologist his great-aunt hired and everything changed…

Phoebe Davenport has dedicated her life to giving the dead a voice. But the living? They’re far more mysterious. Especially him. Rhys is infuriating. Brilliant. Confident. Insufferably handsome. Working with him should be impossible. So why does it feel so…right?

Every secret they uncover draws them closer to the truth and to each other. But when love collides with ghosts that won’t rest, will survival cost Rhys and Phoebe their happily ever after?

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I love reading books that have some aspect of ghosts or haunted houses, so I was excited to get to this one. I will say, I do wish I had read the first two books first so I had more of that foundation to the story, but it was still really enjoyable.

Maeve Garner’s writing is very atmospheric and lyrical, sometimes this can drag down the pace but I felt it was really well done in this case. It also adds to the overall feel of the book and lent well to the paranormal/supernatural elements.

This book was a wonderful combination of romance, ghost story and lots of emotional moments. The romance was really well balanced, great instant attraction without being insta-love and a slow burn that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’m hoping I’ll have time to go back and read the trilogy as a whole so I can see how all the stories connect and work together.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Hart & Souls by Amy J. Elliott

Love never dies, and neither does he, in this second chance romance with a ghostly twist.

Ruby Hart used to believe in happily ever afters. It’s why she runs the Big Tippers and Bodice Rippers book club at the library where she works. But after calling off her engagement six months ago, romance feels more like fiction than fact.

So color Ruby surprised when she gets a call from her ex-fiancé’s phone, only to learn Oliver Blackwood has died in an accident. Or so she thinks, until she comes home to find Ollie’s ghost waiting for her.

Turns out Ruby is a Navigator, part of a long line of Hart women destined to guide souls to the beyond. But when she touches Ollie, he doesn’t move on. Because while he’s dead…he’s also sort of not.

Ollie did betray Ruby, but not the way she thinks. When he was alive, he hunted the undead, tracking a spreading infection that could become an epidemic. Now he is the undead, and he’s tethered to Ruby until they find his zombie body and the creature that bit him, laying them both to rest.

Living with your ex’s ghost 24/7 makes it hard to hold a grudge, and Ruby quickly realizes she might not be as over Ollie as she thought. But if they succeed, Ollie will finally cross over…and Ruby will lose him for good.

For a librarian who wants to believe in happily ever afters again, it may be the ultimate heartbreak.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’m definitely on a paranormal romance kick lately and this one definitely fit the bill. In it we follow Ruby, who has had a bit of a rough time, what with breaking up with her fiancé – when she receives word that he’s actually died. She soon finds out though that things are not that cut and dry, considering she goes home to find Ollie in her house…less corporeal, but there. Thus started their journey to figure out what was going on, while also coming to grips with what that means for them and their relationship. There’s a lot of heartbreak, humor and hijinks so it was a very enjoyable read. There are a lot of things along the way that Ruby and Ollie learn about each other, some resolving of miscommunication, but also some further miscommunication that they need to figure out. The relationships between Ruby, her cousin, mother and aunt are also wonderful to read about and set a good foundation for where the series may go (excited to see that the 2nd book is about Sloane!).

While this is a fun read, and definitely fits that cozy paranormal romance box, there’s also a lot of real trauma and baggage that Ruby especially has to work through – be warned death of a parent and the grief associated is discussed – but the way Ruby processes and comes to terms with that is beautifully done.

It still remains to be seen if the Hart women are truly cursed or not, so maybe that question will be answered in the future!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Sunscreen and Spellbooks by Fleur DeVillainy

From author Fleur DeVillainy, author of Spellbound Scones and Sky of Thorns comes a new summer romance that will leave you laughing, swooning and flushed.

Welcome to Crescent Cove—where the sun shines, secrets linger, and every tide brings a little magic.

Catherine Prescott doesn’t believe in magic. Not anymore. Once a prodigy witch, now a burnt-out marketing exec, she’s traded spells for spreadsheets—until a sudden layoff leaves her with nothing but severance pay and an invitation to housesit her aunt’s beach cottage in Crescent Cove.

Her summer plans? Sunscreen, solitude, and maybe a little self-discovery.
Reality? A mischievous dog, a house full of enchanted junk, and a maddeningly handsome marine biologist who insists she’s “disrupting leyline energy.”

Elliot Fitzgerald is sunshine in human form—tanned, barefoot, and entirely too charming. He’s also a sea lion shifter sworn to protect the cove’s magic. When Cat accidentally stirs dormant power beneath the waves, he offers to teach her how to control it… if she agrees to stay close.

Now they’re fake-dating to throw off nosy locals, knee-deep in magical chaos, and discovering that the ocean isn’t the only thing with dangerous pull.

Witty, witchy, and warm as a summer sunset— Sunscreen and Spellbooks is a beachy paranormal rom-com about rediscovering your magic, finding where you belong, and falling in love under the tide.

Amazon | Goodreads | Shop the Series

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Having read some of Fleur’s writing before, I was excited to pick this one up (and definitely will be reading some of the other installments in the Crescent Cove series). If you’re looking for a summery paranormal read, this one fits the bill. We follow Catherine and Elliot. Catherine has just lost her job and is a bit adrift, when her aunt asks if she watch her dog for her while she goes on a trip – since she’s lost her job she decides to pack up her life and go back to her small town to do so. Elliot is a sea lion shifter who’s happy in his life working at an animal rescue, but also acknowledges that there’s something missing.

Hilarity ensues as the magic Catherine has tried to shut away and leave behind starts going haywire, especially when Elliot is around. She’s constantly telling herself she’s leaving at the end of summer, so that adds a bit of yearning to the mix. Their relationship as it grows is great to watch, and there’s some further depth as she finally starts to deal with the loneliness and grief that she’s been trying to ignore. She definitely has a ton of growth as a character and the story has a great arc.

Sunscreen and Spellbooks is available now, and on Kindle Unlimited!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Fade to Black by Emily Prescott

October 3, 2014
The happiest I’ve ever been in my life was when I was talking with you. This can’t be it.

Being reminded of this message on one of the worst night’s of my life is the definition of a silver lining. I’d been truly blocked on what to write for my next screenplay, but now I’m eager to plot out a romance born of online messages and flirty glances shared with my best friend’s older brother, Graham. I’m on fire to write about millennial messaging angst and give these characters the happily ever after that Graham and I never got.

Will it be good enough for a theatrical release? I hope so. But the writing is a struggle almost as soon as I start, and it only gets harder when Graham texts to say he’ll be in Los Angeles for three weeks.

He wants me to tour him around LA and though we’ve formed a loose friendship over the years at his family Christmases and backyard BBQs, our resurrected message threads bring everything up for me. It’s infuriating because he has no idea.

Graham is as calm, cool, and cocky as I remember from those summer trips to Old Orchard, and it has me wondering if any of it had been real. If it could be again. Or if like many things, the question of us is better left in the past.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a summer read full of yearning and nostalgia (at least for those of us who are millennials) this one will definitely fit the bill. This story is so full of angst and yearning, it’s is chock full of emotional upheaval but is so worth it by the end. I loved the mix of media in a way, going not only between the past and present but including sections of Beverly’s screenplay and messages between her and Graham.

Prescott’s writing was a pleasure to read, it flowed well. Both the humor and the angst felt authentic and genuine, the descriptions of not only the characters and their feelings, but the locations definitely painted a picture. You’ll definitely be in your feels reading this, but it is such an enjoyable read and worth it.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.