The Sound That Found Me.

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

  4.5★

 Thank you to the author, Jillian Marie for providing me with E -ARC in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own. 

 

 

At sixteen, Heather Brown meets a boy on vacation who changes the way the world sounds. One summer. One connection. And then it’s over—before either of them knows how to hold on. 

Fifteen years later, Heather’s life looks exactly the way it’s supposed to. She’s engaged. Her career is thriving. Her future is mapped out in sensible, adult decisions. What she doesn’t have is the feeling she’s spent years convincing herself she outgrew. 

Bradley Hart carried it with him. 

He turned that summer into music—and the music into a career. Now a rising star, Bradley’s songs are built on memory, longing, and the girl who taught him what it meant to feel something that deep for the first time. 

When Heather hears one of his songs, it doesn’t feel like nostalgia. It feels like a message. 

Reaching out reconnects them in a way that’s immediate, complicated, and impossible to ignore—but timing has teeth now. Heather isn’t free. Bradley isn’t just a memory. And choosing him would mean unraveling a life she’s already promised to someone else. 

This time, the question isn’t whether first love lasts. 

It’s whether telling the truth—about who you were, who you became, and who you still want to be—is worth everything it might cost.

 🌷

 
I'm in love. 

I shouldn't be surprised, since this isn't the first book I've read by the author. The Sound That Found Me had me going through so many different emotions, and I still cannot get the story out of my mind. Heather and Bradley’s story played in my mind like a favorite song. I loved how Jillian connected music to their love story in this book. I was rooting for the two of them from the moment that Heather heard Bradley’s song. Those two belonged together, and I hoped that they would find a way to be together. 

The Sound That Found Me is the type of book that I love when it comes to second-chance romance. I love that they found each other through music. I adored the connection between Bradley and Heather, and as a reader, you wanted them to end up together. Even though Heather was with someone else at the time, they didn’t seem to have the connection that Bradley and Heather did. I loved the character development in this story, especially for Heather; she went a long way from who she was at the beginning. I was so absorbed in this story that I felt as if I were there with Heather and Bradley. 

 

 I loved the friendship from Tory and Nico; they reminded me of my best friends. I’m so glad that Heather had them. In general, I was on edge of my seat for most of the book, and there was part of them that didn’t want to end. I’m already eager for Jillian’s next book.

Interception.

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

   Thank you to author,Emily Louise and Rattle The Stars PR, for opportunity to be part of  ARC Team!  

 

03.25.26   

 

 

Everything was just fine. Until he showed up. Then my world came crashing down around me. 

 
Jackson Bentford was something from my past, a mere memory of a love that I left behind in college. He was the picture-perfect boyfriend, and the reason I became the version of myself I always yearned for. We were madly in love, ready to commit to one another for a lifetime, but secrets managed to make everything fall apart at the seams. Five years later, I moved on to bigger and better things. I’m with a man I love and I’m advancing in my career at ESPN. My life was exactly the way it should have been. 

Then I was blindsided – Jackson strolling back into my life without any warning with his captivating smile, and body that looks like it was carved by the Greek Gods. I should have known that our first interaction after so many years apart would have been intense, but I didn’t realize how life altering his presence would become. 

I, Hillary Brown, knew he was trouble. I knew he would bring nothing but uncertainty into my life, but that didn’t stop me from accepting his friendship. Perhaps it’s for closure. Perhaps it was because my heart couldn’t say no to him, even after all this time. 

No matter how many times I reminded myself that he was simply a friend, it seems I was falling in love with him all over again. 

So what happens when I can’t contain my feelings for my ex-boyfriend, while maintaining a relationship with my current boyfriend? What happens when the secrets I buried five years ago resurrect? 

I should have listened to the warning bells. I should have never let Jackson Bentford back into my life.

   🌷

 

In the past couple of years, I’ve fallen in love with sports romance. I read a few books. When I heard about Interception, I knew that I had to check it out. Just the blurb had me intrigued and wondering about what was going to happen with Hillary and Jackson. This story ended up being so much more than I expected. I was not prepared for the emotions that I would experience while reading this book. Interception is not a story I will forget. I adored Hillary and Jackson’s story, but my heart broke for the two of them on multiple occasions, and I also wanted them to find their way to each other. Their story was inspirational in so many ways. 

b> Interception was a breathtaking debut novel. Emily Louise did an outstanding job of describing everything, especially Hillary and Jackson’s emotions throughout. Even though I couldn’t even begin imagining what Hillary and Jackson went through, I felt as if I did. Interception had one of the best vivid imaginations I have read in a while. You could feel tension and attraction from the moment Jackson came back, and the two of them saw each other. Every scene between the two of them had me turning the pages because I was eager to see what would happen next. I was rooting for two of them from the beginning. 

Emily included some hard issues in this book, which made the story feel so much more realistic. I like how the story transitioned between the present and the past, giving us more insight into Hillary and Jackson’s story. There was part of me that couldn’t stop turning the pages, but there was also part of me that didn’t want the story to end. I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this story, and I’m eager to see what Emily Louise has in store for us next.

Daughter Of Egypt.

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

  Thank you to publisher, St.Martin's Press for providing with complimentary E ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.  

 

03.24.26  

1920’s London was enthralled by the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Filled with priceless statues, jewels, and the gold-encased mummy of the boy Pharaoh himself, the burial site unleashed a fascination with the ancient world and revolutionized the world of archeology.
The discovery was made by Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, famed archeologist Howard Carter. What no one knows is that without the pioneering spirit of Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon’s daughter, the tomb might never have been found. As a young woman, Evelyn was fascinated by the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who had to assume the guise of a man in order to rule Egypt. Although she brought peace and prosperity to Egypt, her male successors ruthlessly and thoroughly erased her name from history. 

Lady Evelyn’s ambition to find the tomb of Egypt’s first woman ruler exposes her to life-threatening danger and pits her against archeologists who refuse to believe the tomb can be found―and certainly not by a woman. Refusing to give up, Evelyn is on the verge of success when she is suddenly forced to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her beloved father and Carter and realizing the dream of a lifetime.

 

  🌷

 
Be prepared for a wild ride! 

There is so much that I can say about this book; there are so many emotions that I am going through me right now. This book was amazing in so many ways. I feel like I shouldn’t be surprised since this isn’t the first book that I read by Marie Benedict, but this story exceeded my expectations. Daughter Of Egypt is a story of two strong women: Lady Evelyn and Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Even though they took place in different timelines, I loved how Evelyn's and Hatshepsut's stories connected. I enjoyed reading from both Evelyn and Hatshepsut’s perspectives; I admired their courage and their determination. Every page had me craving more, wondering if Evelyn and Hatshepsut would be able to accomplish their goals. 

Although I enjoyed both perspectives, I was more intrigued by Hatshepsut’s story. I admired everything that she accomplished, and the way that she didn’t give up on what else she wanted to accomplish. I had a feeling there was a reason Evelyn was so fascinated by her. I didn’t know much about Hatshepsut before reading the book. After reading the story and the author’s note, I wanted to do my own research to learn more. I was intrigued by Egypt’s history. All of the descriptions in Daughter Of Egypt made me wish I were there, although while reading the story, I felt as if I were. 

Both Evelyn and Hatshepsut were such incredible women; I’m still thinking about them. The descriptions in this book were outstanding and had me on the edge of my seat. It was the most atmospheric book that I have read. I have read a few books by Marie Benedict, and Daughter of Egypt is my new favorite. This is a must-read!

It Girl.

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★

 

 Thank you to publisher, Ballantine Books for providing with complimentary E ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

 

New York, 1900. At the dawn of a new century, the city’s streets teem with electricity, automobiles, a brash young President Teddy Roosevelt—and the It Girls. As artist’s muses and working models, these independent young women soar to stardom not because of their pedigrees or inherited wealth, but because of their talent, charisma, and irresistible beauty. Pop culture is born, and in a world alight with Mr. Edison’s new bulbs, no one shines brighter than America’s sweetheart, Evelyn Talbot. 

But the journey to stardom was not simple or straight. As a young girl, a grieving Evelyn is forced to take care of her widowed mother and kid brother. While working as a shopgirl, she is recruited as a studio model, and soon catches the eye of the preeminent artists of her age. When Broadway comes calling, Evelyn solidifies her status as the first self-made American female celebrity, a “Gibson Girl,” the most sought-after face of her time. Enter a parade of powerful and power-hungry men, from world-famous architect Stanley Pierce, the visionary behind Manhattan’s mansions and iconic landmarks, to Hal Thorne, the shockingly wealthy railroad heir and premiere “playboy” of high society. Each man promises comfort, glamour, security—even love. But fame and fortune are cruel teachers. 

When Evelyn finds herself at the center of a murder of passion declared “the Crime of the Century,” the sins of the men in her life are blamed on her. In the media frenzy that erupts, Evelyn realizes that—to survive—she will have to take charge of her own ending. But can this artists’ muse turned showgirl pull off the greatest act of her life? 

  🌷

 
A story that will stay with you. 

It didn’t take long for It Girl to engage me in the story of Evelyn Tablot. There was so much I loved about this story; I was intrigued by her, and every page had me craving more. I was curious to see what was next for Evelyn. It Girl was a beautifully written novel, but also heartbreaking at times, and yet, I couldn’t pull myself from the story. One more chapter would turn into five more. I liked that the story was told from Evelyn’s perspective; making you feel as if you are going on the journey along with Evelyn. I was always eager to see where she would end up next. 

The story flowed well, starting with Evelyn as a young girl and her rise to fame. I can’t imagine rising to fame at such a young age, but I understood why she took that opportunity. Although I sometimes questioned the choices her mother made for her. Evelyn’s mother was one of the characters that I didn’t like from the start; to me, she didn’t treat Evelyn the way a mother should treat her daughter. As the story progressed, I disliked her even more. I wished Evelyn would stand up to her mother and make her own decisions, but I also understood why she couldn’t. I admired Evelyn; despite everything she endured, she didn’t give up on her dreams and kept on going. 

I liked that each part of the book featured a different part of Evelyn’s story. There were times when my heart broke for Evelyn. It Girl is a story that will have you go through a range of emotions. I knew this book was loosely based on the life of Evelyn Nesbit, which I had never heard of. I loved reading the author’s note at the end, and did my own research afterwards because I was intrigued by the story. This was my second book by Allison Pataki, and I cannot wait to check out her others.

One Night On The Island.

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is the last thing that dating columnist Cleo wanted, but she is going on a self-coupling quasi-sabbatical--at the insistence of her boss--in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she's booked is a far cry from London, but at least it's a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some quiet, solitary self-care while she figures out her next steps in her love life and her career. 

Mac is also looking forward to some time to himself. With his life in Boston deteriorating in ways he can't bring himself to acknowledge, his soul searching has brought him to the same Irish island in search of his roots and some clarity. Unfortunately, a mix-up with the bookings means both solitude seekers have reserved the same one-bedroom hideaway on exactly the same dates. 

Instantly at odds with each other, Cleo and Mac don't know how they're going to manage until the next weekly ferry arrives. But as the days go by, they no longer seem to mind each other's company quite as much as they thought they would...

   🌷

 
A sweet, heartfelt story about love, and self-discovery. 

I adored this story! This book had me going through so many different emotions. For most of the book, I felt as if I were on Salvation Island in Ireland; actually, I wished I were there. The emotions in this book were so raw, and I felt every single one. Although it did start slowly and had a few slower parts in the middle, the rest of the book, I couldn’t get enough of. Just when I thought I could put the book down, I was proven wrong. Almost every page had me craving for more. On multiple occasions, I didn’t even realize how much time had passed because I was so engaged in the story. 

I found myself laughing when Mac and Cleo ended up at the same cabin, at the same time. I knew that they liked each other; they just pretended not to at first, just based on how they acted around each other. I wondered what would happen once one of them had to leave, and I hoped that they would somehow find their way back to each other. I loved the way the connection between Cleo and Mac grew, and after that I couldn’t get enough of two of them. 

You won’t just fall in love with the main characters in this book, but the side characters as well. The way Josie described Salvation Island had me wishing it was real so I could go there for a couple of weeks; it sounds magical. I had always wanted to visit Ireland, and now I want to visit even more. One Night On The Island is a story that you won’t forget; a story that you will find yourself revisiting in the future. A story that you should check out.