The Women In White.

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

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

Extrasensory perception. 

The Gift.

 A Sixth Sense. 

Or something else…. 

 
In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history. Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet. Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? 

As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.

  🌷

 
This book…I absolutely loved this story. If it weren’t for my college classes starting, I would keep on reading it. The Women In White is one of those books that, once you start reading, you’ll find it hard to put down. From the beginning to the end, there was always something happening. The best part? Each page got even more intriguing. The Women In White is my third book by Sarah Pekkanen, but my favorite one. If I could, I would give this book all the stars. I finished it this morning and cannot seem to get the story out of my mind. I would highly recommend this book to all thriller fans. 

One of my favorite aspects of the book was that it combined thriller and historical fiction, intertwining them with some paranormal elements. I liked the way Sarah intertwined all of those. In my opinion, that made this story so much more engaging. Although I loved both present and past timelines, the 1960s timeline intrigued me more. I was always on the edge of my seat during that timeline. I wanted to see what would happen next. I loved the connection between Betty, Riley, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen, and the way that they supported one another. I couldn’t pull myself away from their story. There was a part of me that didn’t want it to end. 

I love the mystery surrounding those experiments. The emotions those girls felt during the experiments were so real; I felt as if I were part of them. I liked the bond that Riley formed with Betty, but I did wonder the real reason that Berry hired Riley to be her caretaker. I was very intrigued and engaged by The Women In White , and I’m excited to see what Sarah has in store for us next.

Calamity Rayne Gets Hitched(Calamity Rayne,#3)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

   Thank you to the author,Lydia Michaels and Lydia Michaels PR for E Copy, in exchange for honest review.

 

 

Calamity Rayne—fiancée of very sophisticated and powerful billionaire-hottie Hale Davenport—has a wedding to plan!
With no clue how she managed to out-Darwin a bazillion other women and land one of the world’s most desirable bachelors, Rayne Meyers (soon to be Davenport) becomes the paparazzi’s newest target. After a crash course in charm school and wedding etiquette, she rejects tradition in favor of The Lazy Bride's Guide to Catastrophes and Chaos in this laugh-out-loud, opposites-attract, billionaire romantic comedy from bestselling author Lydia Michaels. 

Here comes the awkward bride—with a heap of poor judgment and way too much tequila on the side!

 🌷

 

 
I can’t get enough of this series. Calamity Rayne is one of the best romcom’s I’ve read, and I highly recommend it to all romance fans. This is the series I know I will return to in the future. Every book has me wondering what Rayne will get herself into next. I love the humor in these books. Calamity Rayne Gets Hitched had me laughing so much; the situations that Rayne gets herself into; it has me shaking my head sometimes. Despite the situations that Rayne seems to get herself into, you can’t help but love her. I love how much she loves Hale and the bond she has with Elara, treating her as if she were her own daughter. I adore the nickname she has for her: "peanut." The scenes between the two of them always have me smiling. 

I loved the emotional depth when Rayne started searching to reconnect with her estranged father. The scenes were beautifully written and full of emotion. I felt Rayne’s hope and heartbreak. I was suspicious of her father. I wondered why he suddenly wanted to meet her after years of no response. However, I hoped that I was wrong, for Rayne’s sake. To me, Remington was more of her father; he was the one who was always there for her. Even if he didn’t always admit it, I saw how much Remington cared about her. 

What I love about this series is that it’s more than just a romance. It also deals with real-life struggles, such as doubts and friendship struggles, as Rayne had with Elle. I was sad to see the friendship between Elle and Rayne fade, but I liked the way Lydia captured that. I wasn’t always fond of how jealous Hale would get, I understood it but I didn’t like how he took out on Rayne. This story will make you laugh, cry along with Rayne, and you will find yourself turning the pages until the end.

Lightlark(Lightlark,#1)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Welcome to the Centennial. 

Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. 

The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.
Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial. 

To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything.

  🌷

 
I’m hooked. I’ve been hearing about this book for a while, and now I understand why. Lightlark had everything that I love about fantasy. I’m so glad that my classes don’t start until August; I could spend it reading this outstanding book. I have almost no words to explain how much I love this book; I’m so glad that the second book is available because I need to see what happens next. I loved going on this journey along with Isla, rooting for her. You can’t help but love her; despite her secret, she kept on going; not once did she give up on her goal. 

This story is full of unexpected twists; anytime I thought I knew what was coming next, another twist proved me wrong. Lightlark is not a book you will be able to put down once you start reading. The twist at the end, the one that I still cannot get over. That was the last thing that I expected to happen. I found myself reading it twice, to make sure I read it right. The descriptions were outstanding; I felt myself transformed into the Centennial along with Isla, Oro, and Grim. Speaking of Oro and Grim, I loved them both, and like Isla, I was conflicted between two of them. I’m excited to see what happens with them next. 

I loved the connection between Isla, Grim, and Oro. There was so much tension between them. I have read a lot of fantasy books throughout the years, but this one is unlike any I have read before. My only regret is that I didn’t read this book sooner. Lightlark was only the second book I read by Alex Aster, and I already know she will be the author I love. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Isla, Oro, and Grim. Highly recommended for fantasy fans.

Camp Summerween.

 

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 

 

Eight girls. Seven days. One island that never lets you leave.

 
Every summer, the ferry brings eight girls to Blackwood Island. They come for the seclusion, the pines, and the promise of a week away from the world. But Blackwood has a darker reputation, one whispered in the halls of nearby towns and scrubbed from the camp’s official records. 

The island requires a remainder. 

Seraphina knows the risks, but she’s not here for the campfire songs or the lakefront views. She’s here to uncover the truth about the girls who vanished before her, including the one whose ghost still haunts her dreams. But the island is a predatory labyrinth of shifting woods and a claustrophobic manor, and she isn’t the only one hunting for answers. 

Enter the camp’s enigmatic overseer, a man whose presence is as cold as the lake and whose eyes seem to hold the island’s bloodiest secrets. He’s meant to be her enemy, the gatekeeper of a cycle that demands a sacrifice. Instead, he becomes the only thing standing between Seraphina and the encroaching forest. 

As the week progresses, the boundaries between desire and danger dissolve. In the suffocating dark of the woods, Seraphina discovers that the most lethal secret isn't what the island does to its visitors, it’s what the visitors are willing to do to survive. 

The ferry leaves in seven days. By then, the island will have its remainder. Will it be her?

   🌷

 
Be prepared for a wild ride! 

This is a book to read if you love horror, and it will get you into the Halloween spirit. I have read a few Halloween-based horror books through the years, but nothing like this one. I’ve read books by Persis Lassiter since she started writing, but this is unlike the others that she has written before; it makes me excited to see what she has in store for us next. Camp Summerween surprised me in so many ways, and what I loved about this book was that twists kept coming. I love the way Persis mixed summer them but giving it a Halloween vibe. There was always something happening, and that’s one of things that kept me on turning the pages.

I was a little confused at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed, it became clearer. I love that Persis started the story right from the action. The descriptions were so visual that it made me feel as if I were in a horror movie myself. I was intrigued by the story and was curious to see how it was going to end; it was far from what I expected it to be. I’m so glad that I got chance to read this book. Highly recommended for horror fans.

On The Way Down.

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

     Thank you to author,Taner Simoneaux and Rattle The Stars PR for letting me be part of ARC Team!

 

 

Years after a single summer changed the course of his life, Wes is still living in the aftermath of it. 

Wes was a typical adolescent in the early 2000's. He had a blended family, a skateboard, and a book of burned CDs. But beneath the surface of his relationship with his stepsister, Violet, existed something far more complicated. 

When Violet and Wes set out on a road trip from Ohio to Florida during the last summer before adulthood, the truth that Wes has spent his life carefully concealing must be exposed. What begins as a story about loving someone you can't have turns into something far messier: a story of grief inherited too young and boundaries blurred beyond recognition.

  🌷

 
This is a story I won't forget; a story I will tell my friends. I can't get Wes and Violet's story out of my mind. Although On The Way Down was a slow start for me, it picked up once Wes and Violet went on their trip; I was in love. Wes and Violet's story is written with so much emotion, and I liked that it was told from Wes's perspective. However, I sometimes wondered what Violet was thinking. I can't even begin to imagine how she must be feeling during it all. I’m glad that she had Wes by her side. I do feel that she should have told someone else beside him what was happening. 

On The Way Down is one of the most emotional coming-of-age stories that I have read. That ending…I still cannot get over it. That’s what makes it such a good story. I loved how real this story felt, and I feel as if many people could relate to it. One of my favorite parts about this book was that it takes place in the early 2000’s; it gave me so many memories. I loved that each chapter was titled as song titles. Each chapter became even more engaging, leaving you wondering what would come next for Wes and Violet. 

On The Way Down is a beautifully written debut novel. I’m so glad that I got to read this book, and go on the journey with Wes and Violet. I’m eager to see what the author has in store for us next.

What We Knew Then(Great Lakes U,#1)

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  

4.5★ 

 

    Thank you to author,Rachel Laberge for  E ARC, in exchange for honest review

 

He should know better. She’s the coach’s daughter. 

 
Lane Maxwell has one season left to prove he’s more than the reputation that followed him from his last school. Transferring to Great Lakes U wasn’t a fresh start—it was his last shot at keeping his NHL dream alive.
Cora Banks has built her life on being the one everyone can count on. Between classes, extra research projects, and doing whatever the Great Lakes U hockey team needs behind the scenes, she keeps everything moving—even when it means there’s nothing left for herself. 

She’s always known the don’t get involved with hockey players. Not when your dad is the coach. But Lane keeps showing up… on the ice and behind the scenes. The more time they spend around each other, the harder it is to ignore what’s between them. 

Until one reckless moment changes everything. 

Suddenly, Lane is back in the same spotlight. Same accusations. Same assumptions. Different college.

Only this time, Cora knows the truth—and how much it will cost to prove it.

 🌷

 
Hockey had always been one of my favorite sports to read about. I love watching it and reading about it. I knew when I came across What We Knew Then that I had to check this story out. The cover and the blurb had me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to dive into Lane and Cora’s story. Rachel Laberge did not disappoint. It didn’t take me long to get invested in the story, and if it weren’t for my moving, I wouldn’t have stopped reading. This is one of those books that once you pick it up, it’ll be hard to find a stopping point. 

From the very beginning, I loved Lane, and I rooted for him throughout the book. He was such a good guy and went through so much; I wanted him to get a fresh start where others wouldn’t judge him for his past. I knew that it wasn’t easy for him in the beginning, and that’s why I was glad that he had Cora in his corner. Lane and Cora needed each other. My favorite parts of the book are the ways Lane and Cora support each other. When Lane told her about his past, she was there, and she didn’t judge; she just listened. Also, the way that Lane helped Cora during one of her migraine attacks. I was rooting for two of them to end up together. 

I get monthly migraines, but the way that Rachel represented chronic migraines made me see them in a completely different way. Mine were bad, but not as bad as Cora’s, and seeing how it affected her daily life, my heart went out to her. What We Knew Then was my first book by Rachel Laberge, and I am already eager to check out her others. Highly recommended for sports romance fans

Trying Not To Love You(Moran Sisters,#1)

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★  

 

   Thank you to author,Kaylee Ryan for letting me be part of her ARC Team!

 

 

07.14.26  

 

 

Ellison

 
Copeland James was my first love, my first heartbreak, my first everything. Then he left without explanation, and never came back. 

My sisters and our closest friends helped me pick up the pieces, but my heart hasn’t been whole since the day he walked out of Magnolia Ridge. 

I’ve learned to live with what could have been… until his mother’s illness brings him back to our small town. He’s older, harder, and more magnetic than I remember. 

He’s a man now. The man I learned to live without. And yet, he’s back, stirring everything I thought I’d buried, making my world feel unsteady. 

Because loving him nearly destroyed me… and now, I’m still trying not to love him.

 
Copeland

 
I left Magnolia Ridge with nothing but a duffel bag and a decision. 

I told myself joining the Marines was the right choice. That loving her meant protecting her, and this was the way to do it.
I was wrong. 

Now I’m back, years later, and she’s just as breathtaking as the day I left. All these years, I imagined she’d have moved on, married someone else, but she’s still single, and in my heart, she’s still mine. 

But Ellison doesn’t see me the way I see her, not anymore. All I find in her eyes is the wound I left behind. The one that never healed. 

I didn’t fight for us back then, but I’ve learned. Now I’m ready for battle, fighting for what we could be while she tries not to love me.

 🌷

 
I had a feeling that I was going to love this book. When I came across the book, the cover and title were the first things to catch my attention. Just look at that cover! How can you not be curious about the story behind it? When I read the blurb for Trying Not To Love You, I was even more intrigued. Yet, I was still not prepared for the emotional roller coaster that Kaylee took me on. I finished reading last night and I can’t seem to get Ellison and Copeland story out of my mind. I loved the two of them together, and despite what happened between the two of them; I wanted them to find their way back to each other. I felt like everyone could see how much they loved each other. I understood why Ellison was hesitant, but I was also hoping that she would give him a second chance. 

There was so much I adored about this story: the characters, the plot, the setting. One of my favorite aspects of the story was the relationship between the Moran sisters. I loved the bond they had and the way they were always there for each other, no matter what. I love it when the book features such a strong sister bond. Now that I have read Trying Not To Love You , I’m excited to see what’s in store for the other Moran sisters. I found myself smiling on few occasions while reading the scenes between the sisters. 

Trying Not To Love You was the first book that I have read by Kaylee Ryan, and it won’t be my last one. I adored Magnolia Ridge and, while reading, pictured myself there. I loved the way everyone treated one another. It’s the type of small town where you wish that you could visit in real life. I think this would make a perfect TV Show. It gives me Virgin River and Sullivan’s Crossing vibes, and the type of show I would binge-watch. I could keep on talking about this book, but then I would give too much away. You’ll need to read it to find out for yourself.

The Night We Met (Say You Remember Me,#2)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything...

 
For Larissa, it came when choosing who to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great friends, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy. 

But she didn’t choose Chris to drive her home all those months ago—she went with his best friend, and he became her boyfriend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. How can something that feels so right be absolutely impossible? 

    🌷

  
Abby does it again! 

This is why Abby Jimenez is one of my favorites. I’m so glad that I discovered this author last year. I had a feeling I was going to love this, yet I was still not prepared for how much this story would affect me. The Night We Met is my new favorite by Abby Jimenez. I can’t get this book out of my mind. The Night We Met was filled with so much emotion and passion, and it makes you feel everything that Larissa and Chris are going through, especially Larissa. I felt for her and how hard she had to work to support her family. 

Chris, what is there to say about him? Except that I wish that everyone were as caring as he was. He was one of my favorite MMCs I have read about. It was so heartwarming the way that he cared about Larissa; the way that he looked out for her. Chris did so much more for Larissa than her own boyfriend ever did. I was waiting and rooting for Larissa to figure out that Chris is the one she should be with. I was rooting for them throughout the book. I loved how Larissa and Chris took care of the dog together, and it was clear how much they loved him. 

Mike was the character I had complex feelings about; I still do. There was part of me that wasn’t happy with the decisions he made, but he also had good qualities. There were so many mixed emotions that went through me while reading this book. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, and a few times I didn’t even realize how late it had gotten. Although I loved Xavier and Samantha’s story in Say You Remember Me, I loved Larissa and Chris’s story even more. There is something about those two characters that I know I will never forget. A story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Summer State Of Mind

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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. 

   🌷

 
Somehow, I knew I was going to love this author; from the moment that I read my first book by her in 2023: Summer Of Songbirds. Her novels are both heartbreaking and soothing. Once you pick up one of Kristy’s books, you’ll fall in love with her stories. I’ve been wanting to read Summer State Of Mind since she announced it on her Instagram. If it weren’t for the long wait list at the library, I would have read it the day it was released. Out of the books that I have read by Kristy, Summer State Of Mind in my opinion is the most emotional one that I have read. I think that Summer Of State Of Mind is one of those stories that needs to be told and read. 

Daisy and Mason : What is there to say about them, except that I loved them from the moment that I met them. What those two did was heartwarming and so inspiring. They gave that little girl, Maisy, what she needed the most: love. I adored how Daisy and Mason formed a bond with Maisy. However, I was worried about how attached Daisy got to Maisy, especially since I had a feeling of what could happen if parents came forward. I loved the relationship between Mason and Daisy; it didn’t take long to see how much they care for each other. I loved the way Mason’s family treated her like family from the moment that they met her. 

I loved the small community and the way that they took care of each other. I enjoyed reading the book about three characters. Each of their stories was so powerful. Even though I didn’t always agree with their choices, I related to them. I found myself rooting for their happily ever after. I ended up finishing this book at 4:00 am because I needed to see what would happen. Summer State Of Mind is the story that you're eager to see how it ends, but at the same time don’t want it to be over. What an outstanding story.

An Infinite Love Story.

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

  Thank you to publisher, Berkley Publishing Group  for providing with Earc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

 

 07.07.26 

 

When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door. 

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars. 

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.

 🌷

 
This is the book I’ll think about for a while. 

I'm thinking about the story as I am writing this. It's a heart-wrenching and remarkable story. I was hooked from the first page, and when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it. I've read most of Chanel Cleeton's books and even got to meet her at a signing when The Lost Story Of Eva Fuentes was released. I shouldn't be surprised, and yet Chanel had me on the edge of my seat once again. I loved the book that features space, and read a few books based on it; however, this one, I loved that it was about an astronaut's wives, and how it affects them. Every page in this book will have you captivated, craving for more. 

An Infinite Love Story was such beautiful love story. I fell in love with Viv and Joe from the moment that they were introduced. I knew those two belonged together from the moment they met; I was just waiting for them to realize it. It’s not hard to see how much Viv loved Joe, but how hard it was to be an astronaut’s wife. I can’t even imagine enduring what she had. I adored Viv. Despite everything that was happening, she stayed strong, and she didn’t give up on her husband. I cried multiple times while reading this book, but I couldn’t pull away and found myself turning the pages. 

I liked that it took place during 1960’s Space Race, and what made this story unique is that it was told from POV of astronaut’s wife. The “now” and “then” timelines intervened wonderfully; making the story so much more intriguing to read. I could talk about this book for hours, and even recommended to few of my friends. There’s a reason that Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorites. An Infinite Love Story is a must read.

Other People's Summers.

 

 

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

In school, Milly Beckett and Nicole Raven were as close as sisters. Now, years later, a gulf separates them, and not just because of the different spheres they inhabit. Nicole is a global superstar with the world at her fingertips, but when scandal breaks, she turns to the only person she trusts. 

Fresh from a painful divorce and struggling to balance her work and raising her daughter alone, Milly is tempted to refuse her friend’s plea for help. Nicole wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and that’s hard to forgive. But Nicole is desperate and Milly agrees to give her the sanctuary she needs. 

Against a stunning Lake District backdrop, stilted small talk gradually gives way to soul-deep revelations as the two women slowly find their way back to one another. Living with Milly gives Nicole a glimpse of a different path for herself, and Milly starts to see a life beyond her divorce, including the possibility of a new romance. But Nicole can’t stay hidden forever—and neither can the secret she’s been keeping from Milly, a secret that threatens both her future happiness and the fragile bond between them.

 🌷

 
I love Sarah Morgan's books and was excited when my friend recommended we read it for a buddy read. What I love about her books is how heartwarming and powerful they are. I love books about friendships and family. What Milly and Nicole have is true friendship. I liked the way Sarah portrayed their friendship, showing how it was challenged. From the first chapter, when Milly went to get Nicole, I wondered what had happened between them. Despite what Milly felt, I knew that Milly still cared about Nicole; based on the fact of what she did, how she tried to help Nicole. I hoped that Milly would put the past behind them and forgive Nicole. 

Other People’s Summers was such captivating and moving story. The writing is one of my favorite parts of her books; it takes you away to the story that you don’t even realize how much time has passed. Nicole has been through so much, I can’t even begin to imagine going through everything that she had to face. The moments between Milly and Nicole were bittersweet, heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking. I was rooting for the two of them to get their friendship back on track. I liked how realistic this book was; it dealt with issues that happen in real life. This story will stay with me for a long time. 

As always, I love her setting and wish I could go there. It seems like the perfect place to escape and relax. I loved everything about this book: characters, storyline, setting, relationships. I have a feeling that I will be returning to this book in the future. Highly recommended.

A Pair Of Aces.

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

 

4.5★  

 

 Thank you to publisher, Berkley Publishing Group  for providing with Earc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the Mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone. 

Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all. 

Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.

  🌷

 

 
What a powerful and inspiring novel! 

I have so much to say about this book. I have been excited about this book since Victoria announced at the book signing I attended; that she and Marie are writing a new book together. I was even more excited once the title and the cover were revealed. I have read Victoria Christopher Murray & Marie Benedict ’s The Personal Librarian and have read their individual novels as well. I fell in love with that story, and A Pair Of Aces wasn’t any different; the way their writing flows together makes it impossible not to fall in love with the story, especially the characters. I loved escaping into the world of Polly and Eunice and watching how their stories intertwined. 

I wasn’t sure about Polly when she was first introduced, but as the book progressed; I found myself rooting for her. Polly was a strong woman because, despite everything that she was facing, she didn’t give up. You could tell how important her girls were to her, and how she would do anything to protect them. Eunice, I loved her determination, her courage. The elements, the details in this book, are phenomenal. Once I finished the book, I wanted to go back and read it again. The dual perspective gives the reader a glimpse into two very different women. I liked the way the relationship between Eunice and Polly transformed throughout the story. There is part of me that wonders what happened after.  

 

A Pair Of Aces is a story that you won’t forget, and a story that will have you on edge of your seat until the end. I wondered about the title, and once I read the book – it made the perfect sense. Victoria and Marie are amazing at the historical details and pulling the reader into the story. This is their third collaboration. They make a great team. Highly recommended. I’m already eager to see what they have in store for us next.

Never Will I Forever(Kind Of Perfect,#3)

 

 

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

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

 

  06.25.26 

The love story that was never supposed to happen… becomes the one they can’t walk away from. 

Meredith has built a life on her own terms—a successful photographer in Manhattan, keeping everything just out of reach. 

Evan lives over 2,500 miles away. A Southern California native, he runs a surf school, spends his days in the water, and comes home sun-warmed and unbothered, his dog Bear never far behind. His life is simple by design—and he intends to keep it that way. 

The attraction between them is immediate. Unavoidable. Complicated by the fact that Meredith’s sister is married to Evan’s best friend. 

So they give it a boundary. Call it what it is. Just for fun. 

It’s supposed to stay easy. Temporary. Something they can walk away from without looking back. 

But some connections refuse to stay contained. 

The more they try to keep their distance, the harder it becomes to ignore what’s building between them—something deeper, something neither of them planned for. 

And neither of them knows how to stop. 

Now it’s the one thing they can’t let go.

  🌷

 
Some Kind Of Perfect hold a special place in my heart. Ever since I read Natalie and Will's story, I've fallen in love. I liked Meredith since she was introduced in the first book and was excited when I found out that she was going to get her own book. I was curious to see what would happen with Meredith and Evan. I could tell that Meredith liked him, but at the same time, she seemed afraid that their relationship would move beyond what it was. There was part of me that understood why she kept on pushing him away, but another part of me felt that she wasn’t fair to Evan. She kept on coming back to him; only to push him away later. I was waiting and hoping that Meredith would come to her senses and figure out what she wants. 

I loved Evan, and it was clear how much he loved Meredith; despite how much she pushed him away, he was always there for her when she needed him. However, I was afraid of what might happen if she kept on pushing him away. Throughout the book, I rooted for Evan and Meredith to end up together. Of course, I loved that Natalie and Will made an appearance in this book. I loved how Natalie was there for her sister; I loved the bond between the two of them. 

I loved the summer vibes of this book. I also loved the way that Jillian described everything and transformed me there. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read Meredith and Evan’s story, and cannot wait to see what Jillian has in store for us next

Fall At Once(Cozy Creek Collection,#3)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★ 

I'm in Cozy Creek for two To get over my breakup and help my grandmother run her bakery while she recovers from a sprained ankle. 

I am absolutely not here to fall in love. 

But my grandma's smoking hot firefighter neighbor keeps rescuing me—from the side of the road, from a tree (don't ask), and then finally from my ex with a steamy kiss in a bar. 

So when he needs my help, how can I say no? 

As a party planner, I'm the perfect person to step in and work with him on preparations for Cozy Creek Fire Brigade's Fall Fundraiser. 

Sparks fly as we spend more time together, but we've both been burned by love before. 

I do my best to beat the heat, but then he kissed me for real, and (f)all at once, I realize we might just be perfect for each other.

 🌷

 
Fall At Once was such cute book. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie, and I found myself smiling on multiple occasions. I loved Madi and Cole from the beginning; from the moment Cole rescued Madi the first time, you could feel the attraction and connection between them. You could tell how much Cole cared about Madi, the way that he kept on rescuing her. I understood why he kept pushing her away, but I wish he wouldn’t. I had a feeling that if he kept pushing her away, he would lose her. I was rooting all throughout the book that he would come to his senses. 

Fall At Once had such a good description of Cozy Creek that I wanted to move there. I loved the small community and the way that everyone looked out for one another. That is one of my favorite things about small-town books. I adored most of the characters in this book, except the exes. I loved Kenzie more than I thought, and I am curious about her story, and feel like she needs her own book. I’m glad that Madi and Kenzie had one each other. Gigi; that’s another character that you cannot help but love. She reminded me so much of one of my grandma’s. Fall At Once gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling while I was reading it. 

I liked the character development in this. Most of the characters went a long way; partially Madi. The ending was one of my favorite scenes in the book. I’m still smiling while thinking about it. I loved the bond that Madi created with Cole’s kids, Natalie and Evan. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough in this book. Fall At Once is the type of small-town vibes that I adore. Now that I have read Fall At Once, I’m eager to check out the other books in the Cozy Creek collection!