LOST IN FICTION Fictional Hearts Victorine Lieske LOST IN FICTION is a wonderful, slightly zany, stalker-ish, romcom! I was sucked into this book as much as Brynn, the main character. Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romcom, Sweet Romance, (some suspense too)Spice Level: Kissing only on pageLanguage: No profanityReadability: This is the second book, but you can read them out of order without a problem.

SILK AND SENSIBILITY Mengxi Seeley SILK AND SENSIBILITY is a gorgeous retelling of Sense and Sensibility with a few tweaks that add greater depth to the characters and relationships. I want to read it for the first time again! Genre: Retelling, Austen Retelling, Historical Fiction, Romance, Asian Literature, ChinaSpice Level: Very mild with kissingSetting: China, Ming Dynasty This is one of my favorite reads of the year!

YOU HAD ME AT BIGFOOT A Daphne Drew Mystery Nancy Campbell Allen YOU HAD ME AT BIGFOOT is a delightful Scooby Doo-ish mystery with meddling, Bigfoot???, and deeper secrets—I was 100% vested in the mystery and finished in one day. Genre: Contemporary Mystery, Whodunnit, RomanceSpice Level: Sweet, kisses-only romanceAudience: Adults, but YA can read it tooGore Level: Low…

EVERY BEAT AFTER Sara B. Larson EVERY BEAT AFTER whips up love in unexpected ways, and I loved every taste. Genre: Cozy Romance, Sweet Romance, Proper RomanceSpice Level: Kissing I absolutely adored this book even though it was completely different than I expected. It has that cozy feeling along with real emotions and problems. I had not expected such depth!

BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS June Hur REVIEW BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS claims Pride and Prejudice as its own in this amazing retelling with nuance and history. Genre: Romance, Sweet Romance, Pride and Prejudice Retelling, Asian LiteratureSpice Level: Kissing only I absolutely adored this book! I'm always up for a P & P retelling—and this one is amazing. It brings new things to the original story with the historical setting and characters.

HOW TO CHEAT YOUR OWN DEATHA Castle Knoll Murder Mystery Kristen Perrin HOW TO CHEAT YOUR OWN DEATH had me spinning from one suspect to another, and I couldn't wait for it to unravel. Genre: MysteryFormat: Dual TimelineLanguage: Minimal swearingSpice: Nothing on the pageGore Level: Medium. There is some description but gratuitous. I have absolutely loved this series.

ELLEN POE: THE FORGOTTEN LORE Diana Peterfreund (I can't get the photo of the book to load. Hopefully, I can get it to work soon.) ELLEN POE: THE FORGOTTEN LORE has all the Edgar Poe Vibes plus magical realism, and I was instantly caught in its web of secrets. Genre: Fantasy, MysteryAudience: Young Adult This book has things that I love in any novel.

THE GEOMAGICIAN Jennifer Mandula THE GEOMAGICIAN has Mary Anning, scientist, ground-breaking woman at her finest, battling the patriarchy, working with her ex-fiancé, discovering a baby Pterodactyl Genre: Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Political Fantasy, Historical FantasySpice Level: KissingRepresentation: Women in science, gay side characters Mary discovered and unearthed fossils, while male scientists bought her specimens without giving her credit for all that she did in the field.

REGARDING REBECCAHearts of Cornwall Series K. Lyn Smith Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sweet Romance, Proper Romance, Regency RomanceSpice Level: Kissing onlyTropes: Marriage of Convenience, Small Town REGARDING REBECCA captured my heart with its secret marriage, and the family mysteries that unfolded—what a romance for the ages! I absolutely adore an independent woman in historical books because it turns everything upside down.

MY NAME IS HARRIET MANSOOR, NOT HAIRY MAN SUIT! Dr. Haleh Massey MY NAME IS HARRIET MANSOOR, NOT HAIRY MAN SUIT! is for every middle-grader navigating friendship, bullies, and family. Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Iranian Fiction, Immigrant FictionAudience: Middle-grade (about ages 9-13), Teachers, FamiliesRepresentation: Iranians in a predominantly white neighborhood. Religion and other races are not particularly discussed.

THE BOOK WITCH Meg Shaffer THE BOOK WITCH caught me between the lines with laughter. Genre: Fantasy, Books About Books, Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Magical Realism, Romantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy MysterySpice Level: Fade-to-Black, Kissing on pageLanguage: Low frequency of mild cursing Did I shake my head over how clever this book was? Absolutely—it is so fun. You have to find out how the book witches use periods.

DAUGHTER OF EGYPT Marie Benedict My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Historical Fiction, Suspense, 1920s, EgyptianFormat: Dual timeSpice Level: KissingLanguage: Mild profanity that is infrequent DAUGHTER OF EGYPT filled my wishes to be on an Egyptian archeological dig and to peek into the past—I'm still enthralled with this unique time.

WOLF WORM T. Kingfisher My thanks for the audio ARC goes to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Historical Fantasy, Horror, Historical Horror, Suspense, Southern Gothic, Historical Thriller, Psychological HorrorSpice Level: No sex on the pageLanguage: Periodic profanityRepresentation: Variety of racesNarrator: Mary Robinette Kowall, who did an amazing job!

THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY J.D. Brinkworth My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Cozy Mystery, Suspense, HumorSpice Level: Low; nothing on the pageLanguage: Infrequent uses of profanityGore Level: Low; nothing worse than a beating on the page THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY…

A LOVE MOST DARING Joanna Barker My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all my opinions are my own. Genre: Historical Romance, Sweet Romance, Proper Romance, Suspense, MysterySpice Level: Kisses only A LOVE MOST DARING twists and turns with scandal, murder, and a brooding man. Give me a man that comes off wrong, and I am hooked.

WITHOUT A CLUE Melissa Ferguson My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Cozy Romance, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Sweet RomanceSpice Level: Kissing on the page What a fun book! WITHOUT A CLUE is a mad-cap comedy with murder, romance, and books—the perfect combination for intrigue on the high seas.

THE DAUGHTER WHO REMAINS Nnedi Okorafor My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and DAW. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Afrofuturism, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Speculative FictionAudience: AdultsSpice Level: On-page spice is present, but it's also more factual as part of life than as a titillating experience. There are mature themes and subjects.

EVADING THE LIEUTENANTAn Apsley Family romance Brooke J. Losee EVADING THE LIEUTENANT is a delightful romp of banter and longing—I was rooting for Edward and Annette from the beginning. The yearning for freedom is palpable in the choices of the characters and the causes they champion. Genre: Regency Romance, Sweet Romance, Clean Romance, Historical RomanceSpice Level: Kisses only…

THE CURSE OF THE LOST CAVE Stephanie Bearce My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: MysteryAudience: Middle grade, about 7-13 year olds THE CURSE OF THE LOST CAVE has all my young dreams: treasure, archeology, and mystery! Buckle up for one of the funnest rides you'll have this season.

AN UNCONVENTIONAL LADY Sarah E. Ladd My thanks for the audio ARC goes to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own. Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Romance, Sweet RomanceSpice Level: KissingPeril: Nothing gets too serious AN UNCONVENTIONAL LADY tackles the world of frauds and their victims, and I was in every step of the way.

IF YOU'LL HAVE ME Esther Hatch Summary A lady desperately seeking freedom. A prosperous younger man. An unexpected connection. Anna Atwood returns to Breckenridge, where she spent one blissful summer as a young woman. This time, though, she comes to the quaint town as a penniless spinster with a single hope: to build a life free from the constraints her father’s death put on her and free from the persistent suitor Mr.

MAYHEM ON THE MARZIPAN EXPRESS Rebecca Connolly Summary A romantic getaway turns deadly when a passenger on the train is murdered—and a famous chef is the prime suspect. Amateur baker and part-time sleuth Claire Walker is looking forward to a vacation with her boyfriend, Jonathan Ainsley. The happy couple boards the famed Scottish train, the Mallaig Steam Express—temporarily renamed “The Marzipan Express” in honor of chef Alan Gables, who is hosting an exclusive culinary experience for his most devoted fans.

THE SWAN'S DAUGHTER Roshani Chokski Summary In this lush and romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi, a prince is only as good as his beating heart and a maiden is only as good as her honest word. But when love and the truth become impossibly tangled, the two must figure out how to survive together, or fall completely apart.

CAPE FEAR Nadia Davids Summary From award-winning South African author Nadia Davids comes a gothic psychological thriller set in the 1920s, where a young maid finds herself entangled with the spirits of a decaying manor and the secrets of its enigmatic owner. I come highly recommended to Mrs. Hattingh through sentences I tell her I cannot read. The year is 1920, in a small, unnamed city in a colonial empire.

ALL MY BONESOld Juniper Bookstore Mysteries P. J. Nelson Summary Madeline Brimley, new owner of a bookstore in a small Georgia town, finds herself playing sleuth when a friend is charged with the murder of a much-disliked woman.Madeline Brimley recently inherited a bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, is embarking on her second career, after her first one (acting) founders upon the metaphorical rocks.

THE CATHEDRAL OF LOST SOULSHecate Cavendish #2 Paula Brackston Summary Book two in the Hecate Cavendish series from New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston - a magic infused series about an eccentric and spirited young woman who can see ghosts.Hereford, England 1881. The adventure continues! After the fire and the tumultuous events in the cathedral library, Hecate is determined never again to come so close to losing the beloved mappa mundi.

REVENGE, SERVED ROYALLady Petra Inquiries #3 Celeste Connally Summary Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling third instalment to the captivating Regency-era Lady Petra Inquires mystery series. September, 1815. Autumn is in the air as Lady Petra Forsyth and some of the most illustrious members of the ton descend upon Windsor Castle for a week of royal celebrations, with the highlight being Queen Charlotte’s inaugural patisserie contest for the best bakers employed by England’s finest houses.

THE LOST Sarah Beth Durst Summary From New York Times bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst comes a fully updated and expanded edition of THE LOST, with a brand-new ending. Against the backdrop of a desolate and mystical town, this arresting, fantastical novel explores one woman’s impossible journey—and her quest to find her fate. "A slow-brewing, increasingly exciting, and deeply provocative fantasy world." —

THE DEVIL IN OXFORDA Ruby Vaughn Mystery Jess Armstrong Summary Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford. If someone were to ask American heiress Ruby Vaughn how exactly the occult came to play such a large role in her life, she would immediately point to her octogenarian housemate and employer, Mr.

THE MAID OF SHERWOOD FORESTA McQuivey's Costume Shop Romance Sian Ann Bessey Summary Mariah thought Robin Hood was just a legend—until time pulled her into his world and the outlaw stole her heart. Nothing about Mariah Clinton’s passion for archery or her work as a sous-chef in contemporary London prepares her for the moment she’s pulled into another time—and another life.

THE HOUSE SAPHIR Marissa Meyer Summary The "Queen of Fairytale Retellings" is back! #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer weaves the tale of Bluebeard as it's never been told before. This is a thrilling romantasy and murder mystery, perfect for fans Meyer's Cinder and Heartless. Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think.

THE ESSENTIAL PATRICIA A. MCKILLIP Patricia A. McKillip Summary World Fantasy Award winner Patricia A. McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld) has inspired generations of readers with her enchanting, and subversive fiction. This lovely hardcover career-retrospective edition offers McKillip’s finest short stories. Featuring an original introduction by Ellen Kushner (Swordspoint) and cover art from frequent McKillip illustrator Thomas Canty, The Essential Patricia A.

THE EVERLASTING Alix E. Harrow Summary From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart. Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country.

THE GLASS SLIDE WORLDThe Naturalist Society #2 Carrie Vaughn Summary Award-winning author Carrie Vaughn’s sequel to The Naturalist Society follows a young scientist unlocking her magical abilities amid a high-seas adventure filled with international intrigue. The year is 1902, and the world is changing with the new century. Twenty-one-year-old Ava Stanley, the daughter of two celebrated Arcane Taxonomists, has much to live up to—however scarce her magical abilities may be.

THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH Jean Meltzer Summary Can these exes rekindle their love this Hanukkah? Evelyn Schwartz has the perfect Hanukkah planned: eight jam-packed days producing the live-action televised musical of A Christmas Carol. Who needs family when you’ve got long hours, impossible deadlines, and your dream job? That is, until an accident on set lands her in the medical bay with one of her chronic migraines, and she’s shocked to find her ex-husband, David Adler, filling in for the usual studio doctor.

THE FIVE WOLVES Peter McCarty Summary In The Five Wolves, beloved picture book author and Caldecott Honor recipient Peter McCarty breaks new ground. This monumental graphic poem is perfect for fans of Shaun Tan and Brian Selznick! Across oceans, through fields, and down tunnels, five daring wolves traverse the planet in search of wonders to draw and paint. All the while, a disembodied narrator spins the tale of their absurdist adventure and asks big questions.

WINTERSET Tiffany Odekirk Summary A hidden past. A house with secrets. And one chance for two wounded hearts to find love together. Northern England, Late Fall, 1820 Katherine Lockwood is hiding for her life in the most unlikely of places: the forgotten priest holes in the abandoned Winterset Grange manor house. When Kate learns that Winterset’s long-absent owner, Mr. Oliver Jennings, is about to return, she is desperate to find a way to make him leave, even if it means “haunting” him from behind her protective walls.

SONNETS AND SERPENTSCasters and Crowns #2 Elizabeth Lowham Summary A cynical shapeshifter. A hopeful princess. A love they never saw coming. Silas Bennett grew up in a kingdom where magic-users are persecuted, especially those with the rare ability to transform into animals. After discovering he could shapeshift into a serpent, Silas was nearly killed—only to escape to a neighboring kingdom where he could study and use his magic freely.

HIGHER MAGIC Courtney Floyd Summary In this incisive, irreverent, and whimsical dark academia novel for fans of Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series and R.F. Kuang’s Babel, a struggling mage student with intense anxiety must prove that classic literature contained magic—and learn to wield her own stories to change her institution for the better. First-generation graduate student Dorothe Bartleby has one last chance to pass the Magic program’s qualifying exam after freezing with anxiety during her first attempt.

GHOSTS OF GRAYHAVEN Amy Newbold & Lark Wright Summary A hidden cemetery. A vengeful ghost. A canine protector. The town of Grayhaven lies nestled in the Pacific Northwest and is famous for its Stone Quarry Jewelry and annual Thimbleberry Festival. It is not as famous for the ghostly secrets that it harbors. And it has many. Local resident Zeb Raven has inherited an unusual making sure that those buried in the hidden cemetery stay bound.

HANNAH AND THE NIGHTINGALEOnce in the Wood #4 Sienna Peake Summary This was a delightful nod to Hans Christian Anderson's The Nightingale. In this Regency retelling we meet Hannah Bell the eldest daughter of the vicar who has a special talent with a violin. Her musical gift charms the Duke of Arlington and his son Rupert. In keeping with the original tale, Hannah is replaced in the Duke's estimation by a young lady of the peerage.

MISS WINTER IN THE LIBRARY WITH A KNIFE Martin Edwards Summary Six contestants. One chance at a new life. Who wouldn’t be tempted to cheat? Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but exciting: Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.

VICTIM #8Luke Steele #2 Traci Hunter Abramson Summary A taut, electrifying thriller." —Brad Thor, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Edge of Honor Military aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner go undercover once again to unravel a string of murders that may be tied to a nuclear threat capable of igniting a war. Military aide Luke Steele grapples with self-doubt after a tragic loss during his last mission.

THE SISTERHOODA Lady Emily Mystery Tasha Alexander Summary Lady Emily investigates the murder of a glamorous debutante in the latest irresistible mystery of Tasha Alexander’s New York Times bestselling series. London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman.

UNCHARMED Lucy Jane Wood Summary The spellbinding new cosy fantasy from Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Jane Wood. Practically perfect, in every witch way… From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Rewitched… Annie Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. Her life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. But, when she is tasked with mentoring a troubled teenage witch with extraordinary powers, Annie’s charmed existence is quickly thrown into utter chaos…

SOMEONE IS AFTER LULU DUPREE Josi S. Kilpack Summary For LuLu Dupree, what she doesn’t remember might just be the death of her. Five years ago, LuLu was in a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and a gaping hole in her memory. Choosing to start over rather than return to a life she can’t remember, she moved to Sedona, Arizona, and built a new life which includes plenty of time for crochet, night-hiking in the desert, and starting an eco-friendly cleaning company.

A RATHER PECULIAR POISONING Chrystal Schleyer Summary An engagement celebration at a turn-of-the-century manor takes a deadly turn, and everyone becomes a suspect. Twin brothers Easton and Weston are both in love with their childhood best friend Eloise. But headstrong Eloise prefers the younger brother, Wes, which is why she is heartbroken when, quite unexpectedly, Wes proposes to an heiress, and Eloise finds herself engaged to Easton—the twin she cannot stand.