The Gods Will Sing Our Song: a World War II historical romance with magic, myth and the power of love

The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause is a sweeping World War II historical romance with magic, myth and the power of love. In 1942, the world is at war and two lives are set to meet and their lives will change forever. Seventeen year old Ren Hamada has a troubled past that seems to follow him. Violet Aratani seemingly has the perfect life with loving parents and a bright future with college in front of her. However, in May 1942, Ren, Violet and their community of Japanese Americans were rounded up and sent to the Manzanar Relocation Camp in the California desert. Ren and Violet have little in common except the family relics they prize. Together, they discover a god walks among them as his mortal form is tethered to the camp and only Ren and Violet have the power to release him. Would a divine favor be powerful enough to save them and their families? Will they have the strength and resilience to fight for their survival? 

I was first pulled to this story by its cover and then I knew I wanted to read it when the blurb. Inspired by the author's true family history of internment and resilience, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a fast paced, intriguing story with emotion and tensions. The internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II is another horrible, devastating period of American history. Ms Krause describes the internment camp and its condition in vivid detail that my heart broke for these people who loved the US and their only crime was being Japanese. I enjoyed the mixture of history and Japanese mythology. Ren and Violet’s interaction with the god was fun and powerful as Ren is skeptical and Violet believes. I could not put this book down as tensions rose. I even loved reading the author’s note as she explained the inspiration for this powerful story. While this book is categorized as young adult, I highly, highly recommend The Gods Will Sing Our Song for everyone. 

The Gods Will Sing Our Song will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

on September 1, 2026

Aloha Hideaway Inn: a small bed and breakfast, a big resort and a budding romance

Aloha Hideaway Inn is the first book in the Getaway Bay Resort series by Elana Johnson. Stacey Stapleton has big plans for Aloha Hideaway Inn, her bed and breakfast. But when Sweet Breeze, the new high rise resort opens in the bay, her plans come to a halt. She decides to go undercover and spy on the resort by spending a night. She learns that the resort cannot hold a candle to her quaint bed and breakfast. No matter how flawless it looks or how handsome and smart the owner is. However, when a tropical storm hits the bay, she and her guests must take refuge at the Sweet Breeze. As they wait out the storm, Stacey spends more time with Fisher DuPont, the owner of Sweet Breeze, and she realizes he is not the corporate monster she imagined. Can Stacey and her beloved Aloha Hideaway Inn survive the changes and the start of a new budding relationship? 

Aloha Hideaway Inn is a sweet clean romance in the Hawaiian tropical paradise. Unfortunately, I feel like I’ve read this story before. A small inn, a big resort and a forbidden romance between their owners. I liked Stacey as she tries to preserve her family’s legacy in her beloved bed and breakfast. I also liked Fisher as a man who is trying to overcome the shadow of his unscrupulous father. I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters. I enjoyed how the community came together as they faced the storm. I did not enjoy the miscommunication conflict as Stacey and Fisher constantly jump to conclusions and simply don’t clear the air by communicating! Overall, the characters were good but I just couldn’t shake the feeling I had read this story before. I will not be continuing the series. However, if you enjoy a clean, sweet romance in a tropical paradise, I recommend Aloha Hideaway Inn. 

Aloha Hideaway Inn is available in paperback and eBook

Her No 1 Fan: a psychological thriller as a woman must fight her her life and her freedom

Her No 1 Fan by Abby Davies is a psychological thriller which grabs readers from the beginning and will not let go. Rachel Brown plays Doctor Elouise Sparks on the popular TV series “Emergency,” Despite her success, she receives devastating news that brings her dreams crashing down. Before she can tell her husband, Mikey Bell takes Rachel from her home to his remote mountain cottage. He has a strange request and he promises to let her go by Christmas, if she fulfills this request. However, there is someone else in the cottage who makes it clear that they will not honor Mikey’s promises. They have a different request for Rachel and make it clear that there is no intention to let her leave. What vicious plans are being made? Is there a way out? Can Rachel figure out a way to escape? 

Abby Davies is a new author to me and Her No 1 Fan is a thriller I never read before. From the very beginning, I was pulled into Rachel’s story and the terrifying situation she must fight to survive. The tensions build as Mikey lovingly takes care of Rachel, she feels she can appeal to him to let her go. The second person in the home, I don’t want to reveal who, was the truly terrifying person and their presence adds to the tension. I enjoyed Rachel’s resolve and determination to gain her freedom whether by being let go or fighting her way out. The only let down was the ending. While exciting, the story ends abruptly. I closed the book with a “What?” Overall, I enjoyed the story despite the abrupt ending. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, I recommend Her No 1 Fan. 

Her No 1 Fan is available in paperback and eBook

Just Add Romance: it was supposed to be a brief fling, what happens when they add a little romance?

Just Add Romance is the first book in the Everly Falls series by Heather B. Moore. Everly Kane’s might has always been on the Plan B track. Despite her mother’s objections, she is perfectly happy with her job, her nights at the movies and leaving the past behind her. She definitely doesn’t want the reminder that her sister is soon to be married to her ex boyfriend. When she runs into an architect who is in charge of the renovations for her beloved theater, her life is about to change. Austin Hayes is a widower with a young daughter. The last thing he wants is to juggle a relationship. Since he is in Everly Falls for only a few weeks, he doesn’t need to worry. However, when he meets Everly, he can’t help but be drawn to her. She doesn’t want a commitment. All he can do is give the time he is in town. They agree to a fling. What happens when they add a little romance? 

Just Add Romance has been on my To Be Read List for a while. I finally got the chance to read it. From the very beginning, I sympathized with Everly. First being named after her hometown, missing her late father and dealing with her mother’s constant disappointment, she is determined to live her life on her terms. Austin is a man still hurting from his wife’s death and figuring out single fatherhood. When the two start hanging out, there is a connection neither one could deny. Their romance was sweet with laughter and fun banter. The drama and conflict was good without being overpowering and even a little surprising with how it was resolved. Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was fun, fast paced. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, finishing it in a few hours. I am looking forward to the other books in the series. If you enjoy a fast paced clean romance, I highly recommend Just Add Romance. 

Just Add Romance is available in paperback and eBook

When the Moon Hatched: a romantasy that failed to live up to the hype

When the Moon Hatched is the first book in the Moonfall series by Sarah A Parker. When the Creators created their beloved dragons, they never expected they would fall and they punished those responsible. Raeve’s job is simply to kill. As a member of the rebel Fíur du Ath, she must complete her orders without being caught. When a well-known bounty hunter is employed by the Crown to capture members of the Ath, Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles who intended to use her as a political statement. Kaan Vaegor took the crown as king and continued his hunt for the moonshard when he stumbled across Raeve in shackles. As a song from the past begins to echo louder and louder, they learn of some truths that may be more dangerous than they ever imagined. 

When the Moon Hatched has been all over social media for a while with both rave and not so rave reviews. With a gorgeous cover and an intriguing premise, I was excited for the romantasy that story of “fast paced fantasy romance” with “witty banter and strong sassy protagonists.” The book is a beast at 576 pages and over 89 chapters. The prologue reeled me in; however, the rest of the book failed to keep me hooked. The author knows how to develop mood and atmosphere; however, I was bored and completely lost at times. There was so much going on with the magic system, the mythology and the politics that it was overwhelming. Overall, I was expecting to be taken to a magical world of action adventures and disappointed in this book. I do not recommend When the Moon Hatched. 

When the Moon Hatched is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Lost Letters of Aisling: historical drama of love, courage, and confronting one's past

The Lost Letters of Aisling by Cynthia Ellingsen is a historical drama of love, courage and confronting one’s past. After a near fatal illness, she only requested one thing from her granddaughter, to take her home. To Ireland, to the country she fled after World War II. Despite being close, Rainey knows very little of her grandmother’s past, she knew she could not tell her grandmother no. When they arrive at Aisling, Rainey discovers a trunk filled with letters. The letters take her to 1945 Dublin as the Germans surrender, there are celebrations in the street. Fourteen year old Evie meets her best friend, Harding McGovern. Harding is fiery and the two become as close as sisters. When rumors fly that Harding is involved in black market trade, while dangerous, would be able to fund her dream to immigrate to America. While uncertain of the truth, Evie is determined to stand by her friend at all costs. 

I love historical fiction with a good dual time point of view. The Lost Letters of Aisling promised to be a story of family, friendship, love and the freedom that comes from letting go of the secrets that we hide. From the opening chapter, I was excited until one piece of information took me out of the story entirely. During the celebration, the author writes that the crowd began to sing “God Save the Queen.” However, in 1945, King George VI was King of Great Britain, so “God Save the King” would have been performed. From that point on, I didn’t trust any of the author’s historical details, and there weren’t many, and the characters used phrases that wouldn’t have been common. There were also a few loose ends left at the end of the story which gave an unsatisfying ending. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend The Lost Letters of Aisling. 

The Lost Letters of Aisling is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Last Caretaker: a mystery suspense thriller which doesn't live up to its premise

The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser is a mystery suspense as one woman tries to move forward with her life. Katie needed a fresh start and her best friend, Bess, offered her a new start. The job is as a residential caretaker at a nature preserve. She wasn’t exactly a nature person but she is willing to try. From the moment she arrived, something was off. The farmhouse looks like the last caretaker simply disappeared and her belongings were left behind. When a frantic, terrified woman arrives late at night, Kate realizes that the caretaker job is much more than she realized. Unsure who to trust or where to turn, Katie begins to dig deeper into what the last caretaker left behind and she must decide how much she is willing to risk in order to do the right thing. 

I was intrigued by the premise and I looked forward to a spine tingly mystery. However, from the beginning, I was bored. Even after the woman arrives late at night and the mystery opens up, I was bored. There was no intrigue. It was so slow for a thriller suspense. The storytelling didn’t flow smoothly and I found my attention drifting. The writing style was choppy and some sentences were confusing and did not make sense. There was no suspense, no thrilling tension and the final twist fell flat. The characters weren’t people I wanted to root for or see to the end. I understand what the author was trying to do and cover an important topic; however, I feel it didn’t work well. I did not enjoy this story at all. I do not recommend The Last Caretaker. 

The Last Caretaker is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook