Destination Funeral: four friends reunite for a funeral in a story of grief, healing and forgiveness

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison is a story of grief, healing and forgiveness. The complicated and yet magnetic matriarch, Babe dies, four estranged friends gather together at her Mercy Island estate for the reading of her will. Didion, Babe’s oldest daughter, arrives to find Sammie, her youngest sister, and Matt, her ex best friend already there. Soon, Austin, the final attendee and her ex boyfriend arrives. The atmosphere is filled with the tensions and awkwardness that Didion expected. They were expected to stay the weekend and Didion braces herself for an ugly weekend. However, they find themselves experiencing Saturday over and over and over again. Trapped in a time loop with seemingly no end and no instructions how to stop it, the four adults are forced to confront their past of betrayals, breakups, and buried truths. How can one endless weekend be exactly what they need to save their futures? 

Destination Funeral is described as a “laugh-out-loud funny and equally heartbreaking novel” with The Big Chill (1983) and Groundhog Day (1993) vibes. However, I struggled with this story. I did not laugh out loud once and I didn’t find it heartbreaking at all. I disliked the characters, especially Babe. She is supposed to be a complex woman but is really a miserable woman who favors her youngest child and was in and out of her daughters’ lives as it suited her. The parentification of teenage Didion hit hard and gives her a bit of sympathy for her hardness and cold demeanor. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I read Ms. Harbison's previous book and I did not enjoy it either. Her writing style is just not for me. However, if you enjoy Ms. Harbison's previous books, you may enjoy Destination Funeral. Unfortunately, I do not recommend Destination Funeral. 

Destination Funeral is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Unexpectedly in Love: a fake dating romance

Unexpectedly in Love is the first book in the Sherbrookes series by Christina Tetreault. Victoria “Tory” Sherbrooke has a problem. She is the maid of honor in her friend Ivy's upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend is the groom’s best man. No one, including her ex, will accept that their relationship is truly over. In order to get everyone off her case, she decides to show up to the wedding with a boyfriend. Her family’s charity bachelor auction would be the perfect place to find a fake boyfriend. Duncan Ferguson had lost a bet and now he is a part of the auction. He planned to fulfill his obligation and walk away. However, when he hears Tory’s plan, he can’t help but agree. Falling in love was never a part of the plan. As they spend time together, the more and more their fake relationship feels very, very real. 

The fake dating trope is one I usually enjoy; however, I just wasn’t feeling this one. I didn’t like Tory from the get go. I found her shallow and immature. At one point, she accuses Duncan of using her for a connection when she is using him to fool her ex boyfriend and others. I rolled my eyes at that. As the first book in the series, I understand establishing characters and building the world. Unfortunately, there were way too many connections and relationships introduced in the confusing way. In the first chapter alone, there were dozens of names and connections mentioned instead of introducing them as they appear in the story. It really slowed the story down from the beginning. From there, the story felt chopping and disconnected. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend Unexpectedly in Love. 

Unexpectedly in Love is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Echoes of You: a best friend to lovers with fun banter and intense suspense

Echoes of You is the second book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. Nash Hartley has always been everything to Maddie Byrne. Best friends, Protector. Partner in Crime. And the one person who was there in her darkest hour. However, she always wanted more, being unsure if Nash wanted the same, she never acted on her feelings. She left town and moved on, a choice that haunted her. Now, she has moved back to their small town, hoping that she has left her nightmares behind and seeing the only person who made her feel safe. As she tells Nash about the events which led to her return and he promised to do everything to keep her safe. However, her worst nightmare arrives in town, a man who will do everything he is power to keep Maddie or make sure no one else would. 

Echoes of You is a best friend romance with fun banter as well as intense suspense. Maddie is a strong woman who was determined to avoid being a victim again, not realizing that she fell into the very situation she vowed never to be in. In shame, she hid the truth. My heart broke for Maddie as she recounts her experiences and learns to trust Nash and others with her deepest secret. I loved how the Hartleys rallied around her. While readers know the villain who would cause trouble and the wait to see how he would pounce and act was intense. There was another villain lurking in the shadows that surprised me. Overall, this story kept me glued to the pages and I could not put it down. I am looking forward to the rest of this series. I highly recommend Echoes of You. 

Echoes of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Color of Joy: a newborn goes missing from the hospital and a man struggles with his past

The Color of Joy is the eighth book in The Color of Heaven series by Julianne MacLean. The birth of their third child should have been one of the joyful days of their lives. However, after hours of labor, Lois James is taken into an emergency c-section and her husband, Riley, is left worried about his wife and child’s condition. Once Lois is in recovery, Riley begins to relax until the hospital informs them that their newborn daughter has disappeared from the hospital. Riley can’t help but feel the situation is payback for his troubled past. As the search intensifies and the police investigate, some strange and mysterious clues come to light and Riley struggles to believe that the clues are anything but hallucinations. However, when the clues lead to a turn of events, Riley realizes he must change everything he believes about life, love and miracles.  

The Color of Joy is a story that places the reader in the middle of the action at full speed and does not let up until the end. The story has great twists and turns. Emotional moments and struggles. There was one moment in which Riley turns to a solution that he avoided in the past and as I read, I begged him not to do it. I held my breath as he struggled. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to finish the rest of this series. What I like about this series is that you do not need to read these stories in order; however, I highly recommend that you do. The Color of Joy is such an emotional story and will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.  I highly, highly recommend The Color of Joy. 

The Color of Joy is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Devoted: one woman's journey to fight for her freedom

The Devoted by Catherine Cho is a story of family and fate. As a young Korean woman whose father is a leader in an infamous crime organization. When she becomes entangled in their dangerous world, she fights to break free. Eunha was raised in Hong Kong by her grandmother, along with her brother, Solomon, in a quiet village. Their father is a Dragon Head within the Triads. Eunha is shielded from the violence and fear and her only companions are her brother and their friend, Kai. When she grows up and marries into a respectable Hong Kong family, her world begins to fall apart when her young son is kidnapped. In her desperate search for him, Eunha finds herself in the criminal underground and face to face with Kai, who is now a Dragon Head himself. Does Eunha give into the life she tried so hard to leave?

The Devoted is the debut novel by Catherine Cho. It is a mystery thriller filled with family drama, forbidden love and one woman’s determination to choose her own destiny. As I started this story, I was captivated by Eunha’s story as she recounts her past and battles the present for her son and her future. However, it felt as if Eunha was telling us what happened rather than readers experiencing it with her. I expected more suspense, more violence and more of a fight from Eunha. Overall, I am torn by this story. It is well written, beautifully lyrical. I liked Eunha. I liked that it was a different story of underground organized crime; however, it did not have the thrilling action that I expected. That being said, I may not have been the audience for this book. If you enjoy crime mystery thrillers, I recommend checking out The Devoted. 

The Devoted is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Whispers of You: romantic suspense as two people take a second chance at love and a shadow lurks in the dark

Whispers of You is the first book in the Lost and Found series by Catherine Cowles. One night, one bullet cost Wren Williams everything. The boy who she thought would be her forever and the life she always dreamt of was gone. Ten years later, Holt Hartley is back in town. But he is no longer the boy she knew about a man who has been running from the shadows and demons who haunt his every step. He says he is here to make things right with her, his family and everyone he left behind. What started as a temporary stop seems to be turning into a permanent move. Despite Wren’s best efforts and determination to avoid Holt, he seems to be there at every turn. She realizes her feelings for Holt are still there and she hopes that the possibility for second chances isn’t going to leave her broken. Deep in the shadows of the small town, someone is not happy Holt is back in town and leaves Wren in the crosshairs.

Catherine Cowles has become my go-to author for romantic suspense. Even though the Lost and Found series is an older series, it still has the Catherine Cowles elements that I expect from her stories. Whispers of You is a great heart-stopping, breath-holding romantic suspense from the opening pages to the closing chapter. The story grips you and will not let you go as you watch Wren and Holt come back together and wonder who in the shadows wants to hurt them both. The villain of the story was not who I expected and the final battle was intense as Holt raced against time to stop them. I also enjoyed the family dynamics between the members of the Hartley clan. The sibling banter is always on point and the deep heart to heart talks were emotional and healing. There were great moments of humor and emotions. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to continue the series. If you enjoy romantic suspense, I highly, highly recommend Whispers of You. 

Whispers of You is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Not You, It's Me: a kiss cam kiss with a stranger changes one woman's luck in love and in life

Not You, It’s Me is the first book in the Boston Love Story series by Julie Johnson. Gemma Summers has been unlucky  in love. After years of bad dates, boring sex and horrible morning afters is the proof she needs that love is just not in the cards for her. When she wins tickets for the hottest playoff from a radio contest, she thinks her luck is starting to change. However, when the dreaded kiss cam lands on her and her boyfriend, who has ignored her the entire game, fails to notice. However, the sexy stranger next to her had noticed and gave her the kiss of a lifetime. She never expected to see the sexy stranger again. What she doesn’t realize is that he is Chase Croft, Boston’s most eligible bachelor. Their connection has Gemma wondering if she might finally be lucky in love, if only she would let her guard down. 

Julie Johnson is a new author to me and from the book’s description, I was expecting a sweet romantic comedy. I got that and so much more. There were romantic moments, great comedy between Gemma and Chase and Gemma and her best friends. What I wasn’t expecting was deep emotional moments with family confessions, and surprising action and suspense. The story grabbed me from the very beginning and I could not put it down. I loved Gemma and Chase as individuals and as a couple. I loved their flirty banter and their sweet heart to hearts. There were twists and turns in the story that left me glued to the page. After finishing the book, I immediately placed the rest of the books in this series on my wishlist. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Not You, It’s Me. 

Not You, It’s Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Working Class Hero: a deadly fire, a pregnant woman is dead and the newly elected sheriff must solve the case

Working Class Hero is the sixteenth book in the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. The small town of Hart’s Ridge is shaken awake as a house fire reveals the death of Julie Carter, a pregnant woman. Taylor Gray, as the newly elected sheriff, asks Caleb Grimes to return to the department and together, they investigate the deadly fire. Their prime suspect: Alex Mercer, the fire chief. As the details come to the surface, secrets come to light and the truth behind the fire takes a turn. Tula returns to Hart’s Ridge when her sister, Lorene, goes into premature labor. With the baby in a delicate condition, Tula must fight to ensure his survival and tries to get Lorene the help she needs to finally break away from their twisted family. Who killed Julie Carter? Will Tula be able to help Lorene and her new baby? 

The Hart’s Ridge series has had great stories with twists and turns, suspense and shocking reveals. Working Class Hero is no exception. From the opening prologue to the closing chapter, I was hooked on Taylor’s case. While I was waiting for a shocking reveal about the killer as the first suspect is rarely the real killer but the truth behind the fire was a reveal I was not expecting. I enjoyed Taylor’s growth as she adjusts to her new role and her determination to bring integrity and honesty back to the office. Tula’s storyline was bittersweet and I even shed a few tears. I have enjoyed her journey of strength and determination to break the family cycle. If you haven’t already started the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly, highly recommend it. If you have enjoyed the Hart’s Ridge series so far, I highly, highly recommend Working Class Hero. 

Working Class Hero is available in eBook

City People: five women take a hard look at themselves and their lives after the sudden death of a friend

City People by Elizabeth Topp is a story about a band of mothers who are forced to reevaluate their lives as they deal with the aftermath of the sudden loss of one of their friends. Susan Harris was beautiful and successful, so when she jumps from the roof of her apartment building, her New York City mothers’ group of five friends are left in shock, disbelief and with the question:. how did they not see it? Vic is a single mom with literary aspirations and a bad case of writer’s block. Bhavna is a makeup executive, focusing on her son’s future. Kara has experience dealing with suicide. Penelope and Amy in the middle of a business deal but is the toll worth it for their families? And Chandice is dealing with her own morality as she battles cancer. Between dealing with their friend’s death and their busy lives, they are desperate to get their children into a prestigious private school.

I haven’t read Elizabeth Topp before and City People is contemporary fiction story of five women who are forced to take a hard look at their lives in the wake of their friend’s suicide. The story reminded me of the 1996 movie The First Wives’ Club starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Milder. Unfortunately, I found it hard to get through this story and it wasn’t the heavy topic of suicide and mental health. I think there were way too many POVs which changed every chapter. The parts of the book which were really heartbreaking for me were the ones from Susan’s POV. I didn’t care for any of the other women and I could easily see how these women missed the subtle signs. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. However, I do appreciate that the author included a note at the end about suicide and including a suicide hotline. I do not recommend City People. 

City People is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Don't Forget Me: a mystery suspense

Don’t Forget Me by Rea Frey is a mystery suspense of murder and suspicion. All Ruby Knight wanted was a fresh start. Taking an early retirement, she moves to a tight knot community with her husband, Tom, and her daughter, Lily. However, their fresh start doesn’t last long. First, Lily goes missing and then her husband. In order to cope with her grief, Ruby turns to her neighborhood friends and new hobbies including a murder club where they try to solve cold cases. While on a run, Ruby Knight discovers a body in the lake. When the body is identified as Tom, every one is sure it is him except Ruby. As she digs into her own past and the lives of her neighbors, she realizes that there are secrets that raise more questions than answers. She must now find a way to clear her name and find the truth. 

I haven’t read anything by Rea Frey before but I was intrigued by the description that I wanted to give it a chance. The story started off well as a body is discovered that everyone says is her husband but she doesn’t recognize him. With great suspense and twists and turns, it would have made for a great mystery. However, I didn’t like the characters, the story and the twists were not truly shocking. There were jumps in time without any indication of where and when the characters were. A lot of the conservations that happen between neighbors in text form which would be a great device but it happened way too often. By the end, I didn’t care for the characters or what happened and the ending seemed sloppy. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend Don’t Forget Me. 

Don’t Forget Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Dragons and Aces: an enemies to lovers romantasy

Dragons and Aces is the first book in the Dragons and Aces series by J.G. Gates. In the kingdom of Maethalia, Essaphine “Essa” is the queen’s daughter but the lowest ranked of the Skrathan, the elite dragon riders who defend their kingdom. Essa has a chance to become the leader of the Skrathan. No one believes she can win because she only has one arm. Soon a brash, handsome stranger washes up on shore claiming to be Kit Rowley, a reporter. Kit offers to train her in ways of flying and it becomes clear to Essa that Kit is more than he seems. What she doesn’t know is that he is really Charlie, the famed Silver Wraith, and flying ace. While she doesn’t trust him, he is the only one who believes in her. As the attraction between Essa and Charlie is too strong. Will Essa win the challenge and claim her prize? Or will her desire for Charlie ruin her and the entire kingdom? 

I found Dragon and Aces from a Facebook ad. I was intrigued as the author stated that he wrote the story for his wife and I recently have been reading a few romantasy books, so I decided to take a chance. Essa and Charlie are from enemy countries with a long history of animosity. I enjoyed Essa as a strong willed woman who wasn’t going to let her disability hold her back and I loved that Charlie saw that fire as her chance to win. I did not like the constant narrative from the other characters that Essa couldn’t do it because she’s not “whole,” However, I did like that their constant reminders and doubts fueled Essa’s desire to prove them wrong. I also liked the mix of modern technological elements with the mythical creatures. Overall, I enjoyed the story as it was a different take on the romantsy genre. There was political intrigue and suspense as well. If you enjoy romantasy stories, you might enjoy Dragons and Aces. 

Dragons and Aces is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook