Olivia Strauss is Running Out of Time: a woman faces the possibility of her death and learns to truly live

Olivia Strauss is Running Out of Time by Angela Brown is the story of a woman who faces the possibility of her death and learns to truly live. Olivia Strauss is turning thirty-nine. As she considers herself still young, young enough to think that she still has decades to accomplish the items on her life’s to-do list. Olivia has time to bring back the spark to her marriage. She has plenty of time to play with her young son and even have another child if she so desires. She has plenty of time until her best friend, Marian, gives her a birthday present. A visit to a trendy wellness clinic which boasts of a state of the art genetic test that can predict the exact date of one’s death. When the results arrive, Olivia realizes she has a lot of living to do. No more excuses to do the items that she keeps putting off. 

Olivia Strauss is Running Out of Time is described as a “funny and emotionally moving comedy of errors about the gifts of growing older.” Unfortunately, I did not find it funny or emotionally moving. The story is filled with the stereotypes of a woman approaching forty and thinking everything is falling apart. I never related to the fear of turning forty, even now as I am closer to fifty, I do not fear getting older. So it was difficult to relate to Olivia or any of the women in this story. Olivia focused on what she hadn’t accomplished yet, instead of what she had. And while it was not from Olivia, but her annoying neighbor friends, the “Oh, life is over at forty” was so outdated. And their joke presents were eyerollingly annoying. Her only true friend was Marian and Olivia, at times, treated her so harshly. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend Olivia Strauss is Running Out of Time. 

Olivia Strauss is Running Out of Time is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

In Want of a Wife: in a Pride and Prejudice retelling featuring Charlotte and Colin

In Want of a Wife is the first book in the Pemberley Ranch series by Shanae Johnson. It is a well known rule that you don’t go after our best friend’s ex boyfriend. Charlotte Lee wouldn’t even consider it. The Bennett family is well known and Charlotte has always felt like an adopted member. When her best friend, Eliza, refuses Colin Hunsford’s proposal and Charlotte loses out on a job that she thought she was a shoe in for, Charlotte begins to consider breaking the rule. In order to fulfill the terms of his inheritance, Colin needs a wife. When Eliza rejects his marriage proposal, he offers Charlotte a marriage of convenience. With few romance choices and job prospects, Charlotte accepts his offer. Their marriage becomes inconvenient as Charlotte and Colin begin to feel more than they bargained for. 

I am not a huge fan of Jane Austen; however, I have enjoyed retellings of her most famous stories. With a story as well-known and beloved as Pride and Prejudice, it is ambitious to write a retelling. In Want of a Wife is a clean and wholesome romance that promises “laugh out loud romantic comedy” and “sweet and swoony situations.” Unfortunately, I did not laugh out loud. Some moments were more cringey than humorous for me. There were swoony moments and the happily ever after is sweet. Charlotte and Colin were a cute couple and they did remind me of their Austen characters. Overall, this story fell flat for me and I doubt I will continue this series. However, if you enjoy Jane Austen and want to read any retellings, I recommend checking out In Want of a Wife. 

In Want of a Wife is available in paperback and eBook

The Echo of Old Books: a rare book dealer finds two books which tell the story of a tragic romance

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis is a story about the power of books. Books have been the ultimate escape for Ashlyn Greer. It is more than the scent of the ink, paper and bindings. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners, the emotional fingerprint left behind. This ability makes her job as a rare book dealer more exciting. When she discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been officially published and the authors, Belle and Hemi, are telling conflicting sides of a tragic romance. Ashlyn finds herself caught up in the literary mystery and she is determined to learn the truth behind the heartbreaking tale. As she tracks down where the books came from, can she discover who Belle and Hemi really are? Can she bring closure to the love story and maybe even the unwritten chapters of her own life? 

As I loved Ms. Davis’ previous books, The Keeper of Happy Endings and The Last of the Moon Girls, I was looking forward to reading The Echo of Old Books. I was intrigued by Ashlyn’s ability to feel the emotions left behind with the books. The story started off great; however, Ashlyn’s ability doesn’t really matter in the overall story. I didn’t care for any of the characters, especially Ashlyn. We get a lot of the book is the story told through the unpublished book, a lot of he said/she said bitterness and resentment that I did not care why this couple’s romance ended so tragically. The book is marketed as a dual timeline; however, I feel it is more of a book within a book story. Sadly, The Echo of Old Books just doesn’t compare to her previous books I have read. I do not recommend The Echo of Old Books. 

The Echo of Old Books is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Letters We Keep: a 50 year old mystery brings together two students

The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma is a story of two star crossed lovers. Everyone on the campus of Hartcellar University knows the legend of Davidson Tower and the star crossed lovers who disappeared one night. Jessie Ahuja is an aspiring engineer and ambitious freshman who wants to succeed for her parents. Ravi Kumar is a senior and privileged billionaire nepo baby. When the two clash over a library study room, she wants nothing to do with them. However, things change when a campus prank finds them both locked in the old tower’s abandoned library. There, Jessie finds letters related to the lost lovers in a hollowed out copy of Persuasion. Together, Jessie and Ravi are pulled into the fifty year old mystery and a beautiful romance as well as a romance of their own. As Jessie sees a connection between the lovers in the letters and themselves, Can they discover what happened to the couple fifty years ago? Is their romance doomed to the same fate? 

I bought this book a couple of years ago and it recently came up on my To Be Read list. I wasn’t sure what I expected when I started this book. I dove in. At first, I wasn’t sure about the story and the characters. The constant talk about Jessie and Ravi’s economic differences was tiresome. However, once Jessie and Ravi find the letters and they get wrapped up in the romance unfolding in them, I too, was invested. I loved Jessie and Ravi’s romance as they dealt with their different backgrounds and family expectations. I thought the mystery of the tower and the lovers was great; however, I was worried that what happened to the lovers would not be revealed. However, it was revealed in a great way. There was a detail revealed that I literally had my hand fly to my mouth in shock! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was so good and better than my expectations. I highly, highly recommend The Letters We Keep. 

The Letters We Keep is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Written in Starlight: a romantic portal fantasy with a cosmic twist

Written in Starlight by Sloane Brooks is a romantic portal fantasy with a cosmic twist. Della Farley is a chambermaid. She kept her head down and dreamed of something more. One day she stumbles across a strange book about a man named Ansel Tulzok, a wanted fugitive traveling the stars. The strange part is the book seems to be written as she is reading it. Light years away, Ansel finds a mirror copy of the same book. He is reading the story of a woman he has never met. The two begin writing to each other through the pages, opening doors between their worlds. Della decides to write herself into Ansel’s story and finds herself on Ansel’s ship. Together, they agree to help each other. However, every story has a price and they must decide how far they will go to change their fate. 

I was intrigued by the description of Written in Starlight and looked forward to reading this story. The beginning was great and hooked me into the story. Ansel reminded me of Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, the middle of the story sagged a bit as Della wrote herself into Ansel’s story, his perspective and internal thoughts are lost. The romance between Della and Ansel becomes lost even the mystery of the plotline was lackluster as well. However, the ending was good. I do like the concept that our lives are books in a cosmic library. Overall, I did not enjoy the story as much as I wished I did. I just wasn’t wowed. However, I see readers who live action adventures, fantasy and a little sci-fi would love this story. If you are intrigued by the premise of this story, I recommend checking out Written in Starlight. 

Written in Starlight is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Heirs of Infamy: two teens from rival gangs join forces for a heist of a lifetime

Heirs of Infamy by Kyla Zhao is a story of friends to lovers among two rival crime families in postwar San Francisco. The East Phoenix deals in secrets and stealth while the West Dragon is fists and fear. However, with the rise of the Red Scare and anti-Chinese hostility, both crime families have a fragile truce that weakens with each passing day. Alexis Sung is the daughter of East Phoenix’s crime boss and all she wants to do is join the family business. When her first job goes wrong, her father refuses to allow her to join any other jobs. Her friend and classmate, Zachary Ren is a brilliant orphan who was raised by West Dragons. He is desperate to leave the crime life. When given a chance for a large payday for both families, Alexis defies her father’s orders and joins Zachary in a shaky alliance. As they plot and plan, old wounds are reopened and new sparks fly. 

With the gorgeous book cover and a title that caught my attention. I was intrigued by this story and I couldn’t wait to read it. The story started out great and grabbed my attention. I loved the history of the postwar atmosphere of San Francisco and Chinatown and the racial tensions of the day. I loved the relationships between Alexis and Zachary. However, the heist they were planning slowed the story down. The actual heist takes place off the page and I was disappointed. I wanted to see them succeed or fail but not be told what happened. The ending itself was disappointing and felt rushed, although I liked where Alexis and Zachary end up. Overall, I enjoyed this story. The author’s writing is beautiful and I enjoyed that she included the Chinese characters for the idioms the characters used. It added to the realism of the characters and I also appreciated that she followed it with the translation. I recommend Heirs of Infamy. 

Heirs of Infamy will be available in hardcover and eBook on October 13, 2026

Saved by the Rockstar: a woman who social anxiety and the rockstar who helps her find the strength to step into the world

Saved by the Rockstar is the first book in the Rich and Famous romance series by Michelle Pennington. Julie Chambers is a famous author who has crippling social anxiety so she avoids the spotlight. Her only interaction with the outside world is her weekly vlog to connect with her fans. When she raves about the rock star who had inspired her writing, she is surprised when he responds. As the lead singer of Sterling House, Ryland Sterling loves his music and performing, just not the fake women that go along with it. When his little sister shows him the vlog of her favorite author who mentions his band, he is intrigued by her. With the possibility of meeting in person, can Julie find the courage to face her anxiety and step into the world she has been avoiding? 

Saved by the Rockstar is a sweet, action packed romance. It was a quick read as I could not put it down. I immediately loved Julie and felt for her as she fears large crowds. I also loved Ryland who was so gentle and understanding with Julie. Their chemistry and connection was immediate and clear. I enjoyed their interactions online, via text and in person. The conflicts between the characters felt genuine as well as their resolutions. I knew there was someone waiting in the wings to destroy their budding relationship. I had an idea who this person was and the reveal confirmed my suspicion and yet I held my breath as I read. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to the rest of the series. I highly recommend Saved by the Rockstar.

Saved by the Rockstar is available in eBook

The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5: Maomao's adventure continue as new threats lurk

The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5 by Natsu Hyuuga is a light novel based on the manga series of the same name. With the birth of Consort Gyokuyou’s son has elevated her to the status of Empress and Jinshi can no longer continue to pretend at the rear palace the political atmosphere has changed. Although life seems to be settling after the destruction of the Shi clan; however, new threats wait in the wings from a potential plague of insects to enemies from distant lands. And despite her best efforts, Maomao finds herself right in the middle. When Jinshi orders an expedition to Gyokuyou’s homeland, Maomao finds herself heading west. Something is lurking in the shadows of the glittering city and Maomao races against time to discover the truth before it is too late. 

As a fan of The Apothecary Diaries anime, I have been excited to read the light novels. So for my recent birthday, and the upcoming season 3, I received the fifth volume as a present. Season 3 will begin with the events of volume 5 and I immediately jumped and joined Maomao on her newest adventures. I enjoyed this story so much and I can’t wait to read the rest of the light novels as well as the newest seasons of the anime. There were moments that I literally dropped my jaw as Maomao reveals the how and why to the events, especially at the end and the clues and hints to certain relationships and future events. If you are a fan of The Apothecary Diaries, I highly recommend the light novels. 

The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5 is available in paperback and eBook

Chasing Home: a woman running from a painful past finally finds the home she didn't know she wanted

Chasing Home is the first book in the Triple Star Ranch series by Emma Woods. After a tragic loss in her young life, Emily is a woman who doesn’t stay in one place for long. She comes to Birch Springs, Wyoming for work always with the door open to be on the road once again. She quickly meets Nate, a local charmer, and she decides that he is no good. Unfortunately, she learns that he is also a volunteer at the Triple Star Ranch when she joins the organization. However, as they spend time together, she and Nate grow closer and Emily is conflicted with a choice she desperately didn’t want to make. Does she leave as planned? Or does she finally put down roots for love and the home she didn’t know she wanted and learn that home is where the heart is? 

Chasing Home is a clean contemporary romance with cowboys. It is a sweet romance although a bit melodramatic for me. Emily is a woman on the run from the past, from the hurt and pain she doesn’t want to confront. Nate is a young man who is trying to figure out himself. I liked that together, Emily and Nate find their future and stability. The conflicts were settled a little too quickly and easily for me, especially one particular conflict which was a serious topic that deeply affected Emily. While marketed as a Christian romance, the Christian themes are subtle and aren't too heavy. It is great for those who like Christian lite stories. There are moments of emotion and crying out to God. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to other stories in this series. I recommend Chasing Home. 

Chasing Home is available in paperback and eBook

Mail Order Duchess: family duty and a mail order bride with grief, faith and love

Mail Order Duchess is the first book in the Lords of the Rockies series by Misty M Beller. The five Balfour brothers were raised on the family’s Montana ranch nestled in the Rocky Mountains. When the eldest son of an English duke dies suddenly, Enoch Balfour must take his place as the heir of the family title, the Duke of Clarence as well as marry the mail order bride his brother had sent for. However, Enoch has no intention to open his heart to this unknown woman. Mandie Beaumont is desperate to leave her family’s home. When she arrives in Montana, she suffers an accident which takes her recent memories, memories that conceal a secret. As the Balfour brothers take care of Mandie, giving her a place to rest and recover, her resilience begins to thaw the ice around Enoch’s heart. When Mandie’s past comes to his front door, Enoch must decide to risk his heart again to save her. 

Mail Order Duchess is a great clean romance with dramatic, faith and struggles. Enoch is a man who understands family duty. Grieving for his brother doesn’t stop that. Mandie finds herself in a situation where she feels her only option is to run. She answers an ad for a mail order bride. I have always been amazed at the courage that these women had to travel to somewhere they have never been to marry a man they’ve never met. And Mandie felt that a man in Montana must be better than the one who is trying to run from. Enoch and Mandie’s story hooked from the very beginning and I could not put this book down. I enjoyed the realistic depictions of the struggles with grief, loss and moving forward with faith. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to the rest of the stories in this series. I highly, highly recommend Mail Order Duchess. 

Mail Order Duchess is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

 

Marrying Mandy: a marriage of convenience between best friends and a love they have both been denying

Marrying Mandy is the first book in the Brides of Clearwater series by Melanie D. Snitker. After her parents’ divorce and their abandonment, Mandy Hudson vowed never to marry. Even though she was raised by her loving grandparents, she feels that real love just doesn’t last. When her grandmother dies, Mandy learns there is a shocking stipulation in the will. In order to inherit her grandparents’ estate, including a bed and breakfast, she must marry. Preston Yarrow has been Mandy’s childhood best friend and he has been in love with her since they were teenagers. He proposes a solution: a marriage of convenience. A marriage they would both benefit from. Mandy would be able to keep the bed and breakfast and Preston will be able to focus on his new woodworking business. They agree to the terms and marry. Life throws curves that Mandy isn’t prepared for especially for the realization that life was better with Preston at her side.

Marrying Mandy is a sweet romance with tearful moments and finding faith in oneself, someone else and in love. I enjoyed Mandy and Preston as individuals and as a couple. Mandy is a woman who learned to do things by herself and protects herself against being hurt. Preston is a man who is content with being Mandy’s best friend, even when he would like more. When Mandy is in trouble of losing the only home she has known, He jumps in to help with no other motive than to help. I loved that as each curve is thrown and Mandy is scrambling to deal with it, Preston is there, lovingly and gently, telling her that she does not need to handle it alone. I also loved how the community gathers together to show Mandy the same thing. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Marrying Mandy. 

Marrying Mandy is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook