Burn the Kingdom Down: one woman seeks revenge and discovers twists she never expected

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley is an enemies to lovers romantasy with intrigue and action. Rowenna Harrack, the crown princess of Tashir, left her homeland as the bride to the prince of Vanzador. One year later, she is dead and her sister, Indira, is demanded as her replacement for the prince. Indira only agrees to figure out the truth behind her sister’s death, convinced it was no accident, and take revenge on those responsible. It’s a simple plan to play nice and gather the necessary intel to avenge her sister and free herself and her country from the iron grip of Vanzador. However, when she arrives, nothing is as it seems or as terrible as Rowenna described in her letters home. As Indira develops friendly terms with her maid, a courtier and even grows closer to her new husband, Prince Alaric, she is unsure who or what to believe. She learns that everyone has secrets, even deadly ones.

Burn the Kingdom Down promised to be “action-packed” with romance that would leave readers “breathless” and “betrayals” that would rip their hearts out. It is an interesting premise and the opening chapter certainly grabs your attention. However, the story gets confusing from there. The enemies part of enemies to lovers was done well. The animosity between Indira and Alaric was excellent. The lovers part was a bit more unbelievable and sudden, given their intense animosity. Indira herself was a bit annoying as she refused to see that what she knew about the situation wasn’t what she thought it was. I liked the magic system in this story. Overall, it was an interesting story with lots of action. Though I wasn’t breathless at the romance or my heart wasn’t ripped out by the betrayals. I feel teen readers might enjoy this story more. If you enjoy romantasy stories, you may enjoy this one. I recommend Burn the Kingdom Down. 

Burn the Kingdom Down is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Where Wild Peaches Grow: two sisters reunite after their father's death and confront the past

Where Wild Peaches Grow by Cade Bentley is a story of family, cultural heritage and forgiveness. Nona “Peaches” Davenport left her home in Natchez, Mississippi fifteen years ago when she was betrayed by her family. She built a new life and became a professor of African American studies in Chicago. When the news of her father’s death reaches her, Nona must return home, a place she tried to forget. Julia Curtis has never forgiven her sister for leaving the family. However, Julia was determined to move forward as she focused on taking care of their father and grandmother. Julia now has a child and a career. When Nona returns to Natchez, their reunion is tenuous but soon they learn family secrets and everything they thought they knew could finally heal their relationship or tear them apart for good. 

Described as deeply emotional, I was expecting a family drama while dealing with grief and past hurts. However, I got a story about two sisters who were incredibly immature, especially Julia. I did not connect with either sister. Lies, miscommunication and drama for drama’s sake. Everyone had a secret of some type and when the big daddy secret was revealed, it was a major let down. The author tried to link racism and the town’s lore which didn’t quite connect for me. I kept asking “why?” for so many revelations and never got any answers, at least one I thought was satisfying. The story was a “short read” at 297  pages; however, it did not feel like it. It was confusing with too much history and not enough plot. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend Where Wild Peaches Grow. 

Where Wild Peaches Grow is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Pet Doctor: when a small town vet falls in love with the local wedding planner

The Pet Doctor is the third book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series by Tess Thompson. Breck Stokes returns to Emerson Pass to take over his mother’s veterinarian clinic. He loves being back home in his small town and loves animals and the occasional nap. He can’t explain it but he is drawn to the lovely but reserved Tiffany Birt. Tiffany arrived in Emerson Pass and soon became their favorite wedding planner. What her friends don’t know is that she hides behind a wall and holds a secret of a haunting childhood. When her past becomes national news, she must decide if she continues to hide or confront her demons and make sure those who hurt her and others pay. Will she be free at last and be able to pursue a future with Breck? Or will the men from her past continue to haunt her? 

The Pet Doctor was a sweet, funny and dramatic clean romance. The story opens as Tiffany breaks free from the cult that wanted to bind her into servitude. She builds her life and settles in Emerson Pass where she catches the attention of Breck. Breck is sweet and quiet who has his own traumatic past. However, when he learns of Tiffany’s past, he becomes the support she needs. I loved them together and their romance was sweet. The drama about the cult was doing well without being overwhelming to the overarching story. There was also drama between Breck and his mother that was well done as well and I cheered when he finally spoke his mind. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly recommend The Pet Doctor. I do recommend you start with book 1, The Sugar Queen. 

The Pet Doctor is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Let's Pretend This Will Work: one woman's search for happiness turns her life upside down

Let’s Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson is one woman’s search for happiness which turns her life upside down. Mimi Perkins is a thirtysomething English teacher and single. She longs for love, so when Ren Yardley, the handsome, divorced drama teacher, shows interest, Mimi hopes this is finally the good news her psychic told her about. Ren soon proposes and she accepts. Soon after, Ren gets devastating news that his ex wife was in a horrible accident and he heads back to New Haven in order to take care of her and their two daughters. When Mimi suddenly loses her job and her apartment in one day, Ren invites her to come to New Haven to be close to him. There she finds a job at a local daycare and settles in. But as time goes by, Mimi begins to see that Ren and his family are slowly reuniting and now she needs to figure out what she wants to fight for and what she needs to let go. 

I was expecting a fun, quirky rom-com as a woman discovers what she really needs in life. However, this story was not it. From the very beginning, Mimi was annoyingly naive. When Ren proposes, Mimi hesitates and yet still says yes because her psychic said good things were going to happen. Ren was a walking red flag but he was just “so charming” that it is overlooked. When Mimi gets to New Haven, the cringiness and eye rolling events continue. The scenes in the daycare were just weird and the descriptions of the children were odd. I kept thinking children don’t normally act like this or say these things. Overall, I did not care for Mimi. I waited for her to realize her worth and stop chasing a guy who did not value her. I definitely did not like Ren. He was a pushy jerk from the very beginning. This story was not fun. It was definitely quirky with no rom com in sight. I do not recommend Let’s Pretend This Will Work. 

Let’s Pretend This Will Work is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Politics and Religion: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and my thoughts

I recently heard someone make the comment that people need to keep their religion out of politics. When I heard this, I had a feeling that this individual was specifically speaking to Christians. Growing up, I heard on a regular basis that one does not discuss religion or politics as they often lead to conflict and damage relationships. However, by not discussing religion and politics and trying to leave religion out of politics we are teaching ourselves to avoid conflict rather than dealing with it peacefully and rationally. I decided to look into politics and religion: the good, the bad and the ugly. The intersection of politics and religion has a complex history from ethical guidance to deep conflict and violent altercations. After some research from both religious and non-religious perspectives, I will present a history of politics, religion and the American founding, as well as the good, bad and ugly when one mixes politics and religion and my own personal thoughts. 

Religious beliefs played a significant role in the political life of the United States. Many of the founding fathers fell into one of four categories: Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational and Unitarianism/Deism. However, the founding fathers did not set out to create a Christian nation; however, they were not secularists who intended to shut out religion (Frazer, no date). Many Americans will repeat the phrase “the separation of church and state” to indicate that we are not to mix politics and religion. However, this phrase does not mean what many people think it does. It is the belief that government involvement in the church would corrupt the church, not the church involved in government. First, the concept was first used among early Baptists in America in 1644. Roger Williams, a Baptist minister, founder of the state of Rhode Island and the First Baptist Church in America wrote “a wall or hedge of separation between the ‘wilderness of the world’ and ‘the garden of the church’” (Ryman & Alcorn, 2023). The most famous use of the phrase was written by Thomas Jefferson in a 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association. Second, the phrase “the separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Many individuals will cite the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that the separation of church and state was implied. The Establishment Clause states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In other words, the government cannot make or endorse an official religion. It is to keep government out of the church but not keep the church (i.e. believers) out of government. 

The Good that results with the mix of politics and religion. First, moral compass and justice. Micah 6:8 says “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” Moral codes of conduct have been adopted by governments around the world. Rules which guide what is wrong and what is right. Second, community and charity. Practicing Christians are the most charitable people in the nation and not just to their churches but to religious and non-religious charities (Chandler, 2024). Many of the pioneer social reformers were driven by their faiths. Jane Addams, cofounder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago, Illinois, was influenced by the works of Charles Dickens and advocated for better programs for the poor women and children. As a member of the Presbyterian church, she would spend her life being a voice to those who were powerless and became a prominent social reformer. Third, moral courage. Religion and moral courage are deeply intertwined as faith provides a foundation for strength and the ethical framework to act in the face of social pressures or danger. Proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Paul encouraged Timothy as he faced opposition, reminding him that God gives us a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Bad about the mix of politics and religion is politicized religion. Politicized religion is when religion becomes increasingly marred in partisan politics (Campbell, 2020) as young Americans are abandoning religion when they see it as an extension of politics they do not agree with. Politicized religion also leads to polarization and tribalism which fosters division and prejudice. I have seen in the last decade as more and more people automatically hate or ridicule another group simply because of one’s affiliation with a church or a religion. “What do you expect she’s…” enter the chosen group. This type of tribalism also leads to opposition to compromise. With politicized religion, a growing divide between secularist and the religious. It becomes a us versus them mentality with little or no move to try to work with the other group. It becomes more about group identity than anything else. It becomes “if you aren’t with us, you are against us.” I don’t know how many times I have seen someone shocked to learn that someone else doesn’t think or believes something simply because of a given group identity. For example, many people think Latino automatically means liberal and Catholic or Middle Eastern and Muslim. Also, there is a growing trend in America where certain political individuals hijack Jesus and attempt to mold him into their ideology in order to validate their views and gain support. The most prominent example of this politicized religion is seen in Progressive Christianity. 

The Ugly about the mix of politics and religion is the weaponization of religion. According to Kathryn Echle (2023), there are three characteristics of weaponization religion. First, political manipulation. Political manipulation involves the use of religious sentiments and institutions to solidify support. This support often leads to theocracy and suppression of those who oppose those in power. Second, extremism and control. Weaponization promotes extremist ideologies and leads to radicalization and the justification of violence. It creates extremist groups which take the tenets of a religion to extreme measures and ultimately turn to violence in order to gain control or compliance. Third, virtue signaling. Virtue signaling in which people are using religion for image management rather than genuine belief. The use of religion for image can lead to exploitation and corruption.The mix of wealth and power with the pull of religion leads to greed, corruption and exploitation. Whenever anyone in the public eye makes the claim of being a Christian, I do not automatically believe them. I look for the evidence, the fruits in their lives, that they are truly believers. And while believers are not perfect and will falter, there still be proof in their lives that they truly believe and follow Jesus Christ. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus tells us to watch for false prophets, to be careful of wolves in sheep’s clothing and by their fruit we will recognize one’s true character by their behaviors. 

I am not a person who is overly political. I do not belong to any political group. I do pay attention to what is going on politically in order to stay informed but politics does not dictate my every waking thought. Everything in my life is informed by my faith, including my political beliefs. The Christian’s primary concern is the gospel and being good citizens that we can represent Christ to the world (Winger, 2022). That is where my focus is to represent Christ as much as I can. It has become popular to fire politically charged questions at Christians; however, these questions are often to trap rather than find the truth or a solution (Winger, 2020). If I am ever faced with a politically charged question, I hope that my carefully chosen answer would bridge the person and Jesus rather than proving myself in the right and them in the wrong as Proverbs 15:28 says that “the heart of the righteous weighs its answers.” However, I know that it would be useless to teach holy concepts to people who do not want to listen (Matthew 7:6). Jesus tells us to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16) meaning that we are to be discerning, quick to learn, to be careful of manipulation and deceptive traps and yet be gentle and act with integrity rather than inflicting harm. Therefore, as a Christian, my purpose is to be a light in the world and that includes the political world. 

In conclusion, religion and politics can be mixed carefully. To bring morality, justice, a sense of community and charity. Religion can be weaponized and used to manipulate and corrupt people in order to gain power and justify violence. While the United States of America was not designed specifically as a Christian nation, it is dishonest to ignore the faith foundations that are woven into the founding of this great nation. As for me, I focus on my identity in Christ as a wife, mother, friend, and citizen of this country. I will look to Christ as I cast my vote and voice my support or opposition. I aim to be more like Christ and while I may fail, I pray that others see him before they see me. Fellow believers in Christ, I urge you to not to shy away from politics, educate yourself, engage in the conversations when possible and be the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it. 

Resources

Campbell, David (Summer 2020). The Perils of Politicized Religion. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/perils-politicized-religion. Retrieved March 13, 2026. 

Chandler, Diana (December 12. 2024). Christians are most charitable; giving drives happiness, State of the Bible finds. Baptist Press. https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/christians-are-most-charitable-giving-drives-happiness-state-of-the-bible-finds/. Retrieved March 18, 2026. 

Echele, Kathryn (May 20, 2023). Weaponization of Religion: The Manipulation of Religion in the Pursuit of Political Power in Yugoslavia and Syria. Fordham University. https://research.library.fordham.edu/international_senior/111/. Retrieved March 13, 206. 

Frazer, Gregg (n.d.). The Faith of the Founding Fathers. The Master’s University. https://www.masters.edu/master_tmu_news/the-faith-of-the-founding-fathers/#:~:text=There%20were%20Christians%20among%20the,to%20create%20a%20Christian%20nation.. Retrieved March 13, 2026. 

Ryman, Hana M. & Alcorn, Mark J. (October 17, 2023). Establishment Clause: Separation of Church and State. Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/establishment-clause-separation-of-church-and-state/#. Retrieved March 13, 2026.

Winger, Mike (2020). Being More Biblical About Politics: The Mark series part 47. https://www.youtube.com/live/dWBybF6T0HQ?si=n1Jgv9y8xJImvtXK. Retrieved March 8, 2025. 

Winger, Mike (2022). She asked me to talk about politics. The Bible Thinker. https://youtu.be/eV5dgUNoeHs?si=nH4xhdUT45rHrz4V. Retrieved March 8, 2025.

 

Lady Helena Investigates: family drama, mystery and a slow burn romance

Lady Helena Investigates is the first book in the Scott-DeQuincy Mystery series by Jane Steen. 1881, Sussex, Lady Helena Whitcombe has been left grieving as she buries her husband, Sir Justin Whitcombe. Her quiet country life was shattered as Justin was found dead in the river that overlooked their grand mansion. As she deals with family demands for her life as a widow and her own wishes to guide her life as she sees fit, Armand Fortier enters her life. The attractive and mysterious French physician who poses his theory of murder which leads to her starting her own investigation. During her investigation, she discovers her own family’s secrets. Can she navigate grief while standing up against her family’s demands for her life?  Where does the handsome doctor fit into her life and her investigations? 

I was intrigued at the premise and was looking forward to diving into a story of mystery, drama and family especially as the series was described as a “family saga and mystery-driven action with a slow-burn romance in seven unputdownable investigations.” The opening chapter was a jumbled introduction to Lady Helena’s situation and her large family. The introductions of who was who and where they fit in the family was so confusing that I gave up trying to keep everyone straight. I expected a murder mystery that never really materialized. The romance seemed out of place as well. Overall, I was bored and I did not care about Lady Helena, her situation or her investigations. I will not be continuing the series. However, if you enjoy historical drama with mystery and romance, you may enjoy Lady Helena Investigates. 

Lady Helena Investigates is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Hired Man: the Dust Bowl, a mysterious drifter and a murder

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas is a story of a stranger who walks into a small town in Colorado and leaves a mystery in his wake. In 1937, the Dust Bowl ravaged the country and rain clouds were a distant memory. Martha Helen Kessler and her family have been luckier than most people in their small town, just barely. When a handsome drifter, Otis Hobbs, helps rescue a local boy who got lost in a dust storm, Martha Helen’s mother extends kindness and offers the man lodging and work for as long as he wants to stay. However, suspicion, jealousy and prejudice floods the town as people look down on Otis. These feelings intensify as Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, is found murdered. She is now faced with conflicting feelings as she struggles with questions. Was Otis responsible? Was he simply the scapegoat? What truly happened to her friend? 

The Hired Man is a dark and gritty story of one young woman’s journey from childlike innocence to experiencing the darker side of people and the dangers that could be lurking around her. Ms Dallas’s description of the dust bowl, the scenery and the devastating effects was very detailed and vivid. It was heartbreaking to know the horrors people experienced during this uncertain time of environmental and economic uncertainties. Martha Helen was a strong character and I enjoyed her growth throughout the story. I also enjoyed Martha Helen’s parents as they extended help to those who needed it. The mystery of who murdered Frankie was left ambiguous and the resolution was disappointing. There were more questions than answers. Overall, I enjoyed this story of the life struggles and dangers during the Dust Bowl; however, the mystery was lackluster. If you enjoy historical drama with a bit of mystery, I recommend The Hired Man. 

The Hired Man will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on March 31, 2026. 

The Fling: a romance in paradise follows two individuals home and a chance for a lifetime love

The Fling is the second book in the Lake Bittersweet series by Jennifer Bernard. Emmaline Curtis has never been far from home before but when she wins an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii, it is a dream come true. There she meets a gorgeous man and after a few moments of flirty banter, she is ready for anything. Conor Gault is in Hawaii on a business trip when his chance meeting with a beautiful woman turns into an unexpected romance in paradise. They agree to a fling. However, it is cut short when he receives news that his rock star father has passed away unexpectedly. He finds himself in Lake Bittersweet, Minnesota, a place he has purposely avoided for seventeen years. The last person he expected to run into is Emmaline, the woman who has haunted his thoughts since they parted in Hawaii. They find that their spark is still there but it will be tested when they discover that their pasts are linked in more ways than they ever knew. 

After reading the first book in this series, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue this series. However, when I had a chance to read the second book, I decided to give it a second chance. The Fling starts out great. Two people in paradise who throw caution to the wind, until reality brings them back. I enjoyed their interaction and flirty banter. After they meet up again in Lake Bittersweet, the story falters a bit. I loved Emmaline and Conor’s interactions. I loved Conor’s interactions with Emmaline’s brother, Henry. I think my issue with this story is the interactions with the supporting characters who were introduced in the story as if I should have already known them and their histories. Maybe it was the time between reading book 1 and book 2 that was the issue but I found myself losing attention. Overall, though, I did enjoy this story. I enjoyed Conor’s growth specifically. I may continue the series in the future. If you enjoy small town romance, I recommend The Fling. 

The Fling is available in paperback and eBook

The Sweetest Words: an enemies to lovers romance with great drama, banter and sweet moments

The Sweetest Words is the first book in the Three Sisters Cafe series by Laura Ann. When Aspen Harrison's father turns over the family bakery to her, she knows it’s her time to shine outside of his shadow. Along with her sisters, she remodels and re-themes the bakery as Three Sisters Cafe. A great way to kick off their grand re-opening would be a review from a well-known food critic, Eat It Austin. Austin loves food and is known for his snappy and snarky reviews that his followers eat up. However, his whole career is built on a lie and a facade is desperate to keep in place. When his editor takes his review of The Three Sisters Cafe and turns it into a harsher review than originally written. Austin feels bad, but unable to do much. When Aspen issues a challenge for an apology, Austin must decide between his reputation, his career and his heart. 

The Sweetest Words is a great enemies to lovers romance with drama and sweet moments. I loved the banter between Aspen and Austin. I especially loved Aspen’s spunk when she challenges Austin to “eat his words” about her cafe. I felt for Austin and his dilemma and I certainly wanted to throttle his boss. I also enjoyed the cast of characters and look forward to seeing them get their own love story. I enjoyed that Aspen and Austin both had their own challenges and issues they wanted to keep hidden and yet they found the strength and courage to open up about it to each other and eventually others. Overall, I enjoyed this story. Word of warning though, do not read this book while hungry. The descriptions of the sweet treats and food were so vivid that I wish I could eat it with the characters. If you enjoy an enemies to lovers romances with sweet treats, I highly recommend The Sweetest Words. 

The Sweetest Words is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tru Blue: a motorcycle club romance with found family and rebuilding one's life

Tru Blue is the first book in The Whiskeys: Dark Knights of Peaceful Harbor series by Melissa Foster. There’s nothing Truman Gritt wouldn’t do to protect his family and he proved it. He spent time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he has been released and slowly rebuilding his life when his mother’s overdose shattered it all. He steps in to raise the two children she left behind. Overnight, he became the guardian of a toddler and an infant. When a beautiful stranger walked up to him at the store and helped him, he tried to resist. Gemma Walker saw the tattooed man struggle with two young kids, she couldn’t help but step in. As Truman tries to resist Gemma’s help, he finds himself slowly opening his heart. Truman and Gemma find an attraction between them that was hard to fight. However, when his dark past bursts into his life once again, Truman faces a tough decision. 

I usually don’t read books about motorcycle clubs; however, I was intrigued by Truman’s story. I also enjoy stories about found family and tough guys with hearts of gold. The story started off strong and I loved Turman’s tenderness with his small siblings. My heart broke for him as he was desperate to stay on the straight and narrow and keep his siblings from a life of drugs and crime. Gemma was a bright light in his dark world who had a hurtful past herself. I also enjoyed the Whiskey family who took Truman under their wings when he had no one in the world. Overall, I did enjoy this story; however, I felt the story lost steam with each chapter. Gemma's painful past would be painful; however, I could not get behind her comparisons to Truman’s past. I am not interested in continuing the series. If you enjoy motorcycle club romance with found family, I recommend Tru Blue. 

Tru Blue is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Ticket to Ride: a young girl goes missing and an darker online world is exposed

Ticket To Ride is the fifteenth book in the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. When a young woman disappears on her way to rehab, private investigator Taylor Gray is asked to follow her steps. When a young girl goes missing that hits closer to home, Taylor is thrown into the online world and the predators lurking in the shadows. As she searches, rumors and whispers of other girls gone missing under similar circumstances and every lead reveals a darker path and secrets involving powerful people who would do anything to keep them buried. With time running out, Taylor is determined to end the ring of predators who are luring vulnerable girls and the shadowy figures who are determined to silence those who threaten their system. Little does Taylor know that one link in the chain will throw the small town of Hart’s Ridge into turmoil. 

Ticket to Ride opens with a seemingly normal court case as a young woman must choose between jail or rehab and the story doesn’t stop. Page after page, readers are on a race against time as Taylor follows a case that hits too close to home. With gritty reality, Ticket to Ride brings to light the darkness and danger of an everyday activity: online games and communities. While online activities can be innocent, there are predators lurking, ready to lure innocent kids into a darker world. With each piece of evidence, Taylor gets closer to the true boss of this web of criminals and it will leave readers’ jaws on the floor when Taylor discovers who is behind it all. As the sixteenth book has been noticed, I am looking forward to Taylor’s future in Hart’s Ridge. I highly, highly recommend Ticket to Ride. 

Ticket to Ride is available in paperback and eBook

Woke Up Like This: a magical romantic comedy as two high school seniors to enjoy the smaller moments

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea is a seventeen going on thirty story in which two high school seniors find themselves waking up as their adult selves. Charlotte Wu is ultra-organized and trying to plan the perfect prom, the final hurrah before they graduate and enter the adult world. After falling off a ladder and landing atop her archnemesis, J.T. Renner, Charlotte wakes up at thirty years old and lying next to her fiancé, a bearded Renner. In the situation together, Charlotte and Renner discover what they have missed twelve years and must discover if there’s a way to get back. Charlotte also realizes there is more to Renner than just the irritation jock she thought she knew. As they navigate the situation and try to figure out how to get back to seventeen. How will life be different when or if they do? 

Woke Up Like This is described as a “magical romantic comedy about growing up too fast and living in the moment,” I was intrigued by the premise of waking up as your adult self and learning what really matters in life. In the beginning, I was annoyed by Charlotte. She was a hard character to like as she was bossy, judgmental and petty. As someone who does not see the big deal of prom and did not attend my senior prom, I could not connect with her desire with the perfect prom or the perfect milestones. However, I enjoyed her growth as she realizes that the milestones are not as important as the smaller moments that happen in between. Overall, I enjoyed the story as the character showed great growth throughout the story. If you enjoy young adult and magical romantic comedies, I recommend Woke Up Like This. 

Woke Up Like This is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Color of a Dream: can a dream tell one woman the path she needs to follow?

The Color of a Dream is the fourth book in The Color of Heaven series by Julianne Maclean. In a continuation story from The Color of Hope, Nadia Carmichael is learning to live after a heart transplant and raising her infant daughter. She is grateful for her new life and finds joy in the little things. She has a recurring dream of flying while it doesn’t frighten her, Nadia feels the dream is trying to tell her something. She wakes up with questions. Could it be related to the identity of her donor? She decides to figure out its meaning. In the meantime, the father of her daughter blindsides her by suing her for full custody. In preparation for her case, Nadia meets Jesse, his estranged brother, who is a rescue helicopter pilot, and the nature of her dreams becomes clearer and leads her down another path.  

The Color of a Dream was a fast paced read with plenty of drama, sweet moments and an exploration of dreams and finding a new path in life. I enjoyed this story more than I did The Color of Hope, which I did enjoy, however, I loved the growth of Nadia and her desire to fight back. I also enjoyed the introduction of Jesse and he was a great character in Nadia’s journey. There were moments when I wanted to scream at certain characters and wanted to shake some sense in them.  I also loved the possible connection to the next book in the final chapter. Overall, I enjoyed this story as I could not put it down. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it. I highly recommend The Color of a Dream. 

The Color of a Dream is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

My Next Breath: a memoir of a near-fatal accident and one man's miraculous recovery

My Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner is a gripping and inspirational story of Jeremy Renner’s near-fatal accident on New Year’s Day 2023 and his miraculous recovery. Jeremy Renner is a renowned actor with memorable portrayals of an army bomb tech in The Hurt Locker, a Boston bank robber in The Town and Hawkeye in seven Marvel films. Yet his world comes to a halt when he is crushed by a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow. With vivid details, Mr Renner recounts the struggle to keep breathing while help struggled to find their way to him. From the ICU to multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation, Mr Renner's no-holds-bar account of his inner strength, endurance and hope as he set to recover, against all odds, with one breath at a time. In a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the amazing ability of the human body is to endure and recover. Writing with vulnerability and strength, despair and hope and redemption and renewal, Jeremy Renner invites readers on this journey with him. 

Jeremy Renner has been one of my favorite movie actors when I first saw him in The Hurt Locker and of course, I loved him as Hawkeye, the underrated Avenger. I remember hearing about his accident and feeling the dread of the pain he and his family were in and the long road his recovery would be. I followed his journey on Instagram. His memoir has been on my Wish List since its publication and yet, I hadn’t had the chance to read it yet. Recently, I was able to listen to the audiobook, read by Mr Renner, and what a journey it was. In fierce detail about his accident, the aftermath, and his recovery was extremely emotional. So emotional that tears welled up as I listened to Mr Renner recount every painful second and even more so when his own voice would crack with emotion. I laughed, I cried and I cringed with horror but in the end, I celebrate his amazing recovery. I highly, highly recommend My Next Breath, especially the audiobook. 

My Next Breath: A Memoir is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook