The Night Hunter
by Natalie Moss
The Night Hunter? (6/6/2026)
This debut novel begins on a strong note, sweeping the reader off to the wilds of South Africa, where the humans are much more dangerous than any type of wildlife this small safari might encounter. Filled with secrets, family drama, romance issues, greed and violence Natalie Moss has everything it takes to be a top-notch thriller. However, while Moss's writing is excellent there are a few things that kept the novel from being great. First only one character is someone, I was rooting for and it was not the main character. All the characters were self absorbed and it was really hard to care what happened to them. Some of the action, at least for me, was confusing. I will say some things that I got hung up on, were explained at the end, but it kept me from enjoying the book as I kept saying, that doesn't even make sense! I also found the 'secrets' confusing. Quite a bit happens in the last few chapters and at times it was difficult to figure it all out. I also wasn't happy with how it ended for some of the characters and the reaction of the survivors at the end. Finally, I have no idea where the title The Night Hunter comes from, as it has nothing to do with this book. All and all the writing clearly shows Moss can write and her use of the wilderness of South Africa made this book unique and interesting. I would absolutely try her next book. Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, Netgalley.com, and Berkley Press for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Henry Tudor Must Die
by Jillian Laine
Not what I was Expecting! (5/6/2026)
I was excited to jump into this book as I love Tudor history and anything to do with the Six queens. Having toured London this winter, I eagerly started reading, only to be more and more disappointed the further I read. To be fair, Laine is a competent writer and had a decent fictional plot, but the historical pieces for accuracy are hit or miss. The main characters, Catherine of Aragon (called Lina in the novel) and Anne Boleyn, are not like the queens I've researched or read about. Laine portrays them as almost 2026 versions in their speech, thoughts and actions. And while, I am sure women of that time were smart, competent and frustrated, Catherine and Anne are angry, vengeful, and in some cases violent. The original love story between Henry and Catherine is gone. Catherine's devotion to her Catholic faith is gone..she in fact embraces witchcraft and revenge without much discussion. Probably the toughest thing to understand is that Catherine and Anne become best friends within days. Throw in a Queen/lady in waiting lesbian love affair, a trans prison guard, and a Dicken's Sydney Carlton moment without any of the build-up, thankfully he didn't say "It is a far, far better thing that I do…." and you have a lot of great ideas with no real substance in under 400 pages.
Feast
by Catherine Kurtz
Feast (4/12/2026)
Get your taste buds ready for a delicious serving of historical fiction, a touch of magical realism, and what home really means. In this novel set in France in 1899/1900, young Minha has the gift of smell that is beyond the norm. She can tell from a mere sniff all the ingredients in a dish or where a particular fruit was picked. With this gift, she finds herself in the employ as the Duc's poison taster and "trick pony". While she's not thrilled with the arrangement, she has to survive, but what comes next makes things nearly impossible.
The author's use of language is mouthwatering and her descriptions make you want to book the next flight to Paris for a good dinner. Minha's story is well told, but what keeps this book from a 5 for me, was the pacing and a few dark and odd moments. The start of the book is slow and the last couple of chapters are too long and drawn out. The food description is great, but pages of it at the end.. I was full. As for the dark moments.. prepare for sexual violence. And finally the odd…for me it was how Minha survived in the last ? of the book. It was a bit unbelievable.
All in all though, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it! Thank you to Penguin Publishing, Bookbrowse.com, and NetGalley.com for the free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Summer's Never Over
by Darby Bozeman
Summer's Never Over (4/6/2026)
Summer's Never Over is written in the spirit of God of the Woods and those spooky stories told on a hot summer's night over a campfire. With that said, Darcey Bozeman is still able to throw in some thrills and chills and moments the reader won't see coming. The 'phantom' isn't easy to figure out and you get treated to some spooky, sweltering, lightning filled forest southern nights as you try to figure it out! Throw in some teenage angst, love of your life romance and you have a fine read! Thank you to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley, and Penguin Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Boring Asian Female
by Canwen Xu
Boring Asian Female (3/14/2026)
Talk about a rollercoaster of a read! XU hits every hairpin curve in her debut novel, Boring Asian Woman. A story of a disappointed college student who doesn't get into the law school of her choice, quickly morphs into a psychological mind game of what it's like to feel that you are everything you need to be, but yet others are still rewarded with the life you want, but can't seem to reach. The main character, Elizabeth, is at times someone you can really relate to, but then she becomes someone you fear you could relate to! While many of the things she does are over the top, it just works, and I couldn't put this book down. I will say that the last section dragged a bit, and I found myself saying okay, let's move this along, however the ending was worth the wait. Thank you to Berkley Publishing.com, Netgalley.com, and Bookbrowse.com, for ARC in return for an honest and fair review.
The Jellyfish Problem
by Tessa Yang
The Jellyfish Problem (3/10/2026)
At first I wasn't one hundred percent sure where this novel was headed. Was it a love story, an adventure, a horror story? In the end, the novel is about forgiving yourself, building a community and believing enough in yourself to take risks, whether it's in love, adventure, or work. Yang's debut novel is filled with quirky, yet loveable characters, folklore, and magical realism. You will definitely need to allow yourself to believe in the creature the author has created and the storyline, if you do, you will be treated to a wonderful story! As a Mainer, I loved the island and felt Yang understood well the personality of the islanders who spend so much time isolated, and those that come and try to fit in. As this story is also at its heart an adventure story, there is a lot of great information about jellyfish, diving, and discovery.
Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, Netgalley.com, and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review
Stay for a Spell
by Amy Coombe
Stay for a Spell (2/12/2026)
This was the cutest story! I loved the characters. All of them are so well developed and unique, fun and quirky! The plot is your basic romance type, but well told in a light and humorous way, while still making the point about what it means to be able to choose your heart's desire. My only wish was there were clearer descriptions of the two teenage characters as not all of us are familiar with fantasy creatures. All in all, I really loved this book. Thank you to Bookbrowse.com netgalley and ACE Publishing for an advanced copy in return for a fair and honest review.
Thistlemarsh
by Moorea Corrigan
Sweet Fairy Human Romance (2/9/2026)
Thistlemarsh is a sweet fairy-human romance story that does read more like a YA novel, than an adult work. Beyond that, the novel is well written with characters who are ones you will root for. Mouse, the main character, is a strong female with a complicated past. I enjoyed the references to World War I and the damage that so many incurred because of it. I found that war is not as prevalent in literature and the author does a great job. Also well done was the difficulty for Gays during this time and the very real threat of being sent to prison. The book, however, is mostly whimsy, fantasy and romance and leaves you with a happy heart. Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing for the free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Midnight Taxi
by Yosha Gunasekera
A Book that should be tagged as Cozy! (12/6/2025)
The Midnight Taxi is a cute little mystery that I hope the publisher will tag as a cozy, otherwise the ratings may not be as good. Told in a simplistic, straight forward manner, the plot is full of some unbelievable moments with an ending that is even better than a fary tale. That said, once I decided to take it as a cozy, I was able to enjoy it for what it is. I did enjoy the characters, the Sri Lanka connection is very entertaining (although the food descriptions were a little over done.) I liked very much that Siri is a cab driver and close to her family and her life is not perfect. She deals with things in a realistic manner and you really can connect with her. While some things the character does is annoying.. too many allusions to pop culture and going off on small tangents about things like how heavy the steel in in a Rolax watch is, she's loveable. I found the book entertaining and well thought out, and would read another, if it becomes a cozy series.
The Magic of Untamed Hearts: Wild Magic #3
by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
The Magic of Untamed Hearts (10/8/2025)
This is the third novel in Gilliland's Wild Magic series, telling the story of sister number three, Sky. This book is better than number two, but not as good as the debut novel. There are some great ideas present: a character that can communicate with animals and who is discovering that she is autistic, a hidden sisterhood of witches, hidden rooms in an old church, a love story and the reality of a family with many different personalities.
Sadly none of these pieces are brought to the depth they deserve. Instead there are chapters upon chapters of sex scenes and some (imho) cringy dialogue. The first novel concentrated more on Sage's story and gift, the second book really moved into the spicy sex scenes, and this book follows suit. The first three pages alone made it almost a DNF for me. I really wanted it to be like Sage's story and know more about the magic and what could be done with it. longed to hear more about the 'cult' and the secret rooms…
However, if you like spicy and spicy dialogue mixed in with a bit of several story lines then this series and book will work for you; it didn't for me. Thank you to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for ARC in exchange for a fair and honest
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Next Time Will Be Our time (9/1/2025)
Before I go any further, to be fair, I am not a big romance reader and this is my first Sutanto novel. First there were some cringe parts… a 22 year old woman falls in love with a 16 year old teen girl. About half the book focuses on this relationship stage. While nothing illegal happens, the chance is there and it didn't play well. Especially given the 16 year old is from a different country, basically alone and had been sheltered. The other cringy part was the 73 year old grandmother talking about her sexual experiences with her 16 year old granddaughter, and when the granddaughter protested, she was called a prude. I cannot imagine how uncomfortable this was or any grandmother using this as a way to help their grandchild. The storyline had some really interesting aspects, but way too many boring sections that just stole the limelight. Much of it was mundane and repetitive. It reminded me a lot of a YA romance, except there were parts that were definitely for adults. But the part that colored the whole book for me right from the start was the weird timeline. The grandmother decides to tell her granddaughter the story of her life and starts when she is 13 back and that chapter is labeled 1995. So if you do the math…the woman cannot be 73 in 2025. It's off 30 years. The "current" chapters are not labeled with a date, just the past. If this book takes place in 2055, wouldn't times be different, but they don't seem to be and sadly some of the historic pieces about the 90's didn't ring true. For example, the characters text each other back and forth in the late 90s. I knew no regular people who had access to phones that texted like smart phones back then. Then there's the ending…I'm going to leave that alone, as anything I say will give it away, but all I will say…. it's been done, and when it was I didn't like it. The positive is the writer can write a smooth piece and her characters are likeable and realistic. But there was just too much that I couldn't get past. For me this is a 2. Thank you to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing for ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Bone Thief
by Vanessa Lillie
The Bone Thief (7/11/2025)
The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie
This is the second book of the Syd Walker series. Unfortunately, I did not realize that when I read it, so my rating may be lower because of that. While it is a stand alone, there is a lot about the character and her past, that comes into play in this book that I feel would make the book a 5 rather than the 4 I'm giving it. However the novel is an extremely unique thriller that deals with Native Americans and issues that they face.
While giving a bit of history, a bit of politics, there is still a fun mystery intertwined, as well as, a bit of a love story. Not all authors can juggle this many plot lines, but Lillie does it and does it well. The writing is strong, characters well drawn, and there is a delightful sense of spookiness and magic that is weaved in. My only issue besides not having read book 1 is that some of the plot lines seemed a bit over the top, but then I read her notes at the back and most of the rituals, and other things I thought were too much actually happened! Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, NetGalley.com and Penguin Random House for the ARC for an honest review.
The Sister's Curse
by Nicola Solvinic
The Sister's Curse (6/24/2025)
The Sister's Curse is the second novel in Solvinic's Anna Koray series. While it is a series, the book can stand alone, but does rob the reader of a complete understanding of the characters, especially Anna and her past. Solvinic uses a police procedural and very adeptly adds gothic horror to bring some creepy images to life. If you are a fan of things that grab you when swimming, eyes that peer out of a deep dark forest, and witches chanting vengeful curses into a warm moonlit night, this book is for you. It is also a book about revenge served cold and love that will stand strong through anything.
There were some moments of confusion and it may be because this was book 2, and therefore the author assumes you already know the background. Overall, it's a solid mystery, with a spooky factor that will stay with you, and make you think twice about stepping foot in a pond or river! Thank you Berkley Publishers, Bookbrowse.com and Netgalley for the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Vanishing Place
by Zoë Rankin
The Vanishing Place (5/24/2025)
This debut novel set in the at once enthralling, yet dangerous bush country, of New Zealand is a clever and fantastic thriller. The characters each hold secrets deep in their souls and Rankin masterfully constructs their personalities to go along with the consequences of such secrets. There are twists and turns and a few moments when you hold your breath, as the author winds a tale of cultism, violence, love, faith, family, and sadly deceit from those you should be able to trust the most. There were a couple of sections that were a little confusing, but quickly became clear. Rankin's writing is spot on and her descriptions of the bush put you there. I know I will be seeing the face peaking from the plant covered tree for a long time! Unlike most new books in this genre, Rankin's novel is not the same overused trope of thriller. It is unique and truly scary on more than one level. Plan on being up all night reading this one! Thank you Berkley Publishers, Bookbrowse.com and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
L.A. Women
by Ella Berman
L.A. Women (3/10/2025)
This 3rd novel by Ella Berman sports the 'already done plot' of young woman goes to Hollywood only to try to survive the decadence of becoming rich and famous. Sadly the book lacks the nuances of Malibou Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. While technically very well written, with a deft command of dialogue, L.A. Women has plot holes and parts that are never really explained.
Probably its biggest flaw is that none of the characters are likeable or people that most of us can relate to. They are drug addled, sex obsessed, self absorbed and frankly just plain mean to other humans. Then add to that a slow moving plot that jumps back and forth over 10 years and you find yourself saying how many more pages?
Finally at the end, the characters see the light, but there's no real transition to make any metamorphosis believable. 3 stars. Thank you to Berkley Publishers and BookBrowse.com for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Making Friends Can Be Murder
by Kathleen West
Making Friends Can Be Murder (2/5/2025)
This cozy mystery is more intriguing and the characters better fleshed out than most books in this genre.The book's premise is unique and you find yourself caring about the characters from page one. And while loyal to the cozy formula of murder, romance and no big twists; you still find yourself flipping the page to get to see how it all works out.
A couple of detractors include more repetition of the plot than the reader needs or wants, a weird covid murder that couldn't have been witnessed the way it was described, two families who have similar backgrounds, (mom dies at birth and father raises the only child.) which seemed a stretch. However, this book is 4 for me as the author went above and beyond for a cozy by providing multiple plots and characters that tied together making for an intriguing read.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Publishers and BookBrowse.com for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein
Fagin The Thief (12/5/2024)
Stephen King as a writer he always asks,, What if… In Fagin the Thief, Allison Epstein asks that question about the most loathed characters of Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. In Epstein's deft and creative hands, we are reintroduced to the original Fagin and Bill, but are also thrust into a deeper study of who they may have been before they were brought to life through Dickens' pen. Epstein's work is meticulous in its research, the handling of Fagin's treatment as a Jew, and her splendid use of language. The reader from the start is drawn into the threatening and dark streets of 19th century London, but this time will find themselves cheering along not the little boy, Oliver, but rather those who we have seen as monsters for nearly two hundred years. Only a skilled storyteller can pull that off! A five star read, especially for Dickens' fans. Thank you to Doubleday, NetGalley, and BookBrowse.com for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Seven O'Clock Club
by Amelia Ireland
The Seven O'Clock Club (11/6/2024)
Grief is the strongest of emotions; it can hold people back, but it can, under the right circumstances,help a person become a stronger, kinder human. Amelia Ireland's debut novel, The Seven O'Clock Club, explores what happens when four people, who can't seem to move on from their different tragic circumstances, are brought together in one therapy group. Ireland is deft with character creation. They are flawed, but you root for them, even in their worst moments. However, this is more than a story about the power of the human spirit or the usefulness of therapy, it gives a gift of hope, when near the end, truths are revealed and decisions are made. I was quickly turning the pages as I came to care deeply about each character. It does stall a bit in the last chapters, but it makes up for it in the epilogue. An excellent novel for those dealing with the challenge of letting go.
