A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander - Book Review

Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery #6 

Publication Date: 16th June 2025 

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: The finale… 

Annie and Fletcher, the new co-owners of the Secret Bookcase and private investigators, attend the annual book fair in Santa Clara. Their plan is for Annie to finally solve the mystery behind her best friend, Scarlet’s, death all those years ago. However, Annie ends up becoming a part of another case when an industry colleague dies in front of an audience, and it is clearly a murder. 

Can Annie, with help from her friends, solve both cases and come out alive? 

The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is the concluding book in the series. While the first two chapters provide the necessary backstory to make this a standalone, I think readers might enjoy it more if they read at least the previous two books. That shouldn’t take long since these are short books and can be finished in a couple of hours or so. 

Here, the main mystery is about the death at the annual book fair. The other is not a mystery since the FMC figured things out in the previous book. This is more of a confrontation/ conclusion part, but not without risks, of course. 

Technological advancement is the central theme, focusing on the use of tech in the publishing and bookselling industry. Would you like a VR (virtual reality) device that ‘shows’ a book’s setting, characters, story, etc., or do you prefer to imagine it yourself? I fall into the latter category. While VR sounds fun, I don’t want technology to replace my imagination! 

We also get some insight into the cut-throat world of publishing, like how stressful the auctions for popular authors’ manuscripts are, how not everything is ethically done, and so on. 

There are some mentions of coffee and food, too. On that note, can anyone tell me what a progressive Indian restaurant is supposed to mean? I thought most Indian restaurants in the West don’t serve traditional dishes (even if they say they do) like we have them here (and anyone willing to try avocado raita? Not me!).  

Anyhoo, the mystery is solved, and the overarching plot is also handled pretty easily. There’s a bit of danger, but since someone in the FMC’s team is actually sensible, everyone is safe and alive. 

There’s a surprise for series readers at the end. Don’t miss the author’s note (it’s a short one anyway). If you enjoyed the books so far, you’ll be happy with the update. 

To summarize, A Body at the Book Fair is the final book in the series and keeps the pacing, plotting, and character development aligned with the previous books. Since the series has been a steady 3.5 stars for me, I think it’s only fair to round up this time. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #ABodyAtTheBookFair

No More Yesterdays by Catherine Bybee - Book Review

Series: The Heirs #3 

Publication Date: 17th June 2025

Genre: Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: This was good! 

Never did Alex Stone think she would take over her father’s company. But now, as the CEO chair at Stone Enterprises, Alex puts all her energies into rebuilding the empire while dodging the attempts on her life and business, with support from her half-sibling. 

Hawk Bronson is Alex’s bodyguard and determined to protect her. With his own past, he cannot afford to get close to her and increase the risk. However, this is easier said than done with their undeniable chemistry. 

Alex and Hawk have to face their past, their family secrets, and threats to have a future together. 

The story comes in Alex and Hawk’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

After enjoying the previous book in the series, I was excited to read this one, where the story concludes and the loose ends are tied up. 

However, the focus is on Alex (Alexandra), the only single Stone sibling since her brothers now have partners. The FMC is strong, independent, and determined, but as the MMC says, she has zero situational awareness. 

Like the previous book, this one has a steady pace. Though it is 400 pages long, it never feels stretched out or slow. In fact, I finished it in two days flat. 

The MMC is easy to like despite his grumpy exterior. He isn’t afraid to be harsh to make the FMC see the extent of danger she is in. However, he is also very protective and caring.  

There are quite a few twists and developments as the story progresses. We can pretty much guess who the actual culprit is, but that’s okay since this is marketed as romance and not a mystery or suspense. 

The romance track is nice and has a bit of steam. The supporting characters are a highlight and continue to enhance the storyline. The bonding between the siblings and their partners is lovely to read. No unwanted drama here. 

While this still works as a standalone, I think I enjoyed it more since I read at least book #2. The central plot starts in the first book, so if you are particular about details, add all three to your TBR. It won’t take long to finish them anyway! 

There’s an epilogue that nicely rounds up everything and gives a solid ending (HEA) to the entire series. 

To summarize, No More Yesterdays is a fast-paced romance with a good dose of suspense and a touch of danger. It is a worthy entertainer with a bit of everything to keep you hooked. I’ll be sure to read more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #NoMoreYesterdays

Breaking His Law by VH Nicolson - Book Review

Series: Billionaire Hart Boys #1 

Publication Date: 10th June 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Insta lust, but the story gets better 

Arianna wants revenge. She joins the law firm that represented her family’s killer to dig into their secrets and expose their cover-up. Of course, meeting Nathan Hart, head of the firm, puts a small spanner in her plans. 

Nathan Hart doesn’t have time for commitments. However, when his one-night stand walks into the office, he is angry at the deception and excited to get to know her. The chemistry is evident, but what will the truth of her past do to him and their growing closeness? 

The story comes in Ari and Nathan’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

So, the premise makes it clear that the book will have insta lust and a third-act breakup. Since I was prepared for both, I enjoyed this spicy (4 peppers) read for what it was. 

After a prologue from the past, we jump right into the central plot. There is a lot of internal dialogue, which serves the purpose of providing the backstory and maybe adding a bit of depth to the characters. Some of this gets repetitive, but it works in the context. 

The dual POV is easy to track. Though there’s a mention under the chapter head, I didn’t always need to look at it to figure out whose POV it was. The voices were distinct enough. 

The side characters, especially the brothers and the mother (and Joseph too!), were good. The three remaining brothers will get their own books (hopefully soon). They have definite personalities, so no confusion about who is who. 

Despite the spice, the book gives us a few sweet/ adorable scenes. This slows down the whirlwind romance a little bit and establishes a deeper connection between the characters. And oh, this is an age-gap romance (he is 44, she is 29). 

The third-act breakup is done well. It aligns with the central premise and gives a good conclusion. While a particular scene could have been a bit more detailed since it is crucial, the rest is decent. We get an epilogue, too! 

I do wish the FMC’s backstory had more information. A few scenes with her family, etc., would have added more emotional depth to the narrative. 

The dynamics between the Hart brothers are awesome, though. The family clearly loves each other. It adds an extra layer to the story and prevents it from being too shallow. 

Goat yoga? Seriously! The kind of shit West does to traditional indigenous knowledge makes me want to puke all over the billion dollar industry. Not a minus point for the book since it only uses what’s already there in the society. 

To summarize, Breaking His Law is a steady-paced spicy romance with banter, secrets, and drama. It should work well as a light beach read or a buffer between heavy books. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #BreakingHisLaw

Courier of Death by Cara Devlin - Book Review

Series: Spencer & Reid Mysteries #3 

Publication Date: 14th June 2025 

Genre: Historical Mystery (Dark) 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: This is going great! 

1884, London 

It has been months since Leonora Spencer discovered the truth of her family’s death. She’s still struggling to cope with it and keeps her distance from Detective Inspector Jasper Reid. However, when a bomb blast outside the police station kills a young constable and a prominent suffragist is accused of the crime, Leo has to step in. 

Jasper has done his best to accept that Leo wanted space. He used this time to focus on his job. But when she begins to interfere in the last case, he is torn between warning her and helping her. 

As Jasper and Leo hunt for clues, they attract the attention of the most dangerous crime syndicate in London and the East End gang. 

The story comes in Leo and Jasper’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

After the cliffhanger in the previous book, I knew I had to read this as soon as possible. At the same time, reading this early would mean a long wait for the next one. Sigh! 

As the middle book of the series, this has some fairly important developments. Though there is enough detail provided, I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a standalone. Start with the first book. 

Compared to the previous two, this was a bit slower. However, it doesn’t drag at any point. With two cases and the tussle between the MCs, there’s enough to keep you flipping the pages. 

We get more details about the past, the FMC’s family, and stuff. I like how the delicate balance between their entwined pasts and the present is handled. We can see both their concerns. Neither is wrong, so we’ll be rooting for them. 

As always, the dark side of London, the gang wars, the suffragette movement and the vehement opposition to it, class differences, gender bias, etc., are seamlessly woven into the plot. 

The mysteries are well done with just enough twists for the suspense, but easy enough for readers to guess the culprits. 

The ending is my favorite. After, there’s a good development after waiting all this while. It still ends in a cliffhanger, and there is lots of danger swirling around, but there’s more hope this time. 

To summarize, Courier of Death is a suspenseful and intriguing mystery with danger, threats, gangs, and an intense past looming overhead. The next book will be out in Sep, and I can’t wait to read it! 

Thank you, Book Sirens and the author, for the eARC.

A Most Unlikely Lady by Darcy McGuire - Book Review

Series: The Queen's Deadly Damsels #4

Publication Date: 06th June 2025 

Genre: Historical Romance

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Not bad! Time-pass read 

Miss Ivy Cavendale becomes a headmistress at an orphanage. One night, she deals with an intruder, relieved that the fear that had gripped her for years hasn’t stopped her from saving her charges. Soon, it’s clear that she and her charges are the next target of The Devil’s Sons. 

Commissioner Edward Worthington owes the head of The Queen’s Deadly Damsels. So, he agrees to watch her latest ward, Ivy. It doesn’t take long to realize that he is attracted to her. But Ivy has childhood trauma, and danger surrounds them. 

Can they identify the criminal and make their happy ever after? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Ivy and Edward. 

My Thoughts: 

This is the fourth book in the series and works as a standalone with possible minor spoilers for the previous ones. I read the first and second, so I have an idea about the mystery/ overarching plot. 

This is predominantly a romance despite the threat of an intruder and a dangerous gang lurking about. The gang hasn’t been dismantled yet, safe to say there will be more books in the series. 

We met Ivy in the previous books, though I’m not sure about the Commissioner. The events related to her family occur in book #1. In book #2, there are hints about her trauma. Here, we get more information. 

Though the romance is made to seem like it is not insta-love, it actually is. Still, I appreciate the attempt and the conversations that take place as Ivy learns to overcome her fears. That said, it is a spicy (4) book with open-door scenes. 

The first chapter can be a hit or a miss. That’s because it clearly shows the FMC’s character – someone who has always thought of herself as weak. Her inner monologue can be a bit grating, but she proves herself with her actions. 

The MMC is okay, kinda stereotypical, but he does the job. We get more than a glimpse into the Duchess’s past through him, so that’s good. 

A couple of kids shine despite the limited page space. I'd be happy to meet them in the subsequent books. 

The mystery is lackluster, TBH. The villains were too apparent the moment they were introduced. But then, this is not a mystery read but a romance with a touch of danger. 

There is an epilogue that doesn’t really give us much except a wee bit of info about the side characters. 

To summarize, A Most Unlikely Lady is a quick and easy read despite the triggers and the hints of danger. Let’s see what happens in the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #AMostUnlikelyLady

Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop by Jaimie Admans - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Ever After Street #5 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 26th May 2025

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/MagicalCuriosityShop

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218164658-finding-love-at-the-magical-curiosity-shop

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Sweet... somewhat!

Book Blurb:

In a shop full of stories, some magic is real.

Mickey Teasdale loves her quaint curiosity shop, where every item feels magical to her. She loves imagining the past owners of her knick-knacks and telling her made-up tales to customers, but lately, the magic has dimmed; the shop feels cluttered, and even her stories seem as worn as the items she sells.

Everything changes when the grumpiest customer Mickey’s ever met—single dad Ren Montague—walks in with his surly teen daughter, Ava. Ren hates mess and clutter and prefers order and calm, but he'll do anything to see Ava smile. Yet, something shifts in him when he meets Mickey, who seems like she stepped out of her very own fairy tale.

When Ava discovers a secret diary, hidden from years long ago, she and Mickey believe it must have once belonged to a real-life mermaid! Ever sceptical, Ren tries to protect Ava from disappointment, but as they unravel the mystery together, something special happens…

Ren learns that happy ever afters still exist if you're brave enough to look for them, and Mickey discovers that real life can sometimes be way more magical than anything she could have ever imagined.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Mickey’s first-person POV.

This is the fifth book in the standalone Ever After Street Series. Though we see some couples from the previous books, this works well as a standalone read. Of course, I recommend reading the other books because they are all beautiful.

As a fan of the author's works, I tend to have high expectations of her. Why not? I know she can write!

Like the other books, this one also deals with important topics. Here we have parental death, broken marriage, being a single dad, a young teen’s struggle with the changes in her life, a woman’s desire to surround herself with material things to avoid reality, etc.

I could empathize with the FMC even when I knew her shop was a high-risk accident zone. No matter how much I de-clutter, the shelves tend to look the same, so yeah, it happens! She is a sweetheart, and I love her optimism and hope. Her determination to believe in magic is noteworthy. I try too, though my cynical side doesn’t stay silent for long!

Naturally, I could easily understand the MMC’s perspective too. Yeah, he was rude and prickly, but he could be just as sweet if he allowed himself to be. Then, he had to go and make a mess of it (more on this later).

Ava, the MMC’s thirteen-year-old, was a delight most of the book. She is a teen, through and through, so I could see her outburst making sense to her. I didn’t mind it much as it aligned with her arc until then.

We get snippets from the diary, which read like actual diary entries – thoughts, frantic scribbling, raw emotions, and random bits of information. Yay for this! However, the dialogues in this book felt lengthier somehow. Not a big deal, though.

As always, it’s heartwarming to read the lovey-dovey scenes between the main characters. It seems like the author thought much about my friend and fellow reviewer's reactions to the touchy-feely scenes; she used the same term twice in the book! Haha… :P Of course, I loveeee these scenes the best, and those hugs! Find a partner who hugs you like you are their everything!

Now, we come to the dreaded third-act breakup. I knew it would happen, but man, if I could punch him, I would have. I was rather rooting for Lissa to do it for me… didn’t she? Read to find out.

The resolution came a bit too quickly, I think. While it still made me teary-eyed, I wanted a little more groveling. The FMC doesn’t make it easy, which I appreciate. Still, make him repent more (I hold grudges for a long time, if you haven’t figured out by now, lol).

I found it surprising that they don’t get much dragon fruit in the UK. Thanks to social media, it became so famous in India that we find it at the makeshift stalls on the street corners. Farmers have successfully cultivated dragon fruit locally and are getting good results! Though I’m not a fan of it.

The ending is sweet, of course. There’s no epilogue, but there will be another (last… sniffle) book in the series, so we are likely to get a wee update on them if nothing else.

To summarize, Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop is not as magical as the other books in the series, but it still creates a lovely, cozy feeling in the heart. The romance is clean, comforting, warm, and like a hearty cup of hot chocolate with extra sprinkles.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Jaimie Admans

Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @JaimieAdmansBooks

Twitter: @be_the_spark

Instagram: @jaimieadmans1

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JaimieAdmansNews

Bookbub Profile: @jaimieadmans1

***

This has been a stop on the #FindingLoveAtTheMagicalCuriosityShop blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison - Book Review

Publication Date: 03rd June 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming! 

Meg Bryan, aka Lana Lord, is a household name after her hit TV show and her relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob. However, her perfect life comes at a great cost. After a small breakdown on her thirtieth birthday, Meg goes on an impromptu trip to Ireland, that one place she and her best friend Aimee wanted to visit. An accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago, and now Meg makes the trip alone. 

However, Meg seemed to have traveled into an alternative universe where she is not a celebrity. The hot bartender is apparently her ex, and her bestie, Aimee, is alive but not talking to her for some reason. Now, Meg has to figure out how and why she broke up with her ex and what happened between her and Aimee. As she navigates through her new life, Meg realizes what she remembers about her past isn’t the complete truth. And soon, she has to decide on her future. 

The story comes in Meg’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Firstly, I’d tag this women’s fiction or contemporary fiction with a touch of romance. The focal point of the book is Meg’s acceptance of the past and her growth in the present. 

The book starts with a prologue that gives us an insight into the MC’s relationship with her bestie. Then, we jump to the present timeline. 

I like the sliding doors/ alternative setting that occurs pretty soon. No need to wait for it to happen. This gives the MC and us enough time to get used to the shift, dig through the past, and peel her character’s layers. 

The side characters, especially Kiera and Cillian, are terrific. They brighten up the story when it starts to feel repetitive. The bestie, Aimee, is interesting, though I wish to know more about her. 

The first-person POV works for the plot. It has dry humor and a bit of forced humor as well. The first is good, the latter isn’t, but the overall effect is nice. The MC has enough flaws, but is also a nice person, which we can see in her voice. However, it also feels quite YAish, even though she is 30. Maybe because the author is a YA writer, and this is her first adult novel. 

The pacing is uneven thanks to the repetition in the middle. Maybe some of it was necessary, though I feel this could have been used to add some depth to the bestie’s character. 

The ending is more on the line of women’s fiction. It is hopeful and positive, but not fully rounded. Still, it works for the storyline and leaves the reader with a smile (that’s job done right). 

Given the premise, there are many references to Hollywood, celebs, movies, and related drama. Not my jam, exactly. If you enjoy this, you might like the book more. 

The acknowledgments section at the end was fun to read. The author’s natural style did drip a lot into the main character’s voice, but it worked here. 

To summarize, The Other Side of Now is a heartwarming story about grief of losing a loved one, trying to find oneself, making friends (found family), and learning that life goes on. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley