Weekly Wrap Up | 5/24/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ Last weekend I was in Palo Alto, California to see BTS at Stanford Stadium. It was quite an experience! It was the first time for me flying into San Jose Airport and I like how small and not busy it was – not sure if that is usual, but it was such an easy place to fly into. Our hotel was a small vintage boutique hotel, built in 1924, called the Cardinal Hotel and it’s close by to the University. It’s vintage but renovated and I loved the room, even though it had no a/c – it did have a ceiling fan. I love how walkable it was – it is basically in Silicon Valley so it was interesting seeing Waymo driverless cars everywhere!

+ The concert was an experience! It’s my second stadium concert this year. This one being at a university stadium – there was a lot of walking involved since we didn’t rent a car. I had to pick up my pre-ordered army bomb light stick, which was easy, it’s for my daughter, since I was going to dance and take some video during the concert. We didn’t even try for merch. I was not about to stand all morning to try and get a shirt. 😅 We got to the stadium but I told my sister we didn’t need to stand in the lines, it will go down. Plus it was hot in the sun, and DUSTY – I didn’t anticipate the wind and it kicking up all the dry dirt around the stadium. So we stood in the shade across the street from the lines until the gates opened and the lines went down. My sister even got a chance to go to the merch lines to see what they had left…she got me a shirt that only had 2XL for sizes lol…I can sleep in it. We got in easy, found our seats and waited. What was fun about waiting is people passing out freebies. My sister made some freebies to pass out also.

+ BTS was amazing – my sister is ARMY, but my daughter and I are casual fans. Doesn’t matter, I was dancing my booty off and singing as best I could. I just love concerts in general, it’s my stress reliever. Expensive, I know! Also my bias (favorite) is Jungkook because his voice and that man is beautiful. I also love Jimin and Jin. So I was ecstatic that Jungkook came down the ramp on our side. 🥰 I saw lots of kids, families, elderly at the concert, which I thought was sweet!

+ I tried to post some videos but for some reason they are saying it’s “private” on wordpress. 🤷🏻‍♀️. So here are a few pics of Jungkook and V. Anyway, a time was had. I was EXHAUSTED after the walk back to the hotel, plus why was the street cleaning vehicle out in full force on our hotel street at 11:30PM?! Like…why?!…so I slept I think around 12:30am, a very restless sleep because my body/legs were aching, and I was winding down from the concert. We needed to get up at 5am to catch our flight, once again so happy there was no traffic and it was a Monday, airport was small and quiet – easy to get through. And I knocked out on the plane.

Here are some of the freebies we got at the concert from ARMY – they are so sweet and creative! Like, the time and energy to make these or buy them, pack it up, and carry them around then pass it out – I’m so grateful. Overall, it was a fun experience/concert – my sister hadn’t gone to a concert in 15 years…and now she’s even more addicted to BTS. I’m more addicted to Jung Kook after that concert 😅.

I told my daughter on the plane, I’m done with concerts this year but honestly I really want to go to Olivia Rodrigo. 😩 Me and my kids love her and I lost the Ticketmaster war for that one. But maybe that’s a good thing because I need to get my money back up after Bruno and BTS. 😅

+ My youngest nephew graduated from high school yesterday! We went to attend the ceremony and give him leis afterwards.

We are leaving for the Philippines on Tuesday, and will be gone for 2 weeks! Can’t wait to see family and do a trip where it’s not a concert, standing in lines, being with thousands of people, and buying expensive merch. 😂 So this will be our real vacation – time to relax, chill and see family! Can’t wait!

Blog Posts:

Soon By You by. Dahlia Adler | ARC Review – 3.5 stars/🌶️🌶️
New Book Releases This Week | 5/19/26
Fury Bound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review – 3.5 stars/🌶️🌶️
WWW Wednesday | 5/20/26
Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies by. Breanne Randall | ARC Review – 3 stars/🌶️🌶️
A Queen Crowned in Flames by. Hazel McBride | ARC Review – 5 stars/🌶️🌶️

Books I Finished

Nobody’s Quest by. Alyssa Day
Fury Bound by. Sable Sorensen
Their Will Undone by. R.J. Valldeperas
Game of Rogues by. Julie Anne Long

Currently Reading:

The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovi
You Won’t Forget Me by. Mazey Eddings

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ I can’t wait for Olivia Rodrigo’s new album – and her single The Cure just came out. I LOVE it – it feels nostalgic and reminds me of the alternative/rock music I used to listen to as a teen in the 90’s.

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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A Queen Crowned in Flames by. Hazel McBride | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: A Queen Crowned in Flames (Bonded to Beasts, #2)

Author: Hazel McBride

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 5/26/26

Publisher: John Murray Press

Categories: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Duology, Dragons

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to John Murray Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The rightful queen and her fire-breathing dragon must fight against corruption and overcome the betrayal of the man she loved in the searing conclusion to the Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with A Fate Forged in Fire.

Aemyra Daercathian is a queen on the run. Having failed to take Àird Lasair and betrayed by her husband-whom she grew to trust and ‘and was beginning to fall for during her time in captivity-Aemyra is forced to retreat with a raging desire for revenge. But before she can settle the score and fulfill a sacred promise to kill Fiorean, her forces must rest and replenish their strength.

No one can know the truth.

Even though Aemyra has a fierce dragon and a large army of elemental wielders called Dùileach standing behind her, she has lost what’s most important to her-her fire magic. Haunted by her love for her enemy, and unsure if she is even goddess-blessed anymore, Aemyra vows to do right by her people. Even if that means she must make a new kind of alliance, one that could mean winning back her kingdom. At a cost to her heart…

From the ashes, Aemyra must emerge a new kind of queen, but will she be the dawn for her people or the fire that burns everything to the ground?

Content Warning: death, violence, war, torture, religious trauma

+ I read book one last year and loved it! I was so ready to jump back in this world and I’m so glad I remembered everything and the characters. It starts off right after the events taking place after that cliffhanger ending in book one. Aemyra is in retreat, her friends and family are hurt or killed, her husband has betrayed her. The things they did to her at the end of book one was heinous and I was 100% on her revenge tour. Aemyra is trying to win her throne back against religious extremists. It will either push her to extinguish her enemies or force her to actually be a Queen for all of her people, even the Convenanters who worship their one true God. Aemyra’s growth and journey is everything in this story – from being broken and distrustful, to learning to open up again, accept help and reclaiming her power. She becomes the Queen she was meant to be!

+ I love how cutthroat this story with the war preparations and planning, and all the action during the battle scenes. It’s a hard fought war, with many death on both sides. There is even some betrayal. I love the dragons and how fierce they are, and their connection to their riders but I’m also glad it’s not the type of story where we see the dialogue with the dragons. I love that there is a connection to the rider, but the rider can sense emotions and see images but not necessarily talk to them.

+ The romance almost turned into a love triangle, but not quite. There is a new clan we meet in this book and a potential new husband for Aemyra, Thear, but how can that be when Fiorean is her husband? But after Fiorean betrayed her I knew if he ever came back he had to crawl back and beg forgiveness. As the story unfolds though, we find out it’s not that black and white. And Aemyra and Fiorean are true enemies to lovers because both sides have done something to hurt the other, and the biggest bridge they had to cross was forgiveness. I loved how everything unfolded. It was emotional and they had to confront a lot of things together. There is spice, but it’s well done, not too much, just enough because Aemyra and Fiorean’s connection is more than just lust.

+ I love the relationships in this story. Aemyra and her twin, Adarian, have a close relationship. And as mentioned, her new relationship with Thear. A thing that stood out to me that was unexpected was Aemyra’s relationship with her father in this story. He’s always been hard on her and we see it again here but it changes little by little and this time there is more chance for their relationship to grow and I loved that.

Final Thoughts:

This is an amazing conclusion to this great duology! I love this series because it gives House of Dragon vibes, it’s cutthroat, violent, Aemyra is a strong FMC. I could not put it down. I was emotionally invested, everything played out like a movie in my head – the tension, the war planning, the battles, the betrayal, the relationships, the romance, the struggles to overcome fear and grief and forgiveness. And the way it ended – perfection! I hope there are more books in this series someday.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

A Fate Forged in Fire by. Hazel McBride | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fury Bound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Fury Bound (The Wolves of Ruin, #2)

Author: Sable Sorensen

Pages: 608

Format: ebook (own)

Publication Date: 5/5/26

Categories: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Series, Wolves

Revenge demands sacrifice. Don’t miss this action-packed, jaw-dropping, dark and romantic sequel to Dire Bound.

CROWNED BY DESTINY. CONSUMED BY VENGEANCE.

Against all odds, Meryn Cooper has inherited the crown—and a deadly war. As the Kingdom of Nocturna splinters under the weight of generations of lies, it is up to Meryn, her bonded direwolf Anassa, and their allies to bring the country back from the brink.

But the commoners, the Bonded, and the nobles are distrustful of their new queen and Meryn is caught in a deadly game of politics. Meanwhile, Meryn’s beloved younger sister, Saela, is more at risk than ever.

Confusingly, the one person Meryn can trust is Stark Therion—the dark, dangerous Alpha she thought hated her as much as she loathed him. Yet, his loyalty is unshakeable. His presence is intoxicating. And with his guidance, Meryn can seize an unthinkable level of power.

With enemies closing in and shadows stirring in her dreams, Meryn stands to lose her kingdom—and her heart.

Blood will spill. Bonds will break. Fate will be tested.

Content Warning: violence, death

World Building: Back in the world of Dire Bound, Meryn needs to prove she can be the new queen of Nocturna. But Killian isn’t giving up his throne that easily. Meryn doesn’t stay put in Nocturna though because there is a quest in this story. It brings her, Stark and her crew across the last to Astreona where we get to learn more about Siphons (vampires). So there is a lot of travel in this story but I like that the world is opened up, especially when it comes to learning about Siphons and gods and goddesses.

Characters: Meryn is trying to assert herself as queen even if she doesn’t really know what she is doing – but there are a lot of challenges in the way. One challenge is to convince the packs to stay with her, which is tough because many are loyal to Killian. Also, Stark’s mother, comes in and takes over things, trying to assert her authority while Meryn is new to being a queen. So Meryn has a lot to deal with, along with figuring out how to help her sister who is now a Siphon. I hope there is still more growth because some of her actions were questionable. Stark is true to his word and sticks by Meryn’s side throughout everything and their relationship grows a lot but something happens that will make book three very interesting. I think one of the new characters I enjoyed a lot was Lucien, who is King of Astreona and a Siphon.

Romance: There is romance because it’s hard for Meryn and Stark to deny the bond and yes there is spice, but I didn’t feel like they had chemistry for some reason. Maybe I just wanted more banter between them or more scenes, just more build-up? More tension, more yearning – Not sure. I am glad they got together, but I was expecting more. Now what happens in book three after the ending though? We shall see!

Story: I thought it started well, with Meryn trying to figure out how to convince people to accept her rule. But Killian is a problem and then the story goes in a new direction with the Siphons, gods and goddesses. I didn’t mind where the story went and actually thought Lucien was an interesting character and the whole quest of finding Tears was interesting. There is more politics, and the world opens up. But I do feel like the pacing was off a bit. There were times I was into the story and then some moments it lost me so I would put it down to come back to it. I also didn’t like how some characters were being killed off – because I didn’t feel the emotions of the loss from Meryn. I think overall the story lacked emotionally connection. The ending is a plot twist I wasn’t expecting and not sure that I love but I guess we’ll see what happens in book three.

Final Thoughts:

I think this sequel was solid and there were some things I liked and others I didn’t. I think what it was missing most for me was emotional connection. Also, I was expecting more from the romance and though I like that it progressed, I felt like the tension and yearning was missing. I did enjoy the politics, and how the world building opens up. The ending is a very interesting plot twist that I don’t really love, but I’m willing to read book three to see how it plays out.

Read if you like:

wolves and vampires
romantasy
political intrigue

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Direbound by. Sable Sorensen | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Soon By You by. Dahlia Adler | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Soon By You

Author: Dahlia Adler

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 5/19/26

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Jewish

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

27 Dresses meets The Intimacy Experiment in this sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox community.

If Arielle Becker has to serve as a bridesmaid one more time, she’s going to scream. Between the expense, the collection of dresses she’ll never wear again, the shower planning, the Spanx, the bridezillas, the family time, the heels, and a certain judgmental wedding singer she can’t stop bumping into, she is exhausted, burned out, and seriously beginning to hate romance and all its celebrations. Besides, it’s not like any of these girls are ever gonna turn around and do the same for her; Ari is not the kind of girl a good Jewish boy is looking to marry.

Judah Klein may be the tri-state area’s most in-demand Modern Orthodox wedding singer and eligible bachelor, but after years of uninspiring setups, he’s just about to give up on looking for his own Happily Ever After. Then a fiery, infuriating bridesmaid steps on his foot at a wedding, and before long, trading heated barbs turns into trading hotter kisses…and a realization that maybe he’s been looking for the wrong life all along.

For the first time, Judah can finally get on board with a romance, and of course it’s thanks to the one woman who has no interest in settling down – especially not with a guy who lives in the spotlight and has a professional reputation to uphold. But when neither one seems able to move on from a relationship that wasn’t meant to go anywhere, they’ll have to figure out whether there’s a possible future for two people who’ve already given up on love.

Content Warning:

+~ I think one think that made it a challenging read at first is all the Modern Orthodox customs I didn’t know or the words and how to say them. And I am not someone totally clueless – I am Catholic and my hubby follows Reform Judaism so we married under a chuppah and all that but wow, I definitely didn’t know anything about Modern Orthodox customs which made it fun to learn in this book. I didn’t realize there was a glossary until I finished the book because it was in the back, so…that would have helped me a lot when I started reading it!

+ Arielle has a bad girl reputation, she’s hooked up with a few guys and Judah has the golden good boy reputation – so you would think they wouldn’t make a good match but I liked seeing the both of them get together, and have a little spicy fun (but going all the way). I do think what came between them at times was the religion, which sucks, but also, people are people and have their beliefs – so I found that relatable and realistic. Of course I wanted Judah to immediately change some of his rigorous beliefs in order to accept Arielle in his life but that’s not realistic and his journey to figuring out what he wanted in his life was something good to witness. Oh also, Judah is asexual which I thought was even more fascinating because he was so crazy sexually about Arielle. As for Arielle, I like a girl who is confident about herself and needs – even though some of it was armor. I thought she was fun character and I like that she was aware of all this customs but was loose about some things and firm on others. I also loved some of the secondary characters like Judah’s brother Akiva, and Ari’s best-friend Liana.

+~ There is a back and forth between Arielle and Judah that did get a little frustrating but they had things to work out individually so I understand why they couldn’t get together right away even though the chemistry is off the charts. They needed space, or Judah did, to determine if this attraction was all physical or more. He is the “good boy” and he is asexual so it was a learning experience for him to want Arielle and it is easy to assume physical desire is something more when it’s all consuming, so he needed to process.

+ As I got immersed into the story, I found myself loving the humor throughout the story.

Final Thoughts:

Though it took me awhile to understand some of the words and customs in this story, I thought this romance was funny, surprisingly spicy and I got to learn a lot about something I barely knew anything about. Overall, this was a fun read!

Read if you like:

weddings
faith-based, steamy romance
humor

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Cool for the Summer by. Dahlia Adler | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Weekly Wrap Up | 5/17/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ I hope everyone who celebrated had a good Mother’s Day last weekend – I totally forgot to do a post for that day! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve just been so consumed with my trips – right now I’m in Palo Alto, California to see BTS perform at Stanford Stadium tonight! But my Philippines trip is right after and I’ve been stressed trying to figure out packing, etc….also not knowing what to expect because my parents have planned this trip. I’m excited to see so many family I haven’t seen in decades, plus my grandmother who is 103 years old. It will be nice to see her and have her meet my kids!

+ So this week I’ll just be packing and probably not get a lot of reading done. I guess this means I’ll be gone from this blog for 2 weeks. I’ll have things pre-posted like reviews and Top Ten Tuesdays, I think. But essentially won’t be answering comments. I’ll do that when I get back.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

White Lights by. Lauren Kate
Prince of Swords by. Elise Kova
Hart’s Landing by. Melanie Harlow
When the Light Returns by. Joanna Ruth Meyer

Currently Reading:

The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovi
Nobody’s Quest by. Alyssa Day
Their Will Undone by. R.J. Valldeperas
Fury Bound by. Sable Sorensen

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Off Campus (Prime) – I read the books 10 years ago when they came out so all I remember is Hannah and Garrett because he was the hotshot, popular hockey guy. Also remember Dean because he was the naughty one always sleeping around. Other than that I’m glad I don’t remember everyone and everything so I wasn’t comparing details to the books! Overall I enjoyed it – but I did find myself drawn to John Logan’s character and I love Dean and Allie’s chemistry.

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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Double Happiness by. Heather Eng | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: Double Happiness

Author: Heather Eng

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 5/19/26

Publisher: Tiny Reparations Books

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Women’s Fiction

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself

When Mei Li runs into Alexandre Brodeur at a family function, there’s no denying their chemistry. It turns out Alexandre, whose brother is married to Mei’s younger sister, is back in town rebuilding his life after two decades toiling away in academic research. Somehow, Alexandre’s different from the young scientist Mei met years ago. His intelligent eyes and quiet air of mystery have a magnetic effect, drawing her in like never before.

But Mei’s carefully constructed life has no room for Alexandre. She’s engaged to Joey, a fellow Queens native who keeps her grounded as she pulls eighty-hour weeks at Livin, the tech world’s hottest startup. After a childhood marked by financial and emotional turmoil, Mei finally has the stability she’s always craved.

In Mei’s brief moments away from her crushing workload, Alexandre is an uncomfortably enticing presence. It doesn’t take long for their thoughtful conversations and his electric gaze to get under her skin, leaving Mei to wonder what she really wants in work, life, and love.

With her wedding date fast approaching, Mei has to make an impossible choice between two very different men. And after she does, she still must figure out what it truly means to have it all.

Content Warning: cheating, mention of alcoholic father, racism

Mei is a start-up corporate lady boss trying her best to give everything of herself so that she can be VP. She’s also about to get married to Joey, who she has fun with but she’s noticing things about him that makes her think he isn’t the right one for her. Then there is her sister’s husband’s brother, Alexandre, who is back in town after pivoting in his academia career – and something seems to be brewing between them. Throughout the romance taking place in this story, Mei and Alexandre are trying to figure out how to achieve work/life balance and figure out what is really important to them in their lives.

I didn’t love the attraction growing between Mei and Alexandre while she was about to get married to Joey. I kind of didn’t buy it because it happens quick. I thought she and Joey had fun together, even though he had certain annoying quirks, but I can see why things ended – I just didn’t like the situation because Alexandre didn’t seem like a total prize either. It’s nice that she’s strong, independent, and driven, but she wasn’t truthful about her feelings in her relationships. Alexandre was more mature, but there were times he was bitter at times about Mei’s successful job, so I guess in a way they were relatable because even with their success, they were all so flawed. But I didn’t really connect to them.

It was interesting to see the romance between Mei and Alexandre progress and how it ties into their career paths and their choices. The story touches a lot on toxic work environments too – another very relatable thing. I did enjoy Mei’s family, who was supportive of her.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a quick read, and I did like the topic of toxic work environments, especially with Mei being Chinese American, plus trying to attain a good work/life balance. I didn’t love the way the romance happened but in the end things work out for Mei. Overall, I think it was an okay read for me.

Read if you like:

flawed characters

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Summer of Lost Things by. Jenn Bennett | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Summer of Lost Things

Author: Jenn Bennett

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 5/26/26

Publisher: Avon a

Categories: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Avon a for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sexy new adult romance meets swashbuckling adventure when ex childhood friends Paige and Seb reconnect to finally track down the treasure that has been a legend in their small Michigan beach town for decades. Perfect for fans of The Goonies and Netflix’s Outer Banks who are craving more romance!

Star pupil Paige Malone just finished her first year at Harvard. Dropout Seb Jansen spent that time pumping gas for wealthy yacht owners at a Lake Michigan marina. They haven’t seen each other since high school. A shame, considering that they were once inseparable childhood friends who combed their coastal hometown’s sun-kissed beaches along with a couple of other middle-school pals—hunting the Golden Venus, a legendary local treasure that’s distantly connected to Paige’s family.

A treasure rumored to be worth millions of dollars. If it even exists.

These days, however, the former BFFs have traded adventure for reality. Paige is home for the summer and is spiraling after losing her college financial aid. While across town, Seb fell in with a bad crowd and now regrets his life choices, big time. Both feel colossally stuck. And alone.

But when Paige stumbles upon a hidden secret in her grandmother’s beach cottage, she must get their old treasure-hunting gang back together to finally unravel the mystery that has eluded her family for generations. Who the thrill of the hunt might help Paige and Seb find a path back to their lost friendship…or something more.

The Summer of Lost Things brings the summer heat with its combination of a high stakes treasure hunt and a swoony love story.

Tropes

Childhood friends to lovers Second-chance romance Treasure hunt Family secrets Partners in crime Summer love Small beach town setting Overachiever x bad boy Loveable rogues

Content Warning: grief, violence, mentions of drug trafficking, drug use (weed), vaping, strained parental relationships

+ I haven’t read a Jenn Bennett book in so long and it was so nice to get a chance to read her newest book coming out. I read a lot of her young adult books but this one is new adult, which I appreciated since now I’m an older fan of hers. In this book Paige is back in her hometown, a small beach town with lots of memories, some painful with the lost of her Nana. I love how right away we get to know Paige, her struggles, her grief, and her memories – she’s a very fleshed out character. Her memories and feelings about the town really sets the tone for the story.

+ Set in a small beach town in Michigan, Paige and her best friends, Jazmine, Seb and Benny were known as the WAGS. A group of kids on the hunt for treasure, and it helped that Paige’s ancestor was a man with renowned legend in town. There is talk about gold bars being hidden and so the WAGS go on a final mission to find these gold bars but they aren’t the only ones who want them. A family in town who is known her crime and drug trafficking, also wants to find this treasure so there are moments of tension when the treasure hunt gets dangerous. For the most part though, I thought it was so fun following the WAGS on their treasure hunt adventure, they are a close group, no matter what they’ve been through – I love their friendship! It’s very realistic and I love that they are flawed.

+ There is a childhood friends to romance between Paige and Seb. She’s the one who went to Harvard, overachiever and he’s the bay boy who got in lots of trouble, and now trying to get on the right track. Now back together again, Paige realizes her feelings about him have changed from friendship to lust and maybe something more. I loved Paige and Seb! I love how the interacted, you can feel the deep friendship and I even loved the way they fought because you could tell they were close. They are really partners in crime, and in life. There was one moment though that Paige was frustrating, because she clearly wants him, then put boundaries between them and got mad when he wouldn’t cross the boundary. Also there is a spicy scene and more of it but off the page.

+~ This isn’t a clean adventure treasure hunt story about a group of teens or young kids (though there are memories), these are young adults out of high school and they curse, and smoke weed, drink, they do crazy things and maybe even get into troubling relationships but I felt like all of that was realistic to the characters ages. I like that they are all trying to figure life out.

~ There is one supportive parent group in this story, which is Jazmine’s, thank goodness because Paige and Seb did not luck out with having good parents! Very strained and even messed up relationships. So thank goodness for the Neelys.

Final Thoughts:

This is going to be the perfect summer read if you are looking for action, treasure hunting, tension, childhood friends to lovers romance, trying to figure out life and friendship. I enjoyed this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From this Author:

Always Jane by. Jenn Bennett | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chasing Lucky by. Jenn Bennett | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review: The Lady Rogue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Book Review: Serious Moonlight ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starry Eyes by. Jenn Bennett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alex, Approximately by. Jenn Bennett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When the Light Returns by. Joanna Ruth Meyer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: When the Light Returns (The Winter Dark, #2)

Author: Joanna Ruth Meyer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 463

Publication Date: 5/12/26

Publisher: 47North

Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to 47North for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A deposed king and the powerful captive of a corrupt queen join forces in a sweeping fantasy of romance, magic, and redemption in this sequel to While the Dark Remains.

The long winter dark has been banished for good, and the mountain palace of the late king should be a sanctuary for Ballast Vallin, who has just assumed the throne. Instead, it’s a torment. Held to account for the sins of his father, Ballast must relinquish his crown and all claim to Daeros, the kingdom for which he risked so much. Worse, Brynja—his father’s former captive, the woman he loves—is the one who forces his hand.

Disgraced, Brynja is sent to Iljaria, a kingdom imbued with ancient magic. There she finds herself at the mercy of Queen Valrún, and is forced to aid in the queen’s quest to claim all the magic long thought irrevocably bound to the gods.

But then a shocking revelation about Ballast’s past brings him to Iljaria—and to Brynja. Together, amid secrets, magic, and betrayal, they must challenge the power-hungry queen to a battle that could ruin the world or remake it. For Brynja and Ballast, their most invaluable weapon is hope.

Content Warning: violence

I did not re-read book one and I highly recommend you do, because I had a hard time getting into this book.

World Building: Brynja goes back home to Iljaria but the reception she gets is not what she expected at all. Now she has to convince the queen that she isn’t a traitor. Ballast loses his kingdom and goes to find Brynja. There is a lot of politics in this one, and a lot of the story takes place in Iljaria. Also the magic system wasn’t something I could get into either, there was a lot of things for me to remember – and it just wasn’t sticking in my head.

Characters: I struggled to connect with the characters because there are a few POVs. I was familiar with Ballast, Brynja and Saga but was trying to remember the other characters. The world opens up to IIjaria so it was interesting to learn about the queen who rules there and Brynja’s tense relationship with her brother.

Romance: The romance between Ballast and Brynja have always been sweet and with some time apart in this book, they eventually continue that romance. There is no spice. There is also Saga’s romance but I wasn’t as invested in it.

Storyline: I struggled with this story because of all the time jumps. It’s all very random and complicated too, which took me out of the story. Plus the pacing was slow so I did not get into this story at all. The parts I did enjoy was Ballast and Brynja, and then plot twists were good too – I wasn’t expecting that at all.

Final Thoughts:

If you enjoyed book one, I think you will enjoy this one but I do recommend doing a re-read because I struggled. I did like seeing Ballast and Brynja grow and their romance is sweet. I also liked the plot twist. But I couldn’t get into the story because of the time jumps. I think if the timeline was a little more straightforward I would have enjoyed reading this more.

Read if you like:

political intrigue
no spice, romantasy

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

While the Dark Remains by. Joanna Ruth Meyer | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hart’s Landing by. Melanie Harlow | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Title: Hart’s Landing

Author: Melanie Harlow

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 5/12/26

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Categories: Contemporary, Small Town Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Entangled: Amara for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last.
That night changed everything.

Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson fled Hart’s Landing with a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her wake. But when a crisis brings her home, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush, Everett McKean.

Only…Everett is everywhere. The boy Mila once loved is now the town’s scorching hot, beloved mayor. And when he’s not serving his constituents or running the family farm, Everett is taking advantage of his second chance with Mila―the one who got away.

As Mila reconnects to her roots and opens her heart, she discovers that coming home again isn’t about where you’ve been―it’s about who you’re brave enough to become. But when old wounds threaten to open after questions emerge about what really happened the night Mila left, it’s that bravery that will finally set her free.

Sexy, heartfelt, and steeped in small-town charm, Hart’s Landing is a story of forgiveness, friendship, and finding the family who loves you no matter how far you wander.

Content Warning: narcissistic mother, abusive parent

+ Set in the small town of Hart’s Landing this is a cozy, sweet, romance that I can see being a Hallmark movie! Mila left the small town 10 years ago after a devastating accident that tore her friendships apart, but now she’s back to take care of her narcissistic mother who is getting hip surgery. While home, she runs into her old crush and some old friends, while getting used to the quirks of small town living again. Also there is a mini mystery about who might have started the fire years ago.

+ Loved Mila as the FMC, she’s sweet, and she knows she has issues mostly stemming from the horrible way her mother treats her, not having a father figure and being blamed for a fire that happened 10 years ago. She’s brave though and someone who falls hard for someone. Now Everett her crush and now the mayor of the town, is flirtatious, funny, strong, and head over heels for Mila and he lets her know it every chance he gets. I feel like both main characters had a lot of depth even though both of them were sweet and funny people. We do meet Everett’s friends and Mila also makes new connections with the old best friends she had in high school before everything went wrong.

+ The romance is a slow burn but I loved all the teasing, banter, flirtation, and them having a second chance at figuring out the attraction between them. There are spicy scenes, and overall, I loved their romance.

+~ Mila’s mom is awful, she’s a narcissist and what can she really do about that but learn to stand up for herself, which she does eventually. But there is a lot of guilt and heavy emotions Mila has to work through to get to that point and it was frustrating to see – but it showed a lot of of growth.

+~ The story starts off with Mila and her best friends in high school and then jumps forward to present day. So there is a lot we are missing, since we only get to meet 2 of the friends in this book. I feel like each girl will be getting their own book?

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a sweet romance but with depth, especially when it came to friendship and family matters. I adore Mila and Everett’s romance and was rooting for them from the beginning – I’m kind of glad the conflict between them was resolved quick. And if this is going to be a series, where we get a story for each of Mila’s friends, I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

Read if you like:

small town romance
friendship and family
a little bit of mystery

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This Book Made Me Think of You by. Libby Page | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: This Book Made Me Think of You

Author: Libby Page

Narrator(s): Zadeiah Campbell-Davies

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 320 Listening Time: approximately 10 hours 10 min

Publication Date: 2/3/26

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Categories: Contemporary, Grief, Romance, Bookstore

A woman receives an unexpected gift from the man she loved and lost—a year of books, one for every month—launching a reading-inspired journey to live, dream, and love again in this glimmering and heart-stopping novel.

Twelve books. Twelve months. One chance to heal her heart…

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. But mainly because Joe died five months ago….

When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the bookshop owner with kind eyes, explains the gift—twelve carefully chosen books with handwritten letters from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

At first Tilly can’t imagine sinking into a fictional world, but Joe’s tender words convince her to try, and something remarkable happens—Tilly becomes immersed in the pages, and a new chapter begins to unfold in her own life. Monthly trips to the bookstore—and heartfelt conversations with Alfie—give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story—like a book—becomes more than her own.

Content Warning: grief, illness, death

World Building: Set around an indie bookstore where Tilly’s late husband has left her a book a month to get through the year after his death. This book is heartwarming, heartbreaking and cozy! The indie bookstore has a book owner Alfie who also knows his share of grief when losing his father. The store also has a cat. This story is definitely for the book lovers and indie bookstore lovers.

Characters: Tilly is lost without her husband Joe, but this is the year she gets out and takes a chance on life because of the books he has left her. It was nice seeing her grow and I related to her grief. Alfie is the shop owner who Tilly befriends but feelings grow between them slowly. I did like the storyline between Tilly and her sister, who meant well even though Tilly was afraid to try new things – I like how they eventually work things out.

Romance: We get a peek at Tilly’s romance with her late-husband Joe and then her trying to maybe make room for more love with Alfie. It’s sweet, heart-warming and I was rooting for both of them.

Story: The narrator did a fantastic job, loved her accent, her voice was soothing. This story was reminding me a little bit of the movie, P.S. I Love You, which I loved. This story really takes us on Tilly’s journey through grief and finding her way with her family, her career and new love. She goes on trips, does a half marathon and works things out with her sister. And then she also starts to fall in love again. It’s a beautiful story! It is a bit of a cozy read, so sometimes in the middle, I found it a little slow, but that’s an issue for me.

Vibes/Tropes: P.S. I Love You, book lover romance

Final Thoughts:

This one was a little triggering for me but I was invested in Tilly’s journey through her grief and watching her grow so much! It is so heartwarming seeing Tilly learn to live and love again. This story is definitely for the book lovers!

Read if you like: