Tag: romance

Midnight on the Celestial by. Julia Alexandra | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Midnight on the Celestial

Spice Rating:

Author: Julia Alexandra

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: St Martin’s Press

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Paranormal

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



Roe Damarcus has never been afraid of the dead. Her power to summon spirits has awed the guests of her esteemed family’s galas for as long as she can remember. Her future is certain, and her gift will be another shining jewel in the Damarcus legacy.

But when she fails her realm’s trial to keep her magic and is deemed too dangerous for society, she faces a harrowing choice: give up her gift or serve a punishment sentence aboard the Celestial, a luxurious magical cruise ship where staff members compete for guest votes to earn a coveted retrial.

As a concierge, Roe juggles the demands of affluent guests, cruel bosses, and the suspicion that an infuriatingly handsome silks performer, Ivander, is determined to keep her from a retrial.

But the true dangers surface after her shift ends when the Celestial transforms into halls of nightmares that kill staff members after dark. Faced with the reality of serving aboard, Roe begins to question the ship, trials, and the system that put her there. But the moment Roe sinks into the ship’s dark history, she’s wrongly framed for a guest’s murder. Vowing to conjure her own second chance, Roe will use whatever power she has to uncover the secrets of the ship, her family, and their entwined bloody past… before she becomes the Celestial’s next victim.

Content Warning: torture, death, gore

+ I didn’t know what to expect with this book but it was like horror and magic on the Titanic, which I thought was a very fascinating combination. It was more gory than I expected. I enjoyed the horror elements because it made things unpredictable on the ship.

+ I thought the magic system was very interesting. Some people are born with magic and they are called Morphics, but they have to show control of their magic. If they have no control and don’t pass their trial they can choose to have their magic extracted fully or they can serve time on the Celestial, which is an interesting cruise ship where non-Morphic tourists get to experience magic in a “safe” way. The Morphics serving time on the Celestial get a chance for a retrial, as long as they are on good behavior and people on the ship vote for them.

+ Rosaline/Roe’s magic is resurrection, which is very rare and dangerous. She ends up on the ship by choice, but finds out it’s hard work and they get tortured each night by the bosses who extract a tiny bit of magic from Morphics on the ship to keep it powered. Roe meets Ivander, who is supposed to show her the ropes on the ship, but they kind of have a little enemies to lovers relationship going on – barely enemies…more like dislike to like. It’s a slow and sweet romance though. Roe also meets all of Ivander’s friends, good kids, who all have a different story of why they ended up on the ship.

~ The pacing was a bit off. I was engaged for the first half, especially when learning about the ship and then the second half, I struggled to stay invested. Roe and her friends work on the ship and we get to see a lot of that happen, then they undergo this torture every night from the Bosses on the ship, it’s a bit repetitive. I wanted to know more about why the horror happens on the ship and why it’s contained to certain parts. Also wanted the story to lean more into the horror.

~ The ending feels rushed but it is a standalone, so I think that’s why things were wrapped up quickly.

Final Thoughts:

I thought the magic ship idea was really creative. I also found the magic interesting and I like the horror elements. I was invested in the first half of the story but I kind of struggled in the second half. The world-building on the ship was much stronger than when the story shifts to being on land, so the ending feels a bit rushed but overall, a good debut.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Weekly Wrap Up | 3/1/26

Aloha friends!

Another week is over and here’s what happened:

+ And like that February is gone and we are in March. Wow! My kids go on spring break in 2 weeks, which means my hubby and son will be going to stay at the house in Osaka, Japan.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Blood & Betrayals by. Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune
  • The Library of Amorlin by. Jaclyn Josephson
  • Burn the Kingdom Down by. Addie Thorley
  • Caged by Fallen Crows by. Ava Larksen
  • A Vow in Vengeance by. Jaclyn Rodriguez
  • The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by. Takuya Asakura

Currently Reading:

  • Deathly Fates by. Tesia Tsai
  • The Poison Daughter by. Sheila Masterson
  • Life: A Love Story by. Elizabeth Berg
  • Eternal in the Night by. Alayna Ravenwood

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Bridgerton Season 4:Part 2 – this part made me emotional and cry so much….oh my goodness. 😭. And it was so unexpected because Benedict is such a playful character and I love his fun relationship with Sophie so oh my…the emotional punch these episodes gave me…whew…I haven’t cried that much in a long, long, LONG time. The storyline is emotional interwoven with family, friendship and love. Season 2 was always my favorite because I love Jonathan Bailey and enemies to lovers but as far as story….season 4 is my favorite right now because of all the emotions. Also, it’s Cinderella vibes but EVER AFTER (one of my favorite movies) Cinderella vibes!! I love it.

+ Bruno Mars: The Romantic – another reason that made me emotional on the SAME DAY I watched Bridgerton…Bruno Mars’ new album dropped and that first song, “Risk it All”…made me cry AGAIN 😅…Thursday was an emotional day! It’s Mercury Retrograde isn’t it?! lol…Anyway I can’t wait to see and hear all these songs performed live in April – it will the first concert for both my kids also (ages 9 and 13).

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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We’re A Bad Idea, Right? by. K.L. Walther | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating:

Title: We’re a Bad Idea, Right?

Author: K.L. Walther

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: Delacorte Romance

Categories: Young Adult, 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 Delacorte Romance for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


The business of love gets messy when two best friends decide to fake a romantic relationship in this uproarious and swoony novel by the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules.

Audrey Barbour has had enough of following the rules. Eighteen years of being the perfect daughter—exceptional grades, enviable college acceptances, tame dating history—and still, her parents don’t trust her enough to let her study her passion, glassblowing, on a prestigious fellowship.

So when her best friend Henry proposes an outrageous fake-dating scheme to win back his ex-girlfriend, it feels like the first step to shaking up her perfect life. And the second? That comes when Audrey’s parents go out of town, sparking a high-risk, high-reward solution to pay for her fellowship—renting out her family’s Connecticut mansion online. With the help of her new fake-boyfriend, it shouldn’t be hard to pull off… right?  

But when her best intentions start to unravel, Audrey will have to reckon with who she is, what she wants, and what it really means to play life by her rules—all with her heart on the line.

Content Warning: alcohol use

+ This is a wild ride of a young adult romance! Audrey is a glass blower and sells her creation on her own Etsy shop. Henry is her best-friend and he helps her run her shop, but he’s also dating her good friend, Ellie…until recently. Henry wants to get Ellie back so he proposes they fake date to make Ellie jealous, and then maybe Audrey’s crush, Griff, will also look at her in a different way.

+ The fake dating is fun because they are best friends and have their own way of interacting with one another using movie lines or calling each other by character names. It’s very silly, very cute, and I loved Audrey and Henry together. When they do feel something more, which comes really easily and without any real drama – all it takes is a few talks between them when they do have a challenge before they get their happy ever after. I liked how the topic of a long distance relationship was Henry’s hang-up about continuing a relationship, but there was Audrey’s parents in a long-distance marriage that worked!

+ Outside of the fake-dating though is the crazy things happening in Audrey’s life. Her parents are on a trip, and she accidentally pays ten thousand dollars for tuition to a school her parents haven’t agreed to. So…the rest of the story is her trying to come up with a way to make the 10K back before her parents get back home. The plan involves all her friends, but what Audrey learns about herself is that she really is good under-pressure and can actually run a business! It’s kind of crazy but it works, and I thought it made this story pretty fun to read.

+ I found all the characters to be good people, which was kind of nice! Audrey is a chill girl, and nothing seems to get her totally down. And her group of friends, even her parents, seem like really relaxed people – I cannot relate! haha…but it’s nice. I like that everyone was trying to help her out in some way.

~ If you don’t like pop culture references then you won’t enjoy this book because there is mention of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and even Gracie Abrams. 😅. Even the title takes from Olivia’s song Bad Idea, Right?

~ There is a moment where Audrey and Henry take their relationship to the next level but it’s closed door, with barely any details except him pulling out a condom. I found it pretty realistic but I did kind of want more of a hint that they were headed that way in their relationship.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one! I thought it was fun and funny. The characters were all likable and I kind of wish my parents were as chill as Audrey’s. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Summer of Broken Rules by. K.L. Walther | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

In Time With You by. Kristin Dwyer | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: In Time With You

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Author: Kristin Dwyer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 3/3/26

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism, Grief, Time Travel

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

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


Can she get it right the second time(line) around?

You’ve Reached Sam meets Before I Fall in this gripping speculative romance about one girl saving her first love’s life by falling for the last person she ever should – his best friend.

Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning. Even worse she blames herself for his death… and so does his best friend, Max. He was there with them on that fateful day, and he’s never liked Nieve.

Unable to pull herself from her grief and wanting to hide from the accusation in his eyes, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college, the year before.

This time she plans to make sure Carter never follows her into that river. She’ll do everything in her power to keep him safe, even if it means losing him in other ways. But the more distance she puts between her and Carter, the closer she gets to Max, drawn to him in ways she never expected. But is she betraying Carter if the only way she can save him is to move on? And can she ever forget her past to embrace her future?

Kristin Dwyer’s In Time with You is a heartbreaking story of first love, loss, and one chance to change everything.

Content Warning: grief, death, drowning, PTSD, anxiety, underage drinking, family estrangement

+ I don’t know what I was expecting from this story but what an emotional rollercoaster. I have lost someone in the past, in an accident, so a lot of the questions Nieve has in this book – hit a little too close to home. So if you lost someone, just know this story can be triggering.

+ Nieve’s boyfriend Carter dies in an accident that involves her. She is lost in the darkness of grief and can’t quite move on. She blames herself. She tries to go back to college but she can barely get out of bed and then her grandmother rips the yarn threads from her blanket. Now Nieve’s grandmother and their ancestors before them are very superstitious and they are artists who founded this college that Nieve and her cousin goes too. But yarn is magical in their family, each color represents emotions, and certain colors can help do things like ward off nightmares – Nieve and her cousin Linden have been working on their own blankets all their lives, and the yarn being stitched a little at a time represented a time of their life or something special too them. This blanket is their timeline and when Nieve’s grandmother rips out the threads that was Nieve’s memories of Carter – Nieve travels back in time to the moment she meets Carter. Her goal? Not to date him so she can change his future – but will it work?

+ I was hooked on this story because I needed to see how this would work out. I don’t particularly love time travel stories and there were times while reading this my mind said no, Nieve can’t do this, or else she will mess everything up. But it’s because I was afraid for her, I was afraid what her actions may mean, and what outcome would be or what if she tries to change his future but he dies again anyway. Because yes, she lost Carter in the first timeline, but isn’t she also losing him again in this second timeline? She’s losing him as a boyfriend, but keeping him alive. It’s emotional devastating and bittersweet.

+ And because Nieve is pushing Carter away, someone else (who she thought hated her in the first timeline) becomes the person she wants and it’s confusing feelings all around. I was rooting for her with this other guy but also gutted about it because things change drastically and in unexpected ways. There is romance but not with who I thought it would be with – which was a bittersweet feeling. But I did love him for her, come on, Max reads Pablo Neruda poems – I fell in love with him for that alone! There is a little spice, but it was just enough. But it was just really interesting to see how Nieve could see Carter with a different perspective in this second timeline.

+ I love Nieve’s family and their traditions. There’s a rumor her grandmother is a witch and I could definitely see the witchy and magical elements of the story. I love how close she is to her grandma and cousin, because she clearly wasn’t close to her mom but it was…expected. It just seemed like in Nieve’s family, it is what it is. I’m just glad she had her grandma and cousin. I also love how this story revolves around art – the college they go to is a small college focusing on art whether it’s writing, dancing, or creating with paint and pencil.

~ Like I said above, time travel is not my favorite trope, and there were times when I thought how could Nieve even function when she changed one thing, a ripple would happen and altogether things would change. I felt like I was going crazy with her because it was out of her control! That part got a little frustrating for me because she could kiss someone and the next day it didn’t happen because the timeline would change a little. Her grandma’s advice was to make only ripples of changes not big changes and I felt like Nieve followed the instructions as best she could but still something huge would change. So I felt her madness and anxiety as she neared the day Carter would die. I just wish she had more guidance and explanation about the yarn and the ripples and the timeline. But grandma just trusted Nieve whole-heartedly, she was kind of bad-ass.

~ Things change a lot in the new timeline and when Nieve pushes Carter away, he ends up with someone else and yikes, I would have hated to be in Nieve’s shoes. You can tell she really loved him enough to keep him alive and look past him dating other people.

Final Thoughts:

I found this story emotional, engrossing, heartbreaking, and complicated. I was hooked on this story from the start and I found myself feeling everything Nieve was feeling. I may not have understood some of the timeline changes but I went with it and found myself invested until the very end. It’s definitely the kind of story that will stick with me for awhile. I’ve read three books now from this author and each time, it grabs me by the heartstrings. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Some Mistakes Were Made by. Kristin Dwyer | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Atlas of Us by. Kristin Dwyer | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Wicked and the Damned by. Rebecca Robinson | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: The Wicked and the Damned (Dark Inheritance Trilogy, #2)

Author: Rebecca Robinson

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/24/26

Publisher: S&S/Saga Press

Categories: Romantasy, Fantasy, 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 S&S/Saga Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!


In the exhilarating second romantasy novel in Rebecca Robinson’s Dark Inheritance Trilogy, a fiery couple forced apart must navigate a deadly maze of politics and power to reunite across a continent at war.
Torn from her husband Reid’s arms and dragged back to her homeland in chains, Vaasa is no longer a ruler, but a political pawn. Now under the control of Ozik—a cunning Zetyr witch with a stranglehold on her magic—she faces annulment, forced betrothal, and a kingdom that no longer feels like her own. As Ozik’s machinations aim to install himself as the true power behind the Asteryan throne, Vaasa is forced to take part in his game.

Meanwhile, across the continent, Reid is done playing politics. But waging war is never simple, and a soldier’s fury cannot stand up against Icruria’s bureaucracy. With allies fading and time slipping away, Reid may have no choice but to infiltrate Asterya on his own to find the woman he loves and bring her home.

As Vaasa’s magic begins to flare, she desperately seeks control, even if Ozik is the only one who can offer it. She then finds a cryptic final message from her mother about a precious missing necklace that might just be the answer to finally freeing her magic from Ozik. Yet when a ghost from Vaasa’s past reemerges among the suitors vying for her hand, escape might be within reach—but will it demand a betrayal that real love may not survive?

Content Warning: violence, death

This is book two in the Dark Inheritance Trilogy, the first book being The Serpent and the Wolf. I really enjoyed Vaasa and Reid’s story in book one, but this time around they are apart for half the book.

I did feel like the first half moved slower for me, maybe because I was trying to remember all the characters and what happened in book one. By 50% into the book, I was hooked and it was a action filled second half filled with political intrigue, and Vaasa and Reid’s reunion.

I felt like a lot of this book focused on Ozik and we learn a lot about him and by the third book I think we’ll see if Vaasa can keep her promise to him. There was another character introduced in this book, Roman, who is from Vaasa’s past and I did not like him at all.

I enjoyed the twists and turns and hope book three starts off a bit faster.

Final Thoughts:

I do feel like this book moved the story forward though I did find the first of it slow. The second half was filled with a little spice, lots of political intrigue, twists, turns and action. I’ll definitely be looking forward to see how this series concludes in book three.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Serpent and the Wolf by. Rebecca Robinson | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats, #2)

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Narrator(s): Brittany Pressley

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 449 Listening Time: approximately 14 hours

Publication Date: 11/10/25

Publisher:  MacMillan Audio

Categories: Romantasy, Series



Everyone needs something to hold onto, even if it’s a lie.

After Bristol nearly loses Tyghan to the monsters her mother unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But, when a daring rescue attempt turns disastrous and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could ever have imagined – and more dangerous, too.

Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he re-encounters his betrayer, Kierus, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question. Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a monster just like her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most if it means keeping them safe?

Discover the stunning second book in the Bristol Keats fantasy duology, from New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson.

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

+ This is a series with a large cast of characters and yet, there one only one narrator and she did quite a job! I think the only voice I didn’t love was for Tyghan – but that’s just a personal preference. She was amazing doing all the voices for this book. And I’m glad I listened to this book because I don’t think I would have been as invested if I sat down and read it.

+~ I felt like this story moved quicker than book one, which I appreciated. Maybe because it finally gets to to big battle. The ending is gets very emotional but also kind of gave me whiplash. I can see why Bristol does what she does out of grief, but again with their communication issues.

+~ There is so much conflict for Bristol in this story. Her parents are enemies of Tyghan and his court. She loves them so much that she wants to save them which is totally understandable. Tyghan has lost people due to her parents though so I can understand his anger too. Throughout the whole story it was just this back and forth of who was right and what the right choice was for dealing with her parents. I felt bad for Bristol. It still felt weird to me that Tyghan was raised with and is ex-best friends with her dad though – just something I can’t really shake. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It kinda gives me the ick.

+~ Because of Bristol’s conflict, there were many times where Tyghan and her and to work through their relationship because of the issues that came between them. I did not like Tyghan keeping things from her about her dad. So communication was something they had to work on a lot. Clearly they loved one another and really wanted to make things work out. There are some spicy scenes. And the ending? It’s very emotional for both of them.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook except how Tyghan’s voice was done – it just didn’t work for me but for all the other voices this amazing narrator had to do? Outstanding. This is not my favorite series from this author, I think it might be my least favorite of them all but I’m glad I got to finish it.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

The Courting of Bristol Keats by. Mary E. Pearson | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review | Vow of Thieves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dance of Thieves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Kiss of Deception ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heart of Betrayal ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Beauty of Darkness ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

First-Time Caller by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Title: First-Time Caller (Heartstrings, #1)

Author: B.K. Borison

Narrator(s): E.J. Bingham, Hathaway Lee

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 448 Listening Time: approximately 12 hours

Publication Date: 2/10/25

Publisher:  Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Series



Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending… even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Content Warning: cancer

+ The narrators are so great for this audiobook, their voices sound good and they kept me invested from start to finish.

+ I got the Sleepless in Seattle vibes right away from this story and fell in love (I loved that movie). Lucie is a single mom, and her 12 year old daughter calls into a radio station, to help her mom find a date! From there Lucie meets Aiden, the radio show host, who is going through some things of his own. He doesn’t quite believe in love, because he fears it, but he’s willing to help Lucie find love, mostly at first because he needs ratings for the show.

+ I love Lucie who is a mechanic, is co-parenting with her baby-daddy and his husband. She loves her family and honestly she’s just tired of the dating scene because it never works out for her. She’s relatable. Aiden is actually going through a a lot – he has lost the love for his job, he is trying to avoid his mom because her cancer scares have scared him, basically fear is preventing him from really living, until he meets Lucie.

+~ The romance is super cute, I loved it! I love how Lucie and Aiden take it slow and get to know one another. I love their time at the radio-station and how it builds up to the spicy scene. Of course there was a little conflict which made me want to shake Aiden a little, I got mad at him, but he has issues and he eventually figures it out.

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison | Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let’s Talk Bookish:  What do you collect besides books? | 2/20/26

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

February 20: What do you collect besides books? (Suggested by Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Do you own a lot of books? Do you think of yourself as a book collector? Outside of reading, do you have any other hobbies that involve collecting things? What would you love to have a collection of?

**********

Do you own a lot of books?

No, I don’t. I used to, but over the years with moving a few times, I had to make some hard decisions. 😅 Now I have 3 book shelves in the house. I actually just added the 3rd one and that’s probably all I can have right now and I’m fine with it. I started collecting more sprayed edge books but I think I’ve slowed down with that right now.

Do you think of yourself as a book collector?

No, I don’t think I am. Not with the collections I’ve seen other people have! Compared to them, I am not a book collector….but I WISH.

Outside of reading, do you have any other hobbies that involve collecting things?

Journals…I used to collect journals, but not anymore! Now, if I need one, I’ll buy one at Ross or something for really cheap. I have been buying book journals for recording the books I read, I feel like it helps me write my blog posts. I take notes in the journals and then that helps me write out of my blogs. But at least with these book journals, I only need to buy one for each year – unless I read more than 200 books. I almost started collecting Pop Mart stuff but nipped that in the bud when I got back into buying sprayed edged books.

What would you love to have a collection of?

You know I wanted to get into collecting vinyl and realized I can’t collect books, vinyls AND save to go to concerts (because I always have to fly out to one)….SO vinyls are taking a backseat, plus I don’t even have a good vinyl player or space to put it. My cheap on is collecting dust. I have like…4 vinyls 😅 and just bought the new Bruno Mars one, but that’s IT. Where does your money go? My money goes to is my KIDS, food, books, and travel. All of it is expensive…I hate inflation. 😩

February 2026 Topics:

February 6: Reading with Friends

Prompts: Do you enjoy buddy reading or participating in group reads? If you do, what do you like most about them? Do you prefer reading 1-1 or in a big group? For those who might not have access to in-person group reads, do you have a recommendation about where to join online reading groups?

February 13: Romance Novels

Prompts: It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means that the most popular book genre is bigger than ever! Do you like to read romance novels? Who are your favourite fictional couples? Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

February 20: What do you collect besides books? (Suggested by Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Do you own a lot of books? Do you think of yourself as a book collector? Outside of reading, do you have any other hobbies that involve collecting things? What would you love to have a collection of?

February 27: Reading Star Ratings

Prompts: This topic is inspired by Krysta @ Pages Unbound, who posted about it earlier this year. How do you read star ratings from other bloggers/readers? Do you consider star ratings seen on a book blog, Bookstagram, or BookTok differently from ratings on sites like Goodreads? How much does a star rating affect your decision to purchase/borrow/read a book, and does it depend on who/where the star rating comes from?

In Your Dreams by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Title: In Your Dreams (When in Rome, #4)

Author: Sarah Adams

Narrator(s): Chase Brown, Christine Lakin

Format: audiobook (Libby)

Pages: 358 Listening Time: approximately 11 hours

Publication Date: 12/29/25

Publisher:  Books on Tape

Categories: Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Series



A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to prove she could make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is a shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap, giving her a chance to rebuild everything she’s lost: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend . . . and the last person she wants to work for.

James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and doing what’s expected of him in the family business and never contemplating anything different—until now when Madison’s happiness is on the line. He’s loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that–even if it means he can only ever be her friend. The one problem? His charming, wildly successful younger brother, Tommy, seems determined to win her over first.

Then Tommy is called away on business and Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy farm-to-table restaurant on their own. But as the town starts meddling in their relationship, Tommy’s pursuit of Madison grows more relentless, and Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back, keeping things strictly professional becomes impossible. And when an unexpected disaster on opening night collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.

Content Warning: smoking

+ The narrators did a fabulous job and kept me invested in this romance story!

+ This is book four in the When in Rome series, and I’ve read all the books except the first one, surprisingly. But once more we are back in Rome, Kentucky, a small town with good vibes. Madison left Rome to make her culinary dreams come true in NYC but it wasn’t what she thought it would be so she’s back home again, trying to figure out what’s next for her. James is Madison’s brother’s best-friend, and on a whim he tells Madison he has a restaurant he needs a chef for and thought of her for the position. Thing is James’ farm is on the verge of closing, and he needs this restaurant to work to keep it afloat.

+ This is a small town, brother’s best-friend, friends to lovers romance which I thought was really cute from beginning to end. Clearly James is crazy about her but doesn’t know where he stands with her – despite that he does everything to try and make her happy. Madison, is the youngest Walker sister and kind of the wild, flighty one. She’s a free spirit. She’s also had a crush on James for awhile now but has kept him in the friend zone so they can concentrate on being business partners with this new restaurant. It’s a very slow burn, and there is spice, but not a lot of it, just at the end of the book.

+ There is a lot of soul searching happening in this story. Madison is the free spirit who needs to put down roots somewhere. She feels like the family failure. James has taken over the farm from his parents and he feels like he’s letting them down because the farm isn’t doing well. Tommy’s brother is trying to help James but he’s also flirty with Madison, so there are some issues Tommy and James have to work out.

~ It’s a cute romance without much drama between Madison and James which is cute, but I wanted a little bit a drama to keep things interesting but that’s a personal preference!

Final Thoughts:

This was a very cute friends to lovers romance and a great edition to the When in Rome series! I enjoyed the audiobook a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Other Books I’ve Read From This Author:

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Match by. Sarah Adams | Audiobook Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (When in Rome,

Practice Makes Perfect by. Sarah Adams | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodbye and Everything After by. Mae Coyiuto | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Goodbye and Everything After

Spice Rating:

Author: Mae Coyiuto

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 2/17/26

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Magical Realism, Filipino Representation

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

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


A teen girl comes face to face with her dad’s spirit when she ignores a strict Filipino superstition in this contemporary young adult novel that tackles grief, family tension, and first love.

It’s been five years since Nika’s beloved father passed away, but her family has never fully grieved. They don’t speak of him much at all, except on the anniversary of his death.

Whenever they visit her father’s grave, Nika’s superstitious mother still insists on practicing pagpag, a Filipino belief that you can never go directly home after attending a funeral—or risk the spirit of the departed following you back home.

But when her mom’s new fiancé suddenly shows up at the cemetery for this year’s memorial for her dad, she furiously walks out, breaking the pagpag superstition. The next day, she finds herself face-to-face with the ghost of her dead father. . . and Nika’s the only one who can see him.

As she spends time reconnecting with her dad’s ghost, Nika learns about her parents’ past and how they started dating back in high school. And when she starts to fall for her neighbor Seph and accidentally re-creates memories of her parents’ love story with him, her dad’s spirit slowly becomes more solid and alive. Fearing that she’ll lose her dad again, Nika makes it her mission to find a way to make her dad stay permanently, no matter what the cost.

With a perfect blend of humor and heart, Mae Coyiuto artfully brings past to present in a way that explores grief head-on.

Content Warning: grief, cursing

Nika is a teenager and dealing with a lot of emotions. Her mom is engaged to be married to their dentist, and Nika feels like she is the only one grieving her dad’s death. She is a teenager, so she has some very strong feelings and thoughts about everything, and she curses.

What drew me to this story was the Filipino representation, more interestingly the Chinese-Filipino representation that I’m not to familiar with. I love seeing my people represented in books, so this was a great way for me to learn more about one of the many different cultures that thrive in the Philippines. Even though I’m not Chinese-Filipino I still recognized some of the foods they talked about, which I love. I related to the family expectations Nika is dealing with and family drama.

When her dad appears to her, I thought it was fitting, because it gave her a sense of closure at the end and helped the family come together to not only honor his memory, but deal with the grief each of them have been handling, almost alone, but not really alone.

There is even a little teenage romance, which I thought was cute.

Final Thoughts:

I loved the Filipino representation in this book with the cultural practices, the food, and the family dynamics. I thought this was a heart felt story that dealt with grief and moving on, which can be really strong feeling to manage when you are a teenager. But I thought this story did a great job of showing how closure, forgiveness, and moving on can be healing for everyone.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble