Haunting Melody by M. Flagg

August 21, 2025 By 1 Comment


Haunting Melody by M. Flagg
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Melody Marie sees ghosts. Just her luck that they see her as well.

Not even Melody’s mother knows her secret. Already tagged aggressively anxious won’t help Melody at Pinedale High, either. She’s the overweight walking disaster who desperately wants to fit in. No chance of that.

Hammer and his biker buds tragically died on Pinedale’s campus in the 1970s. He is drawn to Melody’s compassion for him. When her friendship with classmate Justin deepens, Hammer’s menacing antics turn dangerous. Every school day becomes a nightmare, and Melody’s desire to fit in fizzles out.

Now, she encounters nonstop clashes with ghosts, her meddling mom, a nosey school counselor, and even the law because of Justin, a known troublemaker. Can she rise above everything going wrong to help Hammer or Justin…or find a way to help them both?

There’s more than one way to get an education in high school.

Melody’s personality captured the angst and drama of being a teenager nicely. She genuinely felt like a sixteen-year-old to me, from her rapidly shifting mood on certain days to the way she analyzed social situations for every possible morsel of information she could get out of them. It’s not easy to make the transition to adulthood, especially for someone like her who was not only grieving the loss of her father but also dealing with bullying, moving to a new town, and adjusting to a different school. That’s a lot of change and conflict for anyone to deal with!

It would have been helpful to have more development for the romantic subplot, especially given how often Melody was warned not to pursue this possibility. While her interest in him made sense due to her attraction to bad boys and her understandable resistance to well-meaning but unsolicited advice, I would have liked to know more about why she found him so appealing when there were hundreds of other guys to choose from at her new school.

I enjoyed the parallels the plot made between how certain characters were treated in modern times and how some of the ghosts were mistreated fifty years ago before they died. Human nature never really changes, and it doesn’t always lead people to being kind to those who don’t fit into the group in some way. There is definitely something to be said for keeping this in mind when reacting to someone one might not understand for whatever reason and withholding judgement until all of the facts have been revealed, so it was nice to see some examples of both how to do this and how not to do this here.

This is the fourth book in a series that doesn’t need to be read in order, although I sure am curious to go back and check out the earlier instalments now.

Haunting Melody was filled with supernatural secrets.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Portrait of a Ghost by Betty Ann Harris

August 18, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Portrait of a Ghost by Betty Ann Harris
Publisher: Books We Love, Ltd.
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The quaint New England coastal town of Mystic Port is steeped in history, and has more than its fair share of restless sprits. Prudence Trivit, the town’s librarian and historian, is on a mission to exonerate her great Aunt Alexandra, who in 1897 was accused and arrested for the murder of her husband, the mayor. Prudy is certain of her great aunt’s innocence.

A handsome young journalist, Dylan Monroe, is sent to Mystic Port to interview Prudy for the town’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Dylan notices Prudy’s uncanny resemblance to her great aunt in the large portrait of Alexandra that hangs in the museum. He is stunned by her beauty and quite intrigued by the story of Alexandra.

Prudy and Dylan become quite the investigative team. There are mishaps and mayhem as the spirit of Alexandra try’s to point them in the right direction and an opposing spirit tries to dissuade them.

True love never dies.

The romantic subplot was sweet and complemented the mystery and paranormal storylines nicely. While I didn’t have a lot of time to get to know the characters involved in it, I had a good feeling about them given how kind they were to each other and how many hobbies they shared in common. They seemed to have a decent foundation for possibly building something beautiful together, and this is something I’d love to see expounded upon if the author ever decides to write a sequel as there was still plenty of space to explore the possibilities between them.

I found myself wishing for more details as I was reading this piece. There simply wasn’t much time spent describing the characters or settings, and this made it hard to imagine what anyone or anything looked like. Given the fast pace, I definitely wasn’t expecting pages of descriptions for everything, but more attention paid to this would have made me feel comfortable choosing a higher rating as the plot itself was exactly the sort of story I like to pick up.

The genealogy subplot piqued my interest. I sometimes wonder about a few mysteries in my own family tree, so books that explore characters who have similar questions about their ancestors are always interesting to read. It’s difficult to go into much detail about what Prudy learned without giving away spoilers, but I liked all of the clues she discovered, how she pieced them together, and how hard she worked to figure out the portions that didn’t quite make sense to her. There’s something so satisfying about a character who cares this much about her ancestry and wants to uncover the truth.

Portrait of a Ghost made me smile.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald

August 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rate: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

April, a smart and lonely tech worker, worries work from home has gotten out of hand: She’s left an anonymous note in a book for Westley, the clerk at her Seattle neighborhood bookstore who has a gentle smile and looks great in flannel. But thanks to fate, Laura—a busy single mom who had given up on love—buys the book, finds the note, and thinks Westley has left it for her. A handsome man who loves books seems like just the plot twist she has been looking for.

Meanwhile, Westley—not the most perceptive—is too distracted by the movie filming at the store and the ambition it’s unlocked in him to notice either of the two women. But as April and Laura’s anonymous correspondence continues back and forth, their mundane routines are challenged, sparking a glimmer of hope. Is a happy ending in the cards for them?

Moira MacDonald’s new ‘Storybook Ending‘ is a fun twist on that shy-person’s bold attempt at a romance.

It might not seem bold to some, but “officially-lonely” April, decides to take a leap she almost immediately regrets. She sends a note to a handsome gentleman, of not-quite her acquaintance.

To her surprise and delight, she is answered. Oh, it might seem she was not especially daring, as her venture kicks off in the perfect place for her: A bookstore. An utterly charming new-and-used bookstore, inhabited by a truly pleasant, patient, and this mildly handsome man.

The setting is just right, the character, just right…and then there is Laura. Whoops, this adds a twist! We, the reader, are in the know from the start, and can see this is not headed in the way April believes. In fact, we might well believe that we can, where this is headed.

This is no silly rom com, however. It’s more of a fascinating psychological plunge into the lives of several people. It is an exploration. The introspective characters allow us to see developments, not only in the action, but each little step that the characters take. Each decision, each well-thought out, overly considered and very analyzed moment in each of their lives is revealed to us. It is not long before we feel we know them, and I have to admit, are firmly tied to each of them. It is hard to believe that this will work out well for all of them (or even, at times, any of them) but you will find yourself trying to imagine some way this will work out for all.

The very likable characters carry this story, at least at first. Curiosity builds, even though these seem like such ordinary lives.

Throughout, there is a thoughtful tone, a slow but hopeful pace, and a sense of something coming, something that, the more we read, the more we find we must know.

Ms. MacDonald’s writing is beautiful; her character studies are like written portraits. I found Storybook Ending to be utterly unlike anything I expected, and I heartily recommend it to all.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Christmathon by Valerie J. Patterson

August 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Christmathon by Valerie J. Patterson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Sophia Brady, mayor of Noelville, has only one wish for Christmas: to put an end to the Christmathon. To end the rivalry between her town and Garland Falls. What’s stopping her other than 75 years of tradition? The new mayor of Garland Falls. He likes the snow games, the reindeer cup, and healthy competition. He’s just as unyielding in his stance that they continue. When Sophie meets a handsome stranger at her favorite restaurant, will romance be enough to take her mind off the Christmathon?

Competition comes in many forms.

Since the holidays are a time for relishing all sorts of rich dishes, it made perfect sense to describe the food and alcohol the characters consumed in vivid detail. I must admit to needing to grab a few snacks while reading because of how hungry those passages made me. The narrator made every meal and bottle of wine sound amazing, including the ones that I’ve never actually eaten or drunk in real life.

This story would have benefited from another round of editing. Along with the multiple punctuation and other errors I noticed, Sophia’s name was regularly written as Sophie without any explanations as to why that change had occurred. This happened so frequently that I’m not actually sure which one was correct, and it distracted me from the plot itself even though I was originally quite interested in checking it out.

The chemistry between the two main characters was incredibly strong, and this is something I’m saying as a reader who generally prefers a slower burn in the romances I read. Ms. Patterson did a great job of showing why her characters were such a compatible match for each other within just a few pages. There was an electric connection between them that made me excited to see what would happen next. That is not easy to do, so kudos to her for pulling it off. It was exactly what this tale needed to gel together.

The Christmathon made me yearn for romance, wine, and Christmas lights.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone

July 21, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which isn’t ideal for a barista in a busy London coffee shop. She’s sarcastic, blunt, and cynical, and her relationships are strictly no strings attached. With her best friend Josie soon leaving for a year, Ava knows she’ll be all alone unless she shakes up her routine. But she can’t risk bringing chance back into her carefully controlled life.

Then insufferably cheerful, country-hopping, undeniably gorgeous Finn O’Callaghan rolls into her coffee shop with a horrifying proposal —a strictly friends-only summer fling. Finn needs a local to help him complete his London bucket list, and Ava needs to reassure Josie she won’t be on her own. And it’s only for a few months.

To Ava’s surprise, their mismatched friendship of convenience becomes oddly tolerable, and as they work their way through Finn’s list and around the sun-drenched city, from rooftops and floating bars to nights at the museum, their adventures—and Finn’s company—start to feel . . . nice. Incredibly, terrifyingly, dangerously nice.

Still, rules are rules—Ava has good reasons for them—and as the days get shorter, Finn’s departure gets closer. Because that’s the thing about summer: it always ends. Right?

Sunny to cloudy…I enjoyed this book.

This book is a twist on the sunshine/grump trope in that she’s the grump. I liked that it wasn’t the usual. He’s pure happy and that was refreshing. Ava and Finn are very much opposites, but this touches on the opposites attract trope and was a fresh telling.

Georgia Stone’s writing is simple, but that’s a good thing because it allowed me to breeze through the book and get emotionally attached quickly. I rooted for these characters. I liked that there was a shelf-life to the relationship and how the characters worked through it. It was nice.

This is an easy read, it’s breezy and would be good for a hot afternoon. It’s a good beach read. If you’re looking for a slow burn romance that’s fun, then this might be the one for you. Give it a shot!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Wild Evolution by C. Fern Cook

July 21, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Wild Evolution by C. Fern Cook
Book 1 of the Wild series
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Dan defends his livestock against a wild dog attack, he is put in a ‘kill or be killed’ battle. When he takes the head of a wild dog in to be tested for rabies he discovers he has the head of a human male instead of a wild dog. Now he is forced to cover up a self-defense killing because no one would believe he killed a wild dog when he has a human head. A werewolf by contamination, Dan’s life spins out of control. All his senses are heightened including his passion for the wild. His passion for the wild compels him to try to stop a new housing development that threatens the local wildlife from loss of habitat, but things don’t go according to plans and now he has a second body to dispose of.

It’s hard to keep a secret in a small town.

The mystery storyline was exciting and well-paced. One of the things I appreciated the most about it was that it was told from the killer’s point of view which isn’t something I’ve seen very often in this genre. This was a refreshing way to explain why someone might commit such a crime and what goes through their mind as they hide the evidence afterwards. There were so many twists and turns that I was never quite sure what to expect next. If the author is willing, I’d like to review the rest of the books in this series to see if my guesses about future events are anywhere close to being correct.

It would have been helpful to have more descriptions of the characters and settings. I struggled to imagine what many of the scenes looked like because of how little time was spent discussing what it would be like to stand in the middle of them and look around. This is something I’m saying as a reader who can generally easily picture a scene if I’m given a few details to work with, and I would have chosen a higher rating if this were easier for me as I was reading. The plot itself was exactly the sort of mystery I am drawn to.

Dan wasn’t immediately, much less entirely, aware of how he was changing after being bitten which made it even more interesting for me as a reader to take note of both the things he had noticed were different about himself as well as the ones that he seemed to be overlooking based on the descriptions of his personality and habits that were provided. Honestly, this is one of the best things about werewolf tales in my opinion because of how many different ways a plot can develop as someone slowly or quickly transforms, so I was glad to see it included here.

Wild Evolution kept me guessing.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello

July 18, 2025 By Leave a Comment


32 Days in May by Betty Corrello
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Nadia Fabiola wants to lose herself in Evergreen—the Jersey Shore town where she grew up vacationing with her family—and never look back at her glamorous, gainfully employed former self. After a shocking lupus diagnosis turned her life upside down, she’s desperate for a sense of control over her body, her life, and her mental health. Nadia plans on keeping her life small and boring, while continuing to ignore her sister’s relentless questioning.

Nadia’s sister isn’t the only person worried about her. When her rheumatologist not-so-subtly sets her up with his infamous former-actor cousin, Marco Antoniou, Nadia is skeptical. But Marco is gorgeous—despite carrying his own baggage from a very public burnout. After a messy (but fun) first date, they decide that a May-long fling could be just what the doctor ordered: no commitment, no strings, just one month of escape.

Their undeniable chemistry starts to feel a lot like something more and while Marco pulls Nadia deeper into his life, she is dead set on keeping her diagnosis from him. But there are only so many days in May, and only so much pretending she can do. As the stress of their whirlwind romance takes its toll on Nadia’s health, she’s forced to decide if a chance at love is worth the risk of trusting someone new.

Travel from the Jersey Shore to Rome and back in this delightfully funny, beautifully honest exploration of love, intimacy, and vulnerability while living with a chronic illness.

A protagonist with a chronic illness. What a great concept.

At times, this isn’t an easy read, but it’s a good read. Why would I start with that? It’s not an easy read? The main character, Nadia, has a chronic illness. She has lupus and that’s not always fun to live with. It’s actually never fun to live with. But she isn’t letting it get her down.

I liked the author’s writing style. The author drew me right into the book and made me root for the character of Nadia. I liked the pairing of Nadia and Marco because they’re fun together. It’s just plain fun to have them together. I liked the time limit on the relationship and how the author handled that problem.

If you’re looking for a good slow burn romance for characters that aren’t the usual, then this is the one you’re looking for. Give this book a read. You won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cowboy for Annabell by Jovie Grace

July 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Cowboy for Annabell by Jovie Grace
Mail-Order Brides on the Run series, Book One
Publisher: JG Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

To dodge a group of ruthless debt collectors, an impoverished southern belle agrees to become the mail-order bride of a rugged cowboy in this sweetly suspenseful historical romance!
After refusing to marry the cruel new owner of her childhood home, Annabelle Lane finds herself on the run from the scoundrels he hires to change her mind. In desperation, she signs a mail-order bride contract and hops on the next train, praying the groom she is matched with is a man worth running toward.

The most sought-after range rider in the west, Ethan Vasquez is highly skilled at protecting livestock from bears, wolves, and rustlers. But it’s a job that leaves no time for courting, no matter how determined he is to have a family of his own someday. When a dare from friends has him scrambling to send off for a mail-order bride, he never imagines how quickly she will arrive or how much trouble will follow. It’s a good thing he knows a thing or two about handling predators. He can only hope she finds his heavily scarred hands worth joining with hers in holy matrimony after the first wave of danger is past.

An engaging, faith-rooted romance with heart and hope.

I’ll be honest—I can’t imagine being desperate enough to sign a mail-order bride contract, but for Annabelle, the heroine in this story, there truly was no other option. After losing her family, her home, and her way of life, she’d endured more than most, and the pressure of Mr. Featherfall’s vile behavior left her with a single escape route. Thank goodness she had her dear friends—Penelope, Olivia, Magnolia, Emmaline, and Eliza Jane—who had also suffered during the war. Their fierce loyalty and resourcefulness helped her survive long enough to board that life-changing train.

This is where the plot really takes off. The author masterfully paints Mr. Featherfall as the kind of villain you love to hate, and I found myself flipping pages anxiously, just waiting for Annabelle to meet her prospective groom. I was praying right alongside her and her friends that this cowboy would be kind, stable, and capable of rescuing her from her dire situation.

Enter Ethan Vasquez—and wow, what an entrance! Like Annabelle, my eyes went wide at their first meeting. He made an unforgettable impression, and I quickly grew fond of his tight knit, loving family. Their warm, protective embrace of Annabelle was a highlight of the story for me.

Despite the hopeful new beginning, Annabelle’s troubles didn’t instantly vanish. The plot held strong with tension, conflict, and well-paced twists that kept me deeply invested. I had full faith in Ethan’s unwavering desire to keep Annabelle safe—his strength and protective nature were truly admirable.

The romance between Ethan and Annabelle is sweet, respectful, and gently passionate. While their chemistry is clear, the intimacy is implied rather than explicit, which I appreciated. Their emotional connection is built on kindness, honesty, and patience. Watching them slowly open up to one another was both satisfying and heartwarming.

As someone who enjoys faith-based romance, I was comfortable with the light inspirational thread woven throughout. However, there is one particular scene with a strong spiritual tone that felt a bit jarring compared to the rest of the book’s more subtly integrated messages. Even as someone who values scripture, the shift in tone caught me off guard, though the story soon returned to its original flow.

The author did a fantastic job establishing a core group of characters with rich backstories, and I’m already tempted to dive into book two, which focuses on Penelope and one of Ethan’s brothers (yes, I read the sneak peek!). Ethan’s family and Annabelle’s circle of friends are sure to bring more heartwarming moments in the next installment.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight

July 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

There are no female publishing CEOs in 1960’s New York. And that is exactly what savvy, ambitious Bernadette Swift plans to change.

Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But first she needs to take the next step up that ladder with a promotion that her boorish and sexist boss wants to thwart. Seeking a base of support, Bernadette joins a feminist women’s book club at the New York Public Library, and soon, she’s inspiring her fellow members to challenge the male gatekeepers and decades of ingrained sexism in their workplaces and pursue their personal and professional dreams.

And that is precisely what Bernadette does on a daily basis: keeps her eye on the prize―equality for women in the workplace, and a promotion―while fending off the ire of her boss and the sabotaging efforts of a jealous coworker. With the support of her book club buddies and a certain charismatic editor at Lenox & Park who has completely fallen for her, maybe, just maybe, Bernadette will prove able to claim victory for herself and the young women coming after her.

She’s not about to be left at a desk to be a secretary.

This is a new twist on the romance genre because this character, Bernadette, isn’t a shrinking violet. She’s determined to get what she wants and I loved that.

This was a quick read and fun. I’m glad I read it. I will say the chapters from the dog’s perspective, while funny, didn’t always add to the narrative. I would’ve liked to have had Bernadette’s perspective all the way through. I do like the innovation in adding the dog and seeing things from his perspective, but it would’ve been more dynamic from just Bernadette’s POV.

Still, I liked her pluckiness. She’s not about to be bullied or shrink to the background. I loved her pushiness and know this is the kind of book readers of all genre-preferences would enjoy.

If you want a book that’s a good throwback to the ’60s and a fun beach read, then this might be the book for you. Give it a try!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Once Upon a Bookstore: A Tale Told Through the Lens of Time by Leslie Gullo

July 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Once Upon a Bookstore: A Tale Told Through the Lens of Time by Leslie Gullo
Publisher: Allie Cat Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Melinda Jenkins seemed to have it all — a successful career as a lawyer, a fiercely independent spirit, and a carefully crafted life of solitude. But when a routine assignment leads her to a small bookstore on Main Street, Melinda’s world is turned upside down.

As she delves deeper into the mysteries of the bookstore, she meets Jake Samuels — a charming and irresistible bachelor who challenges her beliefs about love and independence. Melinda must make a heart-wrenching choice: cling to her solitary life or take a leap of faith and embrace the love she never thought possible.

Leslie Gullo’s Once Upon a Bookstore: A Tale Told Through the Lens of Time offers an intriguing premise: a successful lawyer, Melinda Jenkins, finds her carefully constructed life upended by a mysterious bookstore and a charming bachelor named Jake Samuels. The book boasts a high rating, and for good reason – the initial setup is engaging, and the characters are undoubtedly captivating.

Gullo paints a picture of a fiercely independent Melinda whose solitude is both a shield and a source of contentment. The allure of the bookstore, whispered secrets within its walls, and the immediate spark between Melinda and Jake create a compelling hook. The author successfully introduces a layer of mystery from the get-go, drawing the reader in with the promise of uncovering secrets and exploring Melinda’s transformation.

The romance with Jake also adds to the charm. He challenges Melinda’s preconceived notions about love and independence, forcing her to confront her vulnerabilities and consider a life beyond her solitary existence. The “irresistible bachelor” trope is handled relatively well, with Jake possessing enough genuine qualities to make him a believable love interest.

However, the story unfortunately hits a snag in the middle. The narrative slows at one point and becomes repetitive. Despite the mid-book slump, the inclusion of a little bit of science adds an interesting layer to the overall narrative. This scientific element plays a role in the mystery surrounding the bookstore.

Once Upon a Bookstore offers a promising blend of romance, mystery, and a touch of science-fiction. The engaging characters and intriguing premise are strong draws, but readers should be aware of the potential for a slower, repetitive section in the middle. If you enjoy stories about self-discovery, charming bookstore settings, and a little bit of mystery mixed with romance, this book is worth picking up. The engaging beginning and intriguing elements might just be enough to keep you turning the pages until the end.

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