October 14, 2025

Death at the Door

Death at the Door
by Olivia Blacke
 
Book: Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries #2
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pub Date: October 21, 2025
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  Bookshop
  
The odd couple of crime-solving returns in Olivia Blacke’s Death at the Door, where a ghost and her living roommate find another mystery on their doorstep.

Ruby Young is slowly adjusting to her new life in Boston. A big part of that is her unexpected roommate—the ghost of the woman who lived there before. For Cordelia Graves, she may no longer be breathing, but it’s still her apartment and Ruby is the somewhat unwanted houseguest. They’re both happy they’ve managed to become friends, which is a miracle considering they struggle to communicate with each other. Cordelia even set Ruby up with her old job.

When Ruby discovers the body of a delivery guy at work, the new life she’s been building hangs in the balance. The last time Cordelia dragged Ruby into a murder investigation, it was almost two ghosts living in the apartment, not one. Determined to protect Ruby, Cordelia tries to shield her from the investigation, but Ruby has other ideas. It will take both of them working together to navigate the fine line between the dead and the living to bring a killer to light.
 
 
My Review: I love Cordelia and Ruby. They are so much fun, there is no way you cant love them. 
 
I love how the book starts off. Its easy to dive back into, its like getting together for a girls night. You know, murder mystery style and all.
 
Cordelia is like a motherly figure for Ruby. Helping her pick out the best groceries to teaching her how to actually cook. Cause ramen and pop tarts arent exactly food/cooking to Cordelia. 
 
Oh! And she even plays matchmaker for Ruby. Plus she has a new plant too. Things are looking good for someone whos a ghost. 
 
Ruby is slowly settling into her new life. She's got a good job, learning to cook, be more independent and doing pretty good living on her own. Well, not really when you got a ghost roomie. 
 
Everything is going just fine....until Marty was found. Marty was a nice guy. Alwats friendly to Cordelia when she was alive and now Ruby. What was supposed to be another normal delivery became a dead body found in the bathroom.
 
Tragic. But they'll let it be and keep going on right? Well Cordelia wants to leave it be...but Ruby is ready to jump into solving his death. 
 
Well...here we go again. 
 
Cordelia does end up doing some digging of her own to realize that once again, the police weren't going to put any efforg into this case. 
 
So off they go to Marty's house and from there, they wont stop until they have the answers and truth about Marty's death.
 
This book has more excitement, surprises, questionable moments, fun, and so much more.
 
Both books have been absolutely amazing and I am beyond excited for more. 

 
My Rating:
✪✪✪✪✪

October 13, 2025

Weekly Spotlight - Shadow of the Fox

 

Shadow of the Fox
One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.


Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll… at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

My Review 

 

Soul of the Sword
One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.


Now he has broken free.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.

My Review

 

 

Night of the Dragon
Master storyteller Julie Kagawa concludes the enthralling journey into the heart of the fantastical Empire of Iwagoto in the third book of the Shadow of the Fox trilogy. As darkness rises and chaos reigns, a fierce kitsune and her shadowy protector will face down the greatest evil of all. A captivating fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas and Marie Lu.


Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.

 


October 02, 2025

For Eternity

For Eternity
by Geneva Lee
 
Book: Filthy Rich Vampires #4
Publisher: Entangled
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
Genre: Adult, Romance, Vampires
Format: Print
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Bookshop  Amazon
 
Magic has awoken.

As Thea takes her place as Queen with Julian by her side, their world splinters. A new game of deceit begins between factions vying for control. Power is the prize, and Thea and Julian are caught in the middle of it. Targeted by the Vampire Council, the Mordicum, and their families, they soon discover an even deadlier threat to their future.

Someone killed the Queen whose throne Thea now reigns on, and time is running out to find the killer before they get to Thea. 

 
My Review
I'm so heartbroken to see this series end. This one was an absolute favorite and one I'll always recommend to folks. 

Thea now has way more than planning a wedding on her plate. Newly crowned, magic is awakened, lives bonded, a wedding, the rites and people not exactly happy she is queen. Yeah....but at least she has Julian by her side. Who is kinda now king consort which is a first.

But of course first things first, Thea and Julian have some catching up to do before navigating this new life. Together they will make it known to all they are in this together and if Thea's first address at court was shocking then just wait to see how the rest of her day goes. 

As the book progresses, I could not put it down. The surprises were so damn good, seriously I can't say enough how much I loved this series. It's also a great series that could have a few spin offs with books on Julian's family (hint hint).


My Rating:
✪✪✪✪✪

October 01, 2025

October Reading Challenge

 

Let's get reading! October's Reading challenge is here!  

Here is a list of books to help you get started:

Vampires:
Filthy Rich Vampires by Geneva Lee
A Dream of Blood and Magic by Olivia Boothe
Cloak of the Vampire by Sapir Englard
 
Witches: 
Bespelled by Laura Thalassa
The Last Rhee Witch by Jenna Lee-Yun
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

We welcome you to comment with your suggestions and tell us which bingo spot you’re most excited about this month!


September 30, 2025

Beyond the Blue Horizon

Beyond the Blue Horizon
by A.L. Jackson
  
Book: Moonlight Ridge #4
Publisher: Author
Pub Date: October 7, 2025
Genre: Adult, Romance, Suspense, Small Town
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Book Links: Goodreads  Amazon  Bookshop
 
I should have known I’d break the promise I made when I found her stranded in a blizzard…

Feisty as hell and the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.
With the cutest kid and her grandmother in tow, she’s completely off limits.
I don't get involved with women like that.
I learned long ago I don't have the ability to love.
My life is sordid and danger is always hiding in the shadows.
Only I can’t turn my back on them when I realize she’s in trouble, and I insist on them staying in a cabin at the motel I own.
As penance for my sins, I promised my life to protecting others.
Except she becomes so much more.
A need I don’t recognize. A desperation that burns beneath my flesh.
One kiss, and I’m falling for her.
One touch, and I’m at her feet.
But when my dark past comes back to haunt me, I’m in a race against time to save the only woman I’ve ever loved. Only it may be the demons that have been chasing her that destroy what we built…
 
 
My Review: A tortured man, a woman on the run and a soul gripping read. I'll always be in amazement at how A.L. Jackson brings such  addictive and emotional roller-coasters that constantly have me begging for the next book.

A snowy evening would change everything for Theo. When he witnesses a car go into a ditch, he is quick to jump out and offer his help. Not expecting those eyes to look at him and do him in right then and there. 

Piper, with her son and Nelly in tow are on the run from something horrible. Having your car be out of commission,  saved by some guy who look dangerous in the all ways and now put up in a cabin until its time to move on again. 

Well, if they are going to be stuck there, then Piper could go look for a job which just so happens to be the cute boutique Emery owns. Little did she know that running into her and Kane meant running into those who know Theo and then into Raven who we all know instantly claimed her into the group.

In no time at all she is quickly taken in and accepted. Raven and the girls, meeting the other kids and watching Finn having the best time and before you know it, Piper is home. Even if she doesn't believe it just yet, but what she has with Theo, the girls, everything and everyone, she couldn't have found her way to a more perfect place. 

The ending of course if both an emotional rollercoaster when the person Piper is running from catches up to her. Then the best part when finally they get their chance to just be together, be happy and you're left a mess because it's just another amazing hit from A.L. and I cannot wait for more. 

 
My Rating:
✪✪✪✪✪

Three Queens

Three Queens
by Geneva Lee

Book: Filthy Rich Vampires #3
Publisher: Entangled
Pub Date: February 7, 2023
Genre: Adult, Romance, Vampires, Fantasy
Format: Print
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Bookshop  Amazon
 
All magic will die, and with it, all who carry it. Every last one of us...

Thea and Julian have made their choice, but can they survive the fallout? Experience the decadent, magical world of Three Queens, the third book in the Filthy Rich Vampire series from New York Times bestselling author Geneva Lee.

Returning to the world of the vampire elite as Solstice falls, they must navigate new dangers, treacherous allies, and morally grey friendships. When information leads them to Venice, the couple finds themselves at odds. Following the clue isn’t just dangerous, it could be deadly. With the fate of her family on the line, Thea rushes to Venice, and Julian follows despite his haunted history with the city.
 
The past might hold the key to their future, but to find out, Julian must face the monster he was once, and as forgotten magic stirs in Thea's blood, the search for answers leads to devastating consequences.

With the future of the magical world hanging in the balance, tensions rising in their family, and war looming on the horizon, will their love triumph, or will they pay the ultimate price?

My Review: Gosh this series just gets better with each book, I'm so blown away with how much I love this series.

What's a fun way to start a party than to announce Thea and Julian's engagement AND be publicly accepted by Sabine. Okay, maybe fun isn't exactly the way to go but there isn't exactly much time before the next shock comes along... 

Enter Camila... Yes, Julian's twin, the one that the world thought to be dead. Well, now everyone outside the family knows and this little game is about to get dangerous. The family puts up a front to this unexpected guest but Camila isn't just here for a big entrance but to bring a message...

As if things weren't already all over the place, we then have Thea being kidnapped while sneaking off with Jacqueline, who also has a rough night. 

Everything not only moves at a great pace but so much more is revealed and will have you glued to every page. 

But that ending?! I couldn't contain myself and I ran for the next book so damn fast. Seriously, you have to get your hands on this series. 

 
My Rating:
✪✪✪✪✪

September 29, 2025

Weekly Spotlight - Indie Mysteries

Vrooms, Brooms, & Heirlooms
The last time witchy car mechanic Victoria Fox did magic, she nearly blew up half a street. Oops. No more magic for her, but is a witch who doesn’t do magic still a witch?

Well, she does have a kitty familiar named Professor Studmuffin Salvitore III. She also has a knack for inviting magical trouble to her shop’s doorstep.

Like her business rival who shows up and offers her a deal. A tempting deal, but she shuts the door in his face anyway. Moments later, his star employee drops dead.

All roads lead to Victoria as the murderer. The problem? She didn’t do it. The other problem? Almost no one believes her.

It’s now up to her and her kitty familiar to prove she’s innocent. Tiptoeing closer to the truth could put them both in danger though. And it might just take a lead paw on the gas pedal to get them out.

 

  
The Paris Assignment
A courageous wife, mother, and resister confronts the devastation of World War II in a heartbreaking and hopeful novel by the bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.

Londoner Madeleine Grant is studying at the Sorbonne in Paris when she marries charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. As they raise their son, Olivier, they hold on to a tenuous promise for the future. Until the thunder of war sets off alarms in France.

Staying behind to join the resistance, Giles sends Madeleine and Olivier to the relative safety of England, where Madeleine secures a job teaching French at a secondary school. Yet nowhere is safe. After a devastating twist of fate resulting in the loss of her son, Madeleine accepts a request from the ministry to aid in the war effort. Seizing the smallest glimmer of hope of finding Giles alive, she returns to France. If Madeleine can stop just one Nazi, it will be the start of a valiant path of revenge.

Though her perseverance, defiance, and heart will be tested beyond imagining, no risk is too great for a brave wife and mother determined to fight and survive against inconceivable odds.

 

 
The Muse
"What happens when Death is the Muse?"
On the first day of her nude modeling job, Elle deals with a corpse, an eccentric dark artist, his sexy brother, and a grandmother that can see someone's future by just touching their hands. Although these crazy distractions shove her on edge, it's just what she needs to mend her battered heart and forget about her ex-boyfriend. Besides, she does get to live in their castle for the whole three months.

Everything seems magical and perfect. Until more dead bodies are discovered.

There's something going on at night, right in the artist's garden. Under the moonlight, young women are being cut and sliced, and no one has a clue to who's doing it. And the more Elle is around the weird family in the castle, the more she realizes that they all are hiding secrets.
The Muse is a Sexy Multicultural Romance involving Love, Art & a Deadly Mystery

 
A Scone to Die For
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!
When an American tourist is murdered with a scone in Gemma Rose’s quaint Oxfordshire tearoom, she suddenly finds herself apron-deep in a mystery involving long-buried secrets from Oxford’s past.

Armed with her insider knowledge of the University and with the help of four nosy old ladies from the village (not to mention a cheeky little tabby cat named Muesli), Gemma sets out to solve the mystery—all while dealing with her matchmaking mother and the return of her old college love, Devlin O’Connor, now a dashing CID detective.

But with the body count rising and her business going bust, can Gemma find the killer before things turn to custard?

September 25, 2025

Sweet Solitude

Sweet Solitude
by Sav R. Miller

Book: King's Trace Antiheros #2
Publisher: Author 
Pub Date: November 1, 2020
Genre: Adult, Romance, Dark, Mafia
Format: eBook
Source: Bought
Book Links: Goodreads  Bookshop  Amazon

From international bestselling author Sav R. Miller comes a steamy and twisted love story between two humans haunted by their pasts.

In the wake of her father’s death, lonely Juliet Harrison struggles with the guilt over her loss. She deals with it the way she deals with everything: by burying her feelings beneath impulsive decisions and desecrating the local graveyard. But Juliet isn’t as invisible as she believes.

Hiding out from the ghosts of his past, Kieran Ivers is known in King’s Trace as a homicidal hermit. But the rumors don’t stop him from visiting the cemetery to taunt his late brother’s remains.

It’s there he first spots a woman engaging in lascivious acts on her father’s grave, and becomes enraptured by the darkness surrounding her. When she leaves behind a necklace, Kieran finds and keeps it until he can score a meeting with the mysterious siren.

He doesn’t know she’s the sister-in-law of his rival, or that she is drowning in her sadness. Nor does he care.

Once he’s decided what he wants, he’ll stop at nothing to get her.

*Sweet Solitude is the second interconnected standalone in the King's Trace Antiheroes series, a dark romance trilogy revolving around a corrupt small town in Maine. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, please see the author's website.*

 

My Review: Have you ever asked yourself WTF did I just read? But in the best way kinda deal? Because this is one of those books and woah are you in for it with this one. 

Juliet is struggling even more than usual right now. She lost one parent, the other ran off, no idea what to do about school and things are just really rough. She may feel broken, but Juliet is a lot stronger than she thinks once she lets her guard down and lets people in more. Which takes a while for to get there, but time spent with her sister at the bakery, going to therapy and re-enrolling back into school, it all seems like things could actually be okay. 

Kieran is certainly has his own demons haunting him that leaves him broken in his own way. But he doesn't really let onto it until Juliet comes along and with time she breaks through his own barriers. 

That is of course if you put aside the fact Kieran already made up his mind about Juliet being his and only his, holding her locket for ransom and the whole bedroom scene after he accidently drugs her a little too much... well the simple way is this is a hot mess and these too have too much to work through. 

But together? They just work. Together they can help the other one with their past, demons and broken pieces. Their passion for each other is clearly known in every way so don't you worry about any lack of spice there. 

That ending though, certainly solidified the love they have for each other. The future they will have together and finally they will both know a sense of peace, love and happiness they deserve. 

Do not sit on this series if you come by it. Seriously, one of the best mafia style books I've read in a while. 


My Rating:
✪✪✪✪✪