Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi Available now on Amazon

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First book i've read by this author and wow it did not disappoint. Claire seems to have this wonderful relationship with her boyfriend/ fiancee. It all seems normal except, when she decides to surprise him with lunch at his employment and finds out it was all a lie! Noah doesn't work there , but he goes to work every day. Her world goes upside down and she does not back down. She has to know, where is he? Why won't he answer her texts? Why won't he talk to her? Her friend Sukhi helps her to unweave this mystery. The ending is not what you think! Excellent book.

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Available now on Amazon here https://a.co/d/8521FZZ . 

“In this taut psychological thriller, one woman’s desperate quest for answers reveals just how far she’s willing to go for love—or revenge. I devoured this book . . . utterly engrossing!”—Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish

She’s been ghosted. But she won’t be forgotten.

Claire is excited to drop off a surprise workday lunch for her fiancé, Noah. It’s their anniversary, after all. But when the receptionist tells her that no one with Noah’s name works there, Claire thinks there must be a mistake.

Noah isn’t picking up her calls. Her texts go unanswered. It turns out Noah has a different life . . . one with a beautiful girlfriend, a beautiful house. Claire was never really in the picture.

Desperate to speak to Noah and convince him to return to their dream life, Claire plunges into a nightmarish journey of obsession that submerges her deeper into the murky waters of her own past—a past dominated by a manipulative mother who shattered her sense of self.

Will Claire break free from the ghosts that haunt her? Or will they become more costly than any of Noah’s lies?

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt: A Novel by Chelsea Iversen Review

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Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, in her garden, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose. 

When suspicion for her father's disappearance falls on her, she marries a seemingly charming man, the first to see past her peculiarities, in order to protect herself. It's soon clear, however, that her new husband might be worse than her father and that she's integral to a dark plot created by the men around her. To free herself and discover the truth, she must learn to channel the power of her strange, magical garden. 

At once enchantingly mesmerizing and fiercely feminist, perfect for fans of The Magician's Daughter and The Once and Future Witches, the vibrant world-building and sinister undertones of The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt make for the perfect modern fairytale about women taking control of their lives―with a little help from the magic within them.

Harriet Hunt is herself a peculiar person. Lovingly attending to her garden, something that is so part of her being, something she cherishes and looks forward to, even if people thought she was strange and different.

 Harriet lived a traumatic life, abused at the hands of her father, her mother mysteriously missing. 

My thoughts about the story. The story takes place in London, England I believe around 1800 to 1900 where women were not treated well. Harriet is poor and has  mental issues, probably stemming from her abuse. I think the garden is a way she copes. When something is threatening her, the garden rises up "Stop it, she mouthed at the vines. They did not retreat. Instead she saw the ivy twisting and curling overhead, gathering momentum, Don't you dare." I wonder if the garden was really magical or if its her mental way of having a friend, someone to talk to and care for.

The story for me starts a little slow. A lot of talk about her childhood and her father and thoughts on finding her father. She has a dear friend  Eunice who is her oldest and only friend who urges her to move to another town with her but Harriet needs to stay to look after her garden and find her father. 

She eventually hires help and ends up being very close friends with her.

As the story goes on the abuse starts over. Just as her father abused her , so does her husband.  I felt so sorry for Harriet, she is timid and child like and this man took advantage of her . The ending has an hea and hope for Harriets healing!

I’m giving 4 stars, its a little slow at the start but does pick up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark

Book of The Month by Jennifer Probst Review

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, discover Book of the Month…

She’s desperate for another bestseller… and she’ll go to any length to get it. Even if it means sacrificing her pride to chase the hottest bachelor in town and get him to break her heart…


Once the literary world’s golden girl, Aspen Lourde can’t seem to produce another successful book, and the pressure’s on to prove she’s not just a one-hit-wonder. But there’s a catch: her bestseller was a heartbreak hit, straight from her own love life disaster. Without any fresh romantic turmoil to fuel her pen, Aspen needs inspiration quick enough to create a book her agent can sell to her publisher. So she escapes for the summer to the Outer Banks with a plan to live a story worth writing.

Brick Babel is a romance novelist’s dream: a local heartthrob with a reputation as wild as the horses running free in the town. He’s everything Aspen needs for a muse kickstart—gorgeous, moody, and notoriously unattainable. His affairs are legendary in the small town, and every woman warns her off, including her sister.

Too bad a good heartbreak is exactly what she needs to meet her deadline.

But Brick refuses to play the game, rejecting all of her advances. When Aspen hears his tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy, she offers him a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance, then ditch her, drama guaranteed.

Desperate to save his grandfather’s business, Brick agrees to the ridiculous deal. What starts as a contractual fling spirals out of control as lines blur and real feelings emerge. Brick’s falling hard, and Aspen’s rethinking her plot twist. The novel might be her ticket back to the top, but at what cost?

Because Aspen’s finally found her muse, but some stories may be too true to share.

Book of the Month isn’t just about finding love where you least expect it.
It’s about finding yourself in the pages of life’s unexpected chapters.

I LOVED this story! 

Small Town romance ✔

Grumpy guy ✔

Dramady ✔

This has all the fun f eels  .

 A  very  popular, # 1 New York Times bestseller now has a major, stressful job of fulfilling one more contract, a third book to win over the hearts of the people and do what she did with her first bestseller.

 The problem is, she's lost her mojo, she's in a funk and can't get out. So she decides to go to her sisters, get out of the city, out of her depressive life and take a break. 

Her sister Sierra lives in a small, beach town. Everyone knows everyone. After having some much needed sister time, she decides what she needs to write that award winning book. 

This is where the fun starts. In comes Brick, yes the name says it all. The love hate that starts winds up being a little more than they bargained for.

Not saying any more . Fun, steamy, did I say STEAMY?!! read. Love Aspens sister tho, and I'm definitely  looking forward to reading Sierra's story!

10 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for this wonderful book.

Get it on Amazon today! HERE

Coming soon! Book Of The Month by Jennifer Probst

Publication Date: October 22, 2024

From Goodreads: 

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, discover Book of the Month…

She’s desperate for another bestseller… and she’ll go to any length to get it. Even if it means sacrificing her pride to chase the hottest bachelor in town and get him to break her heart…

Once the literary world’s golden girl, Aspen Lourde can’t seem to produce another successful book, and the pressure’s on to prove she’s not just a one-hit-wonder. But there’s a catch: her bestseller was a heartbreak hit, straight from her own love life disaster. Without any fresh romantic turmoil to fuel her pen, Aspen needs inspiration quick enough to create a book her agent can sell to her publisher. So she escapes for the summer to the Outer Banks with a plan to live a story worth writing.

Brick Babel is a romance novelist’s dream: a local heartthrob with a reputation as wild as the horses running free in the town. He’s everything Aspen needs for a muse kickstart—gorgeous, moody, and notoriously unattainable. His affairs are legendary in the small town, and every woman warns her off, including her sister.

Too bad a good heartbreak is exactly what she needs to meet her deadline.

But Brick refuses to play the game, rejecting all of her advances. When Aspen hears his tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy, she offers him a deal: fake a whirlwind summer romance, then ditch her, drama guaranteed.

Desperate to save his grandfather’s business, Brick agrees to the ridiculous deal. What starts as a contractual fling spirals out of control as lines blur and real feelings emerge. Brick’s falling hard, and Aspen’s rethinking her plot twist. The novel might be her ticket back to the top, but at what cost?

Because Aspen’s finally found her muse, but some stories may be too true to share.

Book of the Month isn’t just about finding love where you least expect it.
It’s about finding yourself in the pages of life’s unexpected chapters.

Amazon click HERE 👈

The Cemetery Spot by Jenna Moquin

The Cemetery Spot by Jenna Moquin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fast read. The twists kept me hooked all the way through. Told in alternating views, the story starts with sisters Ape (April) and Auggie (August) find themselves in a difficult predicament. After talking it through and coming up with a solution, they get to work on getting rid of the problem. What they don't expect is what happens and then the whole situation gets worse. In comes another problem and another view is told. I'm being vague since I don't want to spoil this story. Lots of twists and turns you don't see coming and the whole mysterious thing with Auggie, keeps you wanting to know what's going to happen. Highly recommend!

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Amazon 👉When April arrived at her sister’s house, she didn’t expect to find a dead man…

Auggie has stabbed her abusive husband, Roy. Afraid of the cops due to Roy’s ties with the police force, Auggie convinces April to help her get rid of the body. April agrees because she owes a debt to her sister and wants to keep her out of prison. The two sisters bury Roy in the woods, near an old cemetery.

But someone is watching.

As the investigation into Roy’s disappearance looms closer to the truth, the sisters don’t know who to trust—including each other. The bond that held them together all these years threatens to break. Blood isn’t thicker than water when a life sentence is on the line.

Will the sisters keep this secret buried forever? Or will they surrender to outside forces before destroying each other?

Get it HERE 👈

Currently Reading : The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

#ThePeculiarGardenofHarrietHunt #NetGalley

Get it on AMAZON Click HERE

True magic is found among the bluebells and brambles

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, outside, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose. 

But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father's disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. Everything she holds dear – from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself – is at stake. To save herself, Harriet will have to unearth her past, discover the secrets of her garden, and finally embrace the wild magic inside of her.

REVIEW: What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short Story of Eve, a successful author, her daily struggles of her life changing diagnosis. What struck me is no matter how hard, how insanely difficult it is to overcome , she still has a sense of humor. The little bits of silliness, turning a struggle into a funny situation. We get a glimpse of her internal struggles and the private break downs. This is not a story of fiction but an autobiography of Sophie Kinsella and her way of telling her own story. Hard to read but appreciate the way she told it. Highly recommend!

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Description: 

From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story—by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming—of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew.

“The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult

“What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella

Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.

As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.

Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again.

“Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella

“I laughed. And I cried. And then I thought about the meaning of life. It’s a little jewel of a book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes

“A beautiful love story, and a glowing beacon of hope in the midst of terrible darkness.”—Bestselling author Jenny Colgan

👉Get it HERE on AMAZON 

Free Printable Gnomes in Pink! with Gold stars for Planner stickers or Junk journalling, Cricut crafts

Have fun! 

Currently Reading: What Does It Feel Like? Sophie Kinsella

• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 8, 2024

From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story—by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming—of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew.

“The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult

“What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella

Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.

As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.

Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again.

“Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella

“I laughed. And I cried. And then I thought about the meaning of life. It’s a little jewel of a book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes

“A beautiful love story, and a glowing beacon of hope in the midst of terrible darkness.”—Bestselling author Jenny Colgan

The Family Experiment by John Marrs -- 5 Stars!

From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.

Some families are virtually perfect…

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

REVIEW: 

To what lengths would you go to have a baby? If you wanted a baby so badly, so passionately... how about, putting your whole life out there, in public, to be in a reality show to win a chance to have a baby!

This is the premise to this sci-fi, dystopian thriller- set in the futuristic virtual reality, desperate clients are chosen for the most anticipated virtual reality tv show. This story was hands down, my fav of 2024. Each client has this dark secret which made it so hard to put down. Had to keep turning the page to see who or what is going to happen next.
Another thing I loved is how the "audience chat" was included so you were really immersed from the tv show , producer, production level to the audience level.

Highly Recommend ! 5 Stars!

https://a.co/d/0cWaMah8 👉Find it on Amazon