This Chick Read: A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn

Bored with their day to day activity, Veronica and Stoker are eager for another murder to solve. When a man’s body is discovered drained of all his blood in the sematary, Veronica’s certainty that a vampire must be involved determines the start to their investigation. Stoker, the more sensible of the two, argues the case and the hunt is on. The trail takes them to a secret society that has hints of dark magic. When another of those members dies by self harm their questions take them to the head of that secret society, a mysterious man with vampiric characteristics, and a rather witchy young woman.

Veronica and Stoker’s penchant for investigating murders is the perfect way to stave off the boredom of every day life. A Ghastly Catastrophe’s story takes them from the gothic parlors of the mysterious society to the caravan of the Romany searching for clues bringing the best out of our two main characters. Their verve for life and each other gives this story an energy that the last couple of novels lacked. I eagerly turned the pages to see what the next chapter held.

What is refreshing about this series and keeps me coming back for each book is that our main characters are eccentric, the dialogue engaging, and the mysteries, well, mysterious. The romance between Veronica and Stoker is steady and although unconventional for the historical time these books are set, they are perfect for a modern reader, and even though the scenes “fade to black” the emotions they create are totally satisfying and deepen my own love for these characters. Not only do I enjoy the mysteries they solve, but want to see how their relationship progresses. I already can’t wait for the next novel to come out.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Ghastly Catastrophe

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This Chick Read: Crown of War and Shadow (Kingdoms of the Compass #1) by J.R. Ward

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world. No one is safe.Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast within the walls of her small village because of her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans. Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed. She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen’s crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction. Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession. The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage. But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though desire runs hot between them, adventure, danger, and betrayal lurk around every corner.

I was really pleased with the world building in this novel. It was really easy to grasp the good vs evil world, the similarities to some of our own history helped. Sorrel with her healing magic and ability to look in someone’s eyes and see their death would have gotten her burned as witch so seeing her own village shun her was ignorant, yes, but also understandable from history’s perspective. It worked in this fantasy realm where despite being treated pretty abominably by her village she still wanted to help them survive against he evil that was coming.

The man who shows up and helps her with her quest, too, is easy to understand. A warrior who seems to have a knack for survival and isn’t afraid to kill would come in handy. Add in some chemistry between Merc and Sorrel and the plot seems promising. I just wish that heat had been more forthcoming.

This is a series so you expect a continuation of the story into book 2 but I was a little surprised and a little disappointed at the abruptness of the ending. The story had a lot of momentum through the entire book but then seemed to lack some explosiveness at the end. Despite that, I’m curious as to how this story will move forward and will be back for book 2!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Crown of War and Shadow

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This Chick Read: And The Crowd Went Wild (A Dallas Stars Novel) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Actress Dancy Flynn has an embarrassing and humiliating episode and is just looking for a quiet place to escape from the press. Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett, Dancy’s high school ex-boyfriend, is preparing mentally for the season at his vacation home when Dancy gets dropped on his doorstep. Still holding a massive grudge he doesn’t want anything to do with her, but he’s a nice guy and allows her to stay for a week in his refurbished caboose. There are rules though! He’s not supposed to hear or see her. So why does he keep breaking his own rules to make sure she’s ok?

There’s just something about these Dallas Stars novels that call out to me. I just know that I’m going to like the plot and even though the characters are always quirky, I’m going to love seeing the slightly kooky heroine tame her football player hero. Sure enough, And The Crowd Went Wild checked all of those boxes. Dancy was working through some issues regarding her ex-husband and his newly knocked up girlfriend and even though Clint says he wants nothing to do with her, he manages to see glimpses into the real Dancy that intrigues and fascinates him.

A romance needs a little conflict to bring our two main characters together and this novel has plenty. Her ex-husband and his girlfriend show up, Dancy’s penchant for picking up strays brings a couple of new acquaintances into the picture, and Clint’s Mom arrives to “save him” from his evil ex-girlfriend. Needless to say there was plenty going on in this novel while Dancy’s heart healed, and she learned to lean on and like Clint.

If you’re in the mood for a fun-filled, yet poignant novel with great characters and storytelling, then please pick up And the Crowd Goes Wild. This novel can be read as a stand alone, so no worries over missing out on previous storylines. Enjoy!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* And The Crowd Went Wild

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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This Chick Read: Free Falling (Colburn Brothers #2) by Jill Shalvis

Caleb Colburn needs this construction job he’s managing to go smoothly so he can prove his worth in the family business. Emma Sumner is the liaison assigned to the project- she’s also the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Emma’s in love with the beautiful historic building but her feelings for Caleb run more towards hate. She blames him for taking the scholarship she needed and she’s never recovered. But forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is.

The second in a series about the Colburn brothers, this one about ex college hockey star turned contractor, Caleb. On the surface he seems to be a smooth talking charmer but there are a lot of hidden depths to his character that are brought into the light through his growing relationship with Emma. She, too, has a lot of baggage from her past and surprisingly, despite the synopsis she seems to have a pretty easy time forgiving Caleb, but she is cautious letting him into her life. It’s this will they or won’t they that drives the tension in the story.

Throw in some charming side characters and a small woman in jeopardy plot and there is plenty of meat to this novel to hold my interest. I can always count on this author’s interesting characters and the continuation of the sabotage of the construction projects means I’ll be reading that third novel to find out the conclusion and of course the romance of our third Colburn brother. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* Free Falling

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This Chick Read: Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik

This romantic fantasy is based loosely on the fairy tale Beauty & The Beast. When one of the villagers is attacked by a beast in the woods, Riela, as the only mage in the city, is sent into the woods to banish the beast. Just barely a mage, Riela is overcome by not one but two beasts and is losing the fight until a mage stronger than any she’s known, saves her life. She wakes up in a magical castle, with a beautiful library, and a surly, dark haired, handsome man who is trapped by a 100 year old curse. As she gets to know Garrick she finds that his powers are weakening and he needs her help in getting back to his kingdom. As they start to build trust, will their secrets and lies drive a wedge between them?

I vaguely remembered hearing this was a fairy tale re-telling, but as I was reading the novel it didn’t feel like Beauty and the Beast. Yes, there were some minor similarities, but the story was so good that I got lost in these characters and didn’t allow that rumor to ruin my enjoyment in reading this novel.

Riela is one of those heroine’s that I just love to read about. She is self-sacrificing, fearless, and has a heart that’s bigger than her brain. In this case she wants to save everyone. The villagers because the beasts in the forest may break free and endanger them and Garrick because he is trapped in this castle away from his people and his magic is dwindling. As she gets to know Garrick and come to have feelings for him she’s determined to figure out a way to get him free. Oh, and I also liked her sass- that’s an important attribute in any great heroine.

Garrick on the other hand, just as the beast, is a bit full of his own importance and through knowing Riela, he starts to have a little humility and starts to lead with his heart instead of his head. Their adventures make for an entertaining story, and I can’t wait to read the second. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book.* Silver & Blood

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book by the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

When Theo first meets the California band, Future Saints, they are playing in a dive bar and bombing. Until their final song with lead singer Hannah falls to the floor singing a new song that rocks his world. As their new manager, Theo was sent to get one last album out of the Future Saints or let them go. After video of that song goes viral the label wants to take advantage of their sudden fame and get them out on tour. As Theo gets to know the band members, and especially Hannah, he is determined to help them through the grief of their previous manager and launch them to fame, but Hannah’s destructive antics become a distraction for the group jeopardizing the band’s road to success.

Sometimes it’s hard to read a book about a character’s spiral into darkness. While I appreciated the content and great writing from the author, this was one of those stories that while good, I just wanted to get through. I have a hard time finding self-destructive tendencies entertaining. Thank goodness there was a redemption arc to give this story a little light at the end of the story and with that in mind I kept reading, determined to get there.

I did really like all of the characters. Kenny and Ripper, Hannah’s band mates and long time friends created and interesting dynamic for the group. Kenny’s more granola approach to life and Ripper’s steady rock n’roll lifestyle created interesting contrasts to Hannah’s California girl gone wild. Theo was the calm within the storm, always trying to steer them (especially Hannah) onto the straight and narrow. I can totally see he and Hannah as a couple because they balance each other really well and he handles that crazy rock lifestyle like a pro. The characters were all what made this book so believable and good and got the reader (and Hannah!) through the dark spots.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I receive a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Future Saints

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This Chick Read: Alchemised by SenLinYu

I do not keep up with fanfiction writing but I am aware that it’s out there and some readers obsess over certain subjects. Harry Potter is a favorite and for some reason a Hermione and Draco romantic relationship is featured in a ton. I was about halfway through Part 1 of Alchemised when it struck me that I might be reading a novel that possibly might be about those two characters. I stopped and Googled. Sure enough, Alchemised was originally written as fanfiction and was uber popular. I must’ve been the only person in the universe who hadn’t heard or read the first iteration. SenLinYu, prior to publishing this novel removed all of those references but there were still enough that even I figured it out. Despite, or maybe even because of those similarities I was struggling through the first act. I couldn’t figure out the world, the bond these Helena had for Kaine despite his evil nature, and truly how desperately weak Helena seemed to be portrayed. She did not fit my vision of Hermione and I hate weak female protagonists. There were so many five star reviews for this book that I pushed through my dislike and kept on reading. Boy, am I glad I did.

It was during Part 2 that I was caught like a fish on a hook. Through flashbacks I got a more complete vision of the world this author was building, but also saw that the Helena I saw in Part 1 was a result of mind manipulation. In the past, she had a stronger nature and her magic was interesting and different than everyone around her. Part 2 was where her relationship with Kaine was explained as well. That push and pull of emotions between she and Kaine in Part 1 were explained. I found myself re-thinking each of those scenes from that first act through eyes that saw the true nature of their relationship. It all kind of made sense now! Helena’s weak character in Part 1 was explained through her strong actions in Part 2. Kaine, too, had his nature explained. Yes he was and is more evil and doesn’t regret too many of his actions, his feelings for Helena become his redemption. Their love story was intricately written and very emotional. If you can get through Part 1 the rest of the book totally makes up for having to make yourself read a million pages to get through it.

I’ll leave you with one last note. Why do author’s think that the longer a book the better it will be? This book, in paper, is 1029 pages. On my kindle it was interminable. I truly believe that the story could’ve been written in 1/3 of the finished length. The characters development wouldn’t be affected and the story arc’s could’ve been tightened up making each written page add to the story. Despite that, I enjoyed the book. It was one of those where you finish reading it but it lingers in your mind for a few days as you’re mulling over each small action. I love those types of novels, but because of the length of this one I probably will not go back for a revisit. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Alchemised

Copyright 2026 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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This Chick Read: Room To Breathe by Kasie West

Indy and Beau were best friends, competing for honors at the top of their class along with their other friends Caroline and Ava. Until one night when her life came crashing down. She had a secret that she couldn’t share and she made a couple of decisions that sent her into a spiral. One day she found herself locked in a school bathroom with Beau and her messy secrets found the light.

Well, this one was quite a surprise! Kasie West’s young adult novels are typically hope-filled coming of age stories with a couple of life lessons thrown in. Room To Breathe was a little more gloomy and Indy was filled with despair. Along with that despair were some of the typical young adult plot lines you’re used to reading. One of those was a casual relationship with the bad boy at school, although in this case he didn’t really have any redeeming qualities, so that added to that overall feeling of hopelessness Indy was feeling. She used that relationship with Cody as an escape from reality but in truth it also was one of the bad decisions that added to the pile.

When she and Beau get locked in the bathroom, it’s her chance to let all of that anger and regret out. The author chose to switch back and forth from what led to that locked bathroom, and what conversations were happening in that moment itself. I don’t usually love flashbacks, but if I hadn’t had those brief moments of she and Beau figuring things out, I would’ve probably bailed on the gloom and doom story. Thank goodness there was a thoughtful full circle conclusion to this story which somewhat redeemed the dark mood. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it is honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* Room To Breathe

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This Chick Read: Only On Gameday by Kristen Callihan

Recent NFL draft pick Austin Luck is on a rising trajectory, but he keeps messing it up with bonehead moves. His most recent bad behavior has gone viral and his PR team is telling him to tone things down. When he goes home for the weekend he runs into his childhood friend, Penelope Morrow. Her mother and his were best friends so she was always around but whenever he stepped into the room she left it. This time things are different Pen has a problem too. She has inherited her grandparents home in Los Angeles and can’t afford the estate taxes. Austin proposes a solution. Would she consider being his fake fianceé? He’d help her with her estate taxes in exchange for he help with his image. Win-Win, right?

It’s been a few years since this author’s last book release and I had forgotten how much I like her writing style. Penelope and Austin were pretty down to earth, regardless of Austin’s stress causing him to act out in embarrassing ways. He definitely used some of his game moves to talk Pen into his fake dating scheme but the rest of the time he had a pretty soft approach and took his time in sweet talking Pen into giving him a chance at a real relationship.

Not your typical WAG, Pen comes across as shy except for when she’s alone with Austin, then she’s the sassy type of heroine I enjoy reading. Kristen Callihan proved a deft hand at some great dialogue keeping the pace flowing pretty quickly, with each chapter ending with a moment that kept me reading past the time where I should’ve put the book down.

It was fun reading a new novel by this author again. In fact, I may need to pick up her backlog of books and re-read them again. Hopefully this is the first of many more enjoyable books to come!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* Only on Gameday

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This Chicks Audio Review: Bound by Ali Hazelwood

Surprise! The very prolific Ali Hazelwood released the audiobook of Bound in November. I had no idea this one was on the horizon but as I’m a big fan and the synopsis seemed different I thought I’d give it a listen.

Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with con artists as parents. In grad school for a degree in art history, Vero gets talked into doing a little forgery to keep her friends in their jobs at an art dealer. Her forgeries are so good she comes to the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a very private, British professor. He too has a little side job for her. He wants her to reproduce an ancient manuscript for him. It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but as Vero spends more time with Viktor and things become more dangerous she has to wonder. What does Viktor really want? And why can’t she seem to stay away?

As I listened to this book, I realized that this author has done it again. She’s pivoted subject matter and type of romance and given her fans a slow burn romance that takes place in a world where our heroine is very knowledgeable about art history and how to forge a books. How does Ms. Hazelwood find the time to both write a novel at breakneck speed and research a new subject matter, assuming she herself wasn’t an art history major? I never felt like I was being sold a bill of goods and found everything she wrote to grab my attention in a way where I didn’t doubt what she had written. She is truly amazing.

I need to also give credit to the two narrators. Brittany Pressley and William Macleod did a great job imbuing the characters with life and personality. Viktor was a little stuffy, but he was English, Immortal, and a professor so that modulated tone fit well. Did you catch that I threw in the word immortal? Yep! The author pivoted genre’s and has given us a paranormal species (race?) that we haven’t read before in any of her past novels. Viktor and his crew were very interesting and I wished that their past had been fleshed out just a touch more, however, I enjoyed what was written and their being immortal didn’t detract from my liking the story or where it led me.

If you’re a fan of Ali Hazelwood’s I think you’ll also like this novel. Bound is different, kind of like her other paranormal series, but not too much like them and not set in that world. I was entertained which for me is what reading or listening to a good book is all about. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Bound

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