This Chick Read: The Final Target by Nora Roberts

At her first book signing, introverted Arden Bowie puts on a smile and makes an effort with every single person who came to purchase her novel. When Dustin got her autograph he showered her with compliments which made her slightly uneasy, but she ignored her intuition. Then he showed up at another book signing, and another. When he showed up at her apartment declaring his intention that he be together she finally got mad but it was too late. He assaulted her and would have done worse but her downstairs neighbors heard the noise and came to her rescue. He was arrested and found guilty but because of his wealthy mother only got five years in a psychiatric prison where he has stewed and stewed. Arden wanted to start a new life so she chose a small town in Oregon and befriended Gideon an ex-LAPD cop, and when Dustin’s five years ended hoped he had forgotten all about her.

What can I say, I’m a big Nora Roberts fan, but dare I say it? Are her romantic thriller’s getting a bit darker? Her last two have had serial killers hunting her heroine and I’m a big scaredy fan, so would love her to turn her attention to a caper or other sort of thriller for a change in tune. That being said, The Final Target was another winner.

Arden held just the right amount of feminine vulnerability and strength. What she went through was awful and the fact she kept writing mysteries and living a full life made her journey easy to admire. She had a great group of family and friends gathered around her, a mix of kooky, loving, and fun which added color to the story. Her romance with Gideon had a slow build because he was a man who liked to think things through, and being an ex-detective, he knew there was a mystery in her background. The fact he didn’t push and prod it out of her and had a gentle approach made him so likable but the romantic in me would’ve liked him to have a little more heat but that didn’t stop me from liking them together.

If you’re a scaredy cat like me, you may not want to read the chapters from the serial killers point of view. I skimmed those but I read every single word of Arden’s viewpoint and enjoyed her journey of strength, resilience, and love.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Final Target

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This Chick Read: A Curse of Beasts and Magic (Beautiful and Beastly #1) by Jeaniene Frost

After an attack by a mysterious creature that killed her family, Raine is living with a big secret. She has a beast inside of her that feeds on chaos and anger. She keeps it reined in by working as a nurse in an ER where she can feed the beast with residual feelings from her patients. At night she plays vigilante on the streets where she occasionally allows it free. One night she sees an elderly man being attacked by two men and she steps in to help. After vanquishing the threat she uses her power to heal the man and because of that she becomes part of a magical world that she never knew existed. She meets Remy Byrne, a Warden who guards the gateway between the human world and the magical. Her beast’s power could help tip the scales in his favor if she allies with him.

It’s been a little while since I’ve read one of this author’s books and I’d forgotten how good she is at creating world’s and dropping the reader into the middle of them. In this case, I didn’t feel at all lost, and Raine and Remy’s world was familiar and yet held a magical element that was new and interesting. Raine had always lived in the human world, so seeing this new vibrant place with magical beings through her eyes added an element of “wow” that kept things fresh and new.

Raine and Remy both held an element of mystery that kept me guessing their motives with others but more importantly with each other. They were both dark beings who were drawn to each other physically making for some rather spicy chapters, but they also had something that other dark fantasy novels lacked, they communicated and worked together against the big bad that was coming for the two of them. I’ve read so many darker fantasy novels lately that I’d forgotten how nice it was to see a couple drawn together who kind of liked each other and weren’t just having a good time in the sack. So, plot and romance mixed together with interesting characters makes for a good book. Not so surprising, but it doesn’t happen all the time so I really enjoyed this novel. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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 Curse of Beasts and Magic

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This Chick Read: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Dolly and her son moved back home to Whitfield, Rhode Island for the summer to help out her dad and her brother save the family home. Working at the family fish shop while problem solving needing a new roof and not having the funds to get one, she runs into local scion Stewart Whitfield with a flat tire. At the end of a messy, very public break-up, Stewart is having a really bad week. A picture of an attractive young woman changing his tire is not what his reputation needs, so when it comes out in the paper the paper prints that he was teaching her instead of the other way around. Stewart tracks Dolly down to apologize and ends up with a paid for fake girlfriend. This sounds like a terrible idea to Dolly but when he offers to pay for her new roof she figures why not? As they get to know each other what was once fake starts to feel very real.

I eagerly wait for Annabel Monaghan’s book to come out every year. She is one of a handful of author’s that I can always count on to write a great story, create wonderfully real characters, and to know I’m going to enjoy practically every word that’s written. This book delivered on all three of those things. Their opposites attract/fake boyfriend-girlfriend tropes worked, although there were some silly, totally saw it coming story lines. I enjoyed the fact that Dolly was level headed and so real, and that Stewart was a workaholic who excelled at business but not at changing a tire. Their journey towards love was sweet and heart-breaking at the same time. I wasn’t sure when the shoe was going to drop on their fake scheme and it kept me reading every chapter!

Something else this author excels at is writing great familial relationships. Dolly’s dad was just wonderful and his sense of humor and dad advice were great additions to round out the story about her situation at home. Her son’s backstory held all of the drama of youth, but gave Dolly some great moments as a mother. She was such a well-rounded character.

If you love love, family relationships, and a little drama, then you should pick up this book and give it a go. I was not disappointed one bit and am not looking forward to next year when this author will release her next book. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Dolly All The Time

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This Chick Read: First and Forever by Lynn Painter

Duffy Distefano is a long-time fan of her football team, the Minneapolis Coyote’s. When she has an unfortunate interaction with the mascot at a game, she becomes the most hated person in Minneapolis. When she has the opportunity to go on a local TV show and tell her side of the story she jumps at the chance. What she doesn’t expect is for the Coyotes star tight end to join her on the show, and for them to have great chemistry! Connor Cunningham thinks he’s just helping out his PR department by making nice with Duffy, but when she starts hazing him on live TV he sits back and enjoys the show. She knows his stats better than he does and when her father drags out a chair and joins the interview they have the audience in hysterics. He can’t help but want to see her again.

You know, I don’t think I’ve ever read a Lynn Painter novel that I haven’t liked and I’m not starting that here. First and Forever was absolutely charming. Duffy is unlike any romance heroine I’ve ever read. She’s attractive, but doesn’t really care about her looks, she’s funny but always gets slotted into the friend-zone by her dates, and she lives with her father- who is an absolute hoot! When Connor calls her on the phone to ask her out and she says she needs to call him back, I laughed out loud. She was so adorable and Connor, too, was drawn to her charm.

I don’t want to give away any of the wonderful scenes that this author created to draw in the reader (and Connor!), but when you get to the paint ball scene you are going to laugh just like I did. This girl is hysterical and Connor is all in for her brand of crazy. So was I. OK, that’s all I’m going to tell you other than, just READ THE BOOK. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* First and Forever

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This Chick Read: Chase the Light (National Parks Summers #2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

When National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a packet of notes in an old lighthouse in Acadia Park, she joins together with Naki Dana, a historian of Penobscot heritage and together they start to unravel the mystery of forgotten shipwreck and its treasure. As they explore the territory, it brings them together and ignites feelings in Scout that take her by surprise. Also hunting for this treasure is journalist and newspaper owner Chase Fletcher. Chase see’s this treasure hunt as being his last chance to save his paper and despite his attraction to Scout and the possible future he sees with her, he’ll have to make a decision to save his paper or hold off on getting the scoop of a story of a lifetime.

I have never read a novel by this author and I was eager to unravel what sounded to be a great mystery. I love history and the mix of native american heritage, shipwrecks, and treasure hunting drew me in and after the first chapter where Scout discovers a letter with a clue, I wa all in. Suzanne Woods Fisher created a fascinating main character. Scout’s childhood, which we learn all about in this novel, created a strong-willed, caring, true to herself main character. She grew up in the south and had the qualities you’d expect from a young southern woman, and then she had this backbone. I love that mix of strength and honor. I also loved how Naki Dana, described as inhumanly tall, dark, good looking, and with Presence- note the capital P, made her extremely nervous. Although polite and polished, she couldn’t help but take peeks at him and was tongue tied in his presence. This made for a very fun tension as they hunted for treasure.

There were other wonderful side characters and sub-plots, a teen romance, a missing father and domineering mother, and of course, Chase Fletcher and his chase to save his family’s business. I loved how the author gave us the contrast of Naki’s strong silence, and Chase’s smooth charm and how different their interactions were with Scout. All of these things helped create a well-rounded cast list and a story that shone. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Chase the Light

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This Chick Read: Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3) by Kristy Boyce

When Hazel’s former best friend, Max, moves back to town she thinks her plan for her Senior year is all set, but he’s not the boy she remembers. As color guard captain, she’s determined to lead her team to an award winning season. Max, joins the band in the drum unit, and for some reason he’s copping attitude and leads the charge in the rivalry between their two units. Needing a distraction from the stress, she puts her second plan into play. She wants to lead a D&D game. She recruits her best friend, and in a moment of madness asks Max and another drummer to join. Playing the game outside their rivalry helps she and Max get closer and reignites the crush she had on Max when she was younger. Is this the start of a new friendship?

I’ve enjoyed this series by Kristy Boyce despite being totally outside the target demographic. Hazel and Max’s high school rivalry and D&D games brought back old memories, even though I wasn’t in the band or played D&D myself. It reminded me of how our high school friendships were the linchpin of all of our emotions and are a huge part of molding us into who we are as adults.

Hazel’s expansive friend group, her role as leader of the guard, and her budding friendship/romance with Max added to the stress she was already feeling from her family. I liked the way the author didn’t whitewash Hazel’s first instincts to lead the color guard in a rather strict way and the lesson she learned about uniting together as a team and still having fun along the way. I also liked how Hazel was open to communicate with her peers, Max, and her parents and it was through that communication that she achieved her goals. A great lesson for someone of any age, which is probably why I enjoy these novels. That and the peek into the D&D world, which is totally alien despite my love for fantasy novels.

You’ll enjoy this book, as well as the others in the series if you, too, like stories that are uplifting where the heroine learns life lessons. Or even if you just love marching bands and Dungeons & Dragons. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Rolls and Rivalry

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This Chick Read: Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Sutton is back in her hometown to take care of her grumpy, ailing mom. When she runs into her best friend from childhood, Tara, she gets dragged into a bet. She and another stranger are going to pretend to be engaged and go to couples therapy. If the therapist guesses they aren’t a real couple her friend’s fianceé will agree to go to his own couple’s therapy with Tara. Sutton and Elijah head to their first therapy session as strangers but come out knowing a little bit more about each other and a homeworks from the therapist. As they continue to attend these sessions Sutton and Elijah seem to only be proving one thing this true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.

You can rely on Kasie West to create characters that you can identify with, draw you in, and make you think “yes! I have felt the same way”. When I read this story I could totally identify with Sutton and her situation. She and her mom don’t have the best relationship. Her mom’s injury makes her grumpy, but she’s always been very critical of Sutton’s choices in life. As Sutton goes through her therapy sessions with Elijah she uses some of what’s she’s learning about herself to deal with her issues with her mom too. Lesson learned? Therapy is good!

Elijah was a sweetheart. Adorable, friendly, flirty, but he also seemed to care a lot about Sutton as the novel moved forward. There was some great chemistry between the two of them and despite all of the things they are both dealing with in their lives, they connect on a real level. The author’s portrayal of their story was so seamless that I sped through this novel relishing the way it ended. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Stranger Things Have Happened

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This Chick Read: Happy Ending by Chloe Liese

Thea and Alex met when Thea was going to pick up her dog from her recent ex-husband’s home and Alex was going to pick up his daughter at his recent ex-wife’s new boyfriends home- Thea’s ex. Both a little off guard by the situation they find themselves in, they spin a little tale about being childhood best friend’s. What starts as a little prank, two years later, grows into a true friendship. When their ex’s ask them to take a group family vacation they realize this friendship might be growing into something more.

This is a tough review for me because I love Chloe Liese’s novels. She always has realistic characters who are slightly challenged by life. Happy Ending’s characters are challenged by a situation, but as characters they didn’t really hold my interest. I like a friends to lovers romance, and the plot set this one up nicely, but for me, something was missing. Thea’s pining for Alex was kind of annoying and his not so secret crush on her was equally irritating. These two people who claimed to be best friends just didn’t communicate at all. They each subverted their emotions so they could continue this lackluster friendship. It was well written, but I just found the story boring. I hope she gets back to writing interesting characters on the next novel!

❤️❤️❤️

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

Copyright 2026 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved.

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This Chick Read: What Lasts by J. Bengtsson

As a fan of J. Bengtsson’s Cake series, I was intrigued by her news that she was writing a prequel about the couple that created all of our favorite characters…Michelle and Scott McCallister, the parents. After six books about the McCallister siblings, you’d think the reader would know everything about Michelle and Scott, but I learned that my knowledge only brushed the surface. What Lasts takes us back to the 80’s and the beginning of it all.

Michelle has grown up in privilege and when she meets Scott, someone who is not among the privileged (at all), she embarass’s herself in front of him, and yet Scott is intrigued. Not thinking she’ll ever show up, he invites her to his gig that night and surprisingly she shows up. This is just the beginning of Michelle showing up for Scott. As we learn from the other novels, Michelle wants more from her future than to marry whomever her parents deem appropriate, so she gives it all up for a single dad who works three jobs in order to be there for his boy, Mitchell. What follows are a couple of decades of having and raising kids, living in poverty, and Scott trying to live up to what he thinks Michelle needs.Then comes the backbone of all of Cake’s novels. Jake’s kidnapping, return, and skyrocketing career to rockstardom. How do Michelle and Scott handle all of the above? The details are in the novel so I’ll let you see if you like how their story is told. I’ll admit, I found it kind of lackluster.

I love these books, but what I really like about them are the relationships between all of the siblings. Was I curious about Michelle and Scott? A little bit? Scott was obviously a character so it was kind of cool to see where all of his unusualness came from. Michelle always came off as a bit of a cool customer. I knew she came from a wealthy background but even after learning about their struggles, and how as a mother she felt during all of the kidnapping trauma, I just never really warmed up to her. So, for me, I didn’t find their story that riveting. What it did do though, is make me want to read all of the sibling novels again, so really it did it’s job! I’ve read them all at least twice as well as listened to the audiobooks. I have my favorites, but I think this time I’m going to read them in order.

❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much for allowing me to read an early copy! I’m a SoCal girl who grew up in Ventura County, so I always love to read stories that take place in that area. I’m looking forward to going back and taking a visit to SoCal with some of my favorite characters.

Click this link to purchase this book!* What Lasts

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This Chick Read: The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn

Layla Bailey spent the last year telling herself she’s moved on from her divorce with her college sweetheart. Wanting to stay amicable she accepts an invitation to her ex-sister-in-law’s wedding in Paris, the place where she and her ex spent their honeymoon. No problem, she tells herself, even though he’s bringing his new girlfriend. She spends the first night having a fun dinner with the bride then wakes up the next morning to find that something she innocently said has caused the bride to doubt following through with the wedding. It’s up to she and the taciturn best man, Griffin to make sure this wedding happens.

I did kind of cut to the chase on the above synopsis making this sound like a bit of fluff, when it absolutely was not. The Paris Match shredded my heart. I loved Layla, and the more we all got to know Griff and his heartbreaking back story, the more I came to love him as well. While they tried to figure out the reasons why the bride starting having doubts they both did a lot of soul searching. Layla on why she was trying so hard to be “amicable” with her ex and his family. Yes, she’s a very nice and loving woman, but there are limits to what she’s going to allow. Griff who maybe should’ve been named Gruff, hit his limits pretty quickly- on her behalf. I’ll admit there’s nothing I love better than someone who is a protector, and despite not understanding his feelings on why he felt so deeply, Griff was her support.

Layla was such an easy character to like. She tried to do all the right things, be pleasant, kind, professional (she was a doctor), but at the same time kind of let people walk all over her. As the novel moved forward you could see her backbone straighten. She needed to take this trip back to the city she loved so much and had all of these memories from her past life- face them- and make new ones. I’m a big believer in learning from your mistakes and moving forward. It took her a little while to see and accept them, but ultimately she was able to do that- with Griff’s help. Griff had his own troubles he needed to face and Layla was just as much a supporter to him as he was to her. A perfect partnership if they can get past their pasts and face the future together. This was a lovely story and I really enjoyed reading it- even though I left a wad of tissues by my bedside.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Paris Match

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