This Chick Read: A Silence in Belgrave Square (A Below Stairs Mystery #8) by Jennifer Ashley

Kat Holloway’s beau Daniel McAdam has a talent for dangerous work as a Scotland Yard agent. When his boss puts him on a dangerous case and promises that this will be his last one if he can solve it. On an investigation of her own, Kat discovers some of her friends and colleagues have been victims of blackmail. If Kat and Daniel wish to save each other and the crown they must prove the blackmailer’s identity and stop the ones who are trying to eliminate them.

This novel really had a sense of urgency because Kat spent a good majority of her time worrying over Daniel’s safety. Of course, being an investigator herself, she couldn’t stand by with Daniel in possible danger, she was going to do everything possible to keep him safe. When her own investigation begins to parallel Daniel’s the reader realizes that Kat too, may be in danger. The pace and tension in the story build until I was literally on the edge of my seat.

With Daniel’s life in possible danger, Kat must face her feelings for him, and there are some very tender scenes (finally!). I was afraid this meant the series was over, but low and behold, a 9th book is on pre-order already so never fear, or intrepid amateur sleuth and her beau will be back in action solving mysteries again in the near future. I can’t wait! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

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This Chick Read: Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.

Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.

I was hooked by the cover and intrigued by the synopsis and you know what? There were moments that I really liked in this story and the easy writing style of this author made reading this book a breeze. Why didn’t I embrace it whole heartedly? Eva’s character had some traits I really liked. She overcame a difficult past, had a strong work ethic, and was doing what a lot of us do/did in our 20’s- doing something she didn’t like very much but knew it would lead to that next step in her career. All of these were parts of her personality that were admirable, but she was such a hard character to like. Her difficult past built a wall that very few people were able to scale, her strong work ethic and dreams for her future caused her to make some decisions on the job that were not in her own best interest, and the worst thing was how she treated Rylie. She was pretty brutal which admittedly was her on air persona, but in private she didn’t really give him a break either- at least for two thirds of the book. Why, if she was so hard to like did I keep reading? Rylie.

Unlike Eva’s character, Rylie was further in the process of working through his own past discretions, one of which was Eva and he’s relationship in college. He entered their on-air agreement with honesty and hope that he would be given a second chance by Eva. She was pretty horrible and snarky to him, but he seemed to like that a lot. That’s not my own thing, but I can understand that sometimes opposites attract and because I read the entire novel saw Eva’s redemption arc pay off with her gentling her interactions with Rylie. Thank goodness. By the end I respected both of their characters equally but there was a big chunk where I leaned towards team Rylie over Eva. That’s never a comfortable place to be when reading a romance where you want so badly to like both characters. I did get there though!

❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Well, Actually

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This Chick Read: He Falls First (Colburn Brothers #1) by Jill Shalvis

Ryder Colburn is busy running his family business and taking care of his ailing father- a different man than the heavy-handed father from his youth. He doesn’t have time for women, but when one is in the path of a fast moving car in jumps in for the rescue. Penny has scars inside and out. Back in California living with her grandma and brother in their aging house, she’s too busy cooking for her catering job and caring for her family to spend another moment on a man she probably can’t trust. Ryder, however, keeps proving his trustworthiness, and seeping into all the cracks in her defenses.

First- I love series that are based on brothers! Especially since we get to know the quirks of those men in each book that leads up to their own novel. Second- dual POV’s can sometimes be confusing but in this novel it allows the reader to see into each character in a way that brings insight into their interactions and really, really worked. Third- I love it when the hero has patience, is gentle, and eases into the heroine’s life rather than breaks down barriers. He Falls First was exactly that- Ryder was intrigued, attracted to, and patient with the very skittish Penny. When we learn her back story we can certainly see why she was all prickly and he worked for that happily ever after and I was all in for their story- 100%.

As with all of Jill Shalvis’ novels, the surrounding characters added a ton of heart to the main storyline. Ryder’s dynamic with a father who, due to his health, is no longer the man from his youth, Penny’s interfering grandmother, her fatherless brother Wyatt who years for a male figure to her worship, and of course Ryder’s brothers. I can’t wait to read the next novel in this series to see where the author takes all of these characters. This was a good one folks! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* He Falls First

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This Chick Read: Wildflowers by Kylie Scott

When Astrid Hardy wakes up in the basement of her neighbor Dean Wallace’s house she’s a little concerned. He’s determined to save her because the end of the world is coming. This all sounds like doom-prepping nonsense to Astrid, but as they watch it play out on TV and hear the gunshots in their own neighborhood Astrid starts to believe there might be something to his paranoia. How will they navigate this new world together?

I’ll admit that after living through our own pandemic I wasn’t sure about this plot, however I love this author and she is a must buy for me, so I one-clicked my way into starting this book as soon as it was released. My first thought as Astrid finds herself locked in this guys basement. Ummmm, guys, it would be hard to go from prisoner to this guys pretty cute unless there was some Munchausen syndrome action going on, but no! Kylie Scott made me believe in these two. It helped that this was a slow burn romance and Astrid didn’t fall immediately in love with Dean. It also helped that two-thirds of the world were dead and lawlessness was the rule. Dean was ex-military and somewhat of a bad-a$$. Who wouldn’t want him on your side?

This was not your normal romance, but it is a well-written apocalyptic romance. I loved not only Astrid and Dean’s characters, but the community they built and the team-work from all the characters. They were quirky and funny, but when in danger they banded together to beat the odds. This was a different novel, yes, but it held all the elements I love from a Kylie Scott romance. Quirky characters, sassy dialog and a whole lot of heart. I can’t wait to read it again! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Wildflowers

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This Chick Read: The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

Every summer for the past ten years, six awe-struck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for “Bake Week” but also the childhood home of the show’s famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin. The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” Betsy Martin isn’t as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection, and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

This book was released in 2023 and has been on my radar for one reason only- the theme! As a lover of baking competition shows, how could I not be drawn to a mystery set during one of those same shows? This one is not in England, but in our own backyard- Vermont. Each chapter gives the reader the point of view from the perspective of a different character, so once I get them all straight in my head, the insights that POV provided into their reasons for being on the show got the plot rolling right along. They weren’t all captivating, but together it painted the picture very well. One of the most interesting characters was the host, Betsy Martin. In front of the camera she portrayed one persona but was she that person in private?

Each chapter led us through a mystery that read more like an Agatha Christie novel than Stephen King, so if you’re faint of heart, no worries. There wasn’t too much blood spilled between these pages. This was a very fast paced, easy to read mystery with very few moments of boredom or drudgery. This was a fun read! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Golden Spoon

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This Chick Read: Tenderfoot (Avenging Angels #3) by Kristen Ashley

Harlow O’Neill has been waiting for Javier Montoya to make his move. She’s interested in him, he’s interested in her, but he just isn’t taking that first step. She’s read all the Rock Chick books and knows how these Alpha males claim their woman. He’s just not claiming her. One evening Harlow’s undercover on a mission for the Angel’s and Javi blows her cover and Harlow is not happy about it. That evening he says hurtful things to Harlow and she retreats, determined to just be polite and move on from her crush. Javi on the other hand goes all in, knowing he messed up. The Angels investigation turns dangerous and Javi moves Harlow in with him for “her protection”. He starts to open up about his past and Harlow learns some things in his history that explains his behavior and she starts to fall in love.

Tenderfoot is the third book in the Avenging Angels series. The Angels are a part time investigation team a la Charlie’s Angels, where they’re backed by an unknown who calls themselves Arthur. They’ve got the cars, gadgets and a cool crib to hang in while doing their investigative work. The Angels are complete amateurs but have actually solved a couple of crimes which has given them confidence which may or may not be a good thing. Harlow is the positive, girly-girl of the group- the cheerleader. She always sees the bright side of things and truly, her commentary during these investigations add a nice bit of humor to those dialogs.

This series is not War and Peace by any means, but it’s entertaining and Kristen Ashley has given it that retro KA vibe- harkening back to her roots by spinning off from the Rock Chick series, which was the series I first read of hers and made me fall in love with her writing. Admittedly, this novel, mainly due to Harlow’s positivity and Javi’s he-man alpha-ness felt a little over the top but the book was entertaining and gave me that escape from reality that I needed. If I have anything slightly critical to say it would be that although Harlow’s dialogue was sweet and sunny, there was an excessive use of exclamation points. It did build her character as the “cheerleader”, but I thought it was a little overdone. Besides, that this was an enjoyable book and I can’t wait for the next installment. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* Tenderfoot

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This Chick Read: Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher

Every summer Stella and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure. During an expedition in Iceland a chance encounter with best-selling novelist Huck Sullivan, has Stella thinking maybe her luck has changed. Huck has a horrible case of writer’s block and when he joins Stella and her friends on an adventure it seems to be the distraction he needs. Stella and Huck’s chemistry is undeniable and their night on the black sand beach in Iceland is everything dreams are made of, except for Huck isn’t there when Stella awakes. She vows to put him behind her, but a year later his most recent novel is again a bestseller and Stella looks to be his muse. Stella throws herself into the next treasure hunt but doesn’t expect an unexpected treasure hunter. Huck is determined to create his second chance with Stella and hopefully help her find the treasure she’s always seeked.

This is an author that does not write formulaic romances. At least in this reader’s humble opinion I’m surprised by the originality of each book and how different her novels are from each other. Heart Marks the Spot, about two people, Stella and Huck, who have had childhood trauma’s that have shaped the adults they have become. In Stella’s case, she’s always searching for a treasure that will gain the attention of her parents who both left her when she was a child. In Huck’s case, he is always battling that internal voice of his father who is tellling him he’s never going to be good enough, despite the many books he’s written that have landed on the bestseller list. In each other, they find an ease and friendship, then again a love that secures those wants and feelings for them, but of course, not without the trials and tribulations that all great romance novel heroes and heroines have to overcome. Libby Hubscher does such a fine job at building thier back stories that I’m truly rooting on this couple so that they can each get that happy ending they deserve.

As Stella says in this novel, treasure hunting is pretty boring, but it seems that Huck might be her good luck charm because with him around it doesn’t seem very boring at all. This group’s penchant for finding the goods is a little bit of fantasy, I’m sure, but it makes for very good reading. I enjoyed getting to know the crew and seeing the parallels between the constantly changing structure of that group of friends and the changes in the ocean with the ebb and flow of tides, shifting of topography, and movement of the treasure they are hunting. The author took her time helping us to understand the intricacies and interconnections of these friendships. Stella and Huck’s story wasn’t the only one I was invested in which made this a really well rounded bit of fiction that lives up to its name. This book drew me in with the story but kept me around because of its heart. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Heart Marks the Spot

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This Chick Read: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

When Sadie Brooks loses her marketing job in NYC, she decides to spend the summer with her best friend in a small town in Texas. Depressed and overwhelmed about her future, she agrees to take part in his Dungeons and Dragons game with three other people who are also new to the game. In the game, she becomes Jaylie, a powerful cleric who is blessed by the Goddess of Good Luck. Something she feels she doesn’t have a lot of until she meets Noah Walker, who plays as Loren the lute strumming bardic elf. As she contributes in the game and gets to know her fellow characters she draws on those strengths to navigate and make some decisions about her real life. Will her future take her back to New York? Or will she remain in Texas and explore what she’s beginning to feel for Noah?

Even though I’ve never played a Dungeons and Dragons game in my life the way Roll for Romance was written it was very easy to follow. Sadie as herself was very easy to empathize with and wish her good luck in finding her way. When she played Jaylie we could see how as she grew confidence in the game it paralleled how she was feeling in her real life. I loved how this author used the two plots to help grow Sadie’s character and help her see the direction she might want to take as she started over.

Noah was an interesting character for a love interest. He was very laid back, charming, and easy going. There are quite a few similarities between he and his D&D character Loren. What was strange about him was that he doesn’t stay long in one city, moving as the mood hits him. Not your usual hero vibe, although he paired well with Sadie who in her NY life was structured and suited, while in TX she is more easy breezy and figuring out her future.

This novel was very easy to read and quite enjoyable! I’m a fantasy reader so it wasn’t hard to make that jump from current world to fictional world and I liked the variety of characters between those two worlds. If you like fantasy and/or D&D this one would be a no brainer for you. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Roll for Romance

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This Chick Read: Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

When professional cleaner, Abi Mariano’s house had an infestation and she needed a place to stay, she chose to stay a client’s home when they were out of town. When she woke up the next day to his parents in the kitchen they might have gotten the misconception that she was his girlfriend Abby, a girlfriend Declan made up. When Dex goes searching for his “girlfriend” he finds her at her second job ringing up groceries at the local grocer. Instead of filing charges he proposes a bargain that she pretend to be his girlfriend for a work event and she can continue to stay at his house while her’s is getting fumigated. What start off as an innocent fake dating plot turns into real-life feelings that Abi and Dex aren’t sure that they want to go away.

Lynn Painter has such a great style of writing. Her dialog is always easy and fun and her characters well-thought out and likable. While I didn’t love Abi’s reasons for staying in Dex’s house, I did love how she was clever and sassed her way into staying there for the whole week with his permission. Similarly I didn’t love Dex’s lack of care for how much money he had but I loved that he had an ulterior motive for why he thought that way, which the author delivered by the end of the story. These two were well paired and their romance was an enjoyable bit of fun.

Abi’s dislike for the uber-wealthy stems from never having enough money herself. While she never really shows Dex her true self until 2/3rds of the book is finished, the reader sees each character clearly allowing us to overlook some of their faults. Abi’s resolve to change her circumstances through education and hard work makes her worthy of the reader’s esteem. Similarly to Dex’s easy going nature and charm allow us to see him as a worthy partner for her even though he keeps trying to throw money at her to solve all their problems. It’s a fantasy world and these two are lucky enough to be inhabiting this romance novel and the author has made the fantasy believable.

If you’re looking for a fun book that will have you chuckling, I think this one is a perfect fit! I need to make sure I’ve read all of this author’s previous novels. This is the second one I’ve read recently and the second one I’m recommending.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Maid for Each Other

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This Chick Read: Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman

Lauren Parker has gone through a few iterations in her life. Teenage hell-raiser, sister to a movie star, and tragically widowed single mother. When she and daughter take a trip out to California to visit with her brother on his movie set she meets actor Ben Walsh. They have instant chemistry and Lauren takes that chance to have that moment for herself and be seen. When their sexy encounter becomes something more Lauren has to decide if there’s room in both their lives for this relationship. He star is rising and she lives in a small town in Minnesota.

Elissa Sussman uses flashbacks about Lauren’s relationship with her childhood friend/husband Spencer as a way to show the reader Lauren is still working through her grief, while at the same time explaining a spirit within that never truly died out, even as she had settled down with her husband and started a family. This “explanation” helps the reader make that jump into how a small town mother can hook up with a beautiful movie star who is more than ten years her junior. That rebellious nature hasn’t completely died out despite her being a single mom raising a teenager who is quite spirited herself.

The relationship between she and Ben was lovely and not to take anything away from the romance of it, stands on its own. However, it’s what she learns about herself as she’s exploring that relationship is the heart of the story. Her grief is balanced by her will to live a full life. She and Ben’s exploration of each other and a possible future relationship is a way to move on from the very loving marriage she had with Spencer. The dual nature of this author’s storytelling was deftly written and really showed Lauren’s growth in all aspects of her life.

I haven’t read all of this author’s novels, but as I was reading I was reminded about how much I enjoy her style of writing. I need to go look at her backlist and see what I’ve been missing out on! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Totally and Completely Fine

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