Tag: goodreads

This Chick Read: The Crime Brulée Bake Off (Claire Walker #1) by Rebecca Connolly

When Claire Walker is chosen to be a contestant on the popular cooking show Britain’s Battle of the Bakers, she is thrilled. She’s excited to be on the set at Blackfirth Park using historical methods to wow the judges and hopefully launch her baking career. The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, reluctantly agrees to let the show use his home for their new season. He needs the funds in order to fund his families dwindling finances. He wants nothing to do with the show and contestants and plans to never cross paths with any of them. Those plans change when one of the contestants is found dead in a way that is eerily similar to one of his ancestors two hundred and fifty years ago. Claire and Jonathan’s paths cross and they strike up a friendship and agree to help the local constable investigate the death.

This cozy mystery with a hint of romance was right up my alley. I love reading and baking and to come across a novel that combines my two loves made my heart warm. I definitely felt the Great British Bake-Off vibes and loved those scenes where Claire and the contestants were using those pre-1900’s implements to craft their bakes. I also loved that hint of heat I felt when Claire and Jonathan met for the first time. There was quite a bit of flirtation, and as the investigation progressed and those real feelings developed? Yum.

The romance was sweet, but what about the mystery? I actually really enjoyed following along with our two main characters, their interactions with the other bakers, producers, and staff, and thought the author found the right note to keep this strictly in the cozy mystery genre. I wasn’t surprised by the ending, but the author led us gently to the conclusion. I can’t wait to see what new mystery Claire (and hopefully Jonathan) can solve!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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 Crime Brǔlée Bake Off

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The Unity Experiment by N.K. Brown

Seventeen year old Anna is chosen to enlist in The Unity Project, a government run team-building exercise to promote unity between the species. She’s on a team with another human, a werewolf, fae, shapeshifter, and a spirit who only she can hear. It’s a race to the death in a competition between other interspecies teams to complete the course and hold the Vessel of Unity, which allows them to leave the game alive, that species to skip the next game, and gives them a voice during interspecies talks. Anna’s gift of speaking to the spirit world makes her an invaluable tool that all of the teams would like to use but Anna only wants to help the species find peace. Of course, she’ll have to avoid being killed by everything and everyone around her.

The Unity Experiment had elements that were reminiscent of other books I’ve read like The Divergent Series and The Hunger Games, but with a fantasy twist, introducing multitudes of species whose interactions are rife with secrets, distrust, and violence. Anna has lived a pretty mundane human life in comparison with her other teammates, with the exception of her childhood when her father performed experiments on her in their basement, and then again when she became of age and became eligible for the Unity Experiment lottery. I say mundane, but the world she lives in is much darker than our own world yet the humans live and work in “regular” jobs in between lottery picks. When Anna gets dropped into the experiment and lands in the jungle full of violence and subterfuge she relies on those instincts that her father helped her develop. As her character moves forward in the experiment you can see a light bulb turn on and her drive to know what happened to her father when he entered the experiment becomes her driving force- besides surviving, of course.

On her team, everyone has an ulterior motive, but she is drawn the most to Dylan, the werewolf who has sworn to protect her and keep her alive. There are elements of an attraction that makes this novel feel at times somewhat romantasy, but the author seems to have more interest in other aspects of the plot and leaves the readers emotions hanging a bit, which if there’s another novel is totally ok by me. There was enough action, and subterfuge to engage my mind and keep me reading. In fact, I blew through this novel in about four hours I enjoyed the writing so much.

As with any new world that I enter as a reader, there were moments of confusion. At times, Amura who could shapeshift, would turn into quite a few different insects, birds, etc. that a couple of times it took me a moment to catch on to who and what was going on. Despite a little confusion with that character, I loved how the author made each team member a different species (with the exception of Chris who was human) and gave the reader a new world to explore with each characters back story. So interesting!

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this novel! There were only a couple of moments where something happened from Anna’s viewpoint that took me out of the story and I said “what just happened?”. It was a new novel by a new to me author and I thought it was practically perfect in every way. Unless there isn’t going to be a second book. If that’s the case I may need to re-think my feelings for that ending! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this ARC from the author for an honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Unity Experiment

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

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This Chick Read: She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

Bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine is off to a remote island for the wedding of her editor, who also happens to be her ex-fiancé. It sounds like it will be an absolute nightmare, but with the help of some free champagne she figures she can put a smile on her face and hope that the setting gives her inspiration for her newest Loretta Starling mystery. She gets a little more than she bargains for when someone tries to poison a guest and pen the murder on her! Channeling her fictional character and with the help of her friend, fellow author Jake Hawkins, they investigate the scene and uncover bitter resentments and long-held grudges that give them more suspects than answers. She does however, get a fabulous plot for a new book.

As I was reading this novel I definitely was getting Clue vibes, “It was Professor Peacock in the library with the brass candlestick!” There were so many crazy family members and wedding party guests that it felt kind of comical, but slowly the plot tightened up and became a little easier to follow. Kate was a bit of a mess, but when she channeled her fictional character Loretta Starling she had moments of lucidity, but too much champagne, always running into someone who had nefarious intentions, and fighting her mixed feelings about her ex getting married and her attraction to Jake gave the book a rather hectic feel that both made me eager to turn the page and find what happened AND turn the page so that I’d be closer to the end of the book. I had mixed feelings while reading this and I think it may have been the rather hectic nature of the pace that gave me a few misgivings.

Despite that hectic pace and Kate’s flighty nature, there was still something to like about this story. The characters were eccentric and interesting, the gossip was fun and engaging, and Kate and Jake’s budding romance both fun and sizzling. The tension held up through the conclusion of the mystery and I found myself liking the book by the end of the last page, but whew, it was quite the journey! ❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* She Doesn’t Have a Clue

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Love on Paper by Danielle Parker

Macy’s parents are both best-selling authors, which is a lot to live up to when you, too want to be a writer. When she gets into an exclusive four week writing camp with other young writers she is excited but at the same time feels the pressure of living up to her mother’s expectations. When their writing genre is revealed to be romance, a subject she knows nothing about, her fears of not being able to live up to the challenge cause a case of writers block. Until she meets her critique partner, Caleb, who has similar issues to her own and they’re willing to overlook their parents beef with each other to help each other write the best romance- as well as solve a small mystery that gets thrown their way.

For such a simple story about two kids at a writing camp, there was a lot going on both emotionally and with the plot. Macy and Caleb’s parents having issues with each other, Macy’s relationship with her mother, Caleb’s dealing with his mom’s recent death, writing a romance, and solving a mystery that involves their families. Whew! There was barely enough time for Macy and Caleb to do all that plus develop feelings for each other in a four week time period. Somehow, the author, and these characters, ended up doing it all culminating in a sweet young adult novel that teaches a few life lessons along the way.

The mystery I was alluding to is what held my interest through this novel. It allowed the two main characters to actually act like young kids, finding corners to hold hands and smooch, breaking and entering, doing socially silly things, then of course find clues that help them both figure out some of their emotional issues with their parental units. It was a little bit like floating down a lazy river with a ton or twists and turns, but eventually the characters got their conflicts solved and the plot concluded nicely if not totally at a pace that pleased my style of reading. As this is a very clean, sweet, young adult novel, the pace fit the plot and characters very well. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Love on Paper

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Better Than Friends (Sunrise Cove #7) by Jill Shalvis

Olive Porter left town after an embarrassing incident and never expected to return, but her best friend needs her and she flies in from London to help take care of their family while her friends husband recuperates from a bad work accident. She knows facing the townsfolk will be daunting but at least she won’t have to face her ex Noah. Until he shows up to do the exact same thing as she- to help their friends through this tough time. Despite their still having chemistry, Olive is determined to avoid Noah as much as possible, something that’s hard to do when they are sharing a bathroom! When her parents go missing she realizes that she may need her ex and his investigative skills to help her find them.

I know I’m repeating myself but this is how I feel about reading a Jill Shalvis novel. When you read one of her books you know you’re going to get a novel about great friendships, overcoming obstacles and learning a life lesson, and some kooky people in town that will stick their noses into your business- all with good intentions! Better Than Friends certainly has all of the above, with the addition of a story written from two perspectives, so you really understand where each character is coming from and their intentions, way before the characters in the story. Her books are steady, loving, and funny and Better Than Friends is also all of these things.

Olive Porter’s reasons for leaving town seem pretty minor and well, kind of juvenile, so it’s nice to see that she seems to be the only person who really cares about all of these “embarrassing” things that made her pack up and leave. Despite Noah’s reservations over seeing the woman who broke his heart he doesn’t turn his back on her when she needs him and as they solve the mystery of her missing parents they also solve their unresolved feelings. I love a well developed, quickly resolved romance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Better Than Friends

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter

It’s the first day that her local coffee shop has released the pumpkin spice latte, and even though she’s running slightly behind for her new job, Izzy knows that PSL will start her day off right. What she didn’t count on is the very long line, so when she hears a PSL order for Amy get called out and Amy doesn’t respond, Izzy takes that drink. Then immediately dumps it down the shirt of the tall, dark, and handsome man standing behind her. After a little flirtation and some hopefulness of running into him again in the future she dashes out the door to her new job. Only to find out that he’s her new boss- and he doesn’t like the fact that she took “Amy’s” PSL, instead of waiting for her own. Blake Phillips does not like liars, and he has now slotted her into the liar column, and despite her apologies there she will remain.

I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope and Lynn Painter did right by me with this rom-com. Izzy was no mouse, and despite some snark she and Blake’s dialog was sassy and fun and I loved how Izzy was able to overcome that bad first impression, and buck Blake’s very strong moral code. Of course, secretly, Blake also wanted to find a reason to break his code as well. Their chemistry was off the charts and as they spent more time together it became hard to just stay “friends”. This novel was a lot of fun, easy to read, and very clever. If you’re in the mood for some light-hearted fun with a but of snark and sassy- you don’t need to look any further! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Accidentally Amy

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Once Smitten, Twice Shy (Wilmot Sisters #3) by Chloe Liese

Once a hopeless romantic, Juliet Wilmot has sworn off love. Burned by her previous relationship she doesn’t trust her heart and doesn’t want to take any more chances with it. Will Orsino knows romance isn’t in his future but for the sake of his family business he knows he needs a partner to help out and he’s open to a marriage of convenience. When they keep running into each other Juliet and will strike up a bargain. They’ll practice with each other to help build up trust to go out into the world and find their person, but what happens when practice makes perfect?

The characters in Chloe Liese’s novels are always so interesting with real life issues that give their story more depth. Will is neuro-divergent and is on the autism scale and Chloe has a debilitating form of joint disease that makes movement painful. As someone who suffers from arthritis I found it really interesting to read about a character who suffers similarly. How does her pain affect her relationship with Will? How do they both help navigate each others problems and emotions? It certainly adds to the story in a very realistic way.

I’ve enjoyed the Wilmot sisters novels because these ladies are straight shooters and don’t take lip from anyone. Juliet seemed to be the most romantic in nature and her heartbreak could’ve caused more than a few small trust issues. Thankfully the author didn’t keep us waiting too long before the characters realized where their emotions were leading them. Maybe because of this there was a little lack in tension which gave the other two novels more of a conclusive feel to the two partners coming together. I think that would be my only criticism for this novel. They were both just so nice and there wasn’t a whole lot of conflict. Other than that it was an enjoyable story! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Click this link to purchase this book!* Once Smitten, Twice Shy

Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick’s Audio Review: The Sam Quinn series by Seana Kelly

Thanks to my sister who pointed me in the direction of these audiobooks, I spent a few weeks immersed in this really great paranormal fantasy series by Seana Kelly. The heroine, Sam Quinn, runs a bookstore/bar called the Slaughtered Lamb, which caters to the local San Francisco paranormal community. I’m talking fae, werewolves, vampires, mermaids, etc. You name it and that species frequents her bar. Learning about all of these species and the way this author imagined them captured my imagination and held my interest.

There are seven books in the series, the first being ‘The Slaughtered Lamb’ and the seventh ‘The Bloody Ruin’. All are narrated by the very talented Samantha Desz, who imbues the character of Sam Quinn with such humanity, even though she is a werewolf-witch hybrid. There is a ton of humor in these novels and the narrator is spot on with the snarky dialog, accents, and good vs. evil personas. I was hooked from the first chapter and spent all of my time with this fascinating new character- watching her evolve, fight to survive everyone who is trying to kill her, and fall in love with Clive- the Master Vampire of San Francisco. If you are in the mood for a bit of fun, well these books are certainly that.

Each novel has its own mystery of sorts, but there’s a common theme or plot that runs through all of the books. Sam’s werewolf bloodline goes back to the origination of werewolves and her witch line is similarly historic. Those two things mean that she finds herself with some cool physical traits and powers that develop during these stories, but also that other beings find her too dangerous and are always out to kill her. Clive, too, has his own historical storyline, being centuries old, so between the two of them there is never a dull moment in these books and their characters are a constant surprise, revealing hidden depths to their backgrounds and nature. I loved each moment and really found these audiobooks unputdownable. Seriously, they were very addictive so beware.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Slaughtered Lamb

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance.

When Vivian Featherswallow inadvertently helps break the truce between the dragons and humans she is taken to Bletchley Park where she’s put on a team of codebreakers set to crack the secret dragon language that could help the humans win the war. If she succeeds, she and her family will survive, if she doesn’t they’ll all die. No pressure! As she unravels this new language she discovers corruption in her own government and has to make a decision between the lives of her family and doing what’s right for the world.

S.F. Williamson does a wonderful job of building a world that feels familiar but is completely different than a world where the reader lives. I loved the different dragon species and Finley’s ability to speak different dragon languages really adds to that global feel of different lands where these dragons lived. Her 1920’s London felt very post world war era appropriate that added to the ambience and set the mood.

The story flowed so well. All of the characters were interesting, added to the story and theme, and helped build Viv up into someone who the reader could like. She didn’t start off that way, but by the end of the book she had a redemption arc that left me wanting to know more about her, this world, and what would happen next. All in all I thought it was a solid fantasy novel, with hints of greatness. I’ll definitely be picking up the next novel when it comes 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 Language of Dragons

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

Finley has only ever had one goal in life, to become a famous podcaster. The first step is to audition and land the job on her high school’s podcast team. She has come up with the perfect pitch but her plans are waylaid when her football obsessed boyfriends decides to try out last minute, uses her idea, and takes her place on the team. Finley and her friends come up with the perfect plan for revenge but needs the help of her ex’s nemesis, Theo, to pull it off. What she doesn’t count on is the connection she starts to build with Theo.

I can always count on Kasie West for great characters, a good story, and a surprising theme. In this novel it was the sweet story that Finley’s grandmother tells about her first love, captured on Finley’s personal podcast. That story provided the heart, while Finley, Theo, and Jensen provided the conflict and resolution. While the story was pretty simple, I thought it was entertaining and provided the warm fuzzies I needed.

The high school story arc was pretty simple, young love, betrayal, and redemption but despite those themes the characters were pretty unique. Finley’s group of friends were diverse and eclectic, Theo was multi-layered, and Finley’s podcasting unique. It was truly only Jensen that fell into that stereotypical obtuse jock, but as he was set up as the villain I wasn’t really bothered by his simplicity. Finley’s future was on podcasting and Theo and those two had more depth and held my interest. The author did a great job of building the tension in the story so that the resolution felt impactful and satisfying. I really liked how this story played 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!* Better Than Revenge

Copyright 2025 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

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

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads