Happy Thanksgiving

💛🧡🤎🍂🍂🍂🍂💛🧡🤎🧡💛🍂🍂🍂🍂🤎🧡💛 

Hi all! Sorry I've been quiet on the blog, I've been hosting a giveaway over on my Instagram page.

It's my 3rd annual Booksgiving!

Each day I share a book series or an author I'm so thankful for. 

I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card* at the end of the celebration so you have plenty of time to enter! The giveaway ends Monday, December 1st! www.instagram.com/b.haney.946

Comment daily for more chances to win! 

Giveaway ends Monday, December 1, 2025!

*Due to Amazon restrictions, giveaway is for US readers only*

**Instagram/Meta is not responsible for this giveaway**

💛🧡🤎🍂🍂🍂🍂💛🧡🤎🧡💛🍂🍂🍂🍂🤎🧡💛 

This year has been so hard for so many people. I know I've struggled mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am so thankful that I have the ability and the freedom to run a blog and share my reviews of all the wonderful books I've read and experienced. This is a blessing and a privilege I do not take for granted.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and blessed holiday.

 💛🧡🤎 Elizabeth 🤎🧡💛

Veterans Romance Reading Recommendations

 Since it's Veterans Day, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite romance reads featuring military veterans. Each story moved me in one way or another and changed me in ways I can't even describe. 

Thank you to the authors who recognize the importance of military representation in literature. Thank you for bringing these characters to life and humanizing the trials and tribulations and the struggles active duty soldiers, veterans, and their families face every day while championing their strength and perseverance. 

🔹🔹🔷Heart of a Hero series by Laura Trentham🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷New Orleans series by Karen Rose🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷SBG series by P.A. DePaul🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷Hard Ink series by Laura Kaye🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷Nick & Noel's Christmas Playlist by Codi Hall🔷🔹🔹

🔹🔹🔷Deep Ops series by Rebecca Zanetti🔷🔹🔹

What are some of your favorite books featuring the military, soldiers, or veterans?

Please share with us!

Review: Jingle Spells by Emily Grimoire

Jingle Spells is Book 2 in Emily Grimoire's Oak Haven series.

Oak Haven is a magically spelled small town full of witches. This is a fun-loving paranormal romance series. Jingle Spells is set at Christmas time and is currently on sale for 99 Cents through several retail sites! 

Grab your copy today HERE*

About the Book

Delilah hates Christmas. She’s a strong independent witch who has finally left her hometown of Oak Haven and is off forging her own path. But an emergency drags her back just in time for the holidays.

Jasper is a human who also hates Christmas. He’s attempting to avoid festivities when he stumbles into the magical world of Oak Haven – a place which definitely isn't supposed to exist – and sees things which should be impossible.

When chaos erupts in the town, Delilah and Jasper must join forces to restore order. They should be the perfect team. Their only problem? Their growing attraction to each other might be distracting them from their work…

Perfect for fans of:

Forced proximity ☀️

Witchy aesthetic 🔮✨

Cozy small town 🍂☕

Sisterhood and found family 👯

My Review

This is my first read by Emily Grimoire and I was pleasantly surprised by the playfulness of the storyline and the witty banter of this colorful cast of characters.

I’ve neither watched Gilmore Girls or Charmed so I’m not sure I can cosign on the promise that this book is perfect for those particular fans. But what I can say is that Jingle Spells has loads of surprises, merriment, Christmas cheer, and a sense of community that’ll warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. 

I liked the attention to detail of Oak Haven’s origin story and enjoyed reading about the unique twist the author took on witch folklore. 

Delilah and Jasper had pretty good chemistry. They complemented each other well, but I would’ve liked to have a little more romance in the story. They are great partners in mischief though and made my heart happy as often as they tore it in two.

What I really loved was the special bond between Delilah and her sisters, Scarlett and Luna. They are wickedly fun, equally stubborn, and so loveable. 

Jingle Spells is a delightful read full of whimsy, witchery, and wonder. It was a joy to read and I’m looking forward to the next book. 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

Kobo | Google Play

About the Author

Emily Grimoire is the author of Impractical Magic. She was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating with a degree in History from the prestigious Smith College, she found solace from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in her storytelling. In addition to her writing, Emily is known for her philanthropy and dedication to various charitable causes. She serves on the boards of several cultural institutions and volunteers as a docent at a local whaling museum. Despite her success, Emily remains devoted to her ungrateful daughter and a granddaughter who turned out much better than expected.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

New Release: The Bridge Kingdom Deluxe Hardcover Edition by Danielle L. Jensen

The first novel of the bestselling Bridge Kingdom series, now in a stunning deluxe hardcover edition, featuring:

♦ Designed sprayed edges

♦ A deluxe jacket with new cover art

♦ A full-color illustrated book case with new character art

♦ A new interior black-and-white map

♦ Designed endpapers

♦ A spine design that will stretch across future deluxe hardcover editions in the series

These edges are GORGEOUS!!!

And an equally gorgeous print on the hardcover!

About the Book

Begin a sweeping, sizzling fantasy romance filled with political intrigue and passionate love, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood.

A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees.

The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom of Ithicana enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara’s homeland. So when she’s sent there as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses—and the defenses of its king.

Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. As her feelings for her husband transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save . . . and which she’ll destroy.

Also includes the bonus chapters from the paperback reissue: “The Wedding” from Ahnna’s point of view and “The Capture” from Jor’s point of view

Excerpt

 

1

Lara

Lara rested her elbows on the low sandstone wall, her eyes fixed on the glowing sun descending over the distant mountain peaks, nothing between here and there but scorching sand dunes, scorpions, and the occasional lizard. Impassable for anyone without a good camel, the correct provisions, and a healthy dose of luck.

Not that she hadn’t been tempted to try more than once.

A gong was struck, the reverberations echoing over the compound. It had called her to dinner every night for the last fifteen years, but tonight it rattled through her like a war drum. Lara took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then turned, striding across the training yard in the direction of the towering palms, her rose-­colored skirts whispering against her legs. All eleven of her half sisters were converging on the same place, each dressed in a different gown, the color carefully selected by their Mistress of Aesthetics to complement their features.

Lara detested pink, but no one had asked for her opinion.

After fifteen years caged within the compound, tonight would be the sisters’ last here together, and their Master of Meditation had ordered them to spend the hour before dinner in a favored location, contemplating all they had learned and all they would accomplish with the tools they’d been given.

Or at least, what one of them would accomplish.

The scent of the oasis drifted over Lara on the faintest of breezes. The smell of fruits and leafy things, the char of cooking meat, and, above all, water. Precious, precious water. The compound was located on one of the few springs in the midst of the Red Desert, but far off caravan routes. Isolated. Secret.

Just the way their father, the king of Maridrina, liked it. And from what she’d been told about him, he was a man who always got what he wanted, one way or another.

Pausing at the edge of the training yard, Lara brushed the bottoms of her feet against her calves, dusting off the sand before sliding on delicate, high-­heeled sandals, her balance as steady as though she wore combat boots.

Click, click, click. Her heels echoed the frantic beat of her heart as she walked down the pathway of mosaic tile and crossed the small bridge, the gentle sound of stringed instruments rising above the gurgle of water. The musicians had arrived with her father’s entourage to provide the entertainment for tonight’s festivities.

She doubted they’d be making the return journey.

A bead of sweat trickled down her back, the strap holding a knife against her inner thigh already damp. You will not die tonight, she silently chanted. Not tonight.

Lara and her sisters converged on the center of the oasis, a courtyard encircled by the spring, which turned it into an island of greenery. They walked toward the enormous table draped with silk and heavy with the silverware required for the dozen or more courses waiting in the wings. Servants, all of them mute, stood behind the thirteen chairs, eyes fixed on their feet. As the women approached, they drew the chairs back, and Lara sat without looking, knowing the rose-colored cushion would be beneath her.

None of the sisters spoke.

Underneath the table, Lara felt a hand grip hers. She allowed her eyes to flick to her left, briefly meeting Sarhina’s gaze, before returning to her plate. All twelve of them were the king’s daughters, now twenty years of age, each born by a different one of his wives. Lara and her half sisters had been brought to this secret place to undergo training that no Maridrinian girl had ever before received. Training that was now complete.

Lara’s stomach twisted sour, and she dropped Sarhina’s hand, the feel of her closest sister’s skin, cool and dry relative to her own, making her want to be sick.

The gong sounded again, and the musicians went silent as the girls rose to their feet. A heartbeat later, their father appeared, his silver hair gleaming in the lamplight as he traversed the path ­toward them, his azure eyes identical to those of every girl present. Sweat ran in rivulets down Lara’s legs even as her training had her take in every detail. The indigo of his coat. The worn leather of his boots. The sword belted at his waist. And, as he turned to walk around the table, the faintest outline of the blade hidden along his spine.

When he sat, Lara and her sisters followed suit, none of them making a sound.

“Daughters.” Leaning back in his chair, Silas Veliant, the king of Maridrina, smiled, waited for his taster to nod, then took a long mouthful of wine. All of them mirrored the motion, but Lara barely tasted the crimson liquid as it crossed her tongue.

“You are my most prized of possessions,” he said, waving his glass to encompass them all. “Of the twenty of my progeny who were brought here, you are all that survive. That you do, that you thrive, is an achievement, for the training you’ve received would’ve been a test for the best of men. And you are not men.”

It was only that very training that kept Lara from narrowing her eyes. From showing any emotion at all.

“All of you were brought here so that I might determine which of you is best. Which of you will be my knife in the dark. Which of you will become queen of Ithicana.” His eyes had all the compassion of one of the scorpions in the desert. “Which of you will fracture Ithicana’s defenses, and, in doing so, allow Maridrina to return to its former glory.”

Lara nodded once, all of her sisters doing the same. There was no anticipation. At least, not for their father’s choice. It had been made days ago, and Marylyn sat at the opposite end of the table, her golden hair braided like a crown at her brow, her dress lamé to match. Marylyn had been the obvious choice: brilliant, gracious, beautiful as the sunrise—­and as alluring as the sunset.

No, the anticipation was for what would come next. The choice had been made as to who would be offered to the crown prince—­king, now—­of the kingdom of Ithicana. What remained unknown was what would become of the rest of them. They were of royal blood, and that made them worth something.

All the sisters, Marylyn included, had gathered close on a pile of pillows the last two nights, each of them speculating as to their fates. To whom of the king’s viziers might they be wed. To which other realms might they be offered as brides. Neither the man nor the kingdom mattered. What every girl cared about was that it would be freedom from this place.

But all those long nights, Lara had rested on the outskirts, offering nothing, using the time to watch her sisters. To love them. To remember how she had fought each of them as often as she had hugged them tight. Their smiles. Their eyes. The way, even past childhood, they nestled together like a pile of puppies newly away from their mother.

Because Lara knew what the others did not: that their father intended for only one sister to leave the compound. And that would be the future queen of Ithicana.

A salad garnished with cheese and vibrant fruit was placed before her, and Lara ate mechanically. You will live, you will live, you will live, she chanted to herself.

“For as long as memory, Ithicana has placed a stranglehold on trade, making kingdoms and breaking them like it were some dark god.” Her father addressed them, his eyes flaring bright. “My father, and his father, and his father before him all sought to break the Bridge Kingdom. With assassins, with war, with blockades, with every tool at their disposal. But not one of them thought to use a woman.”

He smiled slyly. “Maridrinian women are soft. They are weak. They are good for nothing more than keeping house and raising children. Except for you twelve.”

Lara didn’t blink. None of her sisters did, and she wondered for a breath whether he realized that every one of them was considering stabbing him in the heart over the insult of his words. He should know well that every one of them was capable of doing it.

Her father continued, “Fifteen years ago, the king of Ithicana demanded a bride for his son and heir as tribute. As payment.” His lip curled up in a sneer. “The bastard is a year dead, but his son has called in his due. And Maridrina is ready.” His eyes went to Marylyn, then to the servants moving to clear the salad plates.

In the shadows of the growing night, Lara sensed movement. Felt the presence of the mass of soldiers her father had brought with him. The servants reappeared with steaming bowls of soup, the scent of cinnamon and leeks drifting ahead of them.

“Ithicana’s greed, its hubris, its contempt for you, will be its downfall.”

Lara allowed her eyes to leave her father’s face, taking in each one of her sisters. With all their training, all their knowledge of his plans, he never intended for any of them, save his chosen one, to live an hour past this dinner.

The soups were placed before them, and every one of her sisters waited for their father’s taster to take the first mouthful and nod. Then they picked up their spoons and dutifully began to eat.

Lara did the same.

Excerpted from The Bridge Kingdom (Deluxe Edition) by Danielle L. Jensen. Copyright © 2024 by Danielle L. Jensen. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Purchase Links

Penguin Random House*

About the Author

Photo: © Marwa Hurley

Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs. Learn more at danielleljensen.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Nalini Singh's Cover Reveal: Archangel's Eternity (Guild Hunter #18)

OMG! Nalini Singh just released the cover of Archangel's Eternity and it is absolutely STUNNING!!!

Sadly, Archangel's Eternity is the final book in Nalini's Guild Hunter series and it's only fitting that it should have the prettiest cover!!! Thank you to Tony Mauro and Rita Frangie for this masterpiece! 

🤍💜💛🖤💛💜🤍ARCHANGEL'S ETERNITY🤍💜💛🖤💛💜🤍

Coming May 2026

Elena and Raphael return for the hauntingly poignant conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s genre-defining Guild Hunter series.

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain . . . at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

🤍💜💛🖤Pre-order Links🖤💛💜🤍

North America (more links to follow)*

Ebook 

Kindle | KindleCa | AppleBooks | AppleBooksCa | Bookshop | Kobo | NOOK 

Mass market paperback

Amazon | AmazonCa |B&N | BAM | Bookshop | Indigo

Audio: links to follow

International (more links to follow)*

Ebook 

AppleBooksAu | AppleBooksNZ | AppleBooksUK | GooglePlay

KindleAu | KindleUK | Kobo

Paperback

Booktopia | Waterstones

Audio: links to follow

🤍💜💛🖤About the Author🖤💛💜🤍

Photo: © Sharyn Barratt

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Primal Mirror, Resonance Surge, and Storm Echo. She is also the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s Lineage, Archangel’s Resurrection, and Archangel’s Light, and three stand-alone thrillers: There Should Have Been Eight, Quiet in Her Bones, and A Madness of Sunshine. Learn more at nalinisingh.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Read-Along Review: Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews

I am so excited to be taking part in Books of My Heart's annual Read-Along! 

This year, the blog picked The Edge and Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews!

Sweep in Peace is the second book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series and is an exciting story full of action, adventure, subterfuge, and surprises!

About the Book

From the New York Times #1 bestselling author, Ilona Andrews, comes a fun and action-packed new adventure in the Innkeeper Chronicles! We invite you to relax, enjoy yourself, and above all, remember the one rule all visitors must obey: the humans must never know.

Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean’s werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant’s dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady.

They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

 

My Review

My review is showcased on Books of My Heart blog for the final book of  The Edge and Innkeeper Chronicles series! There are also a couple of amazing giveaways!!! Check out the review HERE

Purchase Links

Ilona Andrews Website*

Want to join the fun? Visit Books of My Heart's blog post HERE!

Don't forget to enter the giveaways!

About the Author

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: My Big Fat Vampire Wedding by Jessica Gadziala

The perfect fake relationship, spooky, sexy romance you NEED!

About the Book

Pandora has real problems. She still lives with her parents, she’s working a dead-end job and, oh yeah, she’s a vampire who must get married by her birthday in three months’ time or she won’t inherit the ancient family fortune.

One slight catch: she’s single.

She manages to find her perfect fake husband: her work crush, Victor, a PhD student with mountains of student debt. She can marry him, inherit, pay off his debt and divorce him. It’s a foolproof plan – well, unless Victor discovers she’s a vampire…

But the road to the altar won’t be an easy one for this vampire and human couple. Pandora’s little crush on Victor is growing, and with their big fat vampire wedding looming, will their promise of ‘till death do us part’ be fake after all?

My Review

My Big Fat Vampire Wedding tickles the funny bone and the imagination in this quirky and unique twist on vampires and the fake dating trope!

Normally, I steer clear of the fake dating/fiancé stuff because it starts the relationship off on a lie and peeves me off, but something about the blurb snagged my attention and I had to find out more.

I couldn’t really find the words to eloquently describe my feelings so I just went with bullet points of all the reasons why I loved the book (and why you should read it)!

🦇Funny and heartfelt
🦇Loads of laughs 
🦇Big, boisterous family
🦇Wonderfully crafted characters
🦇Meddling relatives
🦇Talking raven
🦇Vampires
🦇Loads of otherworldly creatures
🦇Quirky, fun-loving
🦇Heartwarming
🦇Slow burn
🦇Bucking traditions
🦇Challenging the status quo
🦇Forging your own path
🦇Being true to yourself

I absolutely loved this book and I hope the author has more stories planned in this enchanting paranormal universe.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by Avon Books UK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links

Harper Collins Website

About the Author

Jessica Gadziala is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of over 100 romance novels. She is a big believer in strong heroines, well-rounded side characters, and heroes who know how to treat their women. 

Jessica lives in New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, rabbits, and a whole flock of chickens and ducks. Learn more at jessicagadziala.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Be Back Soon

Hey all! 

I got covid last month and it knocked me clean out! It was my first time testing positive. 

I'm hoping to be able to shake off the tiredness so I can get back to posting soon. 

I hope everyone is doing well. 

Happy Reading!

Elizabeth

Ugh! Sick again...

 I hope everyone is doing well. I am down for the count this weekend with some kind of illness. I hope to be back to fighting strength next weekend. 

I hope you have a wonderful week. I wish you good health and good books!

Elizabeth

Review: Immortal by Morning by Lynsay Sands

Being an immortal rogue enforcer is never easy. But when human bones are found buried in a residential garden—and they happen to be discovered by your life mate—things get even more complicated in this latest installment of New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands’s wickedly alluring Argeneau vampire series.

About the Book

Crispinus Delacort is an immortal rogue enforcer and a homicide detective. But in his quiet city, he’s more likely to be rounding up truant teens than investigating murders. So, when he learns that human bones have been found in the garden of a sprawling rural home, it’s unexpected to say the least.

Abril Newman can’t believe her bad luck when she discovers a body buried on the grounds of her boss’s home, while chasing after Gina’s mischievous lab Lilith. She was just supposed to be house-sitting for a few days! And then Detective Delacort arrives. She knows she shouldn’t be thinking about love when there’s a crime scene outside the door. But ignoring her attraction to gorgeous Crispin is easier said than done.

When Crispin realizes that a rogue is involved, he knows this won’t be a simple investigation. Especially because he’s so distracted by Abril’s presence that all he wants is to kiss her senseless in every room of the manor. But he can woo her, solve the case, and stop a dangerous rogue by morning...right? All in a day’s work.

My Review

I have mixed feelings about this book.

Positives
Immortal by Morning has great characters, fun dialogue and funny life mate hijinks. Abril and Crispin seemed to suit each other well. Abril is hardworking, dedicated, personable and relatable. Crispin is a proper immortal with a quiet strength, beautiful smile, and endearing disposition.

We also get great cameos from many of the rogue hunters from previous books and they provide a lot of entertainment and comic relief.

Not so Positives
There was a character that was introduced that gave some serious clues to the mystery of the story and I thought it would be brought up again but never was. There was really no reason for this character to be introduced in the storyline because they had no purpose. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and then the book ended abruptly and I was left with questions. Whether this was done intentionally to lay the groundwork for a future book or just an accident, the loose threads really bugged me.

Immortal by Morning is a pretty good read with a few hiccups that briefly interrupted my reading experience, but did nothing to prevent me from loving the characters and highly anticipating the next book in the Argeneau series!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links

Lynsay Sands Website*

About the Author

Lynsay Sands is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historical romances and anthologies. She’s been writing since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there are occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Learn more at www.lynsaysands.net

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Read-Along Review: Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews

I am so excited to be taking part in Books of My Heart's annual Read-Along! 

This year, the blog picked The Edge and Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews!

Sweep of the Blade is the fourth book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series and it is amazing! 

About the Book

Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers—a special group who provide ‘lodging’ to other-planetary visitors—so she knows that a simple life isn’t in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud—completely abandoned by his family—has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she’s sworn off all things vampire.

Except… In helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word ‘no;’ and try as she might, Maud can’t just walk away from Arland. It doesn’t help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is extremely influential and Maud knows that a woman—a human, with a very questionable past—who’s turned down a proposal from its most beloved son won’t get a warm reception. Maybe she’s not sure about marrying Arland, but House Krahr isn’t going to decide for her. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there’s a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.

 

My Review

A delightful reading experience!

I loved reading about Maud and Helen’s journey to find their place in the galaxy. If Maud stays at the Gertrude Hunt Inn with her sister Dina, she’d be with family, but Helen is half human-half vampire. She’d have to be sheltered in the inn, raised in secrecy because humans can’t know the truth about otherworldly beings. Maud takes a chance by taking Helen and leaving with Arland to visit his home planet to see if it would be a better fit for Helen… and to explore her complicated feelings for the brash vampire.

Vampires are insular and superior beings and they don’t take kindly to having a human thinking she can waltz onto the planet and snag this virile eligible vampire warrior when there are thousands of perfectly eligible female vampires that are worthy of him. But Maud isn’t just a human. She’s been a vampire’s wife in a smaller House, trained in several languages, history, epics, customs, and combat. This ain’t her first rodeo.

Sweep of the Blade is an exciting read with so much action. I was completely immersed in the story and championed Maud and little Helen the whole time! These fierce females give Arland a run for his money, and he’s definitely up for the challenge! They just need to survive the entire House Krahr, duplicitous wedding guests, and Arland’s momma. Piece of cake 😉

I love the story and am excited for the next book!

Purchase Links

Ilona Andrews Website*

Want to join the fun? Visit Books of My Heart's blog post HERE!

Don't forget to enter the giveaways!

About the Author

“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Knife in the Back by Karen Rose

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose comes another "intense, complex, and unforgettable” * novel.

* James Patterson

About the Book

Officer Naomi Cranston was framed for stealing cocaine from the evidence locker and coerced—through threats to her young son—into not fighting the charges.  After five years in prison, she has tried to put the ordeal behind her, but the crooks who framed her have returned, this time demanding she move drugs along with her flower shop’s deliveries. They threaten her son once again, but this time she’s not capitulating quietly. She hires Broussard Investigations to protect her and her son, to prove her innocence, and to put the real bad guys away. 

As a former cop, Burke Broussard is well aware of the corruption in the New Orleans police department. He had always believed Naomi Cranston to be guilty and isn’t inclined to take her case. Until he sits down to listen to her side of things. Until he sees her tortured innocence written all over her beautiful face…

 A relationship born amid an investigation is a fragile thing. Will it survive the danger and the threats? Will it survive the truth?

Excerpt

 

1

The Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Monday, February 24, 8:45 a.m.

Burke Broussard placed the papers he'd just reviewed into a drawer in his desk at Broussard Investigations. Business completed, he wanted to spend a few minutes with the man he'd called brother since they were teenagers.

"Everything looks good, as usual, Kaleb. Thank you."

Kaleb accepted the thanks with a nod and the smile Burke had grown up seeing. It was a bittersweet connection to better times, because he and Kaleb were the only ones left now.

Burke's mother, his uncle Larry. And Kyra, of course. All gone these twenty-five years. Even Kaleb's father, Uncle Larry's dear friend and business partner, was gone now. It was just Burke and Kaleb.

"Now that the business is out of the way," Kaleb said, "how the hell are you?"

The "business" was Kaleb's quarterly presentation of their company's profit and loss statement, along with the new initiatives that kept Fontenot Industries at the top of its game. Burke didn't always understand the software that the engineers were designing, but he could read a P&L. Their company was doing very well.

Kaleb Marchand was the genius behind all the tech. As the owner, Burke mostly just signed the checks. The profits he made from Fontenot allowed him to fund the work he really loved-getting justice for those who'd been let down by the law. Some of the people he aided didn't have the money to pay them. Because of Uncle Larry and his gift that kept on giving year after year, Burke could do a lot of pro bono work.

"Oh, you know," Burke said with a shrug. "Same old, same old."

Kaleb shook his head fondly. "Meaning you have loads of cases you can't tell me anything about." He looked over his shoulder to the closed office door. "Glad to see Joy looking so healthy."

"You and me both." Burke's office administrator had been shot two years before and had taken eighteen months to come back to her job full-time. Rehab took a lot longer with age. Joy wasn't all that old-only thirteen years older than Burke's forty-three-but her body had taken a real beating.

She'd nearly died.

However, she was back at her desk, and he couldn't be happier.


"How are Juliette and the kids?"

"Juliette's got the house and the office decorated for Mardi Gras," Kaleb said with a grin. "You should come over for supper."

"I will. And those godsons of mine?" Braden was fifteen, Trent thirteen. It seemed like yesterday that he'd held them at their christenings, and now they were teenagers.

Kaleb rolled his eyes. "Braden's got a girlfriend."

Burke barely controlled his wince. "Another one?"

"Yep," Kaleb said dolefully, and then his smile was back. "But Trent's getting an award in two weeks. He developed a robot in his after-school program. Did it all on his own, without my help." Kaleb's pride was clear. "It's extremely well-done."

"Apple didn't fall far from the tree," Burke drawled. "If there's a ceremony, send me the details, and I'll be there."

"You always are."

Burke's desk phone buzzed and he checked the time. "That's Joy telling me that my nine o'clock is here."

He didn't know who the appointment was with, and that had his hackles rising. Joy normally gave him all the details on clients. That she hadn't done so this morning was both intriguing and concerning.

Kaleb rose and Burke came around his desk to give him a bear hug. Kaleb grunted, then laughed, hugging him back.

"Don't break my ribs," Kaleb said. "I might need them someday."

Burke slapped his back, then let him go. "Sorry."

Kaleb looked up at him with a smirk. Kaleb was tall, around six feet, but Burke was taller. And bigger. It had been that way since they were teenagers.

"You need to find a woman who'll appreciate those bear hugs of yours," Kaleb said. "Juliette has a new list of ladies for you."

Burke opened his office door with a good-natured groan, because Juliette never tired of trying to set him up with her friends. "Can you tell her to stop?"

"I can and I have, but you know Jules."

Burke did, and he loved her. She was the sister he'd never had. "I'll figure out a way to weasel out of anything she sets up."

Kaleb chuckled. "You can try." He walked into the lobby, leaning down to kiss Joy's cheek. "I missed you, J-Bird. Glad you're back full-time."

Joy beamed up at him. "Me too. Give my love to that wife of yours."

"I will. Thank you for rescheduling me on short notice. This trip came up last minute. I fly out in a few hours."

"Safe travels," Joy said. "Bring me something from Chicago."

Kaleb smiled at her. "Chocolate?"

Joy nodded. "You've always been a smart one."

Burke waited until Kaleb had gone before leaning against Joy's desk. "Where is my nine o'clock?"

Because the lobby was empty.

"Chilling with Antoine in the computer room. She and her friend didn't want to be out in the open."

Burke nodded. "Skittish, huh?"

"One of them is." Joy's expression became troubled. "Don't say no right away, Burke."

Burke's eyes went wide. "Why would I say no?"

"Promise me," Joy pressed. "Hear her out."

Now Burke was even more intrigued. "Okay." He turned for his office door. "Send in my appointment-and her friend-when they're done 'chilling' with Antoine.'"

"We're done," a familiar woman's voice said. "And we're ready."

Burke turned, puzzled to see Sylvi Kristiansen walking up to Joy's desk. "Sylvi? What are you doing here?"

"I need your help."

Sylvi's sister Val was one of Burke's inner circle. He'd gotten to know Sylvi over the last two years, since she and Val had healed a family rift that had kept them estranged. He and Sylvi had become friends. If she needed his help, how could he possibly say no?

Then he looked over Sylvi's head to the woman standing behind her, and the smile he'd been prepared to give disappeared like mist. Rage bubbled up, and his fists clenched.

He knew this woman, too.

Naomi Cranston.

He'd met her only once, when he was a detective and she worked in the evidence room. While he'd fought to remain honest, to retain his integrity, others took the easy way. The illegal way.

Which Naomi Cranston had done.

"No," he said, then turned on his heel and walked back into his office, shutting the door hard enough that everyone would know it was his final word.


The Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Monday, February 24, 9:03 a.m.

"Burke Broussard!" Sylvi shouted, her anger clear as day. "You come back out here!"

"It's okay." Naomi had known this would be Broussard's response. She'd hoped for a miracle, but . . . she'd known.

"No, it's not okay." Sylvi marched to Broussard's office door, her fist lifted and ready to knock, but the soft whir of the admin's electric wheelchair stopped her.

Joy Thomas had placed herself in front of Broussard's door. "Simmer down, Sylvi. Let me talk to him."

Sylvi swallowed hard. "Okay. Thank you."

Joy squeezed Sylvi's hand. "Good girl." Then she entered Broussard's office, closing the door behind her far more gently than Broussard had.

Naomi started for the elevator. "It's no use. I told you that."

She'd been saying that ever since Sylvi had knocked on her front door Friday evening, shortly after Naomi had gotten home, shaken and terrified.

She hadn't opened the door, but Sylvi had a key for emergencies. The petite florist had used that key, storming in on Naomi as she'd sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her loaded Glock.

Had it not been for Sylvi's arrival, Naomi wasn't sure what she might have done. Now she wasn't sure what she'd do. Burke Broussard had been her only hope.

Sylvi grabbed her hand before she had a chance to press the elevator button. "Just wait. Burke will help you. Give him a few minutes."

"He said no, Syl. I have to respect that. I might say the same thing in his place."

"No, you wouldn't. You'd bend over backward to help."

She probably would, even now. Even after her willingness to help another person had contributed to her downfall. "Well, he's not me. And he said no."

"Let Joy convince him."

"I didn't come here to cause trouble."

The door opened and the whir of Joy's wheelchair had them both turning.

Joy was pointing to the open door. "Go in, Miss Cranston. He'll listen."

"And then he'll help," Sylvi said with a confidence that Naomi did not feel.

But she followed her boss into the lion's den, flinching when Joy shut the door behind them. The admin remained in the lobby, giving them privacy.

She didn't look at Broussard, who sat behind a large mahogany desk. She merely followed Sylvi to a set of visitor chairs, lowering herself into one of them as Sylvi did the same.

Broussard said nothing. Naomi kept her eyes on her hands, clutched together in her lap. She didn't need to look at the man to know this was hopeless.

Sylvi sighed. "Burke . . ." She reached out and gently separated Naomi's hands, holding one tight. "You're going to hurt yourself," she murmured.

Yes, she would. In the end, she would.

Not with the Glock, because Sylvi had locked it away. And not with any other instrument of suicide.

She truly didn't think she had it in her. Although the alternative-prison-was a compelling argument to the contrary.

But she didn't have many choices. If Broussard turned her away, she'd accept Gaffney's drugs-but not in Sylvi's van, and she'd not take them to the address that she was sure she'd be given. She'd use her own car so that Sylvi wouldn't be implicated. And then she'd call 911 and anonymously report herself.

She'd be arrested and sent back to prison. She'd tell her ex to protect their son.

Maybe Broussard could be convinced to do so as well. Protection for Everett.

Yes. That was what she'd ask for.

"What?" Broussard finally said irritably.

Naomi glanced up to find Sylvi staring Broussard down, a tiny five-foot woman glaring defiantly at a brickhouse of a man. He had to be six-five. His dark hair was cut short, his handsome face tanned, despite it being winter.

She glanced at the bicycle leaning against one wall. Biking to work would explain it. She had the brief, insane desire to grab his bike and escape the man's hawklike gaze.

"Sylvi," she whispered. "You don't need to do this."

"Yes, I do," Sylvi snapped. "Burke, you might think you know about Naomi's situation, but I can assure you that you do not."

"I know enough," Broussard said, his deep Cajun drawl rumbling out of his chest. It was a broad chest. A strong one.

He'd be able to protect Everett. And he had the reputation for taking on hard cases. Once she was back in prison, Everett would need all the help he could get.

"Did you know she was out?" Sylvi demanded.

"I'd heard."

"Her sentence was overturned."

"On a technicality," Broussard said mildly, his Cajun accent thick. "An overturned conviction is not a declaration of innocence."

And there was the rub. Naomi would never be looked at with anything other than derision again, and that hurt. However, Everett was more important than her hurt feelings.

"I want to hire you," Naomi blurted out. "To protect my son."

Sylvi and Broussard both turned to stare at her. Sylvi was stunned. Broussard looked . . . curious.

Curiosity was better than derision.

"Naomi, no." Sylvi's eyes filled with tears. "You can't."

"I don't have a choice." Tugging her hand free of Sylvi's grip, she faced Broussard head-on. "I've been given an ultimatum. Transport illegal drugs or my son will be harmed. If I don't do what they say, they will hurt him. He's only sixteen. He's innocent of all this."

Broussard glanced at Sylvi, who was now openly crying.

Her boss had a tender heart. Which, Naomi supposed, was the reason Sylvi had given her a job to begin with.

"Why not take this to the cops?" he asked.

Naomi laughed bitterly. "Because they are the cops."

Broussard's body language abruptly changed. His arms had been locked across his chest, but he lowered them to his desk and leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Who?"

"Do you know a cop named John Gaffney?"

Broussard nodded, his expression giving nothing away. "I do."

Naomi wanted to look away but forced herself to hold firm. Broussard wouldn't respect her if she flinched. And if he didn't respect her, he wouldn't believe her.

Do this for Everett.
"He used to report to Captain Cresswell." If she hadn't been watching, she would have missed the small twitch of Broussard's jaw. That was good. He didn't like Cresswell. They had at least that in common. "I know you worked in Cresswell's department for a few years. I know you . . . left."

"Escaped," Sylvi muttered, drying her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. "Some people weren't as lucky."

"Sylvi." Broussard's voice softened. "Let me listen."

"She shouldn't have needed to invoke the name of Gaffney or Cresswell to get you to listen," Sylvi snapped.

Naomi laid a hand on her boss's arm. "He only knows what the media covered. He doesn't know the truth."

Broussard sat back in his chair. "Then tell me the truth."

Naomi squared her shoulders. She didn't have anything to lose. "I was an honest cop. I worked in the evidence room."

"Until you stole a kilo of cocaine."

Naomi shook her head. "I never did. They hid it in my car. It was found when I stopped at a traffic accident."

"To supposedly help a woman whose car had been wrecked."

Naomi remembered it all in sharp detail. "Her flashers were on and her car had been damaged. The front bumper was crushed and the driver's-side windows were broken. She looked so young and scared when she ran into the road, motioning me to stop. So I stopped. I wasn't on duty at the time, so I called it in as a hit-and-run and waited with her until the police arrived."

"And then?" Broussard asked.

"She'd asked to put her book bag in my back seat, because it was pouring down rain and her windows were broken. I let her stow it back there without another thought. The cops arrived, took her statement, then told her to get her book bag from my back seat. That's when she saw the evidence bag. Her exclamation was so believable. Even I believed her for a moment. Until I realized what was happening. It was an evidence bag full of cocaine I'd processed." She lifted her chin again. "I was careful, Mr. Broussard. I was meticulous, for all the years I did that job. There were two bags of cocaine confiscated in an arrest, but there was no record of the second bag being delivered to Evidence."

Excerpted from Knife in the Back by Karen Rose. Copyright © 2025 by Karen Rose. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

My Review

Knife in the Back delivers a thrilling read full of mystery, intrigue, and betrayal.

First off, I am absolutely heartbroken to know that this is the last book in this city of Karen Rose’s Romantic Suspense series. There are SO many amazing and wonderful characters who deserve the spotlight. I am hoping against hope for more stories in the future.

The final book in New Orleans focuses on Burke, the owner of Broussard Investigations. He leads a team of talented, well-trained ex-military personnel who provide a number of services from private investigations to bodyguarding and many other specializations. 

Burke has honor, integrity, loyalty, and a deep sense of justice. So when a disgraced ex-cop shows up in his office asking for help, he’s loath to provide it. Whatever Burke decides next could depend on whether he can live with the consequences. Does he trust in Naomi’s innocence despite the insurmountable evidence against her or does he believe she truly is a dirty cop and is playing them all for fools? 

Burke and the gang are brilliantly crafted characters that I have loved so much these past four years. They are an excellent team and an even better family. 

Naomi’s story is full of gut wrenching heartache, I had so much empathy for her. Naomi’s freedom and livelihood were stolen from her and her son was turned against her but her resilience is incredible and admirable.

The circumstances of Naomi’s plight hampers any real romance between her and Burke, but the chemistry is there as is the physical attraction. 

The book’s suspense is exciting, the mystery is intriguing, and the storyline kept me fully engaged. 

I tip my hat once again to Karen Rose’s craftsmanship of the villain(s). He/She/They is/are insanely evil with layers of deceit and duplicity. I didn’t see the knife in the back until it was too late! Who got hit? Who wielded the blade? Are they alive to tell the tale? Read to find out!

**Please check your trigger warnings. There are many adult themes with several types of abuse and trauma scenarios in this book that may make some readers uncomfortable. Read at your own discretion**

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Purchase Links

Penguin Random House*

About the Author

Photo: © Michael Greene Photography

Karen Rose is the award-winning, #1 international bestselling author of over twenty-five novels, including the bestselling Baltimore and Cincinnati series. She has been translated into twenty-three languages and her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany’s der Spiegel bestseller lists. Learn more at www.karenrosebooks.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks

Heart Strings is the second book in Ivy Fairbank's Love in Galway series set in Ireland.

This is my first read from the author and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book.

About the Book

She doesn’t do second chances. But he’s not done writing their song.

Cielo “Lo” Valdez doesn’t believe in second chances. Surviving cancer taught her life is too short to spend time on someone who wronged you. But Aidan O’Toole is determined to show her life is best spent together.

When the tough-as-nails Texan moved to Galway for medical school, she wasn’t looking for love. Aidan, a gorgeous, tattooed, mandolin-playing lawyer, slipped past her defenses. They each fell hard and fast. But when Aidan was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to move to London and record an album—he took it, breaking Lo’s heart. Yet more than two years and a successful album later, every song he writes is still about her, the one he let get away. And every time Lo hears his voice on the radio singing about love, it’s an arrow straight to her soul.

Now they’re on a collision course as maid of honor and best man at a weekend-long Irish castle wedding. Are some mistakes worth forgiving? Can Aidan convince Lo their song wasn’t meant to end?

My Review

Heart Strings is a second chance romance that’ll make you laugh, shed a few tears, and give you butterflies.

The storyline is a precarious balancing act of feelings and emotions that had my heart in a chokehold. Lo and Aidan’s relationship is so beautifully fragile and their journey is a tough one. Can they find the courage to claim the happiness they both so desperately deserve?

This was a book full of so many feelings and of so much love. The dialogue is funny and heartfelt. The characters are fun-loving, endearing, and easily relatable. I smiled a lot while reading and couldn’t contain a few chuckles.

I know I’m mentioning love a lot, but that’s the best way I can describe Heart Strings. All the actions, all the drama, all the earth-shattering and heartwrenching things that happen in this book, are colored with love. Love of a parent. Love of a friend. Love of family. And a love so raw, it defies definition. 

I am looking forward to the next book.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.

Excerpt & Purchase Links

Penguin Random House*

About the Author

Photo: © Eero Loera

Ivy Fairbanks is the author of Morbidly Yours and Heart Strings, and a shameless consumer of rom-com books, hazelnut coffee, and Hozier music. Not necessarily in that order. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has made her a believer in the importance of representation in romance. Fairbanks writes stories where realistic characters find love, acceptance, and their happily-ever-afters. She lives in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and son. At any given moment, she is probably trapped under a sleeping tabby cat. Learn more at www.ivyfairbanksbooks.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.