Review: Best Man with Benefits by Samanthe Beck

Best Man with Benefits by Samanthe Beck
Series: Wedding Dare, Book 4 / McCade Brothers, Book 3
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781622667291
Source: Publisher / Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Entangled

How far can one favor go…

Logan McCade arrives at his best friend’s wedding overworked and in desperate need of a vacation, only to discover his best man duties have been…expanded. He must coax Colton’s little sister out of her shell so she doesn’t hide in her room all week. Logan figures he can handle one introverted bridesmaid, but he’s not expecting how much he enjoys “handling” Sophie…or how much she enjoys being handled.

Socializing has never been web designer Sophie Brooks’s strong suit, but she’s determined to shed her wallflower image and embrace the “New Sophie”—a feat made easier with the supremely sexy Logan McCade tempting her to explore all her forbidden fantasies. If she’s not careful, she just might fall for the best man.

Sophie’s sweet, sexy, and delectably awkward demeanor brings much-needed calm to Logan’s hectic life. With the nuptials only days away, Logan is forced to face the possibility that his favor to a friend might have become something else entirely…and that he’s not willing to let Sophie go. Ever.

Best Man with Benefits is a flirty, sexy read. Samanthe Beck’s entry in the Wedding Dare series features best man Logan and bridesmaid/sister of the groom, Sophie. Sophie is an insecure introvert who needs to be coaxed out of her shell. Logan is a longtime friend of her brother who can’t stop seeing Sophie as desirable. Sparks fly and neither tries to resist, which means readers are in for a good time.

Sophie carries a lot of baggage from being a wallflower and having been teased in the past. She finds it hard to believe someone like Logan could really be attracted to her over the other gorgeous bridesmaids. Sophie’s insecurities are a big factor in the story and can threaten to take over but I did like seeing her overcome them and come into her own. Logan is an incredibly appealing hero. He’s overworked and stressed with it, but Sophie gives him a reason to take time, slow down, and appreciate life. They have fantastic chemistry and Beck keeps the heat turned up with these two. The result is a deliciously sensual romance that has a lot of heart because Logan and Sophie are so likeable and watching trust and love build between them was delightful.

Best Man with Benefits is part of both the Wedding Dare and McCade Brothers series but it can easily be read as a standalone. I liked seeing the other characters move in and out of the story without stealing the spotlight from our hero and heroine. All in all, Sophie and Logan’s story was a highly entertaining read. Their chemistry was perfect, the romance both sensual and sweet, and the happily ever after was satisfying.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a copy of my own. Neither affects my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Best Books of 2025

2026 has fluttered in like a freshly opened hardcover—pages crisp, spine unbroken, and possibilities tucked into every chapter. Before I race off toward shiny new releases, towering TBR stacks, and the inevitable comfort re-reads, it’s time to pause, dog-ear the past, and look back on my 2025 year in books.

Over the course of the year, I read 68 books, including a handful of beloved re-reads that felt like curling up with old friends—familiar, comforting, and just as magical as ever. I also took a chance on 27 debut or new-to-me authors, discovering several absolute gems whose backlists are now whispering my name from the shelves. While I’m setting aside the A to Z Reading Challenge after sixteen years in favor of a little more reading freedom, 2025 was still a year full of delightful surprises, unexpected favorites, and plenty of bookish joy worth revisiting.

Just like last year, I’m once again sorting my top reads into two carefully curated stacks: Best Books of 2025 (Published in 2025) and Best Books of 2025 (Published in Years Prior). Every book on this list was a first-time read—otherwise a few much-loved authors and perennial comfort books would simply take up permanent residence on my year-end roundup. To keep things fair (and to save myself from endlessly reshuffling the list), the books are alphabetized by author. Any other approach might have had me second-guessing every choice until 2027, and I’d much rather spend that time discovering a new favorite book

Best Books of 2025 (Published in 2025)

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

My Review

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Archangel’s Ascension (Guild Hunter, Book 17) by Nalini Singh

My Review

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Best Books of 2025 (Published in years prior)

Hollow (A Gothic Shade of Romance, Book 1) by Karina Halle

My Review

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Murder in Highbury (Emma Knightley Mysteries, Book 1) by Vanessa Kelly

My Review

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

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2026 New (to me) Author Challenge

I've done this challenge for the past fifteen years and discovered some amazing authors along the way (not hard to believe since I've read 726 debut/new-to-me authors in that time). It's fun for me to look back on these lists, especially when I see authors who are now auto-buys for me.


The Challenge: Read 10 or more books this year by authors you’ve never read before.
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

My list:

1. Author:
Title:

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Books I've Read in 2026

For the past sixteen years I've kept track of the books I read and it's been quite a fun project. I read so much that everything tends to blend together in my mental library and it's fun to look back and see what I've I've read, loved, and want to re-read (and - on the rare occasion - want to avoid). Plus, it's great to share and compare lists with other book bloggers.

This list is only of books and novellas I've read and finished (though if I read an entire anthology, I list only the anthology title). The books are listed in the order I read them and if I write a review for a book I link it here as well.

There are sure to be many wonderful stories on the list, but the ones with a ** by them are ones I highly recommend.

1. Illicit (The Wrong Alpha, Book 3) by Alessandra Hazard
2. Expert (The Wrong Alpha, Book 4) by Alessandra Hazard
3. Forbidden (The Wrong Alpha, Book 5) by Alessandra Hazard
4. Undone (The Wrong Alpha, Book 6) by Alessandra Hazard
5. Best Man with Benefits (Wedding Dare, Book 4 / McCade Brothers, Book 3) by Samanthe Beck

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Review: The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod
Series: Austentatious, Book 1
Publisher: Carina Adores
Genre: Female/Female Historical Romance 

ISBN: 9781335928269
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

When Mr. Collins dies after just four years of marriage, Charlotte is lost. While not exactly heartbroken, she will soon have to quit the parsonage that has become her home. In desperate need of support, she writes to her best friend, Lizzie. Unable to leave Pemberley, Lizzie sends her sister Mary Bennet in her stead.

To Charlotte’s surprise, Mary Bennet is nothing like she remembers. Mary’s discovery of academia and her interest in botany (as well as getting out from under her mother’s thumb) have caused her to flourish. Before long, Charlotte is enraptured, and with each stolen glance and whispered secret, their friendship quickly blossoms into something achingly real.

But when her time at the parsonage begins to dwindle and a potential suitor appears, Charlotte must make a choice—the safety and security of another husband, or a passionate life with Mary outside the confines of the ton’s expectations.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is a slow-burn romance between a widowed Charlotte Collins (née Lucas) and her best friend’s sister, Mary Bennet. Author Lindz McLeod continues the story of two of the more wallflower-ish supporting characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in a charming story of love and growth.

Charlotte has always done what was expected of her, mindful that though loved she is a burden on her family. Marriage to Mr. Collins was supposed to fix that, but when he dies four years into their marriage, Charlotte is adrift. She can either remarry to secure her future or return home to her parents and the same existence she was drifting through for years. When her best friend is unable to leave Pemberley, she sends her younger sister, Mary. What I liked best about this story was how McLeod truly makes Mary feel like an older version of Austen’s character. She’s different, mature, and has come into her own but in a way that felt natural. Mary has blossomed having left Longbourn to stay with a relative and she sparks something in Charlotte that the woman has long repressed.

Charlotte and Mary make an excellent couple. They shine when they are among people who listen to and appreciate them for who they are. I really liked seeing Charlotte come out of her shell and to be respected by people for her knowledge and skills. But will Charlotte upend what is expected of her, what duty and society has drilled into her? Or will she take a chance on a forbidden love with the enchanting Mary Bennet? As this is a romance, I doubt it will surprise readers which track Charlotte takes, but it’s the journey not just the destination we read for. And the journey is sweet, if a little slow for my taste. As much as I liked Charlotte and Mary together, the middle of the book did drag for me. The writing didn’t pull me in as much as I would have liked and I kept putting the story down, not because it was bad but because it didn’t pull at me. Still, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is a lovely romance overall and the ending was a satisfying one for our two heroines.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780593548554
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life. So when an office romance ends poorly and gets her fired, she applies for a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created, but never imagining she'll actually get it.

Except she does. By the end of her first week in Amsterdam, she’s never felt more adrift or alone. Then she crashes her bike into her high school ex-boyfriend—and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.

Wouter van Leeuwen was a Dutch exchange student Dani’s family hosted, a forbidden love that ended in a painful breakup. Years later, there’s still sizzling chemistry between them, and okay, maybe a little animosity. More importantly, Wouter needs to be married to inherit a gorgeous family home on a canal—and when Dani's job falls apart, she needs a visa. As the marriage of convenience pushes them together in unexpected ways, Dani must decide whether her new life is yet another mistake—or if it's worth taking a risk on a second chance.

What Happens in Amsterdam is a love letter to Amsterdam and it’s clear that Rachel Lynn Solomon delighted in sharing the beauty of the Netherlands with her readers. I usually enjoy Solomon’s work and I did like “seeing” Amsterdam through Dani’s eyes, but overall this book was a miss for me.

Dani is on a quest to find herself and so she uproots her life, leaving California for the Netherlands. She’s flying by the seat of her pants and it’s not going well, but just when things are about to completely fall apart she’s rescued by Wouter van Leeuwen, the Dutch exchange student who broke her heart as a teenager. One green card marriage later and Dani is trying very hard not to fall for Wouter all over again.

I liked that Dani is thirty and didn’t quite know what she wanted to do with her life, that the career she fell into didn’t fit her. However, the way she went about things made her seem kind of juvenile, which is slightly understandable when you see how hovering her parents are but at the same time didn’t make her a particularly engaging heroine. Wouter is a kind and caring hero, but there’s nothing memorable about him. As a couple they felt kind of bland and at times it seemed like the romance was going through the motions before fading into the background to take readers on a virtual trip through the Netherlands some more.

Overall, What Happens in Amsterdam is fine but just not the book for me. The romance was lacking, the situations felt a bit too contrived (even for someone who has no problem suspending disbelief), and there was too much time spent focusing on Dani and Wouter’s relationship in the past rather than the present. So while I normally like Solomon’s books and I did enjoy the highlight reel of Amsterdam, Dani and Wouter’s story was not my cup of tea.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Review: Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly

Murder at Donwell Abbey by Vanessa Kelly
Series: Emma Knightley Mysteries, Book 2
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Historical Mystery 

ISBN: 9781496746009
Release Date: November 25, 2025
eBook Source: Publisher
Audiobook Source: Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother…

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace…

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery…

All is well in Emma Knightley’s world after the events of last summer. She and George are happily living in Harfield, their siblings are visiting, and nothing could go wrong. That is, until Mr. Woodhouse makes a shocking announcement: he plans to marry Miss Bates! The Woodhouse-Knighley crew is somewhat alarmed that the chatty Miss Bates is soon to be a member of the family, but they quickly rally and Emma throws a party to celebrate the betrothal at Donwell Abbey. Then the unthinkable happens: Prudence Parr, lady’s maid at Donwell, is found dead on the terrace. Did she fall from her bedroom or was she pushed?

While George is Highbury’s magistrate, Emma isn’t about to sit around and do nothing. Emma’s Holmes has the unlikeliest of Watsons in her eldest nephew, Henry, and her stepmother-to-be, Miss Bates. I loved watching Emma put the pieces of the puzzle together, especially with Miss Bates who is surprisingly helpful. Vanessa Kelly excels at expanding the world of Highbury while still making it feel like the village of Jane Austen’s Emma. She also is fantastic at making the characters from Austen’s novel feel like themselves while allowing them space to grow as they live their lives beyond the original story. The new characters Kelly creates feel organic to the world and I was just delighted to be in it as Emma, George, and their loved ones uncover clues and hunt for the killer.

Murder at Donwell Abbey is a delightful story and I hope Kelly has many more Emma Knightley stories planned because the world is too good to leave. That being said, while this is a cozy mystery the mystery part is where the story did falter somewhat. Prudence’s death is only the beginning of what is going on at Donwell that George and Emma were unaware of. I really liked seeing the two of them – with the help of family and friends – put the pieces together. The mysteries that unfolded were interesting and the resolution of whodunit was satisfying. However, much of the why and how is explained after the fact in an infodump near the end which didn’t work for me. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and I am very much looking forward to Emma’s next outing as amateur sleuth.



Disclosure: I purchased the audiobook and received the eBook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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