Review: Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett

Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennett
Series: Leviathan Fitness, Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Male/Male Erotic Monster Romance 

ISBN: 9780593956991
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

There is only one thing holding back Briar Glenn Parks Department supervisor Reece Rollins from success in his upcoming triathlon—his subpar swimming skills. At the urging of his sister’s wolven mate, Reece joins Leviathan Fitness to train in the gym’s Olympic-size pool. There he meets Cyrus, a charming kraken with unparalleled skill in the pool, and many, many tentacles that both intimidate and intrigue Reece. When Cyrus offers to coach Reece for his race, he happily accepts the help.

For the past few months, Cyrus has been floating through life without his usual spark. He’s even hit a creative block with his painting and hasn’t been able to produce a new piece of artwork in a while. But the opportunity to train this handsome human grump gives Cyrus something real to smile about.

New and unexpected feelings begin to arise from the depths as Reece and Cyrus start to spend time together in and out of the water. But can both men let down their guards enough to be swept away by love?

Tentacles & Triathlons is a super sweet and sexy monster romance. Ashley Bennett’s second Leviathan Fitness novel is a fated mates love story between a kraken and a human.

Cyrus is centuries old and has lost his spark. He hasn’t been inspired to paint, he has friends but feels a bit lonely, and he’s watched his best friend fall in love while worrying he’ll never find that for himself. Then he meets Reece, his best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law and all three of Cyrus’s hearts awaken. Cyrus is a sweetheart with a naughty side. He’s easy to like and he’ll do anything for those he loves.

Reece has never been comfortable around monsters and Cyrus is unique even among the unusual, which makes for an awkward first encounter. Reece has issues he’s trying to work through and he’s making a real effort to not be so standoffish. He’s training for a triathlon and needs help with the swimming portion so he accepts Cyrus’s offer to train him. Cyrus is everything Reece has ever needed and never knew he wanted. I liked that Reece had to work at lowering his guards. His attraction to Cyrus helped with that and I enjoyed seeing them fall in love. Cyrus is patient and giving and Reece learns to open up and enjoys showing care for Cyrus in return. The two of them fit one another and their love story was low on drama, which worked for this tale.

Tentacles & Triathlons is a super sweet story that thankfully Bennett kept from becoming saccharine. There’s a lot of tentacle play for monster lovers to enjoy and the spice balances well with the sweetness. It’s a fluffy story with one perfect hero and one work in progress hero who’s really trying. Muscles & Monsters, the first Leviathan Fitness book, wasn’t for me, but Cyrus and Reece’s romance was a lot more entertaining and made me curious to explore the series further.



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: No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
Series: Oaks Sisters, Book 2
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780063416208
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.

Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.

If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.

The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.

She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.

No Place Like You is sweet, funny, and heartwarming. Jillian Meadows’s second Oaks Sisters book features Fable and Theo and I was utterly charmed by both of them.

Fable and Theo have been both friends and rivals and they’re about to become so much more. Theo survived an abusive parent and carries a lot of guilt because of that. He doesn’t do relationships, which is of course famous last words. Fable is at loose ends. She judges herself for starting and stopping things, is struggling with the weight of grief from the loss of her grandfather, and doesn’t wholly believe in herself. I loved watching Fable and Theo find their way, to each other and to what they wanted out of life. Their love story is delightful and they have an easy chemistry that no amount of trying to tell themselves they’re only fake dating can mask.

No Place Like You features not just a loveable hero and heroine but a welcoming cast of secondary characters and the protagonists’ family and friends. I adored the town of Fern River and how everyone totally shipped Theo and Fable. Even though this book deals with some heavy themes, it’s a cozy and welcoming tale that is just lovely.



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: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Male/Male Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780063429581
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

Simon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie.

Simon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he is kind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time.

The more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything... right?

Star Shipped is already one of my favorite books of the year. Cat Sebastian’s first foray into contemporary romance shows that her talent shines in any era. I absolutely loved the complicated, messy, slow burn love story between Charlie and Simon.

For seven years Charlie and Simon have been bickering constantly behind the scenes of their sci-fi TV show. But now that Simon wants to move on, both are looking to ensure that their off-screen quarreling isn’t affecting their professional images. An attempt at public friendship leads to them learning that these opposites aren’t so dissimilar after all. Charlie is the human equivalent of a warm hug; he’s got big extrovert energy and welcomes people in. What people don’t see is where that comes from. Charlie had a difficult upbringing that has left scars, anxiety, and a need to belong. He’s so kind it’s easy to love him but what really charmed me was seeing him open up and be vulnerable to Simon.

As for Simon… I don’t think I have the words for how totally and completely I loved him. Simon is our narrator and I found him deeply relatable in ways that aren’t always comfortable, but Sebastian excels at the mental health rep in this book which is part of what makes the story so appealing to me. Simon suffers from migraines and has severe anxiety and OCD. He’s tense and his world is small for even a successful actor because he’s trying to manage his mental health. He can be standoffish and cold which is hiding someone who desperately wants to be loved and taken care of. Simon feels like he never belongs anywhere and I loved seeing him slowly open up and trust those closest to him to see the cracks he tries to hide.

The romance between Simon and Charlie is tender and sweet, with both men cautiously making an effort to open up and reveal the anxieties and wounds they try to hide from the world. I loved how careful they were with each other, how caring and accepting. The vocal acceptance and effort they put into open communication helps each man on their own journey to accept themselves. They aren’t perfect but they’re perfect for each other. I hated having to put Star Shipped down because I was so drawn to Charlie and Simon and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Star Shipped is quiet, romantic, and features two heroes whose struggles and quirks make them relatable. Cat Sebastian truly grounds the fantasy in reality and I loved every bit of it.



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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2026 A to Z Reading Challenge

Originally I had planned on skipping the A to Z reading challenge this year but I realized I've been missing it. This challenge has always lead me to move up some books I may not have prioritized otherwise.

Challenge details:
- Duration: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2065
- Read 26 books which titles begin with the letters of the alphabet.
- You may ignore articles like A, An and The at the beginning of the title.
- For the letter X, any book title with the letter X in it is acceptable if you can't find one that begins with X.
- Please only list books you have read. You can read them in any order.
- A book only counts once, so you can include a re-read the first time you read it.

My List:
A
Best Man with Benefits by Samanthe Beck – 1/4/25
Chasing Alex by Riley Shane – 1/18/26
D
E
Forbidden by Alessandra Hazard – 1/2/26
Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake – 2/3/26
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid – 3/6/26
Illicit by Alessandra Hazard – 1/1/26
J
K
Long Game, The by Rachel Reid – 3/12/26
Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett – 2/8/26
No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows – 3/5/26
O
Puzzle for Two by Josh Lanyon – 3/31/26
Q
Role Model by Rachel Reid – 3/11/26
Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb – 2/7/26
Two-Man Advantage by Riley Shane – 1/19/26
Undone by Alessandra Hazard – 1/3/26
Victorian Valentine by Riley Shane – 2/8/26
W
EXpert by Alessandra Hazard – 1/1/26
Y
Z

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Review: Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett

Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett
Series: Leviathan Fitness, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Monster Romance 

ISBN: 9780593956977
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

After a wedding cake catastrophe on the street, local baker Tegan lands in the most unexpected place—a solid wall of fur and fangs named Atlas. She’s never met anyone like him and finds herself enamored by his wolfish charm. After their sweet encounter, Atlas invites her to his gym anytime she needs his cake-lifting services.

However, Tegan is through with being a damsel in distress. She signs up for a membership with Leviathan Fitness, determined to build her strength…and if she sees the handsome wolven again, it’s a win-win scenario.

Atlas can’t believe his eyes when Tegan walks through the doors of his gym, and nearly goes snout-over-paw to offer her personal training. Shared glances over the barbell and accidental touches at the water fountain set Atlas’s heart racing in a way he swore it couldn’t again.

Primal desires emerge as Atlas and Tegan test just how much their new love can lift. Could Tegan be the unexpected mate of Atlas’s dreams?

Muscles & Monsters is a fast-paced and fluffy monster romcom. Ashley Bennett first Leviathan Fitness story is an instalove romance between a human baker and a wolven gym owner.

Let’s start with the positive: I liked that curvy Tegan was confident in her body and decided to join the gym to get stronger not lose weight. Atlas is the one with body image issues thanks to his toxic, abusive ex. My heart broke a bit for Atlas and I liked that Tegan helped him heal his relationship with food over the course of the story. Although their romance was incredibly speedy they did have potential to fit each other well.

I wanted to like this story and there was promise to the premise. However, the book overall was a little too silly for my taste. Atlas and Tegan behaved more like teens than thirty-somethings and so many things in this book made me cringe from the texts to the dialogue to some of Atlas’s behavior that was more puppy than adult wolven. I like light and fluffy stories but oof, Muscles & Monsters was just too much tooth-aching sweetness mixed with awkward sex scenes for me. The overall result was an awkward story I don’t plan on revisiting. That being said, I was interested enough in Atlas’s friend Cyrus that I will be giving Tentacles & Triathlons a try to see if the series improves.



Disclosure: I received the revised and expanded version of 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: Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb

Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death, Book 62
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Futuristic/Mystery/Suspense 

ISBN: 9781250414526
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible
J.D. Robb Reading Order

A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead—while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke—who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief—recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing.

Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father—and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house, and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve.

By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, a devoted husband and father. As for his father—he clearly had secrets. Now it’s up to Eve and her team to find out if those secrets got Nathan killed—and if it was a crime of passion or revenge.

To the media, a murder pales in comparison to the theft of famously stolen missing jewels, but not to Lieutenant Eve Dallas. In Stolen in Death Eve finds herself hunting a killer amid the rich and covetous. It’s a world her husband, Roarke, is intimately familiar with which is both helpful and causes some concern for Eve.

Sixty-two full-length novels into the In Death series and I never get tired of reading about Eve and Roarke. While Stolen in Death started out a bit slow for me, things picked up in the latter half of the story as the pieces of the puzzle started coming together. I like it best when Eve’s personal life is affected by the case at hand, which happens in this book. It’s not a spoiler to say that the original thief of the missing gems all those years ago was Roarke – he was, after all, the best in the business. What I liked is seeing how Eve handled it, how she balanced her love and loyalty to Roarke with her duty and commitment to justice. This story takes her into the world of thieves, private auctions, and more. I enjoyed seeing so much of the squad come together on this one. While it did take a bit for the story to pick up steam, when it did it was absolutely engaging.

J.D. Robb doesn’t miss and this latest entry in the In Death series will be wonderfully satisfying to Eve and Roarke fans. The case is interesting, the personal stakes even more so, and the characters I enjoy so much continue to entertain.



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: Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake
Series: Clover Lake, Book 2
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Female/Female Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9780593816011
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Audible

April Evans’ life is in shambles. She’s had to close her tattoo shop in Clover Lake and she’s subletting her house to cover her mortgage. And her love life? Nonexistent ever since Elena, her ex-fiancée, left her for a younger woman three years ago. When she is asked to teach a summer art class at the town’s new resort called Cloverwild, April jumps at the opportunity, especially since the job comes with boarding. She’s sure that this is the silver lining she needs…until she meets her cabinmate: Daphne Love, the woman who stole her ex-fiancée. And even worse, it’s clear Daphne has no idea who April is.

Daphne Love is cursed in, well, love. She thought she’d found the unconditional love she craved in her girlfriend, Elena, but now she’s single again and utterly brokenhearted. When her friend hooks her up with a summer gig as an art instructor at a swanky resort in New Hampshire, Daphne feels optimistic for once. If only she had a roommate and coworker who didn’t seem to hate her on sight.

Their already-tense relationship gets even shakier when April and Daphne find themselves competing for a rare opportunity to showcase their art in a London museum. But slowly, barriers begin to fall, and an inexplicable allure keeps drawing them closer, leaving them to wonder if the perfect picture they’re looking for can only be made with each other.

April Evans hasn’t been having the best few years. She had to close her shop, she can’t afford her mortgage, and the last long relationship she was in ended when her fiancée dumped her for someone else. Teaching at Cloverwild, the brand new resort in Clover Lake, at least provides her with room and board for the summer. There’s just one problem: her new roommate and co-teacher is none other than Daphne Love, the woman her fiancée left her for. Getting stuck spending the summer with your ex’s ex is one thing. Falling in love with her? That’s just unimaginable…right?

Prickly Scorpio April Evans finds love in Get Over It, April Evans. And how could she not with a love interest like Daphne Love? I was immediately charmed by the sweet artist who is finding herself over the course of this book. Daphne is a preacher’s daughter and grew up in a very religious, extremely strict family. She went from that to trying to find herself in college to falling in love with Elena, a woman who molded her into what she wanted her to be. Daphne has never had the chance to be herself, learn about herself, and own her true self. I absolutely loved seeing her grow over the course of the story. She’s kind and funny and utterly charming. It’s easy to see how she breaks past April’s defenses.

I admit, I wasn’t too keen on April in the first Clover Lake book, but Ashley Herring Blake made me like her in this one. April has a tough exterior she uses to mask her vulnerable insides. Even though I liked her in this book and I adored April and Daphne together, April for me was the weakest part of the book. She felt somewhat underdrawn in comparison to Daphne or other Herring Blake characters, even by the end. And as much as I loved Daphne, it was a bit hard to fully fall into the story when I didn’t feel the other half of the couple was as well-formed. That being said, I did enjoy their romance overall and was rooting for them every step of the way. The third act test of their relationship was incredibly well done and made the happily ever after all the more satisfying. All in all, I was charmed by Get Over It, April Evans and even though I had some issues with April’s character I found the story entertaining overall.



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: Free Falling by Jill Shalvis

Free Falling by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers, Book 2
E-Book Publisher: That’s What She Said Publishing, Inc.
Print Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

ISBN: 9781464243929
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Audible
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

These rivals are stuck with each other…

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this new construction project to go smoothly to prove he’s earned his place in the family business. There’s only one problem. The architect liaison assigned to the project is Emma Sumner. As in, the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Now, she’s back in town and already breathing down his neck on the job. Worse? She’s only gotten more beautiful.

Emma’s in love with the beautiful historic building they’re renovating. But her feelings toward project manager Caleb definitely lean more toward hate. Not only is the man making her job harder than it needs to be, he’s the one who took everything from her when she was at her most desperate. Not that she’d ever admit it out loud, but she’s never recovered.

Neither is willing to forgive and forget. But forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is. A burning mutual attraction adds complications for them both. Will anything be left standing when their secrets are finally revealed?

It’s middle brother Caleb Colburn’s turn to fall in love in Free Falling. And who better for him to fall for than his prickly college rival, Emma Sumner? Both have something to prove but neither can look away from the sparks flying left and right whenever they’re in the same room.

Caleb and Emma have an easy chemistry that is fun to read about. Their rivalry is more one-sided on Emma’s part due, but given her situation it’s easy to understand why she feels the way she does at first. Emma has had it hard. Her talent is there, but one bad thing after another has happened to her. Caleb hasn’t led quite the charmed life Emma thinks, but he’s got his family at his back at least. Caleb is a wonderful hero; sensitive, caring, handsome, and kind. The two of them fit each other well with shared interests and a growing bond that feels organic. That being said, I sat with Free Falling for quite some time, as I had some lingering misgivings that kept me from fully enjoying Emma and Caleb’s romance. While the story is overall light in tone, it touches on heavier subject matter, and for me the balance between the two didn’t always quite come together. Emma is living out of her car, and as someone who works in a location with a high population of people experiencing homelessness, aspects of how her situation was portrayed felt slightly off to me. I appreciated Jill Shalvis’s clear kindness toward Emma as a character, and I recognize that every experience is different (and that this is ultimately a work of fiction). Still, there was something about the portrayal that pulled me out of the story at times. Even after mulling it over for a few weeks, I can’t quite put my finger on it so your mileage may vary.

As with almost every Shalvis novel, there are big personalities outside the main characters to fill in the story. Caleb and Emma’s family and friends are supportive, nosey, and interfering as one might expect. They add fun and chaos to the story and, of course, make me look forward to the next book in the series. Even though I had some misgivings about the story, I still liked Free Falling overall and very much enjoyed Caleb and Emma as a couple.



Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author 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: 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: Ken Cuperus
Title: Mistletoe Murders

2. Author: Ashley Bennett
Title: Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness, Book 1)

3. Author: Rachel Reid
Title: Game Changer (Game Changers, Book 1)

4. Author: Alexandra Vasti
Title: Ne’er Duke Well (Belvoir's Library, Book 1)

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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
6. A Body, a Baron, and Miss Mifford (Regency Murder & Marriage, Book 4) by Claudia Stone
7. Mistletoe Murders by Ken Cuperus
8. Chasing Alex by Riley Shane (re-read) **
9. Two-Man Advantage (Seattle Marauders, Book 1) by Riley Shane (re-read) **
10. Free Falling (Colburn Brothers, Book 2) by Jill Shalvis
11. Mistletoe Murders 2 by Ken Cuperus
12. In the Penalty Box (Seattle Marauders, Book 2) by Riley Shane (re-read) **
13. Get Over It, April Evans (Clover Lake, Book 2) by Ashley Herring Blake
14. Stolen in Death (In Death, Book 62) by J.D. Robb
15. Victorian Valentine by Riley Shane (re-read) **
16. Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness, Book 1) by Ashley Bennett
17. Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian **
18. Game Changer (Game Changers, Book 1) by Rachel Reid
19. No Place Like You (Oaks Sisters, Book 2) by Jillian Meadows
20. Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, Book 2) by Rachel Reid
21. Tentacles & Triathlons (Leviathan Fitness, Book 2) by Ashley Bennett
22. Tough Guy (Game Changers, Book 3) by Rachel Reid
23. Common Goal (Game Changers, Book 4) by Rachel Reid
24. Role Model (Game Changers, Book 5) by Rachel Reid
25. The Long Game (Game Changers, Book 6) by Rachel Reid **
26. Ne’er Duke Well (Belvoir's Library, Book 1) by Alexandra Vasti
27. 44.1644° North by Josh Lanyon
28. Puzzle for Two by Josh Lanyon

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