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BOOK REVIEW: King of Ravens (Upon a Broken Throne #1) by Clare Sager

April 2, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

King of Ravens (Upon a Broken Throne #1)
by Clare Sager
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He’ll do anything to keep her. She’d do anything to escape.

Rhiannon is dying—of what, she doesn’t know. Protected by her family in their remote seaside cottage, she spends her days searching for a cure. Her world is torn apart, however, when a fae King of the Dead invades her home.

Cold and cruel, Drystan offers her a choice: descend to the underworld as his bride or watch her family die. Trapped in a twisted bargain, Rhiannon is thrust into a world of withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic, but she refuses to be a pawn in a game she never agreed to play. She attempts over and over to run away, until Drystan offers her a new bargain: escape his deadly labyrinth, and he will set her free. Fail, and become his bride.

But in a court where every promise has teeth, Annon must make an impossible choice: return to the home she's always loved or claim her place in a world where she might finally belong.

Review:

King of Ravens was a slow burn, grumpy sunshine romantasy that completely enraptured my heart. This book easily became a favorite with a morally grey fae who stole a human bride from her life. With mystery and secrets swirling, it was impossible to put down this book!

Remember, an echo of Drystan’s voice sounds in my head, weakness is death.

Rhiannon was dying and death visited her in her dreams. Until one day, he appeared. He was the King of the Dead from the fae realm, and Drystan gave her a choice, be his bride or watch her family die. Taken to the underworld, Rhiannon was forced into a life where she could trust no one around her. I was terrified yet fascinated at the same time. As we slowly got to learn this new world, I was hooked. And mesmerized with how many clues there were. I just didn’t know how to put them all together, yet.

For a moment in my room, he’d almost seemed human. Silly me.

Drystan was a mystery. He could be subtly funny….. if you looked hard enough. But at the same time, he could kill someone in a blink of an eye. I did come to appreciate that as the story unfolded lol. So, while there were many different sides to Drystan, I loved trying to figure out exactly where he stood. As I searched for his heart in moments like the cat and snowball, I had hope for Rhiannon that her imprisonment wasn’t as horrific as she first imagined.

I thought the danger lay in his looks or his whispering spies.
But I missed his true power.
It isn’t seen or heard.
It’s felt. Just barely.
Like the sea inching against the cliffs, slow and patient— only noticed once it’s already too late.
And by then, you’ve already given him exactly what he wants.

As bargains were made, the trails Rhiannon went through were unfathomable. I loved seeing the tenacity she had and watching her gain confidence. Especially since monsters surrounded their world, and many of the fae could be just as horrific as those monsters. So while I wasn’t always sure who to trust, one of my favorites was Min. I kept my fingers crossed that she was one of the good ones.

“How readily you respond to a simple touch, even though all that lies between us is hate.” His voice weaves between us, low and rough.

The tension between Rhiannon and Drystan was thick and sensual! I loved feeling the electricity between them and when they did cross the line to more, it was so steamy! Yet the world they were in was a terrifying place. And as the story came to a close, that cliffhanger was brutal! I usually don’t think a lot of books have true cliffhangers, but oh goodness this one definitely was. It was fabulous and left me on the edge of my seat begging for more! So, if you love romantasy that’ll keep you on your toes, is steamy, and has characters that you can connect with deeply, I can’t recommend King of Ravens enough. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this world!

Other Favorite Quotes:

I should hate him. I should be disgusted. I should remember the moment with terror, be haunted by it in nightmares.
And yet…
All I can picture is the way Drystan looked at me after. The shade of desperation on his face. The fading fury that left him so raw.

I lift my chin and Min brings out a tiara of black metal studded with shimmering moonstones, I feel less like a clumsy scarecrow and more like a future queen.

This was only meant to be physical. Temporary. Something to enjoy before I go home.
But the King of Death has worked under my skin. A thorn I can’t push out.
And perhaps I’ve got under his too.

“I am the god of death, Avellan. And I wouldn’t let you die alone. Not ever.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEWS: Second Chance Duet by Ana Holguin & The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen

March 20, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Second Chance Duet by Ana Holguin
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A swoony, slow burn romance about a struggling composer whose big break comes at a cost—working side-by-side with her college nemesis.

Celia García has always had one goal: to compose film scores. But after a decade of advertising jingles, that dream couldn’t be further out of reach—until an old college friend presents her with a life-changing opportunity. A big-name director so desperately needs a composer for his TV debut that he’ll take a chance on someone new. There’s only one catch. Celia has to work—and live—with her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe.

Celia remembers Oliver as arrogant, rude, and entitled—the picture-perfect scion of Hollywood royalty. Soon, though, late nights and long days together reveal how much Oliver’s changed, sparking new feelings and the discovery that their rivalry wasn’t quite as mutual as she thought. But in an industry where she needs to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good, a romance with Oliver could end Celia’s career just as it’s starting

Review:

Second Chance Duet was a rivals to lovers, cozy romance. With forced proximity and music laced throughout, it was a fun one to listen to! The two main characters felt like polar opposites, Olive was so shy and quiet, and Celia’s energy felt larger than life. But working together on a project they were both so excited about, and their love for music pulled them together. This was a story that slowly unwinds, and pulls you in. And the epilogue will leave you so happy! I enjoyed listening to this one!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A stroke of luck.

Hazel Yen would love to be that person who doesn’t believe in bad luck. But having lost her job, her mom, her optimism, and even her dim-sum leftovers, she’s sitting in a fortune teller’s booth, desperate for a sign—any sign—that her luck might change. Which is when fate crashes into her, disguised as Logan Wells and his utterly chaotic cat. Except after one spontaneous and mind-melting kiss, Hazel’s terrible misfortune starts taking a turn for the miraculous. Money problems vanish. A new job lands in her lap. And she’s crushing—hard—on the guy who started it all.

Only there’s a problem: Logan’s luck has taken a turn for the worse. A shared lottery ticket could be just the answer they’re seeking or a disaster waiting to happen. Has Hazel’s fortune truly changed? And if so, could winning at life mean losing at love?

Review:

With low angst, a black cat & golden retriever, and a memorable meet cute, The Fortune Flip was such an easy book to adore! I listened to the audio, and it was fabulously done, especially since I’m a sucker for dual POV! With fortune telling and luck woven through this story, this story kept me so entertained. There were also heavier topics, but with thoughtful presents, winning the lottery, and an adorable epilogue that ties in to the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I definitely will be checking out Lauren Kung Jessen’s backlist!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEWS: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood, & Confessions: The Complete Duet by Kay Marie

March 9, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Review:

Two Can Play was a sweet and steamy forced proximity romance with an enemies to lovers vibe. This was classic Hazelwood with it being effortless to listen to and enjoy, a male that is secretive and sometimes hard to read, and a female that was so easy to click with. This story took place in a winter wonderland and ended wonderfully. I enjoyed listening to this one so much!

Confessions: The Complete Duet by Kay Marie
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He knows all of her secrets...except one.

My name is Skylar Quinn. I just moved to New York with my best friend Bridget, and I have a confession. Well, more than one. Okay, quite a few really. Fine, here goes!

Confession #1: I'm a sex columnist. Hold on, that's not really the confession. You see, I'm sort of a virgin...sex columnist.

Confession #2: I'm kind of in love with Bridget's older brother, Oliver. No, I was. No, I am. Wait, was? Am? Crap.

Confession #3: I've been avoiding Oliver for four years. Or I was until today, because he just moved in. Yes, you read that correctly. He's my new roommate. So that night we've both been pretending never happened, well, we might not be able to keep it a secret any longer.

And trust me, this is only the beginning.

This box set contains both full-length novels in Confessions, a sweet duology perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Meg Cabot, and Christina Lauren! If you like second chance romance, roommate romance, or falling for your best friend's brother, you'll love this set!
- Book One: Confessions of a Virgin Sex Columnist!
- Book Two: Confessions of an Undercover Girlfriend!

Review:

Confessions of a Virgin Sex Columnist was the first book in the duet, and it was super cute! If you adore romcom movies from the 2010s, this is your book! I got all the vibes from my favorite romcoms I’ve rewatched so many times! Skylar was so easy to love, and I emphasized with her too. Even if her thoughts could be over the top at times. While she tried to go on other dates for her job, she couldn’t help but want her best friend’s older brother. This romance was set in the city and was so effortless to listen to!

Confessions of an Undercover Girlfriend, picked up right where the last one left off. I loved how this one was focused on her friendships and working towards her HEA with Ollie. But there were so many hiccups along the way. I didn’t always agree with the choices she made, and wanted to shake her sometimes lol, but the ending made me so happy. This is definitely a fun and flirty read that I enjoyed!

BOOK REVIEWS: My Phony Valentine, My Lucky Charm, My Merry Mistake (Holidays with Hart #1, #2, #3) by Courtney Walsh

March 6, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

Review:

My Phony Valentine was a fake dating, sports romance that was absolutely adorable and so much fun! From that first chapter, I was hooked with a memorable meet cute. And the characters had me laughing out loud, while I loved getting pulled into their lives and alternating between Poppy and Dallas. This story is perfect for those that love romcoms and romance stories that tug at your heart.

I want to tell him all the small things.

Poppy was a chef in her small town, and her relationship with her sisters and family was heartwarming and such a beautiful part of this story. Dallas was a professional hockey player who was swoon worthy and I loved his meddling Grandma. From that first moment they met, to watching them fake date, and even practice kiss, I was completely entertained! While they started to toe the line to more, awww this book made my heart so happy! Especially with a fabulous grand gesture! So with characters that felt like family, a story-line that was so enjoyable, and a wonderful epilogue, My Phony Valentine was so easy to love!

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . .are impossible to remember.

My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.

Review:

My Lucky Charm was a grumpy sunshine, sports romance I devoured. I’ve come to realize that Courtney Walsh has a knack for writing memorable meet cutes that completely pull you in. It’s impossible not to find yourself obsessed in just a few pages! With a magical kiss and some humiliation thrown in there, I adored Eloise right away! And Gray with his grumpy quiet soul will capture your heart so effortlessly. Together, they were magical!

I don’t want to be a girl who runs the world. What I really want is a simple life with people I love.

The tension and angst between Gray and Eloise was enchanting! And there’s another character in this story I’m keeping my lips zipped about….except I will say I absolutely loved them and they added so much heart and fun to this story! So with a tiny red heart, jealousy, a very unique bouquet, and a beautiful found family, this story was all the stars! My Lucky Charm even made me shed a few tears, it’s definitely one of my top favorites!

My Merry Mistake by Courtney Walsh
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sometimes the perfect gift is standing right in front of you. . . You're just too stubborn to see it.

I don’t like to make mistakes. Ever.

Especially when those mistakes are witnessed by the same person—flirty Finn Holbrook—who can’t seem to leave me alone. Can I really trust him not to tell anyone that the night we met, I tried to kiss him? Or that I fell apart after I got fired from a job I loved? Or that I’m not as strong as I want everyone to think I am?

The simple fact that he’s boomeranged back into my orbit after all these years feels like a great, big cosmic joke.

Only now he’s a professional hockey player, and while he doesn’t look like the goofy college bartender I met all those years ago, he still acts like one—immature, flirty, and unable to take anything seriously.

Which is why I never, ever fall for his game.

I know better than to get swept up in romance. I don’t have time. I’m busy making myself irreplaceable in my new job with the Chicago Comets. Work isn’t just something I do, it’s who I am.

And while my sisters are constantly on me to slow down and take breaks, those things aren’t on my schedule, so . . . I push on. Do more. Load up my schedule. Overcommit. Until eventually, my stress lands me in the emergency room.

The prescription? A month off. No emails. No work. No distractions.

Unless you count Finn Holbrook, who keeps showing up at my door, determined to leverage his positive, golden retriever energy to show me there's a great, big world outside that I haven't bothered to explore, most of it covered with white twinkle lights and Christmas decorations.

I begrudgingly go along with his grand plans, and little by little, I start to see there really is more to life than work—and more to Finn than flirting.

Which makes me wonder . . . how can someone so obviously wrong for me start to feel completely right? And more importantly . . . how do I make those feelings go away?

My Merry Mistake is an opposites attract hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the third book in the Holidays with Hart series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Review:

“All I’m asking for is a chance.”

My Merry Mistake was a reverse grumpy sunshine, holiday sports romance that was so swoon worthy and addictive! This feel good romance was absolutely adorable, but had a more emotional side to it too. With Christmas markets, ice skating, watching Christmas movies, decorating Christmas trees, and drinking hot cocoa, this festive book was so much fun!

Is it wrong that I like things a certain way? Neat. Ordered. Tidy. Everything in its place.
It’s how I like my feelings too. I learned a long time ago that those need to stay tightly wrapped.

Raya always felt like she had to be going a million miles a minute. She came across as so serious and having everything together. But even though her sisters and family loved her deeply, she still felt alone at times. When she got a job working at the same company as Finn, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was impossible not to be happy when he was around! I loved that he could catch her off guard with his words. She was so put together, so it was beyond entertaining to watch her get startled off her game.

“What are you watching, Morticia, if you don’t like Marvel and you don’t like sports?”
“Literally anything but those two things.”
“So, Amish romance, then?”

Finn was the ultimate golden retriever. He had the hugest heart, always had a smile on his face, and came from a family that loved him deeply. And he wanted Raya sooooo bad lol. I loved his tenacity and his ability to get her to smile. Or even get her to feel butterflies. Watching their relationship shift from work, to friendship, to more had my heart soaring! I loved that he got her to slow down and actually take a look around. They were so good for each other. But they both had some healing to do too.

“Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Happy,” I say.
“You say that like it’s a disease.” He smirks.

My Merry Mistake made me cry. This book had so much depth, from healing from your past, to a name sign, to even a Christmas checklist. I loved it all so much! And while this can be read as a standalone, I can’t recommend the two previous books enough! You got to see what they were up to, and it made me so happy! I binged this trilogy in a week and can’t recommend it enough!

I think about the little white box of chocolate. His teasing is harmless. I can handle that and brush it off.
His kindness, though, is much more difficult to ignore.

BOOK REVIEWS: Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel & The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor

February 17, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Later On We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Everyone loves a Christmas surprise––just not when it's a spy in disguise.

Lacee:

I'll be home for Christmas...alone was the plan, but everything changes when I bump into a handsome stranger who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. So there's a new plan, a plan that involves a casual holiday fling. Merry Christmas to me.

But spending the holidays with Park Bradshaw in my charming hometown turns into Mission Impossible when I find out his knife skills go way beyond carving the Christmas ham.

Now I'm on the run, living out my own Christmas version of Die Hard, where making it home in time for Christmas is the least of my worries. I just want to make it home alive ––and hopefully not lose my heart to the one man I'm not sure I can trust.

Because as the countdown to Christmas ticks on like a bomb, I'm left wondering which side he's on.

◆ Later On We'll Conspire is a laugh-out-loud, closed-door romance full of sizzle, chemistry, and witty banter that might require you to suspend a little disbelief.

◆ Enjoy the other books in the Christmas Escape series that can be read in any order:

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway
Host for the Holidays by Martha Keyes
Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel
A Newport Christmess by Jess Heileman
A Not-So Holiday Paradise by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Later On We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel
Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton

Review:

Later on We’ll Conspire was a duet narration that I absolutely adored! Their meet cute was memorable, and I could already feel the tension between Lacee and Park! Lacee cracked me up with her thoughts, she was hilarious and made me laugh out loud so many times. And I loved how protective, charming, and sexy Park was! While they were running for their lives, I couldn’t help but laugh even during life or death moments, this book was so much fun! It was set during Christmas time and filled with all the Christmas cheer! The epilogue gave us a peek into the future, and I was smiling at their happily ever after. It was so perfect! I recommend this if you’re looking for a different type of Christmas romance that will have you giggling and smiling at over the top antics and fun!

The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Can an old letter spark a new flame?

When Tess Ravenel gets herself stuck inside a bathroom stall in one of Charleston’s most historic buildings, she isn’t exactly thinking about her dating life. But then the paramedic who comes to her rescue has a voice that sounds like butter and enough charm to make her forget she’s seconds from having a panic attack.

If only he were interested.

Andrew McKay has a mysterious Christmas pen pal, a woman who replied to a newly found letter he sent to Santa back when he was a kid. After weeks of correspondence, it’s clear she’s funny, smart, interesting...and an awful lot like Tess Ravanel—the woman he’s already blown off twice for good reason.

Tess and Andrew couldn’t be more different, but when their worlds collide, fate (and a little Christmas magic) set them on a crash course for love.

The Christmas Letters is a closed door sweet holiday romance with lots of chemistry but no spice. This book was first published in 2019 but has been heavily revised and updated.

Review:

Christmas Letters was an epistolary, second chance at life story that was so heartwarming! It started off with a bang with how Tess and Andrew met, I would have definitely been hyperventilating! But there was also a letter writing element, where they didn’t know who the other was. And I loved watching how they started to fall for the other. So when it all came together I was screaming and couldn’t stop smiling. They were both so adorable and deserved all the happiness. I loved both of these characters, and Andrew’s grandma was hilarious. This was a heartwarming holiday romance, and I’ll definitely be reading more books by Jenny Proctor in the future!