2.1.2026 - We Were Never Friends

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of the latest thriller by Kaira Rouda.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Sorority sisters Roxy, Jamie, Beth, and Amelia have come together to celebrate the engagement of Roxy's son to Beth's daughter.  The location is a beautifully restored Palm Springs mansion. But the mansion is eerily similar to the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break 25 years ago, bringing all those memories to the surface.

As with all of Kaira Rouda’s books, this is a tense, atmospheric mystery, but this one has a locked-room premise with a touch of some possible supernatural feelings as well.  Plus, there’s that whole sorority sister thing – kind of mean girls grown up.  Be aware that there are only a couple of likeable characters – everyone has secrets they are hiding.  But it definitely kept me entertained on a cold day when I have a cold, and I was happy to be able to transport myself to California.

1.31.2026 - Blade

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of the latest thriller by Wendy Walker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own!

Ana Robbins was a rising star in the ice skating world and, with issues at home, her family dropped her off at the renowned Palace in Colorado, an elite training facility.  Tragedy forced her to leave all that behind.  Now 14 years later, she's a successful defense attorney working with minors.  She's called back to The Palace to help defend a young skater accused of a brutal crime.  She claims she's innocent, but all the evidence points towards only her.  Ana's investigation brings up all the childhood memories she's tried so hard to push down.

As stated in her author's note, Wendy Walker was a childhood skating star, poised to make it big, when she decided to take her life in a different direction.  Her first-hand knowledge and experience shine through every page of this book.  It also feels very relevant with stories such as this in the news all too frequently.  Told in "Now" and "Then" timelines, we get a front row seat to all the trauma these young women faced, most without family guidance, and relying on those in charge to steer them in the right direction.  I was fascinated with the peek into the skating world, and the mystery was tense and suspenseful.  Wendy Walker has penned another great thriller!

1.29.2026 - Little One

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by Olivia Muenter, with the audio perfectly narrated by a favorite, Helen Laser.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

 

Catharine West seemingly had an idyllic childhood, growing up on a community-based farm that attracted others in need of a change.  But as she grew older, she recognized the darkness.  A decade later, Catharine has done her best to reinvent her life when an email from a journalist changes all that.  He wants to know if she is the same Catharine who lived in a mysterious cult in central Florida.  

 

Little One is one of those books that draws you in from the beginning, immersing you into Catharine’s childhood.  Told in alternating “Now” and “Then,” each timeline was gripping, but I also couldn’t wait for the next.  This will definitely make you think about the fine line between our “wellness” culture and an actual “cult,” and that ending – wow!  I was thinking about that long after I closed the book.  I also loved the audiobook version, which included different sound effects for voice recordings, for example, and Helen Laser was fabulous as always.

1.28.2026 - The Swamps

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this novella by Seraphina Nova Glass.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Husband and wife team Ethan and Macy run a paranormal show on YouTube, but are hoping to grab a Netflix opportunity.  When two women disappear in the swamps in the bayous of Louisiana, they feel it's the perfect opportunity to do some real investigation to catch the eyes of the producers.  Along with their teammates Max and Tasha, they begin their investigation, but things are about to take a dark turn.

This was the perfect length for this spooky story.  It has it all - creepy cabin, alligator filled swamps, fortune tellers, an abandoned institution, and a church revival.  Plus, there are wonderfully sinister illustrations in between chapters to up the tension.  I was flipping the pages as fast as possible and finished it in one sitting.  Wonderful!

1.27.2026 - Missing Sam

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by the wonderful Thrity Umrigar.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ali and Sam are a gay couple living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, both dealing with estrangement from their families due to their lifestyle.  After an argument, Sam goes out for an early morning run by herself and never returns.  Ali, a Muslim, becomes under attack on social media and in real life, and makes choices that make the situation worse.  Meanwhile, Sam is being held captive, trying to survive.

Umrigar has done it again, given us an emotional novel that explores so very many themes - racism, mental health, homophobia, family, religion - to name a few.  I was on the edge of my seat reading this book as the POV shifts between Ali and Sam.  It's a tense mystery but so much more, and the writing kept me glued and thinking about these characters each time I had to close the book.  The story felt extremely relevant to today's political and social environment, even though it was set in the time right before and at the start of Covid,  As someone who lived in a different Cleveland suburb for decades, I also loved the inclusion of so many familiar places.  I can't say too much without spoilers, but get this book into your hands now!

1.26.2026 - The Unwritten Rules of Magic

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Harper Ross.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Emerson Clarke has never quite felt in control of her life, but she desperately tries to control those around her to make life better.  She ghostwrites a successful series, but still can't bring herself to write her own books after her father's critiques.  Her father was a celebrated author who controlled the household tightly, and her mother turned to alcohol while her father got Alzheimer's.  A single mother, Emerson's daughter has recently pulled away from her.  Going through her father's effects after his death, she steals his vintage typewriter and types out a quick wish - which comes true the next day.  She becomes obsessed trying to make life perfect for those around her.

I am always up for a magical realism escape, and loved the idea of a typewriter granting wishes.  But just like the old saying, be careful what you wish for!  Because every wish may have unexpected consequences.  I liked delving into the messy family dynamics and could understand Emerson's need for control.  She wasn't always a likable character, but her heart was always in the right place.  Be aware that the book shifts to less magic and more real-life heavy issues.  This also has me wondering if famous prolific writers are really using ghostwriters?  Yikes.  Will be anxious for more from this author.

1.24.2026 - This House Will Feed

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this historical fiction book by Maria Tureaud.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

County Clare, 1848: In the scant few years since the potato blight first cast its foul shadow over Ireland, Maggie O’Shaughnessy has lost everything—her entire family and the man she trusted with her heart.  She's slaving in a workhouse when the mysterious Lady Catherine arrives to whisk her away to an old mansion in the stark limestone landscape of the Burren.  Lady Catherine wants Maggie to impersonate her late daughter, Wilhelmina, so that solicitors will release her widow pension which will allow Lady Catherine to continue to provide for the villagers in her care.  Maggie will receive freedom from the workhouse, and land of her own, as well as living to spite them all.  But the house is awakening terrible memories in Maggie.

This was historical fiction at its finest - you will learn the real-life horrors of The Great Potato Famine in Ireland as well as be entertained with a spooky ghost story and revenge plot as well.  I never realized the extent of the fact that the famine was a genocide by the British people, covered up as just a crop blight.  Each chapter starts with a quote showing the sentiment and despicable events of the time.  Be sure the read the author's note to learn more about the real horrors that ensued.  I loved the supernatural element here as well, and the story plays out in dual timelines.  The characters are realistically imperfect, and your heart will break over and over.  But there's hope and resilience on every page as well.  This is a must read!