Cover Reveal: The Lighthouse by Terri Jo

 

Releasing August 20, 2026
 
Life in Fish Creek is everything Aggie ever hoped it would be. She's married to her childhood sweetheart, raising three wonderful children, and surrounded by the lifelong friends who've become family.

Then her mother's diagnosis changes everything.

As the woman who taught Aggie how to love, laugh, and weather life's storms begins losing pieces of herself, Aggie is thrust into the heartbreaking role of becoming her mother's caretaker. Caught between the needs of her family and the woman determined to hold on to her independence, Aggie is pulled in every direction, wondering how much one heart can carry before it breaks

.
When forgotten memories become dangerous and love alone is no longer enough, Aggie must make impossible choices—choices that could forever change the relationship she treasures most.

A deeply moving story about family, sacrifice, and the quiet courage it takes to let go while never giving up on the people we love.

Cover Designer: Hang Le 
 
Preorder your copy today!
Amazon US: https://bit.ly/44VrSMC       
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4aKULyC 

About the author:

Terrijo passion for all things books began back in junior high. A dedicated reader from the very beginning, she started writing in her early twenties. She has published six novels under a pen name and co-wrote two anthologies about Deadwood, South Dakota.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Terrijo lives in the Twin Cities her pint size Morkie, Zoey, who loves to make an appearance in her small-town women’s fiction.
She writes about genuine issues that many women face today, stories that not only entertain, but give hope, laughter and all the feelings in-between. When Terrijo is not hiding out in her writing cave, you can find her behind the chair of her hair salon in Stillwater, or out on the lakes sailing and dreaming up new plots to help her readers escape reality for an hour or two.
 
Connect with Terri Jo
Website | https://bit.ly/4bCGgwq   
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/40vpR7P   
Amazon | https://bit.ly/3QX8wU6 
Facebook | bit.ly/44WQ1nf      
Instagram |  www.instagram.com/terrijo_author  
 

June DNFs

Bloodlust:  I didn't know this was the second book in a series.  I think it does work fine as a stand alone.  My issue with the book and why I DNF'd it was the main character. Sorry but he was a major douchebag.  And it's 2026.  Why are we writing plots where women are attracted to men who act like this?  

We're Not Safe Here:  I found this one very disjointed and confusing.  It's definitely a case of "it's not you, its me".  The mashup of podcast entries, message boards and video transcripts just didn't work for me, especially through audio.

Fall With Me:  I had to DNF this one.  I had a hard time buying that no one would side with Jenna about her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend.  Especially Sutton, who is said best friend's brother.  I mean I would call out a family member in a heart beat.  

Mad About You:  I DNF'd this one a few years back but tried to give it a second chance.  I ended up remembering why I DNF'd it.  Cassy was too much of a doormat for me.  I also didn't understand how Scott could be so smart and a multi-millionaire yet so dumb to not start working on financing for his product.  I didn't buy it.  

Out of Control;  I quickly DNF'd this one.  I was really put off by the first scene and wasn't sure why the main character wasn't put off as well.  I had no desire to continue.

June Mini Musings

The Accidental Engagement:  I thought this one was just OK.  I really detested how Daniel treated Ivy.  I also didn't like the way Ivy was forced into the entire scenario.  I was applauding her in the end when she had the guts to walk away from it all.  She took Daniel back way too quickly  She should have made him grovel a lot more.  

Love Unleashed:  I thought this was adorable.  It's part of the Billionaire Matchmaker series with each novella written by a different author.   I loved the second chance romance brought about by an adorable dog. Mia and Gideon's story is really sweet. It's a quick read and one I highly recommend.

A Night of Misbehaving:  Meh, another novella I didn't really care for.  There was too much deceit and misunderstanding packed into one little story for my liking.  I also didn't like either of the main characters and didn't see the chemistry at all between them.

Struck Dead:  The 10th book in the Forensic Instincts series was a really good addition to the series.  The entire team just becomes so much closer together after what happens to Casey.  I also loved the ending.  Highly recommend this one and the entire series.

Review: A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Author: Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 2026

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother's shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

I am a big fan of this author and have enjoyed more of her books than not.  Murder Road and The Sun Down Motel are among my favorites.  Unfortunately, A Box Full of Darkness will not be among my favorites.  The story follows three siblings who return home to figure out what happened to their little brother years before and maybe put his ghost to rest.

I wish I could say that I loved this one, but I just didn't.  All three of the siblings were boring characters.  I didn't like the multiple points of view. Their voices all sounded the same to me.  The solution to what happened to their little brother came together way too quickly.  Maybe I wasn't paying attention enough to how they put the pieces together because I was bored. It all didn't make sense to me. The story wasn't spooky, wasn't creepy...it was boring.  Honestly, I don't really have much else to say about this one.  I just didn't care for it. Hopefully the next one will be better.

Spotlight: Lethal by Ruby Wolff

Author: Ruby Wolff
Publisher: Self (Kindle)
Publication Date: June 2026

 Hayden Crawford spent years trying to bury the girl who ruined him.
Olivia Banks was his best friend. His first choice. The one person he trusted without question. Then she disappeared and left destruction behind her.
Once, they shared a treehouse, late nights, and promises neither of them planned to break. Now every look between them burns with betrayal, guilt, and memories neither escaped.
Three years later, she walks back into his life like she never shattered it.
Now they’re trapped in the same college, surrounded by enemies, secrets, and two rival groups ready to tear each other apart. Olivia wants to survive five months and leave town forever. Hayden wants answers. Revenge. Maybe both.
But the closer he gets to her, the harder it becomes to hold onto the hate he built for her.
Because some people leave scars too deep to forget.
And some loves turn lethal when they break. 

About the author:

Ruby Wolff is an author of sexy romance and some dark romance. She writes sexy novels, with strong alpha men, that fight for the women they want. When Ruby is not writing her next book, she is spending time with her husband and two boys.

Review: Needing Him Now by C.A. Harms

Author: C.A. Harms
Publication Date: June 2026

I spent a good part of my life blaming every man for one event.
Granted, it was a life-altering event, one that redirected my course and destroyed the girl I was once.

From that point on, I ran from anything good. I hid behind my sarcasm and attitude, deciding to never allow myself to feel vulnerable to any man again.

I was never wrong; they were.
I knew best, I set my pace, I routed my path.
I had control.

Then one night, I let my guard down, and the path I had set in stone was no longer clear.
Everything that I thought made sense no longer did.

Aaron O’Shay was strong, confident, and very easy on the eyes. I’d noticed many times.

So when I decided to dabble, it didn’t work out as planned. He managed to take everything I thought I knew and scramble it all up.

I hated the uncertainty.
I hated the fact that I couldn’t walk away.
I hated that he invaded my thoughts, created memories I couldn’t forget, and left me longing for more.

I hated that this man was making me love him, no matter how hard I fought against it.

And more than anything else, I hated that he wanted me just the way I was. He took away the only solid reason that he and I could never work.

He wanted me, flaws and all!

I have been in a serious reading slump this year.  Needing Him Now was just the book I needed to hopefully get me out of that slump.  I have really been enjoying the Hudson Boys series and 5 books in, still love it.  Kendall and Aaron's story sucked me right in.  Kendall has been fighting a demon from high school and it has made her someone who walks away rather than sticking.  Her heart has a cage around it.  Until she has one night with Aaron.  

I really loved this story.  I loved watching Aaron break down Kendall's walls and help her realize she could be happy without changing who she was.  I thought Rory and Adley were explosive, but these two could give them a run for their money.  I also just loved Kendall and her sassy mouth. The way she could handle herself in any situation was admirable. I won't spoil it any more, I'll just urge you to read the book.  

  

Review: Until I Found You by Erika Kelly

Author: Erika Kelly

Date of publication: June 2026 

Pie-Baking Quarterback. Single Dad. Summer Road Trip.
 
Decker McKenna lives for football--but a three-year-old with big blue eyes is about to rewrite his playbook.
 
Willa Holland came home to restore her family's inn, not to get tangled up with a grumpy quarterback. But watching him try so hard--and stumble so sweetly--at being a father makes it impossible for her to resist.
 
Late-night baking. Small-town charm. And a little girl who shows them what really matters.
 
Steamy small-town romance with a grumpy quarterback, a charming innkeeper, and a daughter who changes the game.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://geni.us/uifyEK   
Amazon Worldwide: https://geni.us/uifyEK       
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3NCsO3j 

My thoughts:

Until I Found You is the second book in the McKenna Brothers series.  I really loved the first book, but I almost liked Willa and Decker's story even more, if that is possible. This was such a sweet and adorable romance. The chemistry was off the charts for this couple from the beginning.  Both Decker and Willa were chasing something they were never going to catch and ended up finding something infinitely better. Little Birdie was an adorable addition to the story.  Along with the romance, we are treated to time with the McKenna family again.  I really love the relationship among the brothers and father and I feel like they get closer with each story.  I can't wait for the next book.

About the author:

Award-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.
 
Connect with Erika
Website | https://www.erikakellybooks.com/   
Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7568925.Erika_Kelly   
Amazon | https://bit.ly/3OYEkDf    
Facebook | https://bit.ly/49I3PSM     
Facebook Group |  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ErikaKellysEntourage     
Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/erikakellyauthor/    
Bookbub |  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/erika-kelly     
Pinterest |  https://www.pinterest.com/erikakellybooks/_saved/       
Newsletter |  https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/newsletter   
 

Review: Who's All Going (to Die)? by Lisa Springer

Author: Lisa Springer
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: September 2025

Ariana could use a vacation. Her dreams of being a collegiate volleyball player have been crushed by an injury. So, when a new friend invites her and two guests to an all-expenses paid resort off the coast of Barbados, she accepts. Her only thoughts now should be about booking a masseuse, lounging on the beach, and maybe seeing what happens with Jadon, the cute guy in her villa.

But charismatic, self-help guru Juniper-Moon has other plans for the group. She keeps preaching lofty ideas on how to better oneself through unorthodox mindfulness activities, intense wellness treatments, and psychedelic microdosing. Plus, “accidents” seem to befall one guest after another, and yet Ari and Jadon are the only ones ready to run for the shores.

Once Juniper-Moon makes it clear that everyone must give back to this new community, Ariana and Jadon decide to team up to expose her web of lies and deceit before their loved ones become trapped in an iron-clad grip no one can free them from.

 I really wanted to like this one but in the end it was just OK.  I love closed room/stranded on the island creepy stories.  However, all I got were annoying teens who clearly ignore red flags that your average teen should have paid attention to. How any of these teens had zero sense of urgency at the outset of the first sign of trouble is beyond me.  Especially after the first person died.  I found Ariana annoying.  Constantly being reminded about her injury and how she didn't want to get involved with a boy got old very fast.  The cult formation plot "twist"  was kind of dumb and really unbelievable.  I wouldn't really recommend this one.

Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Myer and Tamara Moss

Author: Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

Publisher:
Publication Date:

 Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

I am a big fan of the Lunar Chronicles series.  But I haven't really been able to get into anything else that this author has written until now.  The Escape Game is a combination of reality TV and escape room madness.  After the murder of a contestant from season 4, season 5 taping of "The Escape Game" is underway.  Can Sierra figure out who murdered her sister and make it to the finale?

I thought this was a pretty fun book.  I kind of had to suspend my disbelief a few times in the book, so if you can do that, I think you will enjoy it as well.  I liked the game play.  The rooms seemed like they would be fun to explore in real life.  I also enjoyed all of the characters. I did like the multi POVs which isn't always the case.  It definitely helped me get to know each characters better.  The reveal was half of what I expected, so it nice to be a little surprised.  It was a fun read, so give it a try.

May Mini Musings

The Sheriff's Secret:  This was a short and pretty enjoyable romance.  I liked both main characters.  It's your classic trope of neither one wants a relationship and they fall in love accidentally.  The dog was cute too.  I just wish that it was a little longer, I didn't feel like I got to know the characters well enough to be overly invested in them.

Rancher's Second Chance:  This one was just kind of meh for me.  I felt like the chemistry was forced.  I had a hard time buying into Cole not knowing who Melanie's father was.  It is established that she has been friends with his sister for years, like all through high school and spent weekends at the ranch.  And she never talked about her parents?  The sister never talked about Melanie's family to him?  Just seemed kind of unbelievable to me.

Let's Split Up:  Apparently I read this one very early in the year and never reviewed it.  I guess that is how much I really didn't vibe with it. I started to listen to it again, and realized why it was forgettable.  The kids were annoying.  Naming one of them "Buffy" was annoying.  The msytery was OK and I will admit to not really knowing the killer before the reveal. I also thought the romances were kind of annoying as well.

Be Right Back:  Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I read the sequel to Let's Split up.  It did not improve on the first one.  The minute a certain character came on screen, I pegged them as the killer right away.  So, I spent the rest of the book waiting for the characters to catch up.  There were way too many times I had to suspend my disbelief in this one. At least the romances weren't annoying..

Review: The Lake House by Lori Foster

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: May 2026

 When Pixie Nolan first came to Bramble, Kentucky, the abandoned and desperate young single mother found hope, healing, and a fresh start. With the loving support of her best friends—Marlow Heddings and her handsome Marine husband, Cort—Pixie is now happily raising her toddler son in a cozy cottage, managing Marlow’s thriving boutique, and designing firefly logo t-shirts that are selling like hotcakes. The past is behind her, and life is good.

She never expected to make an electrifying connection with a summer renter, a retired Navy SEAL with his own complicated past . . .

A rugged warrior with scars both seen and unseen, Brogan Rafferty arrives with an adorable baby girl in tow and settles into the lake house next door. And while he’s a stunning addition to the gorgeous scenery, it’s his caring devotion that captures Pixie’s heart—the way he gently snuggles away the precious infant’s cries, or swoops Pixie’s delighted little boy high in the air with his tattooed, muscular arms.

But it’s no coincidence that Brogan has found Pixie, and his startling revelations make it clear she’s the key to healing old regrets and building new dreams. And when a hostile stranger turns up with shocking accusations against Bramble’s new hometown hero, Pixie must put her own fears and heartbreak away for good—and learn what it truly means to trust.

The Lake House is the second book in the Firefly Summer series.  This one is Pixie's story.  I really loved her in the first book and I was looking forward to her story. If anyone deserved a second chance, it was Pixie and her son.  Brogan is in town with his baby niece looking for a fresh start and to get closer to Pixie and her son.  He holds a secret that will shock Pixie. what he didn't count on was finding love and community

I thought this one was very adorable.  I was so fun to watch Brogan and Pixie fall for each other.  I loved how they formed a little family that seemed so natural.  I was really rooting for them  As in the first book, the community played a big part of the story.  It was kind of funny how Brogan, who just wanted to stay anonymous, kept finding himself in situations where he ended up being the hero.  As I said, this was a really sweet romance and one I highly recommend.