We shouldn’t let our past define us. Especially when the events are out of our control. We should learn from those mistakes and choose to do things differently. We should strive for better. Build a foundation that makes us proud.
Those are all things that are easier said than done.
I’m a fine example of one that allows the hardships and struggles of my past direct me in my future.
Hating Rory has always been easy. Well, easy to fake, because what I truly feel for him, it terrifies me. He is a man I could fall for. He is a man that could give me everything I didn’t even know I wanted. He is the man that each and every time I am near, I feel my walls slowly start to crumble.
But giving in to those feelings could destroy everything I’ve struggled to control. Loving him means that I have to go against every single rule I have ever set for myself.
But hating him, that is the hardest challenge of all.
This one was a great addition to the series. It's an enemies to lovers story. Well more like frenemies since Rory and Adley are in the same friend group. I loved that Rory finally called Adley out on her behavior toward him and forced her to look at her true feelings. The interactions between Adley and Rory's son Jayden were very adorable. I loved this couple together and highly recommend this one.
Being the girl who always manages to choose the wrong guy is exhausting.
If there is a loser in the crowd, I find him. I fall, and I keep falling head over heels all the way down the mountain I just leaped off of.
It’s a vicious, ugly cycle. And I’m done. I’m done with relationships and two-timing men. No matter how cute their smile is, no matter how sweet they pretend to be. I. AM. DONE!
So when Finn decides he’s going to be a good friend and show me how a man should treat a woman, I know from the start it’s a bad idea…a really bad idea!
I can’t do this! I won’t! This can’t end well.
Fake dating! I mean, what is that anyway?
But true to his word, he shows me the meaning of an honest gentleman. He introduces me to the playful, fun side of being with a man, and the more time I spend with him, the worse I begin to feel. Because, at the end of each day, I have to remind myself that this is all a game.
It’s fake… and fake dating a great guy is awful!
Wanting Him Always is the 4th book in this series and I think it's my favorite couple so far. Finn wants Sophie to finally realize that she needs to be treated like a queen from anyone she is dating. A fake dating scheme quickly turns into real feelings. I just loved seeing Sophie finally feel valued in a relationship. I also really loved Sophie and her relationship with Finn's mother. It was adorable. This entire series is so fun and filled with wonderful characters. I won't spoil the story, but I do highly recommend it.
Author: Natasha Preston Publisher: Delacourte Press Publication Date: December 2025
ARE YOU REALLY HOME ALONE?
Sixteen-year-old Connie has been dragged into the world of vlogging - her mum Lou's vlog is hugely popular, enough to bring in money for a new house, expensive lifestyle . . . and a lot of criticism.
While Lou and Connie's older sister Isla are touring colleges, Connie stays home alone, where she becomes increasingly paranoid about comments on the vlog. Plus someone is turning up at her school and following her on her way home.
Then Connie's best friend is attacked - the third teenage girl attacked in five weeks - and suspicion turns to Connie. Connie doesn't know who she can trust any more and goes on the run. But will the killer - whoever they are - catch up with her?
In The Obsession, Connie is forced to participate in family vlogging by her horrible mother. She hates it, but goes along to keep the peace. When her mother and older sister leave for a college tour, she is left behind to take care of herself for 2 weeks. Things begin to go sideways when her friends begin to be attacked.
Books by this author have kind of been a hit or miss for me. I had high hopes for this one and as far as the reveal of who, I was surprised. But, unfortunately that is about all I liked about the book. The motive made no sense and literally came out of left field. I'm sure the horrible mother and her behavior were some sort of commentary on the whole family vlogging issue that seems to be plaguing YouTube. There were loose ends that never got tied up. And don't get me started on that ending. I had to replay the last part of the audiobook to make sure I didn't miss anything. Ending the book with literally no resolution was not clever and not cute, it only pissed me off. I don't recommend this one.
Operations Manager Carli Porter runs The Lochwell as
if it were her own and is fiercely protective of the community she’s built
within its walls. But when the building's owner sends in his best friend to
evaluate its future, Caril finds herself fighting to keep everything she loves
from slipping away. Left with no other option, she’s forced to team up with
Alexander Grassi, the very man who could decide the building's fate. Pre-order
this he-falls-first romance with small-town and rivals-to-lovers tropes from
Cissy Mecca & Tina Gallagher.
Title: Fight It Until We Can’t Author: Cissy Mecca & Tina Gallagher Release Date: 05/12/2026 Genre: Contemporary Romance Page Count: 280 pages Tropes: Small-Town, Rivals-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity,
He Falls First, Found Family, Competence Kink He's a property analyst hired to find the cracks. She's the operations manager who will make sure he doesn't. Carli Porter runs The Lochwell like it's hers. The coffee
shop is her living room. Its book club members are her family. The residents
are her friends. The pub is her Friday night. The only problem? The building
belongs to someone else, and that someone just sent his best friend to decide
its fate. Alexander Grassi is smart and annoyingly hard to hate. He
also has the kind of forearms that make it very difficult to stay mad at him.
(She's tried. It hasn't worked.) He's supposed to write a report, hand it over
to his friend and leave. He wasn't supposed to start showing up to trivia
night. Or turning her coffee cup so the handle faces her. Or looking at her
like she's the best thing in a building full of things worth saving. She says his report could ruin her life. He says she's not wrong. She says that's makes him the last person she should want
around. He says he's staying anyway. Because some legacies (and people) are worth fighting for. Pre-Order
on Amazon Add
to Goodreads Here! Add to
BookBub Wishlist! About Cissy Mecca
A "recovering" 8th-grade teacher and curriculum
consultant with a PhD in Language & Literacy, Cecelia loves writing
high-heat, emotionally charged romance. The Brands (The Mecca Romance
Multiverse): Cissy Mecca: Contemporary Romance, Cecelia Mecca: Medieval and Scottish
Historical Romance. C.L. Mecca: Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Mecca Romance
Signature Style: Heroines: Bold, strong women who fall hard but never lose
their identity. Heroes: High-heat, protective, and intense. Vibe: Visceral,
sensory-rich escapes... from family-owned vineyards to the war-torn
Anglo-Scottish borders. Other Info: Representation: Katie Reed (Katie Reed
Literary) Personal: Married, two teens, Disney enthusiast, traveler, and wine
lovers Authority: PhD background makes her an excellent guest for craft-focused
podcasts or literacy-based panels.
Tina Gallagher grew up and continues to live in Northeast
Pennsylvania. As a tween, she and her best friend would create happily ever
afters for their favorite soap opera couples. Eventually, the soap operas lost
their appeal, but the writing never did. Before living her dream as a full-time
author, she worked a spectrum of jobs ranging from baking and cake decorating
to marketing and project management. In between creating memorable characters,
traveling, and taking pole dance lessons, Tina enjoys spending time with her
two grown children and Golden Irish named Thea.
Join us for this exciting spotlight featuring the covers for
Fake It Until It’s Real and Fight It Until We Can’t by Tina Gallagher & Cissy
Mecca. Fans who love forced proximity romances will sink their teeth into these
sexy, small-town romances. Keep scrolling for more details about these sexy
covers.
Pre-Order on Amazon Add to Goodreads Here! Title: Fight It Until We Can’t Authors: Cissy Mecca & Tina Gallagher Release Date: 05/12/2026 Genres: Contemporary Romance Word Count: 65,000 Trope: Small-Town, Rivals to Lovers, Forced Proximity, He
Falls First, Found Fmaily, Competence Kink
He's a property analyst hired to find the cracks. She's the operations manager who will make sure he doesn't. Carli Porter runs The Lochwell like it's hers. The coffee
shop is her living room. Its book club members are her family. The residents
are her friends. The pub is her Friday night. The only problem? The building
belongs to someone else, and that someone just sent his best friend to decide
its fate. Alexander Grassi is smart and annoyingly hard to hate. He
also has the kind of forearms that make it very difficult to stay mad at him.
(She's tried. It hasn't worked.) He's supposed to write a report, hand it over
to his friend and leave. He wasn't supposed to start showing up to trivia
night. Or turning her coffee cup so the handle faces her. Or looking at her
like she's the best thing in a building full of things worth saving. She says his report could ruin her life. He says she's not wrong. She says that's makes him the last person she should want
around. He says he's staying anyway. Because some legacies (and people) are worth fighting for. Pre-Order on Amazon Add to Goodreads
Here! About Tina Gallagher
Tina Gallagher grew up and continues to live in Northeast
Pennsylvania. As a tween, she and her best friend would create happily ever
afters for their favorite soap opera couples. Eventually, the soap operas lost
their appeal, but the writing never did. Before living her dream as a full-time
author, she worked a spectrum of jobs ranging from baking and cake decorating
to marketing and project management. In between creating memorable characters,
traveling, and taking pole dance lessons, Tina enjoys spending time with her
two grown children and Golden Irish named Thea.
A "recovering" 8th-grade teacher and curriculum
consultant with a PhD in Language & Literacy, Cecelia loves writing
high-heat, emotionally charged romance. The Brands (The Mecca Romance
Multiverse): Cissy Mecca: Contemporary Romance, Cecelia Mecca: Medieval and
Scottish Historical Romance. C.L. Mecca: Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Mecca
Romance Signature Style: Heroines: Bold, strong women who fall hard but never
lose their identity. Heroes: High-heat, protective, and intense. Vibe: Visceral,
sensory-rich escapes... from family-owned vineyards to the war-torn
Anglo-Scottish borders. Other Info: Representation: Katie Reed (Katie Reed
Literary) Personal: Married, two teens, Disney enthusiast, traveler, and wine
lovers Authority: PhD background makes her an excellent guest for craft-focused
podcasts or literacy-based panels.
Erika Kelly has revealed the cover for Until I Found You!
Releasing June 18, 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.
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.
Izzy Summers' life changes instantly overnight, leaving her homeless and sleeping in her car at a Door County campground. With nothing left to lose, she hides out in the quiet town of Fish Creek with a job and a roof over her head, searching for a way to survive.
That plan unravels when a persistent--and dangerously attractive--sheriff keeps crossing her path. Izzy trusts no one, least of all someone wearing a badge.
Sheriff Tony Fontaine knows Izzy is running from something, and he's determined to uncover the truth. What he doesn't expect is how quickly his curiosity turns personal.
The Harbor is the second book in the Fish Creek series. It involves Izzy, a mysterious newcomer to Door County and Tony, the town sheriff. Izzy's life unexpectedly takes a turn when her husband is killed in a car accident and his family decides to take everything away from her out of spite. Arriving in Fish Creek, she sets out to build a new life and heal. I really enjoyed this installment. The friendship that formed between Izzy and Tony was adorable. Even though he was suspicious or her and he annoyed her, I loved how he slowly helped heal Izzy's heart. Izzy also was able to find a place to call home with a new found family. It was fun to catch up with the characters from the first book. I highly recommend this one.
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.
In suburban Westchester County, just outside the frenetic pace of New York City, a deadly murder occurs. After a violent struggle, FBI agent Shane Walsh is dead and his wife, Caitlin, has vanished. At the urging of a mysterious text, the Walshes’ nine-year-old daughter, Kennedy, has been safely whisked away by a close family member.
The FBI is determined to bring down whoever assassinated one of its own and is focusing on Caitlin as a prime suspect. Ryan McKay, Forensic Instincts’ chief technology officer, as well as Shane’s cousin and lifelong friend, vehemently disagrees. Ryan knows the Walsh family well. He insists that Caitlin is innocent, and that she, herself, is in danger.
After convincing his team to cast a wider net, Ryan leads FI on a zigzag course across two continents to locate Caitlin, sidestepping the FBI at every turn, and protecting Kennedy at all costs. But the FBI is on the warpath, and threatens to permanently shut down Forensic Instincts if they don’t back off. Undeterred by the FBI’s threats, FI goes underground in pursuit of their rogue mission.
As the pace quickens, Kennedy becomes the target of unnerving text messages. Both The FBI and the Forensic Instincts teams sense that the end game is near and that the chess match is spiraling to a stunning conclusion. Determined to declare “checkmate” before the killer, Forensic Instincts must not only protect Kennedy but make sure that their team doesn’t end up as collateral damage when the king falls.
Life Or Death Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Suspense Thriller Published by: Bonnie Meadow Publishing, LLC Publication Date: March 17, 2026 Number of Pages: 304, HC ISBN: 9781682320686 (ISBN10: 1682320685), HC Series: Forensic Instincts, Book 11 | Each is a stand-alone novel Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | RBmedia, Audiobook Links
My thoughts:
Life or Death is the 11th book in the Forensic Investigations series. I've always been a big fan of this series because the characters are just so interesting. It always feels like visiting old friends when I pick up the latest book. While it could be read as a stand alone, I feel like at this point in the series, there is so much back story that you miss with the characters. You will really be shorting yourself if you don't read from the start.
The entire team have all come so far since book one. It's been amazing to watch. This one takes place a few months after the end of the last book, Struck Dead. In this book, the team is drawn into an investigation involving members of Ryan's family. The mystery was solid. I always enjoy watching this team work together to put the pieces together. Ryan and Claire really shine this time. I won't spoil anything especially the very sweet ending. I'll just encourage you to read the book as well as the series.
Read an excerpt:
Bronx River Parkway
Friday, 3:55 p.m.
It wasn’t rush hour—not quite yet. So the drive was an hour plus away. That now left a short distance to go.
Ryan remained quiet and tense, staring out the passenger window as he had throughout the trip to Westchester County.
“Where are we going in New Rochelle?” Marc finally asked, glancing at his GPS, aware that he didn’t recognize the address Ryan had given him.
“To my cousin, Shane Walsh’s, house,” Ryan replied.
Marc nodded as they reached their exit and he eased his car around a loop and off the parkway. “Tell me only what I need to know. I’m not going to pry.”
“You’re not prying. I’m just really freaking out.” Ryan cleared his throat and relayed the entire situation to Marc.
Marc took it all in. “You’ve mentioned that you had a cousin with the Bureau. But that’s about all you’ve said, other than the fact that he has a wife and a young daughter.”
Ryan shrugged. “Shane’s a private guy, so I don’t talk about him much. He’s a Special Agent, Violent Crimes division, at the New York field office. He’s been there since he joined the FBI about eight years ago.”
“Does Hutch know him?”
“I never asked. But I doubt it. Hutch is in charge of all the Violent Crimes divisions. That’s too high up to know every agent who works under him.” Ryan pointed, shifting to the edge of his seat, and reiterating what the GPS was already showing them. “Make your next right. Two blocks down and make a left. Go through a few lights. You’ll see a cul-de-sac on your right. Marigold Terrace. Shane’s house is number 15.”
Marc understood that Ryan’s redundant supply of information was a manifestation of his anxiety. He just nodded again, then pressed his foot a little harder on the gas pedal to speed them up without accelerating too much. Suburban cops lived for speed traps.
Four minutes later, Marc turned onto Marigold Terrace and eased slowly around the curvy road.
“Three down on your left,” Ryan instructed. “White clapboard house, blue shutters.” His tension intensified as Marc reached Shane’s home. “That’s Caitlin’s car parked in the driveway. And Shane’s parked in his usual spot on the street. If they’re both home…but they don’t want Kennedy there… Shit.”
Ryan flung open the passenger door before Marc had brought the car to a complete stop. He was halfway to the front door, digging in his pocket for the key Shane had given him long ago, when Marc reached his side.
“Ryan, wait.” Marc grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Why?”
Marc tugged out the two pairs of latex gloves and shoved one pair into Ryan’s hand. “Put these on.”
Ryan gritted his teeth, while he and Marc worked their hands into the gloves. “Can’t leave any new fingerprints,” he muttered. “In case this is a crime scene.” He sounded ill.
“Is the door unlocked?” Marc asked, quickly assessing the garage door, which was up. He might have suggested accessing the house through there, but Ryan was already in motion. And time was precious.
Ryan jiggled the doorknob. “No.”
“Okay, use the key. I’ve got my Glock. Let’s go.”
Ryan’s hands were shaking as he turned the key and pushed open the door.
He and Marc stepped inside. The foyer was empty and quiet. In fact, the whole house was silent in a way that suggested no one was home.
“Shane?” Ryan called. A pause. “Caitlin?” No response. No sound of footsteps. Nothing.
Marc eased his way in front of Ryan, then crept ahead, sweeping the area with his gun.
Ryan followed behind him, aware that, not only was Marc armed, he was former FBI. He was trained at this. Ryan was not.
They’d barely gone fifteen feet, when Marc caught something in his peripheral vision, and swerved to his right. “Shit,” he muttered.
Ryan peered around him and gasped. Just outside the bathroom was a crumpled body, unmoving and lying in a pool of blood. Beside it, were two shell casings and a cell phone that had been crushed. On the other side of the cell phone was a jagged line of blood.
The inconsistency of the blood pattern struck Marc at once. Reflexively, he whipped out his cell phone and took a few quick photos.
Ryan was in a whole different headspace. Pushing past Marc, he strode over, squatting as he reached the body. “Shane,” he managed.
“Oh my God. Shane.”
Marc was beside Ryan in a heartbeat, restraining him from doing anything that would contaminate the scene. He leaned over Shane’s body, checking for a pulse, a breath—any sign of life.
There were none.
Marc gripped Ryan’s arm, standing and pulling him to his feet. Ryan’s entire body was stiff with shock, but Marc knew that consolation would have to wait.
“Ryan, we’ve got to get out of the house,” he said, visually sweeping as much of the ground floor as he could. “The killer might still be inside. He might have Caitlin.” A hard swallow, as Marc considered the possibility that she might also be dead. That additional jagged line of blood didn’t bode well. “I’ll call 911 as soon as we’re on the front lawn.”
Ryan didn’t budge. He was staring, wild-eyed, down at Shane’s lifeless form. It was only when Marc tugged insistently at his forearm that he regained some semblance of awareness. “No, Marc.” He gave a firm shake of his head. “I have to stay with him.”
“He’s gone,” Marc stated simply, placing a supportive hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “But Caitlin might not be. Let’s get the EMTs and the cops here. We might be saving her life.”
Slowly, Ryan turned, allowing Marc to lead him outside the house and to the front lawn, where he sank down on the grass, still unable to process this horrific occurrence.
Marc kept his Glock at the ready—just in case it was needed. “I’ll watch the windows and the doorways to block any attempt at escape,” he told Ryan. When there was no response, Marc glanced down, giving Ryan a worried look. The poor guy was staring off into space and wasn’t even hearing him.
Stationing himself close to his friend’s side, Marc took out his iPhone and called 911.
“What is your emergency?” was the immediate response.
Marc supplied his name, the address of the crime scene, and then, in staccato phrases, the necessary information.
He disconnected the call, knowing that it would be two minutes, at the most, before the ambulance showed up. He used the time wisely, pressing the button to Hutch’s private cell phone line.
One ring. Then, “Marc?”
“We’re in New Rochelle,” Marc said. “Ryan’s cousin, Shane Walsh, has been killed at his home. He worked for the Bureau, New York field office, Violent Crimes. I called 911, so the locals must already have been dispatched.”
Not even a heartbeat of a pause. “Text me the address.”
“Already done.”
“Then I’m on my way.”
***
Excerpt from Life Or Death by Andrea Kane. Copyright 2026 by Andrea Kane. Reproduced with permission from Andrea Kane. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including nineteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Life or Death, forces this eclectic team of investigators to navigate a high wire act between the FBI on one side and a vicious killer looking to terminate the rest of a young family on the other. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence That Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, A Face To Die For, Dead In A Week, No Stone Unturned, At Any Cost, Struck Dead and Life or Death.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan.
