2 in 1: Dead of Winter and Thaw of Spring by Rebecca Zanetti

Publisher: RAZ Inc., LLC
Publication Date: January 2025

Brock Osprey has spent years in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, far from civilization and even farther from his past. A former Navy Seal, Brock is now the unwilling protector of Knife's Edge, a remote town with more secrets than residents. But when FBI agent Ophelia Spilazi arrives to investigate the unsolved murder of his guardian—and recent unexplained deaths in the area—Brock's carefully guarded world is thrown into chaos.

Agent Ophelia Spilazi has one last chance to save her career, and Knife's Edge is her shot. The isolated town is full of secrets, and she's certain Brock knows more than he's letting on. The town's recent string of mysterious deaths only heightens her suspicion, but the more time she spends with the brooding Alaskan, the harder it becomes to ignore the dangerous chemistry between them.

As a brutal storm traps them in the isolated wilderness, Brock and Ophelia's growing attraction ignites, even as shadows from their pasts threaten to tear them apart. But with a dangerous conspiracy and powerful enemies lurking in the shadows, their only hope is to trust each other—before the wilderness consumes them both.

Dead of Winter is the first in the  Knife's Edge series.  This one is Brock and Ophelia's story.  It was a fairly good start to the series.  I liked that Brock and Ophelia had chemistry from the start.  However, I did think their love story was a bit insta-love though.  I mean the story only takes place over a time span of a week or so.    The main mystery (and the reason that Ophelia was in Knife's Edge) was solved in this one, but we are left hanging on a few others. There are a couple of mysteries that seem like they will carry through the entire series.  I enjoyed the book enough to pick up the next book right away.

Pulisher: RAZ Inc., LLC

Publication Date: September 2025

Christian Osprey prefers the wilderness to the company of people. A former Navy Special Operator, he’s built for isolation and thrives in the untamed wild. He doesn’t want ties, doesn’t need anyone—but he can’t seem to stay away from Amka, the soft-eyed tavern owner who always greets him with a warm smile, a hot cup of coffee, and no expectations.

Amka Pinga has spent her life being strong for everyone else, even as her own life unravels. Trapped in an engagement that feels more like a cage, she’s tangled in obligations that threaten to break her spirit. Christian’s quiet strength feels like a lifeline she doesn’t dare reach for—but danger is circling Knife’s Edge, and this time, she’s at the center of it.

When Amka becomes a target, Christian will stop at nothing to protect her. But their simmering attraction explodes into something fierce and undeniable, and keeping her close blurs the line between protection and possession. In a town where secrets run deeper than the icy rivers and trust is as treacherous as thin ice, survival means risking everything—even their hearts.

So far, I think that this one will be my favorite couple of the series.  I devoured this one.  This one is Christian and Amka's story.  These two really intrigued me from the first book.  Amka is engaged, but no one can really figure out why she would want to be with a man like her fiancé.  Especially Christian.  But when someone keeps trying to kill Amka, he knows he has to protect her.  Their chemistry was off the chart.  I loved how Amka just understood what Christian needed to not feel like he was caged in.  I also enjoyed the mystery.  I was definitely surprised.  There were also a couple of other surprises that I can't wait to see how they play out later in the series.  I highly recommend this series.

Review: Six Must Die by Victoria Wlosok

Author: Victoria Wlosok
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2026

Twelve months ago, an escape room fire took everything from Steffi Zamekova. In just one hour, she lost it all: her popular blog, her close-knit inner circle, and her memories of the night that killed one of the group’s own… the charismatic (if infuriating) Matt Cesari.

On the anniversary of the bewildering tragedy, Steffi is still desperate to piece together what went wrong. So when she receives an ominous invitation in the mail summoning her to the new escape room across town, she seizes the chance for answers.

Reunited with her former friends, Steffi sees the game as a last chance to uncover the truth behind Matt’s death. But it’s soon clear that each participant has their own cagey reasons for accepting the challenge. And as tensions rise and the players are picked off one by one, it’s a race against the clock for Steffi to uncover their secrets and unlock her own memories before the game’s mastermind ensures that no one escapes the room alive.

 Six Must Die is a book that is right up my alley.  I love escape room/ closed room mystery type books.  This one takes place a year after the a fire took a one Steffi's best friends.  Now she and the survivors have all been invited to try a new escape room. Despite their reservations, Steffi and the group agree to try it out.

 I really enjoyed this one.  I liked that no one was safe. The deaths were the right amount of gore for a b-grade horror movie, if this was a movie.  The puzzles were fun and I made really invested in the story.  I liked all of the characters, especially Steffi.  There were a few twists that kept my interest.  One of them I did call, but it didn't ruin the story for me.  One thing that I also really appreciated was the ending.  I love when it's wrapped up nicely and as a reader closure for the characters is always appreciated.  I highly recommend this one.

Review: They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours

Author: Channelle Desamours
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: February 2026

Every year horror-loving Simone Washington throws an epic Halloween party for her classmates. Party-planning is her favorite escape from the dark secrets in her past, and this year, she’s taking things up a notch with an invitation-only event to celebrate her eighteenth birthday—something that will leave the halls of Pinegrove Academy flooded with gossip about the big ghoulish bash. The overnight stay at Doll’s Head Lake will be filled with spooky pranks and scary stories told by the fire—including the legend of a local witch named Regret.

But those dark secrets from Simone’s past are forced to the surface at the party when her best friend Kira dies under questionable circumstances. The witch appears and offers Simone a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within fourteen days, all of Simone’s regrets will be erased. If Simone accepts, Kira’s life will be immediately restored. But if she fails, Kira will die again—and Simone will be the one to kill her.

They Call Her Regret is a book I probably should have just DNF'd  but I didn't really have anything else to listen to at the time, so I just finished it.  I really did not like any of the characters.  Even Simone, the main character.  How any of these people were friends is a mystery.  The premise seemed promising, but the pace was slow and I got to the point that I didn't care if Simone figured it all out or not. There was one twist in the end that I did like, but it wasn't enough to redeem the book for me.  I seem to be in the minority when it comes to this book, so maybe give it a try.