ARC Review: Hard Dough Homicide

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

Hard Dough Homicide by Olivia Matthews

Lyndsay Murray and her family own Spice Isle Bakery, a new business that is really starting to come into its own. That is, until the honoree at the retirement dinner they host suddenly drops dead. Now Lyndsay and her family find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation, with everything to lose.

This is an enjoyable addition to the cozy mystery genre. I really liked the exploration of the importance of culture and family, and the multiple strong female characters. The story did feel a little repetitive at times, but the mystery was an intriguing one with a lot of plausible suspects. If you’re looking for a new cozy mystery with a unique spin, this could be one to pick up. 

ARC Review: The Chateau

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

When Arabelle, Darcy, Jade, and Vix-four best friends-receive the invitation from Seraphine, Darcy’s grandmother, to return to her palatial chateau, they all accept. But then Seraphine is murdered, and everything and everyone they thought they knew falls under suspicion. 

This book was so good! The characters are all well delineated, complex, and captivating, and the setting is its own character. The suspense builds and builds to where you can’t put the book down. And the twists! The twists are absolutely amazing, literally up until the very last page. I definitely recommend this book. 

ARC Review: Murder on Mustang Beach

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

Murder on Mustang Beach by Alicia Bessette

When a murder occurs at a popular vacation destination, Callie finds herself juggling a hopeful boyfriend, a horse in trouble, working at a bookstore, and a murder investigation. She will need all her wits, and all the help she can get, to solve this complicated mystery and free the man she is falling for from police suspicion.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read with a great cast of unique characters, in particular Callie and her would-be paramour Toby, who I was definitely rooting for. The bookstore where Callie works really comes alive through Bessette’s words, as does Mustang Beach. The mystery was well-plotted, and had a very surprising ending. I would recommend this book. 

ARC Review: No One Needs to Know

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

No One Needs to Know by Lindsay Cameron 

Take a group of affluent families, add in a forum where you can post anonymously, and secrets are guaranteed to be spilled. But when the site is hacked, names get attached to every secret. And then someone disappears.

This book dives into wealth and class, and the divisions even among the wealthy themselves. It also looks a lot at women and their relationships, both with other women and with the men in their lives. 

This is an interesting read, suspenseful for sure. I struggled to keep track of which character was which thought, which often meant I was confused while reading until I figured it out again. If you’re looking to read about what happens when the wealthy meet real world consequences, with a mystery thrown in, this book is fine. 

ARC Review: This is the Way the World Ends

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

This is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde

Waverly has always felt like she doesn’t belong. She is an autistic student whose family is scraping by at an incredibly rich and prestigious school. When Caroline, the most popular girl at school, suggests Waverly disguise herself as Caroline to gain entry to the school’s masquerade ball, Waverly agrees. It doesn’t hurt that her ex-girlfriend who ghosted her will be there.

But when the masquerade is made up of clandestine meetings, secret passageways, and even murder, Waverly realizes nothing about her school is what she believed. Add in that the world may be ending outside the party’s doors, and it’s truly a night Waverly will never forget.

This was a really gripping and unique read. The masquerade ball and everyone there really came alive through Wilde’s writing, and it felt like I was there with the characters. The tension was so heightened, and everything was so mysterious and suspenseful. The stakes were so high I couldn’t help but be invested. I would recommend this book. 

ARC Review: I Like Me Better

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

I Like Me Better by Robby Weber 

This was an absolute delight of a book. Zach, our narrator and a high school soccer star, starts his summer off by taking the blame for a prank the former soccer captain actually committed, thinking it’s for the good of the team. This leads to Zach being given community service, and a chance meeting with Chip on the beach (who Zach instantly gets a crush on) leads to Zach doing his hours at the Marine Institute.

As Zach struggles to be the soccer captain everyone has always believed he will be, he finds himself drawn more to the Institute and to Chip. But will his team ever trust him completely, and will Chip ever let him in as more than a friend?

I loved this book. The characters feel so real and the relationships so authentic. I was rooting for Zach and Chip to get it together and get together so hard. This book made me laugh, and feel, and smile, and I definitely recommend it.