Haiku Reviews...

 

Could've Fooled Me by Jenny Proctor

Deportation looms

for Sarah until her brother's hockey

teammate offers to marry her. 

Sweet hockey romance .... 383 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Carter Williamson is the perfect guy; he and Sarah are great together, and this clean romance is super fun and cute.)

Miss Winter in the Library With a Knife by Martin Edwards

Six strangers. A mystery

murder game. A blizzard. So many

secrets. And real murder.

(An entertaining murder mystery set in Northern England; I always love that isolated and snowed in kind of setting.)

Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker

Ten childhood dreams to do;

 then she'll marry the duke. She wasn't

counting on Charlie.

Regency Romance .... 309 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Rosalind's bucket list was fun, and I enjoyed her banter with Charlie.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Love Catch by Laura Langa

Roommates first. Then friends.

Can Trevor convince Kenzie

to risk her heart on him?

Sweet sport romance .... 297 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(He's a professional baseball player; she's an accountant. Together they work. Clean romance with the cutest rescue cat.)

Quiet Bones by Sarah Ward

A missing student.

A strange burial. A college

full of secrets.

Mystery .... 300 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Carla James, an archaeology professor at Jericho College, gets caught up in three separate mysteries...or are they all connected?)

A Study in Secrets by Jeffrey Siger

A retired spy.

A homeless girl. A diner

owner. And murder.

Mystery .... 212 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Great characters and a fun plot. I hope he writes a sequel.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

One year, no kills. Mark 

is making amends. Then a

killer comes after him.

Action/Thriller .... 306 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Loved the main character and the dark humor. Can't wait to read the sequel.)

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

Sasquatch. Cthulhu.

Black Witches. A missing town.

And werewolves. Oh, my!

Urban fantasy .... 358 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Anna and Charles head to the mountains in Northern California to investigate an ancient mystery; lots of magic and suspense. I loved it.)

Tell Me True by Carina Taylor

Can this marriage of

convenience take two roommates from

"just friends" to much, much more?

Sweet romance .... 316 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Cute, clean and humorous. While I do not love the cover, I did love Miles's and Lucy's friendship, and their banter. Miles's family was pretty great, too.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Two ghosts. Two hauntings.

Morgan wants hers gone; Sawyer doesn't.

What do the ghosts want?

Romance.... 322 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(So many poignant moments as Sawyer copes with tragic loss and grief, and finds new life, hope and love. He and Morgan are so good together.)

Hail Marry by Martha Keyes

He saves her life; she

saves his football dream by offering

a marriage of convenience.

Romance .... 337 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(A cute and clean rom-com with one of my favorite romance tropes.)

First Sign of Danger by Kelley Armstrong

Hikers. Miners. Spies?

Two murders put Haven's Rock

on high alert.

Mystery .... 337 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Another excellent mystery; I really love Casey Duncan and her husband, Eric Dalton, and their cute Newfie, Storm. And Haven's Rock, hidden somewhere in the heart of the Yukon, is such a great setting.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku reviews...

 

Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie

Three weeks: England, Wales,

Scotland. Alice, seven old ladies,

and one sexy Scot.

Contemporary romance....369 pages....4/5 stars.

(Travel, banter, humor and sparks. I liked it. Though I thought tour guide, Robbie Brodie, was inexcusably rude to Alice at the beginning, which is why I couldn't give this one 5 stars.)

Give Me A Shot by Gia De Cadenet

Single dad, neurodiverse, 

Mo is fine alone. Until he

meets Jess...who gets him!

Contemporary romance.... 297 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(This sweet, swoony, and a little spicy romance deals with loss, grief, and being a Highly Sensitive Person with poignant honesty. I loved Mo and Jess together!)

Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon

Rockslide strands sunny

bookmobile librarian with grumpy

taciturn mechanic.

Contemporary romance .... 279 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Swoony kisses and sweet romance between Hayley and Levi. Humor and books, too.) 

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Dear Bob... written and complied by Martha Bolton with Linda Hope

(Bob Hope's wartime correspondence with the G.I.s of WWII.)

Bob Hope entertained

thousands of G.I.s in WWII;

they loved him for it.

Nonfiction .... 306 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Nobody supported the troops like Bob Hope did. "Laughter was his ammunition. Peace was his mission. Hope was his name.")

 

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner

Hockey goalie falls

for his Captain's sister. Can

she trust him with her heart?

Sweet hockey romance .... 323 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(I've enjoyed all of Brunner's hockey romances. Go Eagles!)

Judge's Girls by Sharina Harris

Daughters. Stepmother.

Black. White. Grieving the man they

all loved the best.

Fiction .... 322 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(A novel of loss, forgiveness, family and love.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman

Carl and Princess Donut

level up. Fight new monsters.

Face puzzling quests.

Fantasy .... 351 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(This second Dungeon Crawler Carl book is just as fun and adventurous as the first one.)

Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe

Aliens? Or 

something else? El and Carter

team up to find out.

Romance + Mystery .... 316 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Fun story. She's an influencer; he works for a secret government agency. They're complete opposites, but somehow perfect for each other. I loved their romance....though there were a few steamy scenes I skipped over.)

5 Good Minutes of Mindfulness by Jeffrey Brantley, MD and Wendy Millstone

Focus. Breathe. In, out.

Be in the moment. Reduce 

stress. Find calm and peace.

Self-help .... 183 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(So helpful! And so easy to practice.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews....

 

As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair

Single mom and son 

get second chance at love 

with hockey defenseman.

Sweet hocky romance .... 304 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Loved Camden Cole's interactions with Naomi and her son, Liam; such a cute romance.)

We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall

Survival was just

part of the show until people

 started dying for real.

YA thriller .... 326 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Readable and fun.)

Once Upon a Boy Band by Jenny Proctor

He was a pop star.

She was a fan. Music and

dogs bring them together.

Sweet romance .... 342 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Love, love loved this one!)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews

 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Two sisters deal with

heartache in different ways.

Find love in the end.

Classic .... 353 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(My 2025 Jane Austen reread to celebrate her 250th birthday this year; it's not my favorite Austen novel, but I liked it more this time around than I did the first time I read it. Though I still love the Emma Thompson movie version best.)

Fly Girl by Ann Hood

The reality and

adventure of being a 

flight attendant for TWA.

Biography .... 265 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Remember when flying used to be a more glamorous way of traveling? Ann Hood does in this interesting memoir.)

Star-Crossed Crush by Sarah Deeham

Hot rock star. Cute dog.

Best friend's little sister.

Secret crush. True love.

Contemporary Romance .... 335 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Slowburn romance with lots of heart, humor, and only a few steamy scenes...it also has a very cute Corgi name Archie.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

Stuck on a houseboat

adrift at sea, two strangers

learn about each other...and themselves.

Romance .... 369 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Survival, honesty, revealing conversations, tears, smiles and unexpected love.)

The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton

A marriage of convenience.

Unleashed thaumaturgic magic.

Wild Adventure. And love.

Historical fantasy .... 327 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Another magical read from Horton full of humor and romance.)

The Double-A Western Detective Agency by Steven Hockensmith

Gustav's and Otto's

first case puts them on the wrong

side of a range war.

Western/mystery .... 252 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Sixth book in this fun series; I love that they've teamed up with their new partner, Diana Crowe, in this one. She keeps these cowboy sleuths on their toes.)

Season's Schemings by Katie Bailey

Their fake marriage plan:

show up her ex and get him

a green card. Win-win!

Sweet hockey romance .... 253 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(Loved this cute and funny marriage of convenience romance!)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews

 

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid

Wedding trip plane crash

strands bridesmaid with her old flame;

can love re-ignite?

Contemporary romance .... 293 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Cute forced proximity second chance summer romance.)

The Passengers by John Marrs

Eight self-driving cars

hacked and programmed to collide

as the world watches.

Science fiction .... 337 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Thought-provoking, fast-paced and twisty. And will make you never want to own a self-driving car.)

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Filming Coast Guard hero Hutch

makes Katie face her fears and

learn to love herself. 

Contemporary romance ... 302 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Favorite quote from this fun romance:  "No one's born fearless. You have to earn it. Every time you have to be brave, you get to be a little braver next time."

Happy Reading!

Two quick recommendations....

 

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

True crime podcaster, Ben Owens, is looking into the unsolved murder of Savannah Harper. His investigation brings Lucy Chase, the prime suspect, back to her hometown of Plumpton, Texas. It's the last place she wants to be, but Savvy was her best friend and Lucy was with her the night she died. Everyone thinks she did it, but no one can prove it. And Lucy can't remember what really happened that night. But it's time for her to find out the truth...even if the truth points to her. 

What a gripping twisty thriller! I loved the format and how each of Ben's podcast interviews brings out another piece of the truth. Then there's all the lies and contradictions and Lucy's own unreliable memories. It's great storytelling that kept me guessing until the very end.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Ornithologist's Field  Guide to Love by India Holton

"Birds are easy; people are utterly bewildering."

Set in England in 1890, this captivating historical fantasy has wild avian magic, cutthroat ornithologists, and a ruthless competition to capture the rare and magical Caladrius bird. At stake? Being named Best Birder of the Year...and winning tenure! Beth, a serious, smart, and shy professor from Oxford reluctantly teams up with Devon, an irreverent, good looking, and intelligent professor from Cambridge who finds out his competitor is not only spunky, but sassy, too. 

"Who knew that racing across the country, being attacked by deadly magical birds and kissed by a handsome rogue, would be so transformative to one's character."

I loved Beth and Devon and their competitiveness, their love of birds, their wit and banter, and their enchanting romance. Holton writes with a tongue-in-cheek humor that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I loved everything about this book.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"All any of us want, bird and birder, is the freedom to find our own skies, our own magic."

Happy Reading!

Haiku reviews...

 

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Xavier falls hard for Sam. 

The next day, she moves away.

What's a guy to do?

Romance .... 353 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(Xavier is an "alarmingly handsome veterinarian" who loves animals more than people...but he loves Sam most of all. Their long-distance love story is funny, poignant, and tugs at the heart.)

The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair

There's magic in the

building bringing Willa and 

Archer together.

"A Whimsical Romance" .... 276 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(A sweet and funny grumpy vs. sunshine romance with a cute magical twist. The Cupid Chronicles by Courtney Walsh is another whimsical romance in this fun series involving a magical match-making newspaper; it's equally charming.)

The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

Lost treasure. Buried

secrets. And murder. Three try

to dig up the truth.

Mystery .... 368 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Entertaining fast-paced thriller full of family secrets, lies, hidden gold, betrayal, shocking twists, and new beginnings.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku reviews...

 

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

Necromancer and 

Hedge witch. Can their love defeat

a common enemy?

Fantasy .... 311 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(I found the characters, the magic, and the nod to the myth of Persephone enchanting.)

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

Levi Bright is back.

Jilly has a second chance at love....

if she's brave enough to take it.

Romance .... 293 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(This is a quirky small town, single mom, brother's best friend, low angst, charming romance.)

Scorpio by Marko Kloos

Colonists from Earth

struggle to survive against

the monstrous Lankies.

Science fiction .... 274 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(I've always liked stories of space colonization and survival; and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out in August.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku reviews...

 

Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh

Dark secrets come out

as Bree investigates the

murder of Claire's parents.

Mystery .... 304 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(This is the 9th Sheriff Bree Taggert mystery and it's another good one, mostly because Bree and her partner, Matt Flynn, are such great characters.)

Only In Your Dreams by Madison Wright

Grey's loved Finley for

years. So when she needs a fake 

boyfriend, he's ALL in!

Romantic comedy .... 351 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(I loved this charming, clean romance! It's as delightfully sweet and fun as her previous novel, Off the Beaten Path.)

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain

Cousins switch places

during London Season. Each find love.

But will their love survive the truth?

Regency romance .... 257 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Cute and clean romance; a little silly and a bit shallow, but still fun.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews...

 

Summit's Edge by Sara Driscoll

When a hijacked plane

crashes, Meg and Hawk join the 

risky mountain search.

An FBI K-9 Mystery .... 308 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(One of my favorite mystery series!)

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

Boom! Then time resets.

They're stuck in a loop. Why?!

And how do they get out?

Science Fiction .... 346 pages .... 3.5/5 stars.

(Great beginning. But I felt the story lost some momentum in the middle. And while I liked the ending, I didn't love it. Still a good read.)

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

She finds family

in Scotland along with a

curse, magic, and love.

Paranormal romance .... 386 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Key and Lachlan's romance is full of sparks, lots of spice, and the Loch Ness monster, too. It's a fun one.)

Happy Reading!

Haiku Reviews

 

Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young

A Halloween fling.

Her unexpected pregnancy.

Co-parents? Friends? More?

Romance .... 357 pages .... 4.5/5 stars.

(I adored Win and Bo and their sweet romance!)

To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Bachelor detective &

independent photographer

solve case; find love.

"A Proper Romance" .... 283 pages .... 4/5 stars.

(Loved the historical time period, the engaging characters & their honest respect for one another.)

Cold as Hell by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle

Angels yanked James from

hell to kill monsters and demons

in the wild, wild West.

Western + Supernatural .... 323 pages .... 5/5 stars.

(A dead outlaw cowboy battling evil for the angels of the White Throne. How awesome is that? I totally loved it!)

 

Happy Reading!