contemporary

Review Roundup Fall 2025 – Part 2

A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Fall 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: Dead Wrong Author: Kate Allenton Series: Cree Blue Psychic Eye Mystery #1 Not great. Very simplistic and superficial storytelling. Too short to include much detail or character development. The MC, Cree*, is more foolishly headstrong than spunky, and waaayyy overpowered: clairvoyant, psychometric, knows when people are lying, and she can see and communicate with ghosts? She must also be rich, because she’s entirely unbothered by the …

Continue reading

Interview with Jennifer Faye (Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses by Jennifer Faye has Belle Sinclair recently adopting a stray puppy. It was love at first snuggle. He is the best Christmas present ever. And yet her holiday happiness goes sideways when she hears a siren and spots flashing lights in her rearview mirror. It seems Sheriff Parker Bishop always seems to be there when she commits traffic violations. But after Belle’s puppy goes missing, she calls the Sheriff …

Continue reading

Interview with Margaret Mizushima (Dying Cry)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima has action, intrigue and suspense. There is murder, a police investigation, family relationships/dynamics, and some information about veterinarians. The plot begins when the Walker family of Cole, Sophie, Angie, and now Mattie are out snowshoeing and hear a scream. Cole takes the girls back to the resort while Mattie and her K-9 Robo go to investigate. Robo finds a trail and Mattie can see a body at the base …

Continue reading

Interview with Janice Lynn (Falling for His Nashville Nurse)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Falling for His Nashville Nurse by Janice Lynn is a story of overcoming past relationship disappointments. This is considered a medical romance where Lynn uses her professional experiences to write a heartfelt story. The heroine, Everleigh Bennett, is determined to focus her energy on her job, her son, and her mother. She swore off romance following her divorce from Bryan who left her and her son soon after she gave birth. That is, until …

Continue reading

Interview with Kate Angelo (Girl Lost)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Girl Lost by Kate Angelo is a compelling and gripping story that has redemption, courage, and the power of facing the truth. This is one of those plots where readers will love the good guys and thoroughly hate the bad guys. There is action, arson, murder, kidnappings, and a missing person. The plot opens with Luna Rosati, a CIA counterintelligence officer who had a hard past. After becoming pregnant at sixteen she gave the …

Continue reading

Interview with J. T. Ellison (The Wolves Come at Night and Last Seen)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Last Seen by J. T. Ellison is a standalone novel. Her protagonist, Halley James, is not having a good year. She is getting divorced, has lost her job at the forensics lab, and her dad needs emergency surgery after a fall. But the biggest blow is when she discovers her mother died, not in a car accident, but was murdered by her sister. Since she was six years old her dad had lied to …

Continue reading

Review Roundup Fall 2025

A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late summer to fall 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: What Comes After Author: Katie Bayerl Series: n/a Thank you to Katie Bayerl, Penguin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it’s overdue. DNF 31%. The afterlife is the same as life, filled with veiled autocracy, big brother, social media, toxicity and strife, and other familiar bullshit. And so many awful puns. …

Continue reading

Interview with Candace Irving (Blood on the Wire)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Blood on the Wire by Candace Irving brings back Kate Holland and her loving furry partner, Ruger. She is a former US Navy Lieutenant who writes the Hidden Valor series, and the Deception Point Military Detective series. Fans of Ruger get a bonus because there is now merchandise available for purchase at https://store.candaceirving.com/collections/hidden-valor-merch-collection The plot of this book has Kate initially investigating the death of a VA psychologist who was brutally stabbed to death. …

Continue reading

Interview with Melinda Curtis (The Cowboy’s Wedding Proposal and Country Fair Cowboy)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Cowboy’s Wedding Proposal and Country Fair Cowboy by Melinda Curtis are charming reads. The stories have romance with a little mystery intertwined. Touching stories of second chances and new beginnings. The Cowboy’s Wedding Proposal’s plot has Tillie Powell facing an insurmountable job as a wedding planner for her cousin Reese, who is a Bridezilla. Now she must also contend with best man Keith Morgan. Six years earlier he had proposed to her and …

Continue reading

And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Title: And the Crowd Went Wild Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips Series: Chicago Stars #11 Much thanks to Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Avon, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Jen McGuire at William Morrow for emailing the widget. I really liked this book. Absolutely devoured it. I was leery at first—another Stars book? Another MC involved in Hollywood? Blech. I don’t care about football or Hollywood. I’m gonna hate …

Continue reading

Load more