Enter the Nightmare

 

Enter the Nightmare (Harmony #18)- Jayne Castle

Berkley

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Release Date: June 30, 20206

Synopsis: Alice Radstone should have known not to return. Her life before the Hotel of Dreams had been one of a perfectly cloistered teacher at the Ballantine Academy. When the death of her mentor forced her out, she was left to reinvent herself in the big city. Since then, things have not gone well. Ten months ago, after her first trip to the hotel, she woke up in the locked ward of a hospital for the criminally insane and was informed that she had murdered her husband on their wedding night. She has no memory of the husband or the wedding, but after she escapes from the asylum, one thing is certain: She is never going back.

Unfortunately, Alice’s second reinvented life is also deteriorating rapidly, which is why she finds herself once more at the Hotel of Dreams—this time hiding in the shadows of her room with a dead body in the shower and two men wearing masks creeping toward the bed to kidnap her. Again.

When the enigmatic and decidedly dangerous Owen March shows up and claims he’s there to rescue her, she has no choice but to accept his offer—and hope that he doesn’t also intend to kidnap her. 

With Alice and now Owen in the killer’s sights, time is running out. They must trust each other and the electric passion between them if they are to make it out of this hotel alive.

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Alice Radstone and Owen March are the human main characters of Jayne Castle's latest Harmony book, with Sebastian the dust bunny along for the ride. Alice has had a rough year: a quick marriage to someone she barely remembers, a wedding night that ended with her suposedly killing the groom, three months locked in an institution, and seven months on the run with Sebastian. Only the lure of proof of her innocence could get her back to the Hotel of Dreams (even knowing it was probably a trap). One dead guy in the bathroom and a kidnapping attempt later and she's on the run again, this time with Owen March who claims he wants to help her. She and Sebastian are out of options so she takes his help. The plot thickens to include powerful families out for money and revenge, more kidnapping attempts, murder and attempted murders. Plus a dust bunny who loves shiny things in a casino. What could possibly go wrong?

I enjoyed Alice and Owen and their developing relationship. Alice isn't as naive as everyone assumes she is and Owen has a knack for putting his foot in his mouth, which lead to some fun conversations in Quick's usual witty banter. Sebastian steals the show in this one with his antics in the casino. The Hotel of Dreams came a close second though, as the kind of nightmare place you never want to visit. The hotel gives the ending a bit more suspense than a traditional Jayne Castle ending, and a definite yikes! factor, but it's a nightmare worth reading about- though I wouldn't want to spend the night there. And most visitors probably don't live long enough to write a review of the place. Probably for the best. 

Fast-paced and good chemistry between Owen and Alice, Enter the Nightmare is a fun addition to the Harmony world. Fans will enjoy and those new to the series shouldn't have trouble jumping into this delightful paranormal world.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Cupid Dilemma

The Cupid Dilemma- April Asher

St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: A lover of love and a champion for happily ever after. Those were two of many things people expected from Aphrodite’s daughter. To Adalyn Whitlock, ‘love’ paid the bills, and currently, not well. Business was dropping at Happily Ever Forever, with her latest wedding planning catastrophe ending in a negative social media storm and her sister Maxi’s matchmaking ability on the fritz. To top it off, there’s an ex-boyfriend calling her ‘the Anti-Aphrodite’ and paparazzi pics linking Addie to her new client’s older brother.

Phoenix ‘Nix’ Cross—song writer and drummer of the hot new band, The Stone Talons—was no saint, but he was far from the womanizer the band’s image rep bestowed on him. If anything, he was a romantic, hopeful to find a love like the one in which his parents shared. With the band’s star quickly rising and the record label pressuring him to deliver the band’s next hit, Nix’s writer’s block couldn’t have come at a worse time. But when he opens his door to his irate new next-door neighbor, Nix feels the brief flash of inspiration for the first time in ages. And it just so happens that his new Muse is none other than his little sister’s new wedding planner.

With Addie needing an end to the public relations nightmare and the record label breathing down Nix’s neck, the pair agree to a fauxmance. But what happens when the emotions turned on for the cameras don't turn off?

______________________________________________

Certain things are expected of you when you're one of Aphrodite's daughters. Not believing in love, happily ever afters, and planning a streak of disasterous weddings (the fire department gets called out more than once) aren't anywhere on that list. But that's Adalyn "Addie" Whitlock's life at the moment. She runs a matchmaking and wedding planning agency with her sister and cousin and is watching it go down in flames (literally). They need a big success to pull things back- and a big name would be even better. When they agree to plan the wedding of a rock star in a month, things might get back on track. 

Except fellow band member and brother of the bride is Phoenix "Nix" Cross -aka Addie's new neighbor. He's suffering song writer's block and think's Addie's the Muse to get his songs flowing again. She could use some positive press to help her business. The answer? A fauxmance as they plan his little sister and best friend's wedding. What could go wrong?

I'm always up for a fauxmance (why have we not been using this term forever?). How long will it take them to work out that it's real? Who falls first? Why did they think the fake out was a good plan in the first place? It's always fun. While the why here was pretty typical, how they went about it wasn't: they got to just hang out and be themselves. It led to some very fun dates and watching the chemistry build between Nix and Addie was great.

While Nix was a well-developed character, I did sometimes want more from Addie. Why does she not believe in love? She hasn't had any traumatic relationships- though yes, plenty of decently bad dates. Her parents aren't together but don't fight and Addie seems to get along with them as well as most adult children with their parents might. It was kind of a big miss that it never got explained or developed. But otherwise I enjoyed the flirting, the heat, the getting-to-know-you dates, the quirky humor of the the characters and the book. 

The Cupid Dilemma's world-building and humor grabbed me from the first chapter. Mixing "normal" contemporary with Greek myth descendants and it not being something you hide (her dogs are from Cerebus' latest litter and play in the park with them like any other dogs would) was a great twist. I'm hoping for much more in this world to explore. Demigoddesses, shifters, gargoyles, humans all living together- more please!

Definitely recommend for romance lovers, even if you don't normally go for any kind of paranormal vibes. I'd call this "paranormal lite" but still enough to satifsy everyone. Fake dating trope lovers will enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

On Thin Ice

 

On Thin Ice- Kelly Jamieson

Boldwood Books

Release Day: February 13, 2026

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: 

Marek

Playing for the New Jersey Storm I know how to handle the heat – on and off the ice. But nothing compares to Nicki Sullivan. We collided in One wild night, no strings and a spark I couldn’t shake. We went our separate ways, but I never stopped thinking about her. When I see she’s involved in an accident that nearly takes her life, I drop everything and drive to New York. She’s broken, shaken… but still the woman who set my world alight. So I bring her home with me — to recover, to breathe… and maybe, to see if that spark between us still burns.

Nicki

After the accident, I can’t face the music — or the world. The last person I expect to show up is Marek — sinfully hot, too good to be real, and suddenly my rescuer. I should push him away. Instead, I let him take me to his apartment, where everything feels dangerously safe. But it’s not just comfort — it’s him. The heat between us is impossible to ignore and being with him feels right. But I can’t hide away forever. Falling for him is a risk because this time the ice beneath us may just crack.

______________________________________________

On Thin Ice is a hockey romance that hits hard and plays for all the feels. Marek and Nikki meet in Vegas and have instant connection—but despite their best intentions their schedules keep them from meeting up afterwards and they drift apart. A year later he's determined to get over her—until he hears about an accident at one of her concerts. She's in shock and the people around her don't seem to want to her to do anything but get back to work. So Marek has Nikki move in with him until she recovers. Nikki feels safe with Marek, but the chemistry from Vegas is still there. Should they act on it? And what happens when Nikki has to return to the real world?

Marek is definitely one of those MMCs you love to read about. Gentle, confident, willing to just be there and support Nikki however he can. Of course he gets some things wrong (nobody is perfect) but he does his best with what he knows how to do. Writing in alternating first-person POVs let us get into both of their heads, let us really feel them being messed up over each other when they think they can't make it work because of long-distances and busy schedules. For me, one of the things that woked best was seeing in Nikki's head after the concert, as she goes through the trauma and mental health issues that have really been there all her life but she's pushed the away until now. Lack of confidence, trying to live up to other's expectations, meshing with survivor's guilt and doses of toxic social media created a perfect storm that she didn't know how to recognize, let alone get out of. But Marek stood by her for all of it, supporting her and helping her, showing her he loved her for herself, not for her stardom.

Kelly Jamieson puts her characters (and readers) through it all here. Expect humor, romance, trauma, serious heart-to-hearts, deep friendships, self-discovery, sizzling chemistry, and love at first sight that neither recognizes. Nikki and Marek have to work for their HEA, making On Thin Ice relatable in all the best of ways.

Great for hocket romance fans,  & romance fans. Kelly Jamieson fans will love this new book and new readers will be hooked!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Shop on Hidden Lane

 The Shop on Hidden Lane- Jayne Ann Krentz

Berkley Publishing

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Synopsis: The Harper and the Wells families have regarded each other with deep suspicion for four generations. The Harpers have been known to offer their psychic talents for less-than-legal purposes, and the powerful Wells clan has a reputation for playing both sides of the street. But for all the years of history and distrust between them, there is a mysterious pact binding the two. They share the responsibility for protecting a long-buried and very dangerous secret.

Sophy Harper and Luke Wells are shocked to learn that her aunt and his uncle have been sleeping together—and now they are both missing. Not only that, but the last traces of them are at the scene of a murder soaked in negative paranormal energy. Clearly, someone is willing to kill to obtain the secret their families have been charged with protecting. Despite their mutual distrust, which, as far as Sophy is concerned extends to Luke’s hellhound of a dog, they both know that the terms of the pact must be honored.

Their investigation uncovers a psychic trail leading to a bizarre desert art colony where nothing is as it seems. But Luke and Sophy are concealing a few secrets, too. By a strange twist of fate, a Harper and a Wells have no choice but to trust each other and the fierce attraction that is binding them as surely as the pact between the families.

____________________________________________

When Sophy Harper gets roped into reading a crime scene by Luke Wells, she's sure it won't go well. When the scene turns out to be a murder scene at Luke's uncle's cabin—where they discover his uncle and her aunt were having an affair—the day is all downhill from there. Now his uncle and her aunt are missing and all clues point to connections with the murder and a bizarre art colony in Arizona. Sophy, Luke, and Luke's dog Bruce head to Arizona in search of answers, but find danger and long hidden secrets first.

I found The Shop on Hidden Lane really enjoyable. Sophy's snark and Luke's dry sense of humor are typical of Krentz's characters, though Luke gets to have a little more fun than usual with his sense of humor by bringing Bruce the dog into it. (Sophy asks if they should go to dinner since they know they're going into a trap. Luke says yes because he's starving and if they stay in the hotel room they'll have to share Bruce's kibble "And I don't know what Bruce will say about that.") The two are a good mix of logic and instinct learning to work together as a team.

Bruce was a delight and I was thrilled at the end with Krentz's hints that we'll see at least one more dog like him (hopefully many more!). Smart and bonded with Luke, he seems to have some psychic gifts of his own—though you do have to wait for the very end to find out a bit more about those. 

Sophy is a librarian as her main job, the psychic crime scene reading is just a side gig. And I loved how throughout the book you get her pointing out how important the profession is and what they do—in ways many wouldn't think. From research to collections to helping people put the peices together, The Shop on Hidden Lane is a love letter to librarians. (Krentz herself was a librarian in a former life I think). A fun contrast to the engineer mindset of Luke's family on several occasions, since in the end it's Sophy's mindset that figures out Luke's talent.

If you've read Krentz's Fogg Lake trilogy (The Vanishing, All the Colors of Night, Lighting in the Mirror) you'll know about the Bluestone Project and the Fogg Lake disaster already. If not, you'll figure it out as you read this book. I'd recommend reading the Fogg Lake trilogy as well, because they're good books, but they aren't necessary before you read this one. 

An entertaining addition to the Jayne Ann Krentz collection, and certainly one I'd recommend!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Marriage Method

 

The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2)- Mimi Matthews

Berkley

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters. 

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .

___________________________________________

When Nell ventures to London to stop newspaperman Miles Quincy from asking questions about her beloved Academy, she has no idea she'll end up married to him. But one feral cat, a crinoline skirt, and a judgy reverend mean marriage between Miles and Nell becomes necessary. They thought they would be saving their reputations, but events quickly lead to investigating kidnappings and murder- where relying on each other as equals is the only way they'll solve the crimes.

Book 2 of Mimi Matthews' latest Crinoline Academy pulls Nell from the Academy she'd never meant to leave and lets her put her theory into realy world practice. I love how Matthews shows us both sides of Nell- the strong and confident woman who knows she's been trained to take on anything as well as the emotional one who's facing upheavals she never anticipated. She never doubts what she can do and (even when it sends poor Miles into fits of the vapors) she does what's needed. One of my favorite scenes is when Nell and Effie (Rules for Ruin) go into Whitechapel searching for a missing girl and come out successfully- leaving their husbands furious for the danger they were in and having to admit they were completely capable of protecting themselves. Miles took a little teaching to understand who Nell was, I think largely because while he knew women could be hurt by men, it didn't seem to occur to him that they would learn to protect themselves. When he finally understands what the Academy is and who Nell is, the partnership they develop is one that may prove unstoppable.

Each book in the Crinoline Academy can be read alone, but Book 2 is probably fleshed out a little (as is Effie's walk-on role) if you read Rules for Ruin first. A fun, slow burn romance and mystery—with cats!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

 

He Falls First

He Falls First- Jill Shalvis

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

___________________________________________________

Penny has learned the hard way not to trust her judgement in men. She's got the scars and the restraining order to prove it and has moved in with her grandmother and 12 year old brother to start over. New job, new life is her plan. The life may mean working till she drops of exhaustion to pay bills, trying to ride herd on an over enthusiastic grandmother and a teenager, but that's ok. Less time to think of how she's failed at everything else. And less time to think of hot construction company boss Ryder, who's a complication she absolutely doesn't need. 

Ryder doesn't need a complication like Penny either. He's drowning in paperwork he can't stand, still greiving the death of a friend and brother-in-law and knowing his sister blames him for her husband's death. He's trying to keep the family and the business together- including a sick father who's gone from an abusive man no one could stand to be around to someone who can't take care of himself and has had a complete personality change. He doesn't have time for himself, let alone a relationship.

But the universe seems to think this is the perfect time for these two people, with brick walls around their hearts a mile high, to come together. And Ryder may have no idea what he's doing, but he recognises the intense chemistry between them and the happiness he feels just talking to Penny means he'd be an idiot not to see where this unplanned, unexpected thing between them can go. When he agrees to let Penny set the pace and isn't chased off by her fears, Penny starts thinking she might be brave enough to give them a chance too.

I loved how you get two damaged people here, both trying to figure things out. Ryder is totally sweet in letting Penny set the pace no matter what, because he understands when she tells him it's about her being brave enough to trust her. But we see Ryder's broken bits too and he learns how to open up to Penny about them. As much as Ryder and his brothers tease each other, they each have their own issues and are there for each other when they need it. 

This was a lovely romance with a great mix of sweet and sassy, friends and family, teasing and fun, and very hot chemistry between the two main characters. I can't wait to revisit the Colburn family!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review 

Atonement Sky

Atonement Sky (Psy-Changeling Trinity #9)- Nalini Singh 

Berkley

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Justice-Psy Eleri Dias knows the end is near for her, her mind one step away from fatal psychic exposure. In the short time that remains, she is determined to atone for an act of omission that has haunted her for a long, cruel decade. But that decision not only means facing a powerful changeling wing leader, but also putting herself in the path of a serial killer.

Falcon wing leader Adam Garrett is fiercely protective of his family and his clan. After losing his parents as a teenager in a shocking act of malice, Adam has no forgiveness in him for the J-Psy who betrayed him, betrayed them, at the most painful moment of his life. But the evil that stalks his territory will allow him no respite, forcing him once more into contact with the J he has never been able to forget.

Everything that could've been between Eleri and Adam was lost years ago, a shimmering promise crushed. As they work to uncover a monster, the moment of reckoning looms ever closer. Soon, there may be no more time left for either atonement...or love...

_______________________________________________

 With her mind nearly at fatal psychic exposure, J-Psy Eleri Dias determined to take down one last monster before she goes. She thought she'd planned for everything- except for him. Falcon wing leader Adam Garrett never expected to see the J he believes betrayed him when they were teenagers. When she returns, he doesn't want to forgive or believe in the atonement she seems to be making. But the more they work together to uncover a killer, the more he gets to know her. Can Eleri and Adam catch a killer and solve a problem the best Psy minds have spent years trying to solve?

Nalini Singh's latest introduces us to the world of flying changelings just like Ocean Light introduced us to living with water dwelling changelings. And Atonement Sky is an emotionally gripping introduction! How can Adam see past the grief and rage from their first meeting to the true circumstances, let alone the present? And how can they solve Eleri's rapidly deteriorating condition to have the happily-ever-after of the mating bond? And (minor problem) there's a crazy serial killer trying to deal with as well. I trusted Singh would solve the problems she'd set out for our heroes, but I admit I was worried they were cutting it close as time (and pages in my book!) ran low without clear solutions in place. I stayed up far past my bedtime to finish this book in one read! There was no way to put it down after a certain point!

With Eleri, Singh set herself an interesting new challenge. How to write a charater who know she has emotions, who remembers having emotions, but can't access them anymore, as her romantic heroine. Not because of Silence directly, but still because of what her fellow Psy have done to her. Adam has the challenging job of dealing with his own emotions about Eleri, as well as what the Psy did to her. The two connect so well it was wonderful to read, and made the stakes even higher right from the beginning for me. 

As always, the new clan and secondary characters are well written, Singh's worldbuilding is fully three-dimensional, and anyone who's read her books before will enjoy coming back into the Psy/Changeling world. If you're just starting the series and don't want to start with the beginning (which I recommend, because they're all wonderful), this is a good start because it's a new set of characters with only minor cameos from recurring series characters. Series issues like the Psy Net don't play a role in this book, so you could decide you liked Singh's world and writing before going back to the beginning of the series and getting into issues that will run throughout the series. 

I can't recommend Atonement Sky strongly enough. Full of emotions and friendships, this is a book that will grab you and not let go.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thus With a Kiss I Die

 

Thus With A Kiss I Die- Christina Dodd

 A John Scognamiglio Book

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: I’m 20-years-old and by my own design, never been wed, free as no married woman ever is. I’m beautiful, but without conceit, for Juliet, my legendary Mamma is the most gorgeous creature to ever walk the earth. Just ask Romeo, my legendary Papà. (Rumors of their deaths were premature.) I was heartwhole until I fell (literally) in love with Lysander of the House of Beautiful. But our love was not to be, for I was thwarted by Escalus, the Prince of Verona . . . who had designs on me. 

I’m trapped. 

Then! I’m presented with a solution. Escalus’s father, Prince Escalus the Elder, appears to me. He tasks that I find his killer. Did I mention Elder is a ghost?

Given that I only recently dispatched Verona’s first serial killer, I’m less than pleased. Yet Elder promises to unite me with my One True Love, so I gather clues. Meanwhile, revolution threatens, for beneath Verona society’s glittering surface lurk dark shadows—and an enemy eager to make me a tragic heroine in my own right . . .

___________________________________________________

After the events of A Daughter of Fair Verona Rosie (Rosalind Montague) was hoping for some quite time to figure out how to deal with her unwanted surprise betrothal to Prince Escalus- or even better, figure out how to get out of the betrothal. Then Escalus's father gives her the perfect solution: figure out who murdered him (yes, he's a ghost) and he'll help her out. That promise along with the fact that she can't back down from a challenge and Rosie's in. After all, how dangerous can investigating a 20 year old murder be?

Christina Dodd takes us back to Verona, where Romeo and Juliet didn't die but had a large family instead. Rosie claims to be the sensible one, but she's also headstrong and enjoys a challenge to prove she's as capable as any man. When murderers are about, some caution might be a good idea. In this book she shows some signs of growth into the role she'll inhabit as princess of Verone, and it will definitely be fun continuing to watch her drag the prince's household into her way of thinking. The signs are already clear in a few fun scenes (like when Rosie finally takes over the prince's kitchens) and she meets Escalus's grandmother, who looks like she'll be an enthusiastic participant. 

The scenes with Rosie and Escalus are a lot of fun, the two have good chemistry even if Rosie doesn't quite recognize that's what it is, and when Cal (as she starts calling him) gets off his dignity the two work really well together. Elder's ghost didn't contribute much to help solve the mystery but he is good comic relief.

The writing is mostly modern with some very comic one-liners: you should find yourself having some laugh out loud moments!

An excellent sequel to A Daughter of Fair Verona, I think I enjoyed it even more. A fun and fast summer read that will keep you entertained!

It Takes a Psychic

 

It Takes a Psychic (Ghost Hunters #17)- Jayne Castle

Berkley 

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

________________________________________________________

After being kidnapped by artifact pirates and saved by her sister (People in Glass Houses) para-archeologist Leona Griffin is ready to give a few lectures and work her way up the tenure ladder at her university. Finding a dead body at a collector's meeting ends that plan rather spectacularly. Excaping the police raid that follows with the mysterious Oliver Rancourt makes things even more complicated. But also a great deal more interesting. When Leona and Oliver (and dust bunny Roxy) decide to work together to uncover the truth behind leads too strange to be coincides, things start moving fast- and getting dangerous. Good thing all three of them have some tricks to pull along the way!

Leona is Molly's sister from People in Glass Houses, so it helps if you've read that book first, but I think you could also read this one as a stand-alone. Glass Houses would just give you a little character background for Leona's story, as well as already knowing Molly and their moms heading into this book. Like Molly, Leona has been raised to take care of herself. She has no problem relying on her own instincts and training but is also caring and compassionate. The first night Oliver (and the reader) meet her she frees dust bunnies and follows him into the Underworld where she sets her dress on fire to help them escape some bad guys. If that doesn't make you like her (or Oliver fall for her) what will?! Oliver is more subtle than some of Castle's men. A Museum Guy, as Leona thinks of him, and not a Guild man as many of Castle's previous heroes, Oliver has no trouble with the idea of calling in the Guild and the cops when he thinks there might be more trouble than he, Leona, and Roxy can handle on their own. But underestimate him at your own risk, because he's not above taking care of business when he needs to protect his people. Although Leona got to protect him in this one pretty nicely too.

On a completely random note, I've always been slightly disappointed that Castle describes characters (usually the men) as having specter-cat eyes but we never get to find out more about wild specter-cats or see one. So the sculpture of the specter-cat in this book for some reason made me extremely happy.

Cut-throat collectors and academics, ruthless cults, a fashionista dust bunny, and Castle's trademark banter between her main characters: It Takes a Psychic was just what I needed to read when it came out and I needed something to take me away from a particularly difficult life situation for a few hours. 

A fun addition to the delightful dust bunny world of Harmony

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review

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Rules for Ruin

Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1)- Mimi Matthews

Berkley Publishing

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

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Raised in a girl's school that teaches women to think for themselves- along with teaching a few select students more useful life skills like picking locks- Effie Flite is ordered by the school's headmistress to take down a viscount standing in the way of a Parliamentary bill that will mean married women get to keep control over their own property. It's an assignment that appeals to her not only as a woman, but as a way of gaining her freedom and making her own way in the world, and Effie is willing to take it. After all, the viscount isn't exactly an innocent man.

But Gabriel Royce needs those secrets to stay hidden so he can blackmail the viscount for his own ends. The most powerful man in St. Giles, Gabriel has plans and he needs a few rich politicians to achieve those plans. When Gabriel and Effie meet, each knows a worthy opponent when they see one. And the longer their battle of wills and wits continues, the more they realize they may just be each other's perfect match. 

I absolutely fell in love with these two. Effie and Gabriel are dedicated to their respective causes, stubborn, intelligent loners and absolutely sure they are hardened cases against the outside world. Put them in the same room and BAM! Sparks ignite before either one knows what's happened. Effie challenges Gabriel as no one ever has, refusing to back down from her own agenda and forcing him to rethink his own plans. Gabriel is overprotective, finds intelligence in a woman total catnip, and is willing to put himself in situations that could get him rejected to make sure Effie is ok without even thinking about it. They share bone-melting kisses and her poodle Franc likes him. Clearly, these two are meant for each other.

A clash of business and personal interests, strong personalities, delightfully barbed wits, and high-stakes adventure, this is a romance not to be missed! Perhaps Mimi Matthews best book yet!

If you like women who believe knowledge is power, you'll love the women of the Crinoline Academy.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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