Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. KluneCerulean Chronicles #2

 

Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Series: Cerulean Chronicles #2

Author: T.J. Klune

Publisher:  Tor Books

Release Date: September 10, 2024

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

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"The House in the Cerulean Sea" is one of my favorite books. It was wonderful. Since I love the book so much, I was undecided about reading 'Somewhere Beyond the Sea'. What if it was a bad sequel? Well, thankfully it wasn't. However, it was not as amazing as its predecessor.

We have so many characters returning. Arthur Parnassus and Linus Baker are now an item and are in the process of adopting those amazing magical children. Also, a new child is coming to live with them. He is a Yeti who enjoys theater and who makes you want to protect him.

We also have the "Department In Charge of Magical Youth" sending a new investigator to Marsyas Island to evaluate if Arthur Parnassus can continue keeping the kids around. DICOMY believes Arthur wants to keep the kids and plans to use them to take over the world.

I listened to the audiobook, which I thought was narrated fabulously. I love all the children (especially Luci), and every time they were present, they just made me happy.

So why not a five? I thought the conflict's resolution was just too easy and too perfect.

Would I read another book with these characters? Absolutely!!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey

   

Title: We Three Kings

Author: Kristen Bailey

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Release Date: October 14, 2024

Maggie Field was looking forward to a solo Christmas in her cosy London flat – before her three workmates decided to liven things up for her.

Maggie loves her job as head of IT at a financial firm, and her three geeky but lovable work buddies. And when they invite her to stay with each of them for the holidays, she can’t resist the chance to get to know them better.

But then her boss tells her she has to make one of her beloved team redundant, and Maggie is distraught. Frank’s work is his world, Jasper’s sarcastic humour is everything, and Leo…well, he’s talented, professional, confusingly attractive, dependable, and funny… Maggie definitely doesn’t want to lose him.

With her career and her heart on the line, Maggie sets off on the Christmas adventure of a lifetime, from playing fake girlfriend at a lavish wedding, to rescuing baby foxes on a posh country estate, to chasing a very confused donkey on Christmas Day in the Lake District. She can’t ignore the sparks between her and Leo – but she also can’t avoid her dilemma.

Can she find a way to keep her work family together, and maybe even find true love under the mistletoe?

A hilarious and heartfelt celebration of friendship, workplace romance, and finding where you belong. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary, this festive rom-com will have you laughing, crying, and reaching for the mince pies.

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Quite is an endearing novel with an awesome narration by Harrie Dobby!

Maggie Field manages the IT team at work. She loves her team which includes Frank, Jasper, and Leo.

It's the end of December, and she has no plans since her parents are on a cruise. To her surprise, each guy invites her to stay with them during the holidays. She will go to a wedding with Frank and fake being his girlfriend. She will go with Jasper and stay at his posh family estate, and then she'll stay with Leo's family before returning home.

Maggie is super excited about joining the guys until she is called to the HR office, where she is told that she needs to fire one person from her team when she returns from the holidays. Maggie has no clue what to do. She loves her team, and lately, she has developed feelings for Leo.

What is she going to do?

Charming and sweet is the best way to describe We Three Kings. Their personalities, mixed with the moments that made me laugh and smile, made it easy to fall in love with Maggie and the three guys.

I will need to check out more of Kristen Bailey's books now that I know I like her style.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

  

Title: The Business Trip 

Author: Jessie Garcia

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: January 14, 2025

THE BUSINESS TRIP is the gripping, page-turning debut from author Jessie Garcia.

Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women— or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, THE BUSINESS TRIP takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?

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A gripping debut!

Jasmine is a woman on the run. As a waitress without good family support and in an abusive relationship, her only way to gain freedom is to leave her boyfriend while he sleeps.

Stephanie is a news director. She is divorced and doesn't see her son as much as she would like. She is always working, and thankfully, her neighbor, Robert, can take care of her cat while she flies for work. Stephanie wishes for a change in her life. Yet, she is packing for another work trip. This time, it's a conference in San Diego.

Two things these women have in common: first, they both take a flight to Denver and sit in the same row; second, they both meet a man named Trent McCarthy and then disappear after a few days.

What happened to the women?

"The Business Trip" was full of suspense with an intricate plot. It was full of surprises that made the story shine. The only part I didn't like was the last scene. I think it was unnecessary. I also would have liked to see more of Robert. Nonetheless, this novel was a winner.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

 

Title: Is She Really Going Out with Him? 

Series:

Author: Sophie Cousens

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: November 19, 2024

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

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A romance worth reading!

Anna Appleby is a writer for a news magazine. She has her own column. However, now that the magazine has a new owner, she might lose her job if she doesn't perform well with the readers. This is something she can't afford. Anna is divorced and has two kids, Jess and Ethan, who are counting on her.

Anna pitches a new series of articles. She will go on dates, and her children will be picking the men she goes out with. As a counterpart, her co-worker Will Havers will be writing a column about the women he goes on dates with using an online dating app.

Anna doesn't like Will. She assumes he is entitled and always gets away with everything. But what happens when what you thought you knew is wrong?

As a fan of Sophie Cousens and "This Time Next Year," it was with pleasure that I grabbed "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" This author knows how to write a fulfilling enemies-to-lovers trope. Her protagonists are always relatable. The situations they find themselves in can be embarrassing at times. The humor is always on par. This one had me smiling quite a bit.

Another winner in my book!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Party by A.R. Torre

  

Title: The Last Party

Author: A.R. Torre

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: August 20, 2024

A loving mother. A notorious murderer. They both have reasons to hide their secrets in a novel of escalating shock and suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre.

Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.

Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up—about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.

As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?

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I'm a huge fan of Alessandra Torre. I love her thrillers and romances. She writes them, and I like them.

"The Last Party" is one of her darker reads.

The main character, Perla Wultz, is obsessed with murders that occurred twenty years ago. The murders were committed by Leewood Folcrum. His daughter, Jenny, who had just turned twelve, was found with her throat slit. Her two best friends were also found murdered next to her.

Perla fantasizes about a life with Leewood, and if getting rid of her daughter and her husband is the way to be free to join Leewood, she is ready to take the next steps.

In prison, Leewood has been silent about the murders for two decades. However, when he is visited by Dr. Timothy Valden, who is interested in knowing what truly happened that night, he keeps bringing him back to taunt him. Leewood is convinced he won't reveal his secrets to this man, although he is intrigued by his resilience.

Sophie is Perla's daughter. She is about to turn twelve. She is looking forward to her party but knows something is going on with her mother.

"The Last Party" begs to be read in one sitting. The chapters fly by. The plot is full of suspense and mystery, and I couldn't wait to finish it to see if I was right.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita ProseMolly the Maid #2.5

   

Title: The Mistletoe Mystery

Series: Molly the Maid

Author: Nita Prose

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.

Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s mofinst joyful yet.

But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?

A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.

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Bring the advent calendar out!

At least, this is what Molly, the maid, is doing with her boyfriend, Juan Manuel. She used to do the same with her granny. Molly’s life has come a long way. She’s happy in the present—a stark contrast to a few years ago when she lost her grandmother. She still remembers a Christmas at work when people made fun of her.

However, lately, something peculiar has been happening. Her boyfriend is acting strangely. He looks exhausted all the time, and it seems like he’s keeping secrets from her.

Does Molly have a new mystery to unravel?

For fans of the Molly the Maid series, this novella is a sweet treat. The mystery wraps up nicely, and Juan Manuel steals the show.

A cute little novella—perfect for the Christmas season!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

 

Title: Beautiful Ugly

Author: Alice Feeney

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: January 14, 2025

The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . .. . . and revenge.

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.

Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.

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Grady Green experiences the best day of his life, followed by the worst.

Grady was waiting for his publishing team in the US to inform him about the performance of his new book. After receiving the best news, his wife, Abby, who is running late, calls him on the phone. She is ecstatic about his success and can't wait to get home to celebrate. Then, while on the phone, Grady hears Abby say she's going to stop the car because a woman is lying in the middle of the road. He tells her not to do it, but she doesn't listen. Abby never returns to the call, and by the time Grady arrives, his wife is gone.

A year later, Grady is a mess. His grief is overwhelming; he hasn't been able to write, his money is gone, and he's drinking too much. He dreads his meeting with his agent, sure that she's going to drop him as a client. To his surprise, she offers him a lifeline: she has a place on a remote island in Scotland and offers it to Grady. A change of scenery could be good for him, and hopefully, he'll be able to write again.

Not long after arriving at the Isle of Amberley, Grady starts seeing his wife, but there's no way it could be Abby. Something feels wrong, and he begins to question whether he's hallucinating, unsure of what's real and what's not.

I must say that the narrators, Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, did a phenomenal job with this atmospheric story. I was transported to the island with these characters, feeling a sense of dread and lurking darkness.

Although I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, I found the last part lacking. Nonetheless, overall, it was quite good.

Cliffhanger: No

Rating: 3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.