The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North

Title: The Man Made of Smoke

Author: Alex North 

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: May 13, 2025

The latest gripping serial killer thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Alex North.

Dan Garvie’s life has been haunted by the crime he witnessed as a child—narrowly escaping an encounter with a notorious serial killer. He has dedicated his life since to becoming a criminal profiler, eager to seek justice for innocent victims. So when his father passes away under suspicious circumstances, Dan revisits his small island community, determined to uncover the truth about his death. Is it possible that the monster he remembers from his childhood nightmares has returned after all these years?

With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.

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Dan Garvie, a criminal profiler, is called back home after his father, John Garvie, a retired cop, appears to have committed suicide, though no body has been found. Dan returns to the island town where he grew up—a place he couldn’t leave fast enough after high school.

When Dan was eleven, he encountered the Pied Piper, a serial killer. He didn’t see the man but glimpsed a young boy, his own age, with the killer in a rest stop restroom. Instead of helping the boy to safety, Dan hid in a stall and waited until the man left with the boy. Dan carries this regret, his deepest shame, every day.

Upon arriving at his father’s house, Dan discovers his father was investigating a murder—or murders. The clues suggest John’s disappearance is tied to the Pied Piper.

Who is behind the killings now, and why? Who’s next?

The Man Made of Smoke is dark, thrilling, and atmospheric. I enjoyed the narration by Shane Zaza. It helped with the different POVs and timelines.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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

The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate by Cate C. WellsFive Packs #1

Title: The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate

Series: Five Packs #1

Author: Cate C. Wells

He rejected me, and then he realized I’m the center of his world. Bummer.

Una

I keep my head down. In this backwards pack, females rank low, and my bad leg makes me damaged goods. It doesn’t help that I’ve never shifted. I don’t mind the late twenties single life, though. No one’s paying any attention as I build an illicit farmer’s market empire.

My roomies and I are doing it for ourselves, and if life under Killian Kelly is stifling, at least it’s predictable. We can deal.

But when biology finally kicks in, I lose my mind. I claim our alpha as my mate. And he rejects me in front of the whole pack.

It’s all good. It only hurts when I breathe. I’ll survive. That’s what I do.

Who wants an arrogant jerk for a mate, anyway? I’ve got a business to run.

Killian

To lead this pack out of the dark ages, I’ve had to be hard. Merciless. I don’t flinch, and I don’t make mistakes.

Una Hayes isn’t my mate.

My wolf might have some kind of strange infatuation, but if she were mine, I’d know it. And I can walk away, can’t I?

And if I keep coming back? If she starts living in my head?

I’m the strongest male in five generations. My pack scrambles to do my bidding. I can bring one quiet female back in line. No one can possibly be as stubborn as I am.

There’s no way I’ve ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’m the Quarry pack alpha. I don’t lose.

The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate is a full-grown shifter romance. No cheating. HEA guaranteed. Intended for adult readers only.

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The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate is another book that I found on a must-read list of paranormal romances.

The heroine, Una Hayes, is a werewolf who hasn’t yet transformed into a wolf. The pack sidelines her, along with other females, due to this. Una walks with a limp from an attack that nearly killed her as a child. Though she appears weak, she’s far from it. Una is intelligent and resourceful. She won’t apologize for taking actions to improve her life and those of her loved ones, even without her Alpha’s knowledge.

Everything changes when biology kicks in, and Una realizes the alpha, Killian Kelly, is her mate. What follows nearly destroys her: he rejects her in front of the entire pack.

Killian never believed he had a mate, having abandoned that dream long ago. He’s devoted his life to leading the pack and fixing his father’s failures. No one is more shocked than Killian when Una claims him as her mate. It can’t be true—or can it?

I love Una! What a fantastic female character. She’s tough and determined, giving Killian a run for his money. Forgiving Killian was easy once you understood why he rejected her.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Cold Hearted by Heather GuerreTooth & Claw #1

 

Title: Cold Hearted

Series: Tooth & Claw #1

Author: Heather Guerre

I came to Longtooth, Alaska looking for a safe place to hide. All I wanted was to keep my head down, do my job, and enjoy the peace and quiet. But there’s no peace to be found once I meet Longtooth’s cantankerous bush pilot. Caleb Kinoyit is surly and rude and mean. He’s also, unfortunately, the most attractive man I’ve ever met. And as the long, Alaskan winter nights stretch on, I find myself warming to his rough charm just as much as I’m falling for the beauty of my new home.

A town with a secret…

There’s something different about Longtooth—something the locals won’t talk about with outsiders. And I am definitely an outsider. But when my dangerous past finally tracks me down, Longtooth can’t keep its secrets from me any longer, and the revelation upends the world as I know it. The only truth I can be sure of anymore are my feelings for Caleb. But will love be enough to save me? Or will I have to sacrifice myself to save the ones I love?

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I was looking for a paranormal romance and found this book on a must-read list.

Grace moves to Longtooth, Alaska, after being hired as the new English literature teacher. She’s relocating from the lower 48 to hide from her ex-boyfriend, Alex, who has been stalking her despite a restraining order.

Her first hint that some Longtooth residents distrust outsiders comes from the airplane pilot, Caleb Kinoyit. Having just met him, she’s puzzled by his apparent dislike, but she thinks she can deal with it. Or maybe not—she finds herself drawn to him. Caleb lifts her spirits, which have been low since her troubles with Alex.

Grace enjoys her new job and hopes the town becomes more welcoming so she can make Longtooth her home. But will the town reveal her secrets to her?

I liked how Grace and Caleb's relationship developed. It was a slow burn, and the suspense was present even though you could guess what was happening in this secluded  Alaskan town. 

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

 

Title: Hidden Nature

Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: May 27, 2025

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a new novel about an injured cop who must fight to bring down a pair of twisted killers…

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.

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The novel unfolds seamlessly!

The story begins when Sloan Cooper, a Natural Resources police officer, and her partner close their latest case. They stop for gas and a drink. When Sloan opens the minimarket door, she senses something is wrong. The man at the counter suddenly turns and shoots her twice.

Sloan survives, but her recovery at Heron’s Rest is slow. While still recuperating, a woman goes missing around Thanksgiving. She left her home mid-cooking, searching for butter, but never returned. Her car was found outside the store with no trace of her.

After the shooting, Sloan decides to make life changes and begins renovations on her new home. This is where she meets Nash Littlefield, a newcomer to town who has started a contracting business with his brother, Theo.

Nash and Sloan connect instantly, and soon she’s sharing her ideas with him. Sloan can’t let go of the woman’s disappearance; she’s now certain more people have been abducted in the past year, and they may share a common link. If she’s right, this connection could make Sloan a target.

Hidden Nature was compelling from start to finish. Nora Roberts crafts vivid, well-rounded characters, including the unhinged ones. The story blends suspense, romance, and a stunning setting, brought to life flawlessly by January LaVoy’s narration.

I’m hoping Nora Roberts brings Sloan back for a sequel.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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

Death Row by Freida McFadden Alibis Collection #1

Title: Death Row

Series: Alibis Collection

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories

Release Date: June 1, 2025

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.

Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?

Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

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A thrilling short story!

If you’re after an audio under two hours or a 70-page read, this one is perfect!

Talia Kemper sits on death row, accused of murdering her husband, Noel.  Talia says she is innocent, and she even had an alibi for that night, but no one believes her.  Then, days just before she gets the needle, she thinks she sees Noel again.

Did she do it, and is he truly gone? And does the ending deliver a deadly twist?

Grab this $1.99 audio if you want to find out how it ends.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Title: It's a Love Story

Author: Annabel Monaghan

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 27, 2025

From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV punchline who has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash-course with her past, spending a week in Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Rules for a love story: There are none. It’s all a lie.

Jane Jackson knows that true love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth—you can’t fake a belly laugh. Jane should know, she spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punchline on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios and she’s living by a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.

Except, she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she opened her mouth and a big fat fib fell out. She claimed that Jack Quinlan, hottest popstar of the moment, has promised to write an original song for the soundtrack. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.

Now, Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan while facing down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but Dan just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

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A great summer read!

Jane Jackson, in her thirties, is a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studio. Her latest optioned romance, True Story, is one she’s determined to see on the silver screen. She’ll do anything to make it happen, even lying to her boss by claiming she knows Jack Quinlan, the top popstar, and that he’ll write the movie’s soundtrack.

In reality, Jane’s stretching the truth. She does know Jack—from when she was a teenager, and he broke her heart. Most people don’t know that Jane once played “Poor Janey Jakes,” the punchline of a famous sitcom.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. To reach Jack, Jane agrees to travel to Long Island with Dan Finnegan, a cinematographer. Jane dislikes Dan, but she needs this movie too much to refuse.

Arriving at Dan’s parents’ home and meeting his family, Jane realizes her preconceived notions about Dan were wrong. Dan himself is nothing like she expected.

Annabel Monaghan has become an auto-request/auto-buy author. Her stories are wonderful romances with quirky characters, sharp humor, and emotional scenes.

It’s a Love Story is another winner. I fell for Dan and his family and rooted for Jane to find love and support.

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 Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

Title: The Other Side of Now

Author: Paige Harbison

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: June 3, 2025 

A hilarious and heartfelt novel about how loves and lives are never truly lost, for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood's latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath the layers of makeup and hairspray, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a small breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip where she knows the grass is greener: Ireland. Specifically, the quaint little village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving—a dream that fell apart when an accident claimed Aimee’s life a decade ago.

When Meg arrives, the people in town are so nice, treating her not as a stranger, but a friend. Except for the (extremely hot) bartender giving her the cold shoulder. Meg writes it all off as jetlag until she looks in the mirror. Her hair is no longer bleached within an inch of its life, her skin has a few natural fine lines, and her nose looks like… well, her old nose. Her real nose.

Her phone reveals hundreds of pictures of her life in this little town: with an adorable dog she doesn’t know; with the bartender who might be her (ex?) boyfriend; and at a retail job unrelated to acting. Eventually, she comes to accept that she somehow made a quantum slide into an alternate version of her life. But the most shocking realization of all? In this life, her best friend Aimee is alive and well…but wants nothing to do with Meg.

Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke. She finagles an opportunity to act in the play Aimee is writing and directing and as the project unfolds, Meg realizes that events as she remembers them may not be the only truth, and that an impossible choice looms before her.

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Magical realism at its best!

I expected to smile, but I wasn’t prepared to cry!

What a story Paige Harbison has created! It’s truly unforgettable. The idea of walking through a door into a different life—the life you could have chosen if things were different—has been done before, but Paige Harbison’s spin on this novel felt unique. I fell deeply for the characters in Avalon. I wanted to visit and meet these fabulous, normal, lovely people.

So, what is The Other Side of Now about?

Meg Bryan, now a famous actress known as Lana Lord, stars in a hit TV show called Brilliance. She’s recognized by most but isn’t truly happy. After a difficult thirtieth birthday, she decides she needs a break from Hollywood and her famous actor boyfriend. She books a trip to Avalon, Ireland, a place she and her best friend Aimee once dreamed of attending college. In reality, that never happened—Aimee died a decade ago.

When Meg arrives in Avalon, she feels at home. The locals, especially Kiera, are kind to her. No one treats her like a Hollywood star, but when she asks for a drink, the bartender, Cillian, seems upset. When he calls her Meg, she senses something is off. Everyone acts like they know her, and when she looks in the mirror, the “improvements” Hollywood forced on her are gone. She sees her former self and likes it. The strangest revelation comes when she discovers that, in this reality, Aimee is alive!

The last third of this novel had me so worried. I didn’t want Meg to lose her Avalon friendships. I hoped she could keep Cillian, Aimee, Kiera, and, of course, the dogs in her life!

I won’t reveal what happened, but I felt content with the epilogue.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the audiobook, narrated by the author. She did a great job!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

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