Titles: Death Trick – On the Other Hand, Death – Ice Blues – Third Man Out Series: The Donald Strachey Mysteries: Books One ~ Four Author: Richard Stevenson Publisher: ReQueered Tales Length: 949 Pages (total) Category: Mystery Rating: 4.5 Stars At a Glance: For mystery lovers, this is a series you might want to consider…
Review: Friday I’m in Love by Camryn Garrett
Title: Friday I’m in Love Author: Camryn Garrett Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Length: 269 Pages Category: YA/Teen Fiction Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: If this book did anything besides charm me and make me think outside of myself and my own little corner of the world, it would be also making me…
Simply the Best ~ 2022 ~ The Year In Reviews and a Giveaway
Eleven years ago, on December 7, 2011, I claimed the domain The Novel Approach and posted my first review on the site for Hayden Thorne’s evocative and gorgeous YA Fantasy Renfred’s Masquerade. Though that wasn’t the first review I’d ever written—I’d got my start a couple of years before that at two other (now long-gone)…
Review: The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen
Title: The Reanimator’s Heart Series: The Reanimator Mysteries: Book One Author: Kara Jorgensen Publisher: Self-Published Length: 300 Pages Category: Historical Fantasy Rating: 4.5 Stars At a Glance: Kara Jorgensen has a storytelling voice that clicked with me in all the best ways, which means if you’re particularly squicked out by blood and carnage, those scenes…
Review: A Christmas Harbor by Avery Cockburn
Title: A Christmas Harbor Author: Avery Cockburn Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 102 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: A Christmas Harbor is a lovely story of two people connecting and finding joy in each other’s company, which Avery Cockburn set to music and then topped it off with a happy ending…
Review: In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae
Title: In the Event of Love Series: Fern Falls: Book One Author: Courtney Kae Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 322 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Bisexual Romance Rating: 4.5 Stars At a Glance: Courtney Kae delivers a holiday romance that, frankly, needs to be in next year’s Hallmark Christmas lineup. If you’re looking for a…
Review: The Solstice Cabin by Arden Powell
Title: The Solstice Cabin Series: Flos Magicae Author: Arden Powell Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 95 Pages Category: Holiday Romance, Fantasy Rating: 3.5 Stars At a Glance: If you’re looking for something a little different and a bit fantastical this holiday season, a story that reunites two friends and gathers together their fears, strength, and courage…
Review: Christmas Spirit by Annabelle Jacobs
Title: Christmas Spirit Author: Annabelle Jacobs Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 270 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 4.5 Stars At a Glance: Christmas Spirit is steeped in smalltown charm and the loveliest of neighbors and the warmest of feelings. It’s meant, solely and purposefully, to warm the cockles of your heart and bring a little joy…
Review: Bone to Be Wilde by Dani Lakely
Title: Bone to Be Wilde Series: Holiday in Sunset Surf: Book Two Author: Dani Lakely Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 295 Pages Category: Holiday Romance, Magical Realism Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Dani Lakely once again delivers an abundance of wit and charm in this sweet romantic package. I dearly and sincerely hope this isn’t…
Review: Merry & Sprite by Dani Lakely
Title: Merry & Sprite Series: Holiday in Sunset Surf: Book One Author: Dani Lakely Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 258 Pages Category: Holiday Romance, Magical Realism Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Dani Lakely brings all the holiday romance tropes together and delivers them in a sweet package wrapped in SoCal sunshine, glittery Hallmark paper and…
Review: The Pantomime Prince by Samantha SoRelle
Title: The Pantomime Prince Author: Samantha SoRelle Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 26 Pages Category: Historical Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: The Pantomime Prince is a delicate and heartfelt short story you might want to read as a dessert after a longer angsty book, or an ideal sweet and savory appetizer when preparing for…
Review: Christmas on Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh
Title: Christmas on Firefly Hill Author: Garrett Leigh Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 205 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Christmas on Firefly Hill is sweet, warm, and homey, and deserves a big sloppy ::chef’s kiss:: Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Firefighter Logan Halliwell doesn’t have much time for romance. A relentless work-life-balance…
Review: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
Title: The Gentleman’s Book of Vices Series: Lucky Lovers of London: Book One Author: Jess Everlee Publisher: Carina Adores Length: 300 Pages Category: Historical Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: Charlie and Miles are not the authors of their own romance, and that’s one of the many things I enjoyed about this book, apart…
Review: Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
Title: Kiss Her Once for Me Author: Alison Cochrun Publisher: Atria Books Length: 366 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: This book is everything wonderful, a lot of heartwarming and a little bit of heart-wrenching, with some added spice and everything nice a romance novel should have. I loved Ellie and…
Review: The Trials by Cari Z
Title: The Trials Series: The Spell Saga: Book Four Author: Cari Z Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 141 Pages Category: Steampunk Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: The Trials delivers Anton and Camille to the very brink in this action packed and suspenseful series. They were not meant to fight another man’s war, and the means…
Review: Vow Maker by Lily Morton
Title: Vow Maker Series: Mixed Messages: Book Four Author: Lily Morton Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 125 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: Morton gives Vow Maker the ideal touch—a lovely heart-warmer of a story, not too long, not too short, but just right. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Dylan Mitchell wants to…
Review: His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley
Title: His Last Christmas in London Author: Con Riley Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 180 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: There’s nothing quite like unexpectedly falling in love to simultaneously right the world and throw it into a tailspin, and that feeling is captured so plainly for Ian while Gus simply…
Review: A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Title: A Restless Truth Series: The Last Binding: Book Two Author: Freya Marske Publisher: Tordotcom Length: 400 Pages Category: Historical Fantasy Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Maud Blythe is such an engaging heroine, and I loved her intrepid spirit even as I feared for her life at nearly every twist and turn of her…
Review: Settle the Score by Vaughn R. Demont
Title: Settle the Score Series: The Blackwarren Heists: Book Two Author: Vaughn R. Demont Publisher: Self-Published Length: 347 Pages Category: Urban Fantasy Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: I’ve loved this -verse for a long time now, and couldn’t have anticipated it would grow, become lusher and more robust, until it did. Nick is an…
Review: A Taste of Winter by Geneva Vand
Title: A Taste of Winter Author: Geneva Vand Publisher: Self-Published Length: 107 Pages Category: Paranormal Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: As adorable as its cover, this story shares the budding romance between two young women in their junior year of college. There is no hedging feelings or playing of games. A Taste of…