Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

From Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead―the hilarious and heart-pounding follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It.


Finlay Donovan is―once again―struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish.

On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of hit-women disguised as soccer moms, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like.

Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it.

With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it...

Paperback, 357 pages

Published February 1, 2022

by Minotaur Books

4/5 stars

Finlay Donovan is still trying to finish her next novel, with two kids in tow, this single mom is struggling. Continuing pretty well where Finlay Donovan is Killing It left off she is caught in another game of secrets, possible romance, and dead bodies.  Honestly I went in this one blind and just thought it would be another chapter in Finlay's life, though the cliffhanger ending had me grabbing this right away.

Again this was a humous story as Finlay and her sidekick Vero dodge mystery and mayhem. It was entertaining, fast paced, great banter and full of coincidences.  Finlay's life gets more complicated and convoluted but for Finlay it is part of her nature and works. I went in with the audiobook, the reader was Angela Dawe, one of my favorites.  She knows how to bring a story to life with emphasis and change of voices done flawlessly when needed.

Definitely this series needs to be read in order. I highly recommend the audio, there are new characters here which has the story going in different directions but not hard to follow.

My copy of the audio was obtained through my public library via CloudLibrary.  It comes in just over 9 hours in length.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

…this classic story with a new magical twist, is sure to be a family favorite!

When Doctor John Dolittle’s love of animals scares away his human patients, he finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy. Luckily, his parrot, Polynesia, has a solution—she teaches him to talk to animals.

Using his new skill, Doctor Dolittle becomes a veterinarian, and his reputation soon spreads in the animal kingdom. With it, come requests for help from animals all over the world.

Sailing off with his band of animal companions, Doctor Dolittle seeks to help all he can while facing fierce storms, vicious pirates, angry kings, and more.

Hardcover, 156 pages

First published July 21, 1920

4/5 stars

Confession time, I have never read this book or watched the movie, so I know very little about what takes place.  I tried real hard to not have visions of Eddie Murphy floating around my brain.

First published in 1920 this is the story of Dr. John Dolittle, who loves animals more than people. This is a story of his relationship with people and the families he meets on his journey to Africa (note, by families I don't necessarily mean humans).  Its on this journey where mayhem ensures.

This was a fun quick read. It was well written and nicely illustrated.

I’m not sure I’ll watch the movie, I like the visuals I have in my mind of Dr. Dolittle, the animals and the crazy boat they were on.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman

In this star-crossed short story from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman, timing is everything as two sisters learn to let love follow its own path.

Isabel, the long-lost Gibson sister, is finally back home on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. With Sophie and Violet, her sister and her niece, she’s got the family bookstore—and with Johnny Lenox, she’s got something even more special.

But even as life settles, not everything is falling into place. Isabel and Johnny have set the date three times, baked three wedding cakes, invited the whole island to three parties, only to have each attempt at matrimony fall apart at the last minute. Disasters seem to be conspiring against their happy ending, and Isabel is starting to wonder if their love is meant to be.

When family history comes back to haunt the Gibson sisters, Isabel knows that if she wants to make it down the aisle with Johnny, first she and Sophie will have to face the pain of their past and their present, and decide what it means for their future.

Kindle Edition, 39 pages

Published August 1, 2024

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Once Upon a Time Bookstore Series, this is a series of short stories about two sisters, Isabel and Sophie .

As the title reflects there is a wedding taking place within these 39 pages.  A lot transpires as some of the past comes back to hunt these women. Like I said in my review of The Bookstore Sisters I think these would make great full novels but alas I will enjoy these little versions.

What can I say that isn't mentioned in the blurb, other then this is a fun little series, can't wait to see what happens in The Bookstore Keepers which doesn't release till early 2025.

My copy obtained through Kindle Unlimited

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottage core tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published July 9, 2024

 by Bramble

4/5 stars

This book starts out as Kiela endeavors to save precious volumes from the great library of Alyssium, along with her trusty assistant Caz, who just happens to be a magical spider plant. They flee the city as fire engulfs it.

They flee to her childhood home where she takes refuge, to begin a new. Fearing the discovery of the stolen treasures, she tries to keep a low profile which isn’t easy. I guess this is what is called a romantasy debut for the author. I have read a couple of her previous books which I enjoyed, and looked forward to digging into this one.

I enjoyed this read. I enjoyed the magical characters, the world building and watching Kiela begin to make a life for herself.  She makes new friends and starts to feel comfortable. To risk doing any magic would be illegal and finally when she starts to feel comfortable strangers arrive. There is trouble afoot as.....lets just say things go awry and deceptions lurk.

The Spellshop is a story of friendship, trust and of course romance. The cover is one I love and with fingers crossed I hope there is a sequel just to see what this zany cast of characters are up to.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall... or maybe she's just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a What are you wearing? text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining--albeit anonymous--relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing....

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend's annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she's turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He's sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she's the irresistible Miss Misdial he's been sort of sexting for weeks--and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into a thrilling anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 1, 2022

 by Berkley Books

2.5/5 stars

This is my first Lynn Painter book. I read it many months ago while on vacation, it was a hybrid read meaning I listened and I read. Did I love it, not really. So take this short review with a grain of salt.

It did start off good with some fun text messaging, it was funny in parts with some good banter. Olivia started out as an interesting, spontaneous character, but after a while she just got on my nerves with her selfish actions and immaturity.  

The concept for this book with the text messaging was cool but over time I just felt that the book dragged on longer than necessary. 

Will I try another Lynn Painter book, absolutely since I have a couple on my bookshelf, maybe on my next vacation.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…

Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 25, 2024

by Berkley

3/5 stars

Oh man, I wanted to love this book, the previous three that I have read by Ashley Poston have been some of my favorite reads. This one sounded so interesting and fun, maybe my expectations were too high, so please take my review with a grain of salt,

The story starts out as Eileen gets lost on a dark stormy night ending up in a little town that is right out of the pages of her favourite romance series. The only problem with this romance series is the author passed away suddenly without finishing it, leaving loose ends. Sounds great right?

This fun premise, felt like it was missing some kind of spark to keep me glued to the pages. Which is sad because books about books are my thing. This was a slow paced story that talks about Eileen's past, her loneliness and desire to please everyone else. She deals through her issues in the story, which was great, but it just took a while and the other characters just didn’t do much for me.

The magical realism really didn’t feel all that magical as Poston‘s previous books have. But that’s okay, I’m still a devoted fan and look forward to what she comes up with next. And in the meantime I will continue with her backlist.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly

From New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly comes a revolutionary, gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will forever change how you think about beauty, power, and what it really means to follow your heart.

What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything , too badly?

That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.

When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle.

As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.

When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion.

If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.

Hardcover, 324 pages

Published May 7, 2024

 by Scholastic Press

4/5 stars

Another Beauty & the Beast retelling, one would think that there are enough of them out in the literary world, but this one comes with a unique twist. Beauty is actually a male character while the beast is female. I was so excited to read this book and honestly could not understand the low ratings, especially since I am a fan of Jennifer Donnelly.

A captivating retelling, I found the characters strong, the world building unique and well thought out. They were parts of the story that made me think of Alice in Wonderland while other parts definitely had that beauty and the beast feel. With a nice cast of secondary characters who were just as quirky with their unique personalities as I am familiar with.

Although there might have been a few parts of the story I didn’t totally understand this was a fast paced story.  Arabella's dedication to her family and determination kept me reading. Beastly Beauty isn’t without heartache and consequences.

I haven’t read too many Donnelly fairytale retellings, but her books are some of my favorites. I will continue with her backlist until she has something new coming out.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.