Amazing Contemporary Gothic Suspense

Image copied from bookshop.org

The title and description of this book had me intrigued from the first. But oh my!! This was so much more than I expected. The mystery by itself had me compelled to keep reading, but then add in the gothic elements of the setting, a small coastal island town and the large mansion overlooking it on its lonely bluff, and I was completely hooked. It reminded me of the Victoria Holt or Phyllis Whitney romantic suspense novels that I read growing up, only better.

The romance elements were there but they were very, very small compared to the rest of this sweeping story of murder, family secrets and small isolated communities. I loved the main character Willow, who despite seeming to have it together as a musical grad student is still very lonely and adrift at the start of the novel. She returns to North Shore Island off the coast of Maine after receiving a plea from her godmother to come back so they can reunite. Willow cannot resist the chance, but is heartbroken to learn, shortly after receiving the letter, that her godmother has met with an untimely death. From there we follow Willow and a few other point of view characters throughout the story as she struggles to come to terms with what happened to her godmother and why the mysterious and very haunted Cameron House seems to be at the center of it all.

The setting, the mystery and the characters were all well drawn and engaging. I especially loved the women on the island who all seem to want to help Willow but who seem to have secrets of their own that make you wonder along with Willow who she can really trust or if she can accept their overtures to become a part of their found family. Despite the fact that the last living Cameron on the island was truly a despicable and mean old man, I couldn't help but like him a little as Willow did. Then there was the police detective who used to be Willow's nemesis when she visited her godmother, Sue, on the island in the summers. Nick is obviously secretly smitten with Willow still, but hides it well. She likewise finds he has grown up to be quite attractive, but still clings to her impression that he is a royal pain all the same. The banter between them in the few scenes where they're together was entertaining and added just the right amount of zing to the dynamics of the story. The mystery, you realize early, is one of murder and involves a plot on someone's part to claim Cameron House for their own. I was left guessing until near the very end who was behind it all and there were some wonderful twists and reveals at the climax that any mystery lover would enjoy! But then add in the ghosts and the sentient-seeming house and it takes the whole mystery up another notch in my estimation. I truly loved this book and will be getting my own copy to re-read again once it comes out this February!

If you love gothic mystery suspense with rugged settings and haunted mansions, then you will thoroughly enjoy this debut novel. 

For my next review, I'll be featuring Half City the first in a new series by Kate Golden. This one is a fun urban fantasy into dark academia. It combines the best of both worlds for me in that it is a fantasy and a mystery as most urban fantasies tend to be. I also loved the spin Golden gives to dark academia in this one. Both the book cover and blurb copied below are from Bookshop.org. As always, consider supporting your local indie bookshops or local libraries whenever possible. 

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about, not if the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, all while trying to ace her classes, avoid falling for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

 

Fun Historical Mystery Adventure for Middle Grade Readers

Image copied from Goodreads

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin was the first read of 2026 of my Online Kidlit Book Club. I was excited to delve into this one as it was a historical mystery that involved spies, intrigue and Bletchley Park in England. I was not disappointed. This novel was an adventure that was well balanced for the intended reading audience in terms of the history it incorporated in with the fictional suspense. It also had a lot of heart as the two main characters are a brother and sister that have become estranged by loss and the war. 

The story opens with Lizzie, the sister for the main character duo, escaping from her escort tasked with taking her to America where her grandmother resides. Lizzie is determined to do the opposite of escape to safety from the coming German Blitz on London and other parts of England that is imminent. Instead, she had decided to seek out her brother Jacob once she discovers where on the map he's dropped off to and to figure out what happened to their mother who everyone thinks is dead. Finding her way to Bletchely Park, by way of Jacob being tasked with bringing her there, the adventure begins.

Of the two characters I loved Lizzie! She is smart, determined and full of optimism even though everyone keeps telling her that her mother is dead. Lizzie refuses to believe it. She finds coded information hidden in her mother's room right before she is whisked away to Bletchley by her brother that is further proof for her that their mother was more than she seemed and is in fact very much alive still. Add in the historical details of the work that was done in Bletchley Park to break the enigma that is the German intelligence exchange system and this is a mystery that is full of tension, suspense, and heart. Lizzie soon figures out what is really going on at Bletchley despite Jacob's efforts to keep her in the dark. As someone who is hired by the general in charge of the park to be a message courier about the manor she is in able to watch and observe the hive that is the park. As clever as she is, it doesn't take her long to piece things together. 

The backdrop of the start of WWII is also a character in the story. The parts that are told from Jacob's point of view give us a glimpse into British intelligence and recruitment during the war as Jacob is recruited as a university math major to be a part of the think tank that is Bletchley. We see firsthand the pressure the people involved in this code breaking were under to prevent the Germans from invading England and to figure out what their targets would be for the bombing they did of England to break the British spirit. As the British fought largely alone at the start of the war once the Germans occupied France. A few details were also included as to how the British were able to get their hands on the enigma machines in the first place in order to start working at breaking the coded ciphers the Germans used to relay their messages. While I was not as engrossed in Jacob's side of the story, anyone interested in coding, ciphers and complex math would probably enjoy this side of it. I did like getting to see some of the real life people in the story also such as Alan Turing. The ending when the two siblings finally figure out the real story of what happened to their mom was tension filled and very like a James Bond moment. All in all, if you or a young reader that you know enjoys historical mystery fiction set during WWII then I recommend picking up The Bletchley Riddle. I think this book would also be appropriate for those teaching this historical period to upper elementary or middle school students. 

My next review for February will be a really good gothic mystery that I read as a NetGalley ARC, Murder Will Out by Jennifer Breedlove. The book cover and the description are both copied from bookshop.org. To obtain copies of either books mentioned in this post just click on the title to order a copy from bookshop.org and support indie bookstores. I also recommend supporting your local libraries by checking out or requesting they obtain copies of either of these books for their shelves as well. 

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.

Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.

The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.

Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.

 

Heartfelt & Humorous Romantic Suspense

 

image copied from NetGalley

Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox is the first in a new mystery series. This is the second novel by the author that I've read, and I loved this one even more than that book. Definitely Maybe Not a Detective is engaging with a full cast of eccentric yet mostly lovable characters. Emersyn Gray is struggling to make ends meet while raising her niece. Fired from yet another job after being laid off from her previous one due to budget cuts, she's unsure how to get her life back on track and keep her parents from taking away her guardianship for niece, Livy. To help, Emersyn's best friend Jemma concocts a scheme to help her recover the savings Em's ex-boyfriend, Hoffman, stole from her. Their plan is to threaten Hoffman with being investigated by a private detective if he doesn't return her stolen money. But the Wyatt Investigation Agency is all made up. That is until a real-life Wyatt turns up at Emersyn's apartment complex to return her lost phone the same day the super of her building is murdered. When Emersyn's elderly neighbor turns out to be the prime suspect she finds herself teaming up with Wyatt to investigate a real murder even though she has no idea where to even begin.

The banter and heat between Emersyn and Wyatt, coupled with her attempts to solve the murder to clear her neighbor's good name was funny and intriguing. Wyatt is as much a man of mystery as the fictitious PI he's pretending to be. Emersyn is leery of getting involved with any more men after her last disastrous relationship. But Wyatt's kindness and determination to help her, make it hard to keep to her no-dating vow. The side characters in the mostly senior living apartment complex were interesting and sometimes over the top, but in a good way. One scene where they help Emersyn follow a lead was particularly amusing. The relationship between Emersyn and her niece added stakes and a tender emotional element to the story that kept me rooting for Emersyn to succeed even when her avoidance at accepting Wyatt's help in the investigation at times, made me frustrated. I truly enjoyed this book and will happily read more adventures about Emersyn and Wyatt in this a series.

If you love mysteries full of unconventional characters, fun banter and slow-burn, low-spice romance then you'll thoroughly enjoy Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox! As always, click on the title to order your own copy from bookshop.org to support indie bookstores, or consider checking out a copy from your local library. 

Next up for review will be The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. It's a middle grade historical mystery full of spies, intrigue and smart, intrepid characters. Check out the cover and blurb below, both copied from bookshop.org.

Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act…

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amid one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues that unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

New Year, New Review!!

image copied from Goodreads

Happy New Year!!! I'm starting off my 2026 reviews with a New Year's Day release of a fantasy romance. I was fortunate to be gifted an eARC of Diamond Dust by author KF Breene in exchange for my honest review of it. It's the sequel to the first book in this duology, Obsidian. Both books follow the main character Daisy who is a secondary character in the Demigods of San Francisco by Breene. I highly recommend both series if you enjoy action-packed fantasy romances. I loved finally getting a chance to read Daisy's story. Both books were fast-paced, spicy and intriguing in terms of what's going on with the Fae that has haunted her since her early teens.

In Obsidian, Daisy starts off having dreams about a Fae noble who made things difficult for her and her family years before. Now for some reason he's back and just as annoyingly sexy and cocky. Daisy runs into him while looking into something else with her trainer Zorn. It turns out that the Fae, Tarian, is after something called the crystal chalice. This chalice is important because it can help the Fae form some sort of link between Faerie and the human world. Something that would be devastating to the mortal realm. Daisy is, of course, very much against this as is her family. In the end, Daisy must decide if she is willing to form a pact with Tarian when she's kidnapped and taken into Faerie. However, the deal could prove to be deadly for her. 

For some background on Daisy, she is a non-magical human living in the magical zone of San Francisco in an alternate reality version of the city. She's what magic users call a Chester. But Daisy has trained and worked hard to survive in spite of not having any true powers of her own. She has been gifted some extra strength and healing abilities by her demigod adoptive mother, Lexi. But this is a quality that makes Daisy just the sort of human that Tarian is interested in. 

Both books in this series are told from dual points of view, though Diamond Dust is primarily told from Daisy's perspective. It picks up right where Obsidian left off. Daisy has made a bargain with Tarian in order to save the human world from a Fae invasion. This deal involves her being Tarian's champion in a gladiator-style competition held by the Obsidian Faerie Court. As a human with no known magical abilities both of them are counting on the Fae underestimating just how ruthless and dangerous Daisy can be. The second book in the series is definitely steamier than the first and you learn something about Tarian that was quite surprising. The love that develops between Daisy and him is compelling and believable for both of these damaged characters who have been through so much trauma in their lives. I also enjoyed seeing a more tender and vulnerable side to Daisy in this book. She knows what she's up against could be tortuous and gruesome. There are a few instances where Daisy is caught off guard by the sheer power of these Fae who see her as little better than an animal. Despite the love that grows between both characters no happy-ever-after is guaranteed and is in fact highly unlikely. These stakes kept me eagerly turning pages to see how it would all end.

I really enjoyed both books and highly recommend them and the Demigods of San Francisco series if you haven't read them. But you can read Daisy's series as a stand alone without needing to read the other earlier series first. In fact, I might go back and re-read the earlier series again and then read this one a second time around now that I've spent the last couple of months engrossed in this world. 

For this year, I plan to review more mysteries than I did in 2025 since my debut mystery is coming out in a little over a year from now. With that in mind, my second review for 2026 will be a fun cozy mystery by Sarah Fox that comes out this week, Definitely Maybe Not a Detective. This is the second book by Fox that I've read and is what I hope will be the start of a new series by her. Because I enjoyed it even more than the previous book in a different series of hers that I read. Check out the book cover and blurb below, both copied from bookshop.org. You can also click on the titles for any of these books to order your own copies from bookshop.org. But they're also available online wherever books are sold and you could very likely request your library get copies as well if you're interested in supporting your local library.

In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide.

Emersyn Gray is definitely not a detective.

Really, she’s an unemployed twenty-eight-year-old raising her beloved niece in the only place she can afford after her ex-boyfriend ran off with her life savings: a run-down, seniors-only apartment complex that was desperate for tenants. But never fear—her wild best friend has the perfect plan to get Emersyn back on her feet and stick it to her thieving ex: scare him into returning her money by hiring a private investigator to prove he stole it. Only, there won’t be an actual detective, just a fabricated business card from Wyatt Investigations . . . and a ridiculously hot stranger, who steps in to play the part—a stranger whose name is, coincidentally, Wyatt.

Emersyn can’t help but notice the real-life Wyatt is capital H-O-T hot, even though she’s wary of his intentions. But her ex does seem flustered, and if she can get her money back and regain control of her life, maybe it’ll finally prove to her parents that she can be a responsible caregiver to her niece.

But the day after they set their plan in motion, the superintendent of Emersyn’s apartment building winds up dead, and her neighbors turn to her fake detective agency for help after finding one of the phony business cards. With so many eyes on them—or maybe just their eyes on each other—Emersyn and Wyatt agree to take on the case. Now the question is, Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other?

“Fast-paced and quippy.”—Catherine Mack, USA Today bestselling author of Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies

 

Cute and Cozy Holiday Mystery Fantasyi

image copied from Goodreads

This was a cute holiday mystery with lots of fantasy elements present as well. Rudie is a funeral director living in a holiday town where magic is everywhere and the North Pole is the big city. Despite her sisters’ insisting that Rudie is good enough just as she is, she has never felt like she fit in. Her insecurities are magnified by her childhood bully, Hayley. When Rudie volunteers at the annual holiday market to help raise money for the reindeer refuge, she is unexpectedly a witness to a homicide carried out via hot cocoa. Worse, her ability to see ghosts causes her to be ordered by the spirit of the murder victim to find her killer or be haunted by the angry ghost forever.

Rudie was an engaging main character and her low-spice romance with newspaperman and partner in investigating, Archer, was sweet. I loved that the author made Rudie a funeral home director in a holiday town near the North Pole. It added a unique twist to this cozy fantasy mystery and made Rudie's abilities to talk to ghosts plausible. Once she succeeds at resolving what happened and why it also allows Rudie to see the value of the service that she provides to her community through her work. This isn't something that I ever remember seeing in a fictional story before. Having the spirit of the murder victim insist that Rudie catch whoever killed her gave the story clear and believable stakes and a convincing reason for her to start searching for answers. The mystery was sort of predictable for me. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read and would happily read more novellas in this series.

I can't believe this is my last review for 2025! I hope they've helped you find some enjoyable reads to your collection. In 2026 I will be focusing much of my reading on mysteries as I work at promoting my debut book coming out in April 2027. But I was also honored to be given ARCs to read for some great fantasies coming out in the New Year. The first of which I'll be reviewing the first Sunday in January. It is for K.F. Breene's newest romantasy Diamond Dust the second and final book in her Shadowbound Fae series. I am loving it so far! Check out both the blurb and the cover for the ebook edition both copied from Goodreads below. Diamond Dust will be out for publication on New Year's Day, January 1, 2026. So, my review will come out a few days after publication. Until then, I hope everyone has a safe and very merry holiday season!

The fae royalty think I’m their toy. Their entertainment.
But I’m the only thing standing between their glittering world and the darkness waiting to consume mine.

To buy us time, Tarian enters me into the court games—a bloodsport for the bored and cruel. No allies. No protection. Just monsters wearing crowns and smiling as they watch me fall.

My odds of survival? Slim.

My resolve? Unbreakable.

They’ve always underestimated me. I exist in the shadows. I thrive there.
And when they push me too far… they’ll learn exactly what kind of carnage a cornered human can unleash.

The explosive conclusion to the Shadowbound Fae duet.

 

Clever Romantic Suspense with a Strong Female Lead

Image courtesy of Penguin Random House

I have never read any of Mimi Matthews's historical fiction before. I also did not realize that this was the second book in a series. Her Crinoline Academy series. However, that didn't matter for this novel. I had no trouble following along with the characters or the plot and I have to say I absolutely loved this book!

The characters were all very well developed and the romance that develops between Miles and Nell was so tender and sweet. They are intrigued by one another and Nell's path gets derailed in a major way. But Miles is patient and understanding towards her and I was totally invested as they grow to care for one another. I also found the mystery elements to be well balanced with the romance and the pacing of the plot. The characters gathered just enough clues throughout to keep me interested and guessing how the threads might all weave together. I really felt that I was solving the puzzle right along with Nell and Miles. The two are a strong partnership, and while Miles is protective of Nell, he never tries to take away her agency or to discount her intelligence. 

The historical elements in the story added to the world building as well. Matthews does not shy away from the dark underbelly of Victorian society, which adds plausibility to the mission of the Academy where Nell has grown up and become headmistress. At least until a misunderstanding forces her and Miles to get married to save both their reputations. I loved Miss Corvus's Academy and wish there could have really been such an institution for young women in this time period. Honestly, we could probably still use a school like the Academy in this day and age, too.

I read quite a few books each year and many I have found thoroughly entertaining. But there are only a few that I would willingly read over and over again and The Marriage Method is one of them. If you love historical romance with a good mystery woven in, then you should definitely give this one a read!

My next review before Christmas will be a fantastical mystery set in a holiday village near the North Pole. Check out the cover and book blurb below for Cocoa Curses. Both are copied from Goodreads.

 Have yourself a very Merry Witchmas in Holiday Haven, where the magic and mystery of Christmas is snow joke!Hardworking witch, Rudie Hollybrook, adores her quaint town of Holiday Haven, located near Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, but can't help feeling like an outsider. Not only does she have the unique ability to see ghosts, but she also runs the Hollybrook Funeral Home with her sisters. In a town where the holiday cheer is turned up to eleven all year round, Rudie's slightly eerie abilities make her feel like a misfit. While volunteering at the Christmas Market days before the big celebration, Rudie witnesses a tragedy. One of the volunteer club's chairwomen is murdered by poisonous hot cocoa, sending the charming town reeling.When Rudie's tasked by the dead woman's ghost to find her killer, she teams up with her crush at the local paper to do some sleuthing. Together, they uncover embezzlement, bribery and an illegal potions ring, all with ties to the murdered woman. Could it be the rebellious teenage granddaughter with a less-than-stellar taste in men? Or maybe the town doctor with a mysterious past? Rudie's investigation even leads her to suspect her nemesis, the bully with a history of getting what she wants--no matter the cost. With the countdown to Christmas nearly at an end, and the restless spirit threatening to haunt her holiday, Rudie races to catch the cocoa killer and make her beloved town safe again. Will Rudie unmask the culprit and prove she's a vital member of this charming Christmas town? Or will a murderer roam free and ruin Christmas for all of Holiday Haven?Grab your cup of cocoa, sit in a comfy chair by the cozy fire, and find out now in Cocoa Curses ! And be sure to check out the other magical mysteries of the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven series! 

Cafes, Baby Dragons, and Romance are on the Menu for Today's Review

 

image copied from Goodreads

Full disclosure, this fall has been much busier than I anticipated. I've been traveling each month quite a bit to be with my mom as she battles cancer. She's doing very well and is halfway through her treatment plan. But being on the road so much has meant that I've had lots of time to listen to audiobooks to make the drives more enjoyable. So, rather than review The Baker's Man by Jennifer Moorman as I'd originally considered. Today, I'm going to review the latest audiobook I listened to that also has food as part of its theme with The Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi. It's a cozy fantasy that was just what I needed this time of year amidst the usual holiday busyness and the additional travel to be with my mom.

Saphira is a kind and relatable character, following her dream to open her own cafe and be around the dragons that she's always loved. It is also a way for her to cope with the grief of losing her grandmother, the only family that Saphira had. But opening up her business to baby dragons and their riders has been much more difficult than she realized. It costs much more in upkeep to have a cafe where some of the clientele can be a fire hazard. Despite loving her unique business and being a popular spot in town for people to come and get their coffee fix or a chai latte, Saphira is hanging on by a thread. One that seems about to snap. Enter reluctant new baby dragon owner, Aiden. He and his baby dragon Sparky have been struggling to bond since Sparky hatched. In fact, Aiden's baby dragon doesn't seem to like him at all. But Aiden is determined to find a way to make it work as Sparky is the last gift Aiden ever received from his brother before Danny died in a tragic accident. 

Saphira and Aiden meet by accident, and Sparky is instantly enamored by the cafe owner. Saphira it seems has a natural way with both animals and people. Aiden immediately decides to enlist her help by hiring her to train Sparky after hours at the cafe. With the money he is offering that could enable Saphira to make some much needed repairs at her business, yet again, and the chance to be around an adorable baby dragon one-on-one, it doesn't take much for Saphira to agree. However, the arrangement is an unorthodox one. In Starshine Valley, only those from dragon-rider families are usually allowed to train and closely interact with dragons. Saphira is definitely not from one of these uppercrust families. But she is a natural when it comes to interacting with Sparky and understanding what he needs in terms of guidance. 

I have to say that while I did like both Saphira and Aiden, Sparky the baby dragon stole the scenes for me every time he was in them. As a character, Qureshi somehow made this mythological baby seem real and engaging. Sparky is both intelligent and sweet with attributes all his own. I wouldn't say he could be compared to real-life animals of any kind completely. Instead, Qureshi develops him with characteristics similar to any baby animal pet, curious, energetic, sometimes willful, while also giving him many traits that a baby dragon would have. I loved that about the story and her characterization. In addition, the romance that develops between Saphira and Aiden is a slow-burn one. They start out as friends and then blossom into something more. I appreciated the fact that it is obvious that Saphira is inspired by the author's own Muslim and Pakistani cultural background. Aiden too has diverse characteristics of his own. Though it isn't given a label, he comes across as a neurodivergent individual who seems like he could be in the autism spectrum in some way. But despite his initial gruffness and reluctance to participate in Sparky's training from the start with Saphira, she remains determined to help them bond, but patient with Aiden as much as she is with Sparky. The class system in this story is also clear and well developed. While it adds conflict and tension for the characters to overcome, it isn't insurmountable and gives both Aiden and Saphira additional dimension to their story and what they learn to accept about one another.

Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I'd be remiss in not mentioning how well I thought the voice actors did in narrating for each character. The slight inflection that voice actress Ash Raju gives to Saphira hints at her cultural heritage, and also conveys her warm and caring personality. While Hunter Johns, who narrates for Aiden, manages to highlight his neurodivergence by adding in brief pauses in his speech and thought patterns in the narration. It is just the right amount to give his characterization the clues for the listener to understand that Aiden doesn't always process the world in the same way as everyone else. It makes his character a very empathetic one as he struggles not to be overwhelmed by social settings or by processing emotional or visual cues from the other people he interacts with. Add in the charm of the setting, a village surrounded by mountains where dragons fly high above, a cafe where delicious coffees, chai and baked goods are offered and of course the adorable baby Sparky and this is a warm and cozy story I found it easy to sink into. I warn you though, The Baby Dragon Cafe will make you long for a baby dragon of your own.

On the menu for next month, I'll be reviewing a couple of mysteries. One will be a historical mystery romance by Mimi Matthews and the other will be a cozy fantasy mystery that takes place in a festive town in the North Pole. Both the cover images and blurbs are copied from Bookshop.org. Until then, for those who celebrate American Thanksgiving, I hope you have a very happy one! For those gearing up for the holiday season, I hope you enjoy this time to spend some extra time with family and friends.

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: 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 Quincey 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 . . .

And for a holiday mystery, I'll also be reviewing...

Have yourself a very Merry Witchmas in Holiday Haven, where the magic and mystery of Christmas is snow joke!Hardworking witch, Rudie Hollybrook, adores her quaint town of Holiday Haven, located near Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, but can't help feeling like an outsider. Not only does she have the unique ability to see ghosts, but she also runs the Hollybrook Funeral Home with her sisters. In a town where the holiday cheer is turned up to eleven all year round, Rudie's slightly eerie abilities make her feel like a misfit. While volunteering at the Christmas Market days before the big celebration, Rudie witnesses a tragedy. One of the volunteer club's chairwomen is murdered by poisonous hot cocoa, sending the charming town reeling.When Rudie's tasked by the dead woman's ghost to find her killer, she teams up with her crush at the local paper to do some sleuthing. Together, they uncover embezzlement, bribery and an illegal potions ring, all with ties to the murdered woman. Could it be the rebellious teenage granddaughter with a less-than-stellar taste in men? Or maybe the town doctor with a mysterious past? Rudie's investigation even leads her to suspect her nemesis, the bully with a history of getting what she wants--no matter the cost. With the countdown to Christmas nearly at an end, and the restless spirit threatening to haunt her holiday, Rudie races to catch the cocoa killer and make her beloved town safe again. Will Rudie unmask the culprit and prove she's a vital member of this charming Christmas town? Or will a murderer roam free and ruin Christmas for all of Holiday Haven?Grab your cup of cocoa, sit in a comfy chair by the cozy fire, and find out now in Cocoa Curses ! And be sure to check out the other magical mysteries of the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven series!