Review | With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling

September 12, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

A witch hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B instead finds herself spellbound by her non-magical client in this cozy and enchanting sapphic romance.

Book cover of 'With All My Haunted Heart' by Isabel Sterling, featuring two women embracing in front of a haunted house under a starry night sky.

Steadily losing clients to the new DIY-magic shop on the other side of town, Pippa Ainsley is getting desperate. Instead of hiring the witch to correct their magical maladies, local mundanes have been taking their chances with the cheaper—and unpredictable—crystals and herb blends. So when Pippa’s best friend hires her to inspect his newly acquired bed-and-breakfast for ghosts, she doesn’t think twice about it.

That is, until she learns that his unfairly attractive co-owner, Elle Thompson, doesn’t want Pippa to rid their business of spirits. She wants Pippa to give them an edge over the competition by haunting their B&B.

It’s the perfect challenge for Pippa’s experimental magic, but just because she could figure it out, doesn’t mean it’s a smart or safe idea. But Elle is persistent, and the financial boost could save her own business if Pippa succeeds. Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own.

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I was not expecting this book to be as emotionally deep as it ended up being but I absolutely loved it. We follow Pippa, who’s struggling to keep her business afloat while also feeling with trauma caused by her family. She is approached by her best friend asking her to help with his new B & B, but with a twist, he and his business partner want the B & B to be haunted and Pippa is the witch they feel can help them.

Pippa struggles a lot with feeling like people actually want or value her relationship, due to trauma from her family and feelings of being cast aside/abandonment. This is a common thread that definitely affects her throughout the story. Xander and Elle definitely have their own trauma and issues that they are affected by, but it’s really Pippa’s story and her overcoming her insecurities. There is a ton of growth and emotional depth, especially in the last quarter of the book. The relationship between Pippa and Elle is a little slow burn, a little angsty especially from Pippa’s point of view, but when things start ramping up their attraction is undeniable…which of course opens its own can of worms.

I really liked how the different threads of the story resolved at the end, it really felt like Pippa and Elle both processed some of their trauma and grief and were able to be honest with each other (and a bit humble).

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. With All My Haunted Heart just came out, so make sure to pick up a copy!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Hexy Beast by Avery Flynn

September 8, 2026September 8, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

An impulsive witch and a buttoned-up werewolf discover love is its own beast in this spicy rom-com from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn.

Book cover of 'Hexy Beast' by Avery Flynn, featuring a man on a motorcycle and a woman sitting behind him, with a whimsical night sky background.

As the eldest daughter of the magical Sherwood family, I’m supposed to have everything together. Well, joke’s on them—I, Effie Sherwood, am chaos incarnate, and you’ll never be able to guess my next move.

Like jumping on the back of Darius Aetos’ motorcycle. Not only is Darius grumpy, gruff, and hot, he’s also the head of the Aetos werewolf pack.

My spur of the moment decision has quickly become a much bigger commitment, because a pack elder is convinced this hunk of a man (or wolf, depending on the hour) is my fated mate.

Even though I’m a witch and he’s a werewolf, we’re stuck together until we can find our way out of the tricky pack politics. But under the light of the blue moon, it’s almost starting to feel like Darius doesn’t want to stay away from me. And I’m not sure if it’s my magic going haywire or the starlit skies, but I can’t imagine leaving his arms either.

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This was my first experience with Avery Flynn’s writing and I have to say, I will be picking up more. I spent so much of this book laughing at the banter between Effie and Darius as they went from enemies to loves and discovered that even though they didn’t believe in fated mates, that kinda didn’t matter. There are definitely some shenanigans between the two of them, and moderate to high stakes, but what really shone in this story was them getting to know each other beyond what they knew of each other previously. Effie is used to being perceived a certain way and definitely has some baggage due to being the eldest child but not the heir of her family’s magic as she was supposed to be and I was glad to see some exploration of her emotions behind that and her acknowledging how that contributes to her actions. We even get to see Darius work through some of his insecurities and fears throughout the process.

I had a lot of fun reading this one, it was funny, spicy and gave me a great glimpse of the world that Flynn has created in this series. The writing style flowed so easily and it made the story a super quick read that I couldn’t get enough of.

Hexy Beast is out today, so check it out as well as the first two books in the series! Thank you to Berkley for the digital arc through Netgalley.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida

September 7, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

The Kokoro Clinic for the Soul reopens in this delightful follow-up to the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel We’ll Prescribe You a Cat.

It’s time to revisit the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

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If one cat helps, then why not two or more?

In the second book to the We’ll Prescribe You a Cat series, we return to the Kokoro Clinic For the Soul and the interesting Dr. Nikke and his receptionist/nurse Chitose. Much in line with the first book in the series we follow a number of people who have something weighing on their hearts that they need to resolve and upon visiting the clinic they are prescribed a cat…or two. The stories in this one are not only connected to each other, but we can see some ties to the first book as well. We do learn a but more about the clinic in general, and the history of Nikke and Chitose, which I’m hoping we get even more of in the 3rd book.

Some of the stories are more heartfelt and sentimental, while others are very emotional. As with most healing fiction make sure you have some tissues handy as we follow the lives of these people and their journey intersecting with the Kokoro Clinic for the soul and their discovery of the healing nature of cats.

If you’re interested in this and other healing fiction/translated fiction titles that I recommend, make sure to check out my Amazon Storefront listing specifically for translated fiction – which includes many of my favorites!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

August 29, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

A cat a day keeps the doctor away….

Discover this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats in the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation.

Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling in their lives and who genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, and occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout these pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a hardened handbag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha learns to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients grapple with their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

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What if being prescribed a cat could help resolve whatever is troubling your heart?

I know a lot of the currently being translated Japanese and Korean fiction are very similar in some ways, often told in connected vignettes or stories, often with themes of turmoil, grief or healing – but I have loved pretty much every one I’ve read, and this was no different.

In this first installment to the We’ll Prescribe You a Cat series, we get introduced to the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul and its quirky doctor and nurse. When people visit, each with their own issues or maladies, they are prescribed a cat for a short period of time. What follows is resolution, healing and more, depending on their specific complaint.

This one takes a bit to unfold, leaving you guessing if there’s something supernatural/mystical going on, or if this is just an interesting mental health clinic that prescribes cats. By the end of the book we certainly have some answers and it definitely left me wondering what will happen in subsequent books. The writing flowed wonderfully, which is even more impressive considering it is a translation. I was probably more emotional about the stories than some would be, given recent events with my own cat, but if you’re a cat lover this is definitely one that will pull at the heartstrings.

The second book in the series is already out and the 3rd is coming out in early September, so look for reviews of both of them soon as well!

Happy reading!

Review | Where I Should’ve Been by Max Monroe

July 29, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Everyone in the smalltown of Red Bridge, Vermont, knows Tad Hanson, the hot sheep farmer who can’t control his flock. He doesn’t believe in forever, but he’ll be the best time you’ve ever had―right now. What they don’t know is why.

He’s too charming, too good with that addicting smile of his, too committed to keeping his dark past buried, and too stubborn to imagine his life could be any other way.

Until a snowstorm―and one beautiful woman―send his carefully controlled world spinning.

Successful art director Beatrice “Breezy” Bishop thought she had life figured out―until her father gave her the middle finger from the grave and left the family galleries she built to her entitled younger brother. With nothing left in New York but resentment and regret, she temporarily heads to Red Bridge, looking for space to breathe.

Instead, she finds a sexy, flirty, secret fling with Tad, and a rivalry with the editor of Red Bridge’s newspaper. It’s chaotic, but it’s the happiest she’s ever been.

But secrets never stay secrets for long, and when hearts get involved―and the universe clearly has other plans―walking away isn’t as easy as they thought.

Amazon | Goodreads | Shop the Series

This was my first time reading something from Max Monroe and I didn’t realize this was the 3rd in the series (though I had no issues reading this one out of order) but I will definitely be picking up more.

Breezy – who has been breaking her back to run her family’s art galleries and then has the business yanked out from under her when her father dies and leaves the business to her younger brother (who knows nothing about the galleries) and Tad – a fireman turned sheep farmer who has a ton of past trauma and baggage that keeps him from getting close to people are complex characters who both carry a lot of baggage they need to work through. Breezy has come to Red Bridge to stay with her older brother and try to figure out what she wants to do with her life now that she no longer has the galleries.

Neither one of them are looking for a relationship but their attraction is undeniable so things move rather quickly to what they consider a no strings, casual relationship. Their banter is top notch and it’s great to watch them grow closer without realizing that feelings are developing. Though this was my first foray into Red Bridge, the other characters still had their own fully fledged identities and histories that gave the environment a three dimensional feel (and I can’t wait to check out the first two books in the series).

The only (slight) detractor for me was the lack of communication/miscommunication felt like it went on just a little too long – but that’s probably a me thing as I have a lower tolerance for excessive miscommunication. I understood the motivations behind not wanting to talk about baggage or old scars that kept trying to open, but at some point you just want to lock them in a room and make them talk. (haha)

The climax of the story though was a whirlwind and perfect turning points for both characters in a lot of ways. It definitely kept me on my toes there for a bit until the end and made me even more certain I want to catch up and read the first two.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Still Smitten by Catana Chetwynd

July 21, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

#1 New York Times Bestselling comics creator Catana returns with an all-new collection, filled to the brim with the heartwarming, cozy commentary on love, relationships, and growing up that fans know and love.

In Still Smitten, Catana welcomes readers into the next chapter of her love story as she shares the ups, downs, and laugh-filled in-betweens of being in a long-term relationship that both celebrates and challenges as you grow alongside each other. With an emphasis on keeping the spark alive, staying in love, and continuing to find your way back to your person after years of individual growth, Still Smitten is the perfect gift for anyone who has found their forever person.

Amazon | Goodreads

I’ve loved Catana Comics for many years now, starting with her instagram posts and then picking up the printed collections when they came out – so imagine my surprise when I saw a new collection came out that I hade missed.

This collection feels more settled than some of the earlier collections and by that I mean it’s more focused on a relationship that is stable, no longer new, but still immensely happy. A lot of the comics are relatable for relationships, earlier collections might be more geared towards newer relationships, but this one is definitely for those who have been in a relationship for a while and know their partner like the back of their hand.

As always the art style is charming and quick to consume, all of the comics are short form, but perfect in their bite size nature, highlighting snapshots of Catana and John’s relationship (though my husband and I often joke we feel like their watching us since so many of the comics are relatable for us).

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Rising Waters by Aleatha Romig

July 18, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

A dark atmospheric psychological thriller packed with small-town secrets, buried trauma, and shocking twists.

She escaped her past—and the man she never forgot.
Now with two girls missing, she’s pulled back into a deadly game she may not survive.

Jillian Thorne built her career making the unreal feel real.
On Hollywood soundstages, she stages murder, kidnapping, and violent crime with chilling authenticity—turning fiction into gripping entertainment.

But nothing she’s created compares to the truth waiting in Blue Gil.
Nearly six years after escaping her small hometown, Jillian is drawn back by the suspicious death of the town’s beloved high school football coach. What first appears to be a tragic loss quickly unravels into something far more sinister—a dark mystery no one is willing to confront.

Because in Blue Gil, secrets aren’t just buried… they’re protected.
As disturbing clues surface and a brutal tragedy strikes dangerously close to home, Jillian finds herself trapped inside a real-life psychological thriller. The instincts that made her successful in Hollywood may be the key to solving the crime—or the very thing clouding her judgment.

Everyone in this small town is hiding something.
Including Jillian.

To uncover the truth, she must break through an unspoken code of silence, deception, and loyalty—and face the past she thought she left behind. Because some secrets refuse to stay buried.

And in this twisted game of suspense, trusting the wrong person could be deadly.

Amazon | Goodreads

Jillian is returning home the first time in six years, back to the hometown she has avoided, because the local football coach has died and she wants to find out the truth. From the get go it appears to be a simple mystery of finding out who killed the coach, but it’s so much more than that. Jillian soon realizes that while she’s from Blue Gil, she’s still being treated as an outsider and coming up against a lot of dead ends in her search for the truth.

I’m not going to give details but things swiftly take a turn and suddenly there are many more secrets to uncover other than just those related to the coach’s death…and why Jillian felt the need to return.

This book is full of twists and turns, a few well placed red herrings and tons of secrets to uncover – not just the town’s secrets, but Jillian’s as well. I will say I figured out pretty early on what happened to the coach, but the reveals (yes, there are multiple) still packed a punch and contained some surprises. Jillian as a character is complex, as she’s coming to terms with her past and motivations while also reconciling who she is now to people she’s known her entire life. Her family dynamics are pretty messy, but the reasons for that do also get revealed.

Romig’s writing was really easy to get into and once I got about 30-40% into the book I could not put it down. I’ll definitely be checking out more of her writing in the future as this was a really enjoyable read.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Ghost of What Remains by Maeve Garner

July 15, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Sometimes the dead fight just as hard as the living to keep the past buried…especially at Jasper Lake…

Rhys McClaine doesn’t believe in ghosts. Or in wasting his time. So, overseeing a supernatural investigation at his family’s lakeside mansion wasn’t something he looked forward to. Until he met the beautiful paranormal psychologist his great-aunt hired and everything changed…

Phoebe Davenport has dedicated her life to giving the dead a voice. But the living? They’re far more mysterious. Especially him. Rhys is infuriating. Brilliant. Confident. Insufferably handsome. Working with him should be impossible. So why does it feel so…right?

Every secret they uncover draws them closer to the truth and to each other. But when love collides with ghosts that won’t rest, will survival cost Rhys and Phoebe their happily ever after?

Amazon | Goodreads

I love reading books that have some aspect of ghosts or haunted houses, so I was excited to get to this one. I will say, I do wish I had read the first two books first so I had more of that foundation to the story, but it was still really enjoyable.

Maeve Garner’s writing is very atmospheric and lyrical, sometimes this can drag down the pace but I felt it was really well done in this case. It also adds to the overall feel of the book and lent well to the paranormal/supernatural elements.

This book was a wonderful combination of romance, ghost story and lots of emotional moments. The romance was really well balanced, great instant attraction without being insta-love and a slow burn that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’m hoping I’ll have time to go back and read the trilogy as a whole so I can see how all the stories connect and work together.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Series Review | The Queens of Éire by Christy Healy

June 22, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

For fans of Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, Unbound is a gender-bent reimagining of the classic tale of a monstrous beast and the beauty determined to tame it, set against the lush backdrop of Irish mythology and folklore.

Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is used to waiting—waiting for the king, her father, to relent and allow her to leave the solitude of her tower; waiting for the dreaded and mysterious Beast of Connacht to at last be defeated; waiting for the arrival of the man destined to win her heart and break the terrible curse placed on her and her land. So when she meets Jamie—a charming and compelling suitor—she allows herself to hope that her days of solitude and patience are over at long last.

But as she finds her trust betrayed—and newer, more sinister threats arising—Rozlyn learns that some curses are better left unbroken …

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Fairytale retellings and mythology are definitely two of my buzzwords/phrases, so I was eager to get the chance to review the Queens of Éire series, starting with Unbound – which is very Beauty and the Beast-esque. I really enjoyed the dual POV and different perspectives. It’s very fairytale coded, but I really enjoyed the inclusion of Celtic mythology and the underlying messages. There were some parts of the book where pacing felt a little off, perhaps a little slow, but not to the point where I didn’t want to continue. Overall Healy’s writing was nice to read, definitely good atmosphere here and there. The story is primarily focused on Rozlyn and Jamie, so there isn’t a lot of sidetracking with other characters – but there’s still plenty of twisty turns.

Riona Ó Conchúir has known death her whole life. The mysterious lord of death has tormented her for years, stealing away the souls of all those she has loved since childhood, demanding that she come and serve him in his shadowy realm, but she has always resisted – until now.

When her daughter falls ill with an incurable disease, Riona at last answers the lord of death’s call and ventures into the hidden realm of the sídhe to offer herself as a servant to him in exchange for her daughter’s life. But when he demands that she use the divine magic of her blood to find three legendary objects of power that were once wielded by the gone gods themselves, Riona soon realizes that she will be forced to make an impossible choice:

Her daughter’s life, or the realm of Éire itself.

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In this sequel (it can be read as a standalone but benefits from having read the first installment first) we follow Riona, who is Rozlyn’s granddaughter. She was definitely more of an unlikeable character while her counterpart – Conor – was easy to adore. The mythology/folklore in this story were really well done and I found myself really getting sucked into all of those elements. Even though Riona is a little harsh, there are certainly reasons for it that are explained and it’s nice to see how she and Conor interact throughout the story. Loved that there was some medical/chronic illness rep in this one especially – it’s always nice to see in any genre. I definitely feel like any of the pacing issues that I may have felt with the first book were more ironed out in this one, definitely more flowing prose that just kept me glued to the book.

Rory Ó Conchúir has always known that she was destined for war. Her deadly gifts, the unwanted inheritance of her ancestor, the Mórrígan, can only be wielded as a weapon of destruction and doom. For years, she would not allow herself to be used as such, instead choosing to live far across the sea, refusing to regret what she has left behind in order to do so…until the fateful day that she learns of the price she has paid for her peace.

Niall Ó Flannagáin, the young king of Connacht, was never meant for war — that has always been his half-sister, Rory’s, role. But now he finds himself threatened with a foreign invasion and the ruination of the realm, without her aid. In desperation, he turns to a powerful enemy as an ally, his only hope to unite the provinces against the foreign armies gathering even now to destroy the land he has sworn to protect.

Locke MacMurchada, the son of the most hated traitor in all of Éire, owes a debt that he knows he can never pay. But when the opportunity to propose a political marriage with the murderous Rory Ó Conchúir arises, he seizes the chance to protect what is left of both his people, as well as the legacy which his father ripped to shreds…so long as she doesn’t kill him first.

When the day of doom at last arrives, the fates of all three royals – the cursed princess, the young king, and the traitor prince – become inextricably woven together, forcing them to face new threats and old enemies, hoping to forge a stronger Éire from the ashes of the old.

Amazon | Goodreads

Oof this one was an emotional roller coaster and such as fantastic third installment! I feel like the first two (even they can all be read as standalones) really set up a good foundation, but this book still had a ton of great world building and set up built in. There was so much morally grey behavior and characters in this one, so if that’s your thing you will probably eat this one up. Also, this is very much a slow burn and it does burn. Really this one was beautifully built up to and a great third book in the series.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Twilight Walker by Nic Minnella

June 19, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Finn thought campfire stories were just stories. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Eleven-year-old Finn can’t stand camping and is fed up with being picked on by his seemingly perfect older brother, Matt. Everything changes when their mother starts acting like a different person, and Finn-—along with his cat, Pepper—is the only one who realizes the truth: she’s been replaced by an impostor. Will Matt believe him?

With the fake mom hot on their trail and time running out, the brothers must put aside years of misunderstandings and resentment to save their family from a haunted forest where sinister legends come to life.

Amazon | Goodreads

From the start of the book we can tell that this is a family in a bit of a crisis, though they are trying to enjoy time as a family on a camping trip. Finn pretty clearly struggles with aspects of anxiety and his older brother Matt is more interested in girls than spending time with him – plus dealing with his own baggage after a tough period the family went through. Their parents are fighting pretty constantly, so there is a lot of tension from the get go.

A round of ghost stories leads to some odd events and their mom going missing for a while, when they find her something is off and that’s really the beginning of the mystery. Finn and Matt, with the help of Pepper their cat struggle through the perils of the forest, mostly supernatural, to unravel the mystery of what happens to their parents.

As they progress they slowly start to understand each other more and some truths are spoken. By the end of the book, not only have they solved the mystery of the Twilight Walker, but they’ve managed to come back together as a family. It’s a great read and I’m interested to pick up the previous installments in the series.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.