Review: How to Hide a Body for Halloween by Mea Monique

About the Book

A funny paranormal holiday short story from the author of The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer.

I’m having the worst year of my life.

Mostly because I keep on dying.

After accidentally (not entirely accidentally) rage-baiting a witch at last year’s halloween fest, I was hexed with a uniquely cruel curse to find the love of my life and achieve a soul-binding climax before the next Halloween or die permanently. Unfortunately, the curse is aggressively committed to quality control. Every time I get intimate with someone who is not my soulmate, I die.

The good news? I come back to life. Sometimes for minutes. Sometimes for hours. But I wake up naked, confused, and insanely hungry.

The bad news? Dying hurts, resurrection is deeply inconvenient, and I’m running out of time.

When my latest death lands me in the county morgue, I wake up on an autopsy table and accidentally headbutt the frustrating medical examiner moments before he cuts into me.

Once he reluctantly agrees to help find a way to free me of this curse, our search leads us through magical dive bars, chaotic coven meetings, and one deeply unfortunate séance involving a goat.

Somewhere along the way, I start falling for him.

Which is rude, honestly, because I’m very busy trying not to die before Halloween.

How To Hide a Body for Halloween is a spicy and chaotic romantic holiday short story for anyone who loves: Childhood Friends to Strangers to Lovers and Grumpy/Grumpy.

Review

I loved the premise of How to Hide a Body for Halloween. It was entertaining, fun, and didn’t take itself too seriously, which I appreciated. I honestly would have loved to see the story developed into a full-length novel because there was so much potential for even more chaos and humor.

Evie was easily the highlight of the book for me. She was hilarious, and so much of her dialogue had me genuinely laughing out loud. I loved her personality and the way she approached some of the ridiculous situations she found herself in. Like, her life had an expiration date. Yes, she waited until almost the last second to hunt for the witch to reverse the spell, but I mean, I bought her hilarious explanation for why she waited.

Unfortunately, Rowan was the low point for me. I just couldn’t get behind him as a love interest. He and Evie had known each other as kids. They had even dated briefly before she moved away. However, the moment he recognized her, he started throwing around pet names and doing the absolute most. There’s no way he would still consider someone he dated in elementary school the love of his life. It was just too much, too soon. I understood they had history, but I didn’t feel that the history was enough to justify the intensity of his feelings.

Final Thoughts

How to Hide a Body for Halloween (How to NOT Get Away with Murder Book 2) was fun and entertaining, with the exception of one flaw. Rowan. I just didn’t care for him.

Buy on Amazon

Review: The Porcelain Heart by Marcy Kelly

About the Book

Fans of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights will find inspiration in this mother’s memoir about the year following her son’s sudden death.

When Marcy learns her beloved forty-five-year-old son, Michael, has died, she refuses to believe it. He was her only child. Later, she blames herself because she didn’t recognize the signs of his illness. She has disturbing dreams about not saving him and spirals through the various stages of grief as she waits months for the coroner to render a cause. But the fifth and final stage of grief, Marcy rejects. In her mind, if she accepts Michael’s death, he won’t ever return.

The Porcelain Heart chronicles her raw emotional journey the year following Michael’s death. Marcy endures all the firsts without him—the holidays, his birthday. She joins grief groups, remembers frightening and fun times together, questions whether she was a good mother, and tries to distract herself with travel. She creates a golf scholarship in his name and commissions a stone people and pet fountain to be built on the path where he used to hike.

Her journey culminates when she takes his ashes to his favorite place, a lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and finally begins moving toward acceptance.

Review

Grief isn’t as cut and dry as we are taught in order of stages. In The Porcelain Heart: A Mother's Memoir of Unexpected Loss, Marcy Kelly offers something far more real and transcendent than a self-help book or a "this is how you should" story of "getting over it". She offers an act of profound courage: a vulnerable, tender, and fiercely loving account of surviving what no parent ever wants to go through.

The memoir opens in the devastating aftermath of the sudden death of Kelly’s only son,  Michael. Readers are brought into the immediate, suffocating gloom of disbelief, guilt, and the agonizing wait for answers. What makes Kelly’s story so deeply resonant is her total refusal to perform a performative acceptance. Her refusal to embrace acceptance is to close the door on him coming back. She openly struggles with the finality of loss, questioning the traditional expectation that grief must end in neat resolution. Instead, she shows us that a heart can break open without completely shattering.

Through vivid snapshots of the past woven into the painfully first moments, she does something beautiful. She does not just show us her pain; she introduces us to her son, weaving together memories that bring both heartbreak and happiness. He’s brought to life through the pages with love and dignity embracing a vibrancy and celebrating someone special.

What beautifies The Porcelain Heart into an inspiring read is its call to action for everyone who has ever loved someone through loss. Kelly reminds us that love doesn’t end when a person takes their last breath but finding expression in memory and the enduring bonds between the loved ones that continue on behind.

The Porcelain Heart is ultimately a lesson in maternal love and endurance. It is an unforgettable companion for anyone navigating similar experiences of loss, and a gentle reminder for the rest of us on how to show up with empathy, honor the dead, and keep loving unconditionally through the heartbreak.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

Review: Cowboy and Candy Hearts by Kes Winter

About the Author

One reckless night with her cowboy best friend leads to forever in this sizzling friends-to-lovers, surprise pregnancy, small-town romance.

I've got one rule about men: the hotter they are, the worse they are for me.

So when Luke Brennan walks into the dive bar where I work—all chiseled jawline, cool cowboy swagger, and temptation wrapped in Wranglers—I swear I'll keep my distance. A guy that gorgeous? He's trouble I don't need.

Then my dad hires him as our new bouncer.

Now we're spending every shift together in a tiny bar that suddenly feels way too small. And Luke isn't just devastatingly handsome. He's hardworking, funny, and way too good with his hands.

So what if my heart races when he's near? So what if he invites me to his family's ranch to teach me to ride? We're just friends, no matter how many late night conversations and stolen glances we share.

Until one scorching night where the tension between us finally snaps.

Where his control breaks and he can’t keep his hands off of me. Where we don't even make it out of his truck before we go up in flames.

One night that leaves me staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test.

Can I trust that the hottest cowboy I've ever met won't be the one who breaks my heart? Or is Luke Brennan the exception to every rule I've ever made?

Review

Cowboy and Candy Hearts was a sappy read at times, but still enjoyable overall. I liked Luke, but he almost felt too perfect. He was incredibly supportive. He always seemed to say or do the right thing. He felt like the “right” man to change Madison’s mind about men. It all felt too much to the point where it became a little eye-roll-worthy. Outside of being the perfect love interest, I didn’t feel like he had much of a personality of his own.

I also felt like the relationship moved really fast. I wanted more time with them actually developing as a couple. I did enjoy their relationship, but I didn’t feel like we got enough of it before everything started moving forward.

I also wouldn’t necessarily categorize this as a surprise-pregnancy romance. That aspect of the plot didn’t really work for me, and I think that mostly stems from how it was handled. Luke and Madison felt a little too “all in” considering how short a time they had known each other. I understand that the pregnancy accelerated their relationship, but their level of commitment happened so quickly that I had a hard time fully buying into it. I especially wasn’t a fan of what happened with Madison toward the end. It felt like the story took a direction that wasn’t really necessary for me to enjoy the romance.

Final Thoughts

Cowboy and Candy Hearts was a sweet and enjoyable read. However, I wanted more development from Luke and more time for the romance to breathe.

Buy on Amazon

Review: Fangs with Benefits by Kath Richards

About the Book

Romance isn't dead . . . but her new co-worker might be, in this charming paranormal romcom for fans of Jenna Levine and Lana Ferguson.

Molly Mason is not a team player. She may do more work than the rest of her team, but when it comes time for promotion, an outside hire is chosen over her. To add insult to injury, she's tasked with training him. This is easier said than done, though, when he has the digital literacy of a toddler and is, infuriatingly, the hottest man she's ever laid eyes on.

Elijah Thorne's reintegration into human society is going swimmingly. He scammed his way into a job, bought new clothes, and successfully convinced a myriad of New Yorkers that he is human, not a vampire. The one person he can't win over, though, is his intimidating colleague Molly.

When Molly discovers Elijah's secret, he realizes that being human isn't as easy as he thought. She'll help him act the part if he'll help her get promoted, but when they fall into a colleagues-with-benefits arrangement, can they keep things professional?

Review

Fangs with Benefits had a unique and interesting concept. It blended supernatural with a romantic sitcom. Was it successful? Somewhat. What ultimately became the downfall was the male lead, Elijah. For a vampire who's been alive as long as Elijah, he was surprisingly uninformed. You're telling me that after all these years, he hasn't figured out how to use a computer? Or mastered a skill that would make him qualified for a job? Out of all the jobs he could have pursued, why did it have to be the one Molly wanted?

I really didn't love that Elijah compelled Molly's boss to give him the promotion. He could have easily started in an entry-level position and worked his way up. Instead, he stole an opportunity from someone who had actually earned it. Then he had the nerve to ask that same person to help him do the job. The weaponized incompetence was frustrating. Molly should have been much meaner to him. She got over the job stealing far too quickly for my liking.

Despite the job stealing, Elijah was wildly supportive of Molly. That was nice to see, and an important motivator for her to accomplish her dreams.  

Molly and Elijah had some genuinely good moments together. I did enjoy their relationship at times. However, I felt the book spent too much time setting up the romance instead of letting the relationship develop. The vampire aspect also felt underutilized, especially given the potential to explore Elijah's experiences and perspective after living for so long.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Molly's personal growth. I loved watching her learn to prioritize her own needs and make decisions about what she wanted for herself. Her journey was one of the more satisfying aspects of the story.

Interestingly, I think my favorite version of Molly and Elijah's relationship came in the final chapters. I would have loved to read that story and experience Molly helping him navigate his new reality. That felt like a much more interesting direction for their relationship.

Final Thoughts

Fangs with Benefits was a low-stakes romance with an interesting premise and some enjoyable moments. I liked parts of Molly and Elijah’s relationship. Though at times, I wanted more of the romance. I also wanted more supernatural elements and much more accountability from Elijah.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

Review: The Rival Pact by Olivia Hayle

About the Book

James Sterling was once my academic rival and childhood torment. Now he’s the ice-cold Duke and single dad I'm forced to share an estate with.

I arrive at Sterling Hall to inspect the historic restoration, notto clash with the billionaire Duke who owns it. But he’s arrogant and impossible and resents my presence.

We argue over building violations and play chess at night, our old rivalry flaring to life. James’s sneer is familiar. It only disappears when he looks at his young daughter.

But then he learns my secret… We share the same interests in bed. Power exchanged. Limits negotiated. James has more experience and offers to teach me.

It’s perfect. I don’t have to worry about hurting his non-existent feelings. So we make a pact; pause the rivalry for practice sessions. On his jet. In the library. By the fireplace.

Piece by piece, I learn about his tough childhood, and how he judges himself harshest of all. And yet he’s surprisingly good at praise and aftercare..

We agreed on no feelings and no future, but the way James looks at me makes me wonder if that’s still true…

Review

I am conflicted about my feelings for The Rival Pact. Overall, I have enjoyed this series. And out of the three books, I do feel this is the weakest one. On one hand, I did like Florence and James together. There were moments that I genuinely enjoyed. I loved watching their relationship develop as they gradually grew closer and started to understand each other. However, there were long stretches where the story dragged. By the end, I don’t think I was fully convinced that they loved each other. Respected? Sure, but at that point, not love.

The highlight of the book was James’ relationship with his daughter, Pippa. He was kidnapped as a child, and that event had such a significant influence on how he approached fatherhood. It was fascinating yet heartbreaking to see how that experience continued to shape his decisions. He certainly needed therapy because there was so much trauma to unpack.

I also appreciated the reasons behind Florence and James’ initial dislike of each other. I thought that part of their relationship was particularly well done. I do think James’ reasoning was the strongest. It added another layer to his tragic backstory. He had endured so much throughout his life that it made sense why he was so closed off.

While I loved Florence’s POV, I don’t think she was nearly as fleshed out as James. Yes, we learned about her hopes and dreams. And I appreciated seeing her finally pursue something she'd always wanted to do. However, I struggled to get a strong sense of who she was beyond those ambitions and her relationship with James. She also felt incredibly isolated outside of her sisters and parents. James had this large, established friend group that gave him a life beyond the romance. Florence didn't really have anything comparable. I wish she'd been given more meaningful relationships and a more distinct personality. Another thing I wanted more of was the restoration process. Florence came there specifically to pursue that opportunity, but I felt that aspect of the story was underexplored.

Final Thoughts

The Rival Pact had some elements that I enjoyed, specifically James’ relationship with Pippa and the moments of vulnerability between him and Florence. But I don’t think I was sold on their love. Not yet at least. It’s not even that I wish the book would have had more pages. I wish it had been better paced. There were stretches where the story dragged. And somehow, the progression of their relationship felt rushed. Enjoyed watching them together but needed a bit more to believe that they were madly in love with each other. Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this ARC. Top Shelf releases on November 2, 2026!

Buy on Amazon

Review: Top Shelf by Hailey Rodger

About the Book

A marriage of convenience hockey romance

Heidi Grant has spent her career helping elite athletes reclaim their dreams. Now, the sports physical therapist is ready to take a shot on a dream of her own. She has the vision and credentials, but she doesn’t have the funding—and her lease deadline is fast approaching.

Viktor Karlsson also has a deadline. The tattooed Swedish NHL player needs a wife.

Unfortunately, Viktor doesn’t believe in marriage. His only long-term commitment is to his motorcycle. Heidi has never been particularly interested in forever either, but she does believe in mutually beneficial contracts.

And if sleeping together becomes part of their contract too, so what? Unresolved tension is terrible for productivity.

Except the longer they pretend, the less simple it feels. Viktor never asks Heidi to change any part of herself, and their temporary marriage slowly becomes a future she wants to keep.

But when their Heidi’s dream is pulled into Viktor’s spotlight, the line between being supported or swallowed gets dangerously thin.

Their marriage was supposed to save two dreams. Now Viktor hopes Heidi is willing to take a shot on one more and send it top shelf.

Top Shelf is book one in a new sports romance series of interconnected stand-alones, from the author of the bestselling Colorado Storm hockey romance series, Hailey Rodger.

Top Shelf's tropes includes:

• hockey romance

• marriage of convenience

• women in sport

• dual POV

• ADHD rep

• bi rep

• he rides a motorcycle

• opposites attract

• she ties him up

• found family chaos

Review

I had to pace myself with Top Shelf. If not, I would have finished it in one sitting and spent the rest of my days upset because I devoured this one too quickly. Is it my favorite Hailey Rodger’s book? 100% yes.

Heidi was an absolute shining star. She was witty, confident, and unapologetically herself. I especially appreciated that she wasn't afraid of her accomplishments. I loved that the book repeatedly acknowledged her titles. She had worked hard for them and deserved that recognition and respect. A major part of the story revolved around Heidi's identity. That was one of the stories strongest elements.

Viktor was so calm and understanding throughout it all. There was something almost oceanlike about him. It was very endearing. Before the arrangement, Viktor was clearly smitten by Heidi. The man had given her his full attention and knew her. In fact, both of them could anticipate each other's needs, and neither felt the need to change anything about the other. Even with that, there was still beautiful moments of them discovering things about each other.

I also loved Viktor's reasoning for entering the arrangement. His desire to protect his family's home made so much sense when considering how much of his identity was tied to Solvik. His cousin didn't have cruel intentions, but Solvik was more than just a place to Viktor. It was part of who he was, where he grew up, and his family's history. I appreciated that his motivations were rooted in something so personal.

A quick note about his family, I adored how welcoming they were toward Heidi. Heidi had struggled with feeling as though love came with conditions. And she was so easily and openly embraced by Viktor’s family. Beautiful! No notes.

The third-act conflict was interesting and quite painful. I understood Heidi's reaction and thought her feelings were completely justified. Although Viktor meant well, his intentions didn't erase the impact of his actions. I wouldn't necessarily classify what happened as a breakup. It felt more like Heidi needed space to process everything. I would have loved to see him work a little harder to get back into Heidi's good graces. I understood their reconciliation, but I wanted a little more time with that part of their relationship.

Imagine my sadness when we finally reached the opening of Heidi's clinic, got one of the most perfect scenes between Heidi and Viktor, and then the book just ended! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them, especially at such a meaningful moment in Heidi's journey.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed Top Shelf. As I read, I kept noting moments I would love to reread in the future. Heidi was a memorable heroine. I loved that Viktor appreciated her for exactly who she was. Their relationship was built on understanding, acceptance, and the little ways to show up for one another. I desperately wish we had gotten a little more time with them before we had to say goodbye. Thank you, Luna Literary and Hailey Rogers for providing this ARC. Cinder releases on October 22, 2026!

Buy on Amazon