Her Last Breath | By Taylor Adams

 

Tess and Allie have been best friends since junior high. Like many their friendship has changed over the years. Allie is a travel influencer and Tess is a legal assistant. Allie is outgoing and world traveled while Tess is shy and struggling to pay her bills.

Tess despite her reservations agrees to go on a caving expedition with Allie in an effort to make their friendship stronger. Allie is well versed in caving and Tess is new to it. Tess will have to trust Allie and learn how to cave as they make their way.

During their descent things feel off and soon they realize they are not alone. Things go wrong and Tess finds herself recounting the events that unfolding to a detective. 

They book description doesn't even come close to explaining this book and how phenomenal it is. Her Last Breath is via multiple point of views.

Be prepared to feel claustrophobic as you read this book. Adams pulls you into the cave with Allie and Tess and you "become" each character. You feel the panic, fear and emotions most of the characters are undergoing. 

This book is insane. Set some time aside because once you start reading this you won't want to stop. This book is the chefs kiss! I am on a book high from reading this book and fear that I won't be able to reach that energy for a while.

Fallen Hearts (Casteel #3) Audiobook | by V.C. Andrews

 

Fallen Hearts is book three in the Casteel series. 

Heaven and Logan are married. 

Tony (Heaven's father) wants them to live at Farthinggale Manor. Logan is captivated by Tony, the mansion and the wealth that goes with it. 

Franny still harbors a lot of anger and hate towards Heaven and is seeking to destroy her. 

There is a lot of drama. The rivalry
between Heaven and Franny is at an all time hight. The past come back to haunt several characters. 

This is a fun, "trashy" southern gothic novel. I know a lot of people don't care for V.C. Andrews but I have a soft spot for the books written in the 80s and early 90s. This book is a good continuation of the series. 

Life's Too Short | By Abby Jimenez

 

I just found out that this is the 3rd book in The Friend Zone series.

Opps! I can tell you that it stands alone. I never felt that I was missing something. 

Vanessa Price has millions of Youtube followers. She travels the world and loves her life. She lives for every moment and advocates for ALS. Her mom and sister both died from a genetic and aggressive form of ALS that took their lives before age 30.

Vanessa is showing signs of ALS and will be turning thirty in a year. She has one year to fix her family. Her sister is a a drug addict and left her newborn with Vanessa. Her brother is unemployed and her father is a hoarder. They all depend on her for money and help.

One night the baby is crying and her neighbor Adrian Copeland knocks on her door. Adrian needs sleep and the baby's crying is making this impossible. Adrian sees the state Vanessa is in and offers to help. To her surprise she accepts his help, This starts a friendship and as time passes they get to know one another and feelings develop.

They spend their time together caring for the baby and Adrian's unexpected geriatric chihuahua (who is so cute!), Harry Puppins! 

Life's Too Short is such a sweet book that I want to see made into a movie! Easy read with a variety of emotions. 

Before I Do | By Sophie Cousens

Audrey is set to marry Josh. They are quite different but they work. That is until her sister-in-law to be shows up with Fred. 

You see Audrey and Fred have a past. They had one perfect memorable day together. They were supposed to reconnect but a series of events made it impossible. 

They have lived in one another's minds for years and when the see one another old feeling's and what if's make the rounds in their minds. 

Audrey is then faced with making a decision that will break someone's heart.

Before I Do is told in multiple timelines. Life is complicated and sometimes messy and Cousen's captures emotions and characters in a real way. Her characters are flawed and you want everyone to get their happily ever after.

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

 

Expected Publication Date: August 4, 2026

The Women in White is told in a dual timeline format and has various points of views. Be prepared to be engrossed in this book full of well developed characters.

This book follows four women in 1964. Each have a special ability and Dr. Trimble a psychology researcher at Marquis College has put them together. He uses their psychic or esp abilities to conduct a parapsychology experiment. 

Riley Bell becomes the caretaker to Betty. Betty was one of the four. Betty lives a very secluded and isolated life. Her home is frozen in time. No modern convenience's exist in her home and she has never heard of the internet! 

Riley and Betty build a friendship and Riley learns that Betty wants to reconnect with her friends. Riley jumps at the chance to make this possible but what she discovers is chilling. 

This is a book you don't want to miss! It's Pekanen's best book to date and she writes good books.

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Night We Met (Say You'll Remember Me, #2) | By Abby Jimenez

The Night We Met follows Larissa, Chris and Mike. One night after a concert both Chris and Mike offers to drive Larissa home. She takes Mike up on the offer. They quickly fall into a relationship. 

Mike puts Chris into situations where he has to help Larissa out. They end up bonding over a stray dog (that I fell in love with) and get to know one another. 

They try to put their feelings aside and respect the relationship between Mike and Larissa. 

Mike is spiraling and making some big mistakes that are irresponsible and could result in deadly mistakes. This pushes Chris and Larissa closer together but they don't cross any physical boundaries. 

Jimenez has a knack for bringing characters to life and capturing real emoti
ons. She tackles tough subjects with realism. She must also be a dog lover because she knows and writes about furry friends beautifully.  

I simply loved this book!

Abby Jimenez has just become one of my to go authors that means I will start reading her books without knowing what they are about. 

And Now, Back to You (Heartstrings, #2) | By B.K. Borison

 

And, Now Back To You is a fun and entertaining book. The Audio book is well crafted and engaging. The narrators are exceptional which add make the listening experience phenomenal

Delilah and Jackson have been crossing paths for years but it always ends in disaster and frustration. Delilah is a bit clumsy yet spontaneous and quirky. Jackson is more of a routine guy who loves to be organized and doesn't like the unexpected. 

Much to their delight (sarcasm) Delilah and Jackson are put on an assignment together. They will be covering a massive snowstorm. Delilah's job depends on how well the assignment goes and things start to go wrong pretty quickly! 

The snow starts to fall as the chemistry heats up between them and you will root for them! 

This is a predicable yet fun romantic read. 

The Shippers | By Katherine Center

 

Audio Book

Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2026

The Shippers is such a fun book. The narration brings the story to life and exceeded my expectations for this book. They bring the characters to life and make the chemistry sizzle! 

JoJo Burton is unlucky in love. She plans to fix this while on a cruise for her sisters destination wedding. She had this notion in her head her problems are rooted in her first kiss. If she can kiss him again it will give her closure. 

She teams up with her childhood bestie Cooper to make this happen but his disappearance four years ago keeps creeping up and thus creating issues. As they spend more time together the quickly fall into old habits and some new ones - especially when they start to fake date. 

Cooper is a lovable character and Center writes a story that keeps you turning the pages and laughing. The romance is sweet and if you need some happiness in your life listen to this audiobook or pick up a copy of this book to read.

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Dark Angel (Casteel #2) Audiobook | by V.C. Andrews

 

Dark Angel is the second book in the Casteel series. Heaven is now living with her biological grandmother. She is living in Boston a life of luxury far from the poverty she grew up in. 

Heaven quickly learns that the life her mother was brought up in is strange and full of secrets. Her grandmother is distant and odd. Her step grandfather imposes rules on her. 

Heaven has to navigate this confusing new world but secrets and tragedy's will test her.

This is the 2nd book in the Casteel series and though I have read this a few times as an adult I still think about what a odd child I was that I loved devouring V.C. Andrews books. 

This is a great sequel and the audiobook makes the read more emotional and bring the character's feelings to life.

If you like V.C. Andrews read this series. 

Her One Regret Donna Freitas

Lucy Mendoza has vanished. Her baby was left behind in the grocery store parking lot. Her phone is under her car. Her disappearance has made national news.

Her best friend, Michelle knows Lucy's secret and if she lets it be known it could change the direction of the investigation. 

Lucy's secret is - she regrets becoming a mother and fantasizes about her own kidnapping. Michelle knows in her heart that Lucy did not go missing on her own accord but what IF Michelle is wrong?

Her One Regret is about the challenges of motherhood, the stigma of postpartum depressing on how women are expected to lose themselves in motherhood. It's also about friendships and romantic relationships. 

Her One Regret is interesting, entertaining and if you are looking for a good mystery/thriller pick this book up. 

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis

Expected Publication Date: March 24, 2026

They dismissed the warnings and honeybees are extinct. 

Young girls are forced to pollinate crops by hand using brushes. 

They are forced to marry and bear children. 

They live in government facilities and are given just enough food, limited water and are under constant watch. 

Famines are a part of life. There is little to no joy. Books were burned, education become a thing of the past. There is no art and families have been torn apart. 

Jess's life before she was brought to the facility was different from the other girls. She knows how to read, she's seen art and she knows how to draw. She tells stories that give hope and hope sparks a revolution. 

It's been a while since a good dystopian novel came my way.

 The Danger of Small Things finally gave me my "fix".

The world Lewis has created will pull you in and make you wonder if you have what it takes or will you take a backseat? Lewis explores a lot of different themes and delivers strong messages.

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.