Review of Unbreakable Bond by Astrid VJ (Part of 'The Call of the Sea collection)

 

Blurb 

The Call of the Sea cannot be ignored...

Beneath the waves lies another world, one filled with creatures of myth. Mermaids and sirens who find themselves torn between the land and the sea. As they struggle to choose, they will encounter danger, betrayal and love that cannot be.

Dive into the pages and discover a world you have never seen before. Will they find love or will it all end in tragedy?

A Collection of Dark Fantasy Tales

Book links 🔗 

Amazon | Goodreads 

Review 

The Call Of The Sea: A Collection of Dark Fantasy Tales by S. K. Gregory
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

BOOK: Unbreakable Bond (Part of The Call Of The Sea: A Collection of Dark Fantasy Tales) by Astrid V.J. (alongside S.K. Gregory, WM Dawson, Anita Harlan, Louise Dutcher, Brigitte Ann Thomas, and PG Forte)

Format: Kindle Edition / Ebook

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐

Status: Read

QUICK IMPRESSION

This novella is based loosely on a Māori folktale—the pakiwaitara of Kōpūwai, the giant ogre (tipua or maero) of the South Island of New Zealand. When I read the title page and acknowledgement, I realized why the story felt so familiar. I've actually read about the legend and visited the DOC heritage site in Central Otago named after it: Kōpūwai (The Obelisk / Old Man Rock)!

(view spoiler)[

The author has woven this fantasy world within her existing fantasy universes, using those familiar vibes. (Fun fact for those who know: otters 🦦 are not native to Aotearoa NZ!) Here, Rua is a water guardian cursed by evil seeping into the lake from the Little Island cave.

(hide spoiler)]

QUOTES TO KEEP

• "She was a canoe on life’s tide and went where the waters drove her. Unimportant. A speck. Nothing."

• 'She had always been small, but this conversation whittled away at her until she was a speck: tiny and insignificant. Smaller than a sandfly.'

• “I cling to you the way an abalone shell sticks to its chosen rock,” he whispered. “I am yours. Always.”

KEY CHARACTERS

• Hinewai: FMC, daughter of the deceased Chief Tayn, unwillingly betrothed to the warrior Ropata.

• Nyra: Cousin to Hinewai, best friend, and healer of animals.

• Aunty: Clan speaker, wise woman of the pā, aunty to Nyra and Hinewai.

(There are more, but these are the women key to the storyline—I’ll let you discover Rua for yourself!)

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The Good: I loved how Hinewai grows. In the beginning, she feels unseen and ignored by her family and clan. But when her mother refuses to listen and betroths her to Ropata, she does the only thing she can: she leaves. That small step leads her into an amazing adventure!

• The Bad: Honestly couldn't think of anything! But boy, the ending was... sorry, no spoilers!

• Verdict: If you enjoy retellings of fables and fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast or The Hunchback of Notre Dame—with mystery, mythical creatures, female empowerment (Hinewai is definitely a chief's daughter!), and a romance where love conquers all—this story is worth the book alone. Plus, you get a bonus collection of other tales!

📍 A Personal Note: 

Kōpūwai / Old Man Range

Kat standing next to Koupoui monolith  

The dog's monoliths Kōpūwai / Old Man Range

This story being based on a local legend made it hit completely differently for me. I've actually been up to the Kōpūwai / Old Man Range! Standing up there feels like the middle of nowhere—it’s vast, windswept, and exposed, looking up at that 26-meter rock spire. Knowing the landscape makes reading this interpretation extra special.

Thank you to the author and book funnel who gifted me Astrid VJ Part of this anthology to review, these are my personal thoughts and opinions on this story alone.

View all my reviews

Author Bio 

Astrid V.J.

Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author, Astrid V.J. was born in South Africa. She is a trained social anthropologist and certified transformational life coach. She currently resides in Sweden with her husband and their two children. In early childhood, she showed an interest in reading and languages—interests which her family encouraged. Astrid started writing her first novel at age 12 and now writes fantasy in a variety of genres, exploring her passion for cultures and languages. When she isn’t writing, Astrid likes to read, take walks in nature, play silly games with her children, do embroidery, and play music.

Astrid writes transformation fiction: incorporating transformation principles in novels, rather than writing another self-help book. She loves exploring the human capacity for transformation and potential to achieve success in the face of adversity. Astrid is interested in minority group questions, considerations on social standards of beauty and the negative consequences these have, and would like to make the fantasy genre accessible to people of non-white, non-Christian backgrounds. Astrid feels the fantasy genre has become too restrictive with limited representations of race, ethnicity and culture. She seeks to explore other paths on this writing journey, incorporating her background in anthropology and psychology to create engaging experiences, which also provide food for thought on the diverse topics she finds most important. These include: racism, minority rights, cultural diversity, culture change, intolerance, humanity’s environmental impact, the representation of people on the autism spectrum in among the general populace, the human capacity for transformation, and much more.

Find more books by Astrid here 

Repeat by Kylie Scott Review

Cover 📔

Blurb 

"A page-turning romantic feast that will have you desperate for more. I was immediately hooked." —#1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes an irresistible new romance.

When a vicious attack leaves 25-year-old Clementine Johns with no memory, she's forced to start over. Now she has to figure out who she was and why she made the choices she did - which includes leaving the supposed love of her life, tattoo artist Ed Larsen, only a month before.

Ed can hardly believe it when his ex shows up at his tattoo parlor with no memory of their past, asking about the breakup that nearly destroyed him. The last thing he needs is more heartache, but he can't seem to let her go again. Should they walk away for good, or does their love deserve a repeat performance?

Book Links 🔗 

Amazon| Audible| Goodreads| Storygraph 

Review 

Repeat by Kylie Scott
My rating: 4 .5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Repeat by Kylie Scott (Format: e-book)
Waking up and not knowing anything about yourself would bring a whole raft of complications...
TITLE: Repeat, Larsen Bros book 1
Author: Kylie Scott
Status: Read | Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Progress: Read

QUICK IMPRESSION
I liked Clem. Unburdened from her memories, she doesn't understand how she could have ever believed her ex, Ed, cheated on her. As we begin to learn who Clem is now and who she was before, it's clear that having a clean slate has changed her. Will she finally understand how she could have let someone as great as Ed slip away?

QUICK NOTES
(view spoiler)[
• Prediction: An early encounter with someone who works with Ed felt quite creepy, and she seemed rather focused on pointing out how bad Ed and Clem were together... Me thinks she doth protest too much 😏. My Spidey-senses are tingling that she's got something to do with Clem's attack.
(hide spoiler)]

QUOTES TO KEEP
• “Oh, honey. If daydreams had frequent flier miles you’d be halfway around the world by now from all of your ruminating over a certain someone.”
• "These are stories about women standing up for themselves and what they believe in. Women working to be whole and demanding what they deserve."
• "Romance isn’t all kissing and bedroom action, you know. Though there’s often some of that too."

KEY CHARACTERS
• Clementine Johns: Ex-girlfriend of Ed, "amnesia chick" (her Instagram handle). She's trying to piece her past together, owns a house with Ed, and moves back in because Ed is worried someone is after her. She still has feelings for him, even with no memories of their time together.
• Ed Larsen: Ex-boyfriend of Clem and tattoo artist. He's grumpy but obviously still has feelings for Clem. He gave me a bit of whiplash at first with his hot-and-cold attitude, but he was hurting, so I forgive him!
• Iris: Clem's boss and owner of the bookstore Clem used to frequent. She offers Clem a job when she finds out what happened. I loved her forthright attitude and matchmaking vibes!
(There are more, but these three were my favorites! 😁)

FINAL THOUGHTS
• The Good: I enjoyed watching Clem learn about her past, but more importantly, she doesn't use that information to revert back to the 'old version' of herself. She can see her own faults in how the relationship ended and can't comprehend how she reached those conclusions back then. I loved the mystery of unraveling what really happened, and the tension builds wonderfully as it heads toward the climax.
• The Bad: Nothing major comes to mind—this is a great second-chance romance! I wasn't the biggest fan of her sister at first since she deliberately withheld information, only to do a quick 180 and let Clem move in with Ed. But I suppose she was just trying to protect her.
• Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in Clem and Ed's romance. I’ve had this book sitting on my reading list for a while (putting it down when my husband became seriously ill), so I was so glad to see it pop up on Instagram yesterday and finally finish it. Kylie Scott has written so many of my favorites, from rockstar romances to rom-coms, and I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a second-chance romance with a touch of suspense.

View all my reviews

Author Bio 

Kylie Scott

Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader’s Association. Her books have been translated into sixteen different languages. She is based in Queensland, Australia; living and working on land traditionally owned by the Jagera people.

Follow:

Website| Instagram| Tiktok| Facebook | Amazon 

Breached: Stonewall #3 by J.L. Drake Release Day Blitz

Title: Breached

Trilogy: Stonewall #3

Author: J.L. Drake

Genre: Military Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Single Dad, Secret Identity

Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love, Found Family

Release Date: October 6, 2026

BLURB

From the bestselling author of the Broken Trilogy and Dark Water Series comes Breached— the explosive finale to the Stonewall Trilogy, where brotherhood is forged in blood, loyalty is tested, and no one escapes the cost of war.

Agent Paul thought he understood sacrifice.

He was wrong.

One second.

That's all it takes for everything to change.

With ears still ringing, Paul is forced to confront one unbearable truth: the people he swore to protect are paying the price for a war that was never meant to reach them. Now they all must face the aftermath of his choices.

The deaths.

The carnage.

The pain.

Nicole spent her career documenting wars that belonged in someone else's world.

Until now.

Now the lines between truth and deception have never been more dangerous. Yet the greatest betrayal may not come from the enemy closing in—but from the man she thought she knew.

Bruno is done playing defense.

After years of watching his empire crumble, he's learned exactly where to strike. He isn't waiting for Blackstone to cross the border.

For Blackstone, this isn't just another mission. It's the fight for everything they've built—and everyone they love.

Because the war isn't raging south of the border.

It's coming home.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Read in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Read in Kindle Unlimited

USAMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Read in Kindle Unlimited

REVIEW 

Breached by J.L. Drake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Breached: Stonewall Trilogy #3 by J.L. Drake (ebook)

Note: This is book 3 in this series and you most definitely need to read them in order.

Status: Read

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Published: 6 October 2026


QUICK IMPRESSION

'No one is beyond the line of fire'...

The book continues right from the explosive end of book 2! Thank you Jodi for that sneak peek 🫣 my brain was 🤯 and yes, if that hadn't been there, I may have thrown something 😅


The events of the first few chapters of this book are gripping! The turmoil of what happens really landed hard. I think because I recently started this series and the characters are so fresh in my mind, I was living these scenes right alongside them. My heart was definitely 💔


This review is going to be all about how I felt, because I am not about to give away any spoilers...


QUOTES TO KEEP

• “I think you see something wonderful in Brandon, and you recognize it because you have it in Cole. You guys are molding the next generation of this life, and if you ask me, it’s pretty damn cool that you can see those qualities in the kids already. Your daughter is already a leader, and she’ll be a woman not to be messed with.” - there are a lot of really good, sweet moments in between the action.

• “War is a man’s oldest shadow—where he goes, it will follow

• “And those who are lucky enough to live in peace rarely see what it costs to keep it.”

KEY CHARACTERS

• Paul: Role: Agent. Our MMC is finally letting Nicole in, but secrets will test their relationship.

• Nicole Winter: Role: War Correspondent. Our FMC Nicole uses her skills and contacts to help the team. She has some big kahunas!

• Bruno Perez: Role: Son of Ezmarelda Perez, Head of the Perez Cartel. His obsession with Nicole escalates, and he is determined to find the safehouse to capture Nicole and Chase.

(There are a lot of characters in this series, but the author kindly listed them at the beginning of the book. And I can tell you, I'm so interested in reading all of their stories!)

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Good: The conclusion of this series was an absolute rollercoaster ride! My nerves were shot, and the twists of not knowing what was going to happen next or who they could trust kept me hooked. The final scenes were just nail-biting, and I cried 😭💔 numerous times throughout the book!


The Bad: Nothing. "Nada." "Zip." 👏🏼❣️ I totally loved this book, and I'm honestly sad it's finished 😢Verdict: An amazing end to the series! I've found myself another military suspense/romance author to follow with a huge back catalog to dive into 👏🏼😁. Definitely putting this series on my best of 2026 list! I love high-stakes romantic suspense that just keeps you glued to the pages, and I will be recommending this series to anyone who reads.


View all my reviews

EXCERPT

Paul

I was in a battle zone. In the split second of the blast, I’d thrown my body over Olivia’s. The explosion hit us like a wall of fire. It was blistering and deafening all at once. The heat had been instant, unforgiving, and merciless. It crawled over us like a living thing.

I tried to keep my weight off Liv as I rolled us onto our sides. We both gasped for air that wasn’t there. The oxygen had been sucked away, along with any sound. The ringing in my ears was intense, and I fought to block it out. It wasn’t the first time I’d been through a blast like that, and I knew my ears would bother me for a while. My vision was spotty, but I blinked to see Olivia and quickly patted her down to make sure she was okay. My eyes kept going to the vehicles, but I had to check her out first.

She was like a zombie, and I knew she was in shock. I pressed a hand to her shoulder and made the motion to stay down. I had to assess the situation. Distant screams from all around us made me realize this was so much worse than I could have ever imagined. I spotted the tracker Liv had handed me where it lay on the ground. I rammed my fist into the face of the lion then stood and used my heel to crush it. Staying low, I moved quickly in the direction of the SUVs.

Holy shit. It might be a war zone, but this one included everyone I loved.

Chase! Nicole! Their faces pushed through my mind as I began to run. I looked for the guys and saw, like me, they’d transformed from husbands and fathers to combat soldiers. They moved swiftly about in the chaos. As I got close, I saw their faces were white with pain and shock as they tried to get everyone away from the still-burning vehicle. We all knew more could be coming.

What the hell had happened? How could this happen here?

Cries and shouts from our loved ones intermingled with the sounds of people as they arrived on the scene to help.

There was so much distraction, I couldn’t even fathom that Nicole and Chase’s SUV was the one that had been blown up.

John and Travis were quickly herding the wives and children to Zack’s entrance. Sloane raced past me, headed for Olivia. “I’ve got her.” Her voice sounded strangled and her face was pale.

Then I saw Savannah. Cat was at her side pulling her arm desperately to try to get her to move with the others toward the safety of Zack’s restaurant.

“Savi!” Zack appeared out of nowhere, and he sounded a mile away. He shook her shoulders, and she blinked out of the trance she was in. “Olivia! Easton!” she screamed.

“Olivia is over there. She’s okay.” He pointed to the stairs where Sloane half-carried Olivia up the restaurant steps. Savannah sobbed and ran for her daughter.

“Zack!” I yelled, making him look at me. “Check everyone for trackers!” He gave me a thumbs up, and I quickly veered around to head toward the inferno. I needed to see. I had to know. “No!” Mike’s voice boomed, and I whirled to see him intercept Cole as he hurled himself at the burning vehicle. “You don’t want to see that! Cole, stop!”

AUTHOR BIO

J.L. Drake is a bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, known for her dark, gripping books with brooding heroes and passionate lovers. Her “World of Mayhem” offers interconnected series enjoyed individually. Originally from Nova Scotia, she now lives in Southern California. For more, visit her website.

AUTHOR LINKS

FACEBOOK

Walking on Dead Leaves by Julian Kennedy Review

 

Blurb 

The last thing he wanted was for any of them to be killed.

Emma, Mina, and Margot are grieving the loss of their beloved father when the unthinkable happens—they lose their family home in the will and are forced to move. Not long after, twisted secrets begin to emerge.

The sisters become inundated with evidence that someone they know is hiding something from them. Something deadly. Soon, they realize that if they want answers to the question of why their lives are in danger, they have to put themselves in harm’s way.

How can they keep each other safe when they know their culprit is always watching them?

Book Links 🔗 

AMAZON  | GOODREADS  | THE NILE | STORYGRAPH| AUTHOR WEBSITE 

Review 

Walking on Dead Leaves by Julian Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK: Walking on Dead Leaves by Julian Kennedy ([Format, e-book)

TITLE: [Walking on Dead Leaves]  
Author: [Julian Kennedy]  
Status: Read | Rating: [3.75/5 ⭐]  
Progress: Read ] of [243]  
QUICK IMPRESSION  
If you like suspenseful domestic thrillers, family secrets, and mysterious neighbors paired with a slow, detailed setup and an explosive ending, this book is for you.
* Some readers may find the final scenes triggering
QUICK NOTES  
The story had a bit of a slow start, and I found it hard to connect with the characters initially. However, the prologue opened with a scene that was the perfect hook for a mystery/thriller, and that curiosity kept me turning pages.

Starting in Chapter 1, we slip into the past—a timeline that eventually circles back to that intense opening scene. The first half of the book lays the groundwork for the plot, character dynamics, and subtle hints surrounding the mystery haunting three sisters as they grieve their father. I felt deep empathy for them as they were forced out of their childhood home after learning it had been left to their half-brother in the will. Having gone through a similar downsizing experience myself, I fully understood their devastation over having to move, sell, and give away precious belongings (especially books!). That said, I did feel this portion dragged on for a few chapters too long. On the positive side, it thoroughly introduces the cast of characters linked to the sisters and the mysterious message left behind by their father.

KEY CHARACTERS  
• [Emma Powell]: [Eldest sister].
Literary agent at the company established by her father, the calm logical sister, long term boyfriend Ethan is a neighbor and his sister Felicity is married to half brother John Powell ( her father's first wife)
• [Mina Powell]: [Middle sister].
Editor at the company established by her father, she falls fast and is looking for someone who will sweep her off her feet a man or a woman, she's waiting for her perfect HEA
• [Margot Powell]: [Youngest sister]. She looks after authors at the company established by her father, she is often away from home promoting and is going to find some awesome hot chick. (Her words)
(There are more, but these are the main characters)
FINAL THOUGHTS  
• I actually put this book down three separate times. Yet, the central question of who the real villain was kept percolating in the back of my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about the plot, which prompted me to pick it back up over the weekend.
At the end of Chapter 20, the pacing picked up dramatically, and a few hours later, I was finished! Did I predict the person harassing the sisters? Yes—if you read closely, you can connect the dots. But did I guess what was actually happening at the end? Not at all! The final chapters were completely mind-blowing.
• Verdict: I settled on a rating of 3.75 stars. I really enjoyed the story once it passed the halfway mark, though the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the deliberate build-up. The first 19 chapters focus heavily on setup before clues begin dropping around Chapter 20. Things get tense starting at Chapter 35, completely unravel by Chapter 37, and then wrap up in just two final chapters.
This was my first book by this author, and it's a solid choice if you enjoy slow-burn domestic suspense with a wild finish.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Author Bio 

Julian Kennedy (pronouns- they/them/their) is an American author of adult thriller fiction (The Forgotten Series, and the upcoming Walking on Dead Leaves). They live in the Chicago area and obsess about all things spooky and mystery. You can usually find them at home attempting to read and write, surrounded by their partner and 3 children and the typical chaos that ensues. Just trying to read one more page.

Review: Born for Starlight by Caitlyn O'Leary #10 - Jasper Creek series

Blurb

What if someone finally loved every chaotic, brilliant, untamable part of you?

Before she was a movie star, Angelica Drakos started her life as an abandoned baby in a Brazilian orphanage, where she was found by her four adoptive brothers who refused to leave her behind.

Fast forward three decades, and Angelica Drakos is part of the biggest, most chaotic family on Earth. That family — her parents and her big brothers — have been her safety net and rock as she worked her ass off making a name for herself in Hollywood. Now she had made it, but she was tired. It was time for a break. Time for some reevaluation, and where better than Jasper Creek, Tennessee, where some of her family and friends were calling home?

So she high-tailed it to Tennessee, figuring a couple of weeks would recharge her batteries, and then she could tackle whatever Hollywood threw at her next.

She sure didn't expect Matthew Grainger.

Laughing eyes. Tender heart. Big hands. Sometimes gruff. Always patient. And those shoulders.

Holy Hell.

But Matthew has secrets of his own, and Angelica's past isn't as far behind her as she thinks. When it pulls her back to Brazil, to a little girl named Luzia who needs someone to refuse to leave her behind, Angelica finally understands what her brothers gave her all those years ago. And she's about to find out whether Matthew is a man who stays.

book Link 🔗

AMAZON  | GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH 

Review

Born for Starlight: Small Town Romantic Suspense by Caitlyn O'Leary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Born for Starlight by Caitlyn O'Leary (Format, e-book)
Status: Read | Rating: [5/5 ⭐] 
Total Pages 341
QUICK IMPRESSION  
This is book 10 in this series, I adore this series Jasper Creek is the perfect blend of small town romance and action and suspense.
QUICK NOTES  
(view spoiler)[
• [Chapter 14]: key scene note.
•I absolutely bawled through Zoe and Adam's wedding 💍 💒... Gosh Ms O'Leary's keyboard was on fire!
(hide spoiler)]

QUOTES TO KEEP  
• Milo – "I’m taking the train next time.”  
• Marty – “I am not paying for this flight.”  
• Zoe – "It turns out the best part of my story was a plot twist."  
• Matthew – "I took my time. And the moment when she went still and silent, like she was listening to something far away, I felt like a king."  
There are loads more I highlighted, but they're too spoilery!

KEY CHARACTERS  
• Angelica Drakos: [Role: Movie Star] Angelica started her life as an abandoned baby in a Brazilian orphanage, where she was found by her four adoptive brothers who refused to leave her behind.  
• Matthew Grainger: [Role: Consultant at Onyx Security] Guarded, with his past in the shadows, but he only has eyes for Angelica. Sometimes gruff. Always patient. And the perfect book boyfriend 🥰.

HONORABLE MENTION
• Little Grandma: [Role: Matriarch of Jasper Creek] Fiery and fiercely protective. Matchmaker, protector of outcasts and strangers. She's 102, and I'm convinced she's a fairy godmother 🤩.  
(There are more, and we get even more delicious alpha males, sassy ladies, and fun 😁!)

FINAL THOUGHTS  
• The Good: Ms. O'Leary's books just hit the sweet spot for me: the worldbuilding, pacing, plot twists, and characters... The town of Jasper Creek, Tennessee, is a fictional place I'd love to live in 😁. The book opens with a nail-biting scene, and when the storyline heads to Brazil, the tension mounts and I just got swept into the pages. Every scene with Little Grandma in it... and the wedding 💒 ❣️. Perfect.  
• The Bad: It ended 🤣... but there's Book 11 (Bruno Drakos's book) on pre-order now! And ooh, I predict this one will be 💥🧨 a 🎯 too. Plus, a spin-off series 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤩.  
• Verdict: I LOVED IT—the tension, the tears (happy and sad). I've devoured every book Ms. O'Leary has written. I love a military/security/romantic suspense trope, so if you do too and haven't read any of Caitlyn O'Leary's books 📚, jump in and clap your hands, as she has an extensive back catalogue 🎯😍.

NOTE to Ms O'Leary I would love to read about Little Grandma... I bet she had a very interesting youth 🤣🕵🏼‍♀️ Jasper Creek OG series ❓

View all my reviews

Author Bio 

 Caitlyn O’Leary is a USA Today Bestselling Author, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and a Golden Quill Finalist from Book Viral in 2015. 

Hampered with a mild form of dyslexia she began memorizing books at an early age until her grandmother, the English teacher, took the time to teach her to read -- then she never stopped. 

She began re-writing alternate endings for her Trixie Belden books into happily-ever-afters with Trixie's platonic friend Jim. When she was home with pneumonia at twelve, she read the entire set of World Book Encyclopedias -- a little more challenging to end those happily. 

Caitlyn loves writing about Alpha males with strong heroines who keep the men on their toes. There is plenty of action, suspense and humor in her books. She is never shy about tackling some of today’s tough and relevant issues.  

In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic suspense novels, she is a devoted aunt, an avid reader, a former corporate executive for a fortune 100 company, and totally in love with her husband of soon-to-be twenty-five years.

 

She recently moved back home to the Pacific Northwest from Southern California. She is so happy to see the seasons again; rain, rain and more rain. She has a large fan group on Facebook and through her e-mail list. Caitlyn is known for telling her “Caitlyn Factors”, where she relates her little and big life’s screw-ups. The list is long. She loves hearing and connecting with her fans on a daily basis.

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts Review (personal TBR Read)

 

466 pages, Paperback 

First published May 30, 2017

Literary awards :Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance (2017)

Setting : Montana (United States)

Characters : Bodine Longbow, Callen Skinner, Alice Bodine

BLURB 

Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWN

Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...

But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?

As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.

BOOK LINKS 🔗 

Amazon |  Goodreads | Storygraph 

REVIEW 

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Come Sundown by Nora Roberts (Format, Paperback)

Nora Roberts is always an author that can whisk me away to another continent or world in a gripping story.

TITLE: Come Sundown

Author: Nora Roberts

Status: Read | Rating: 5/5 ⭐

QUICK IMPRESSION  

This book was so nail-biting! At first, it felt like reading two separate stories: a present-day romance and a past-timeline thriller following Alice. Switching back and forth between past and present gave a much-needed breather from Alice’s torment. But when those timelines finally converged?

What a ride! I do love a Nora Roberts book. I usually rate her fantasy and paranormal titles higher—like Year One or the Guardians Trilogy—since fantasy is my favorite genre, but this one officially takes top spot for my favorite of her non-fantasy books. I guess the gorgeous mountain setting, glorious sunsets, and horses didn't hurt either 🥰.

QUOTES TO KEEP  

• [Quote 1]“You kicked ass that needed kicking tonight, and you topped it off with the best hot and crazy floor sex in my personal experience.”   

• [Quote 2]“I’m going to keep my red hair, just like yours. I’m going to bake biscuits and ride at a gallop. I’m going to sing with my sister and not be afraid. Because I got away, and I came home.”"  I absolutely broke down in some of Alice's scenes.

KEY CHARACTERS  

• [Character 1 Bodine Longbow]: [FMC Runs the resort]. Bodine Longbow finds solace in the early morning light, dedicating herself to the family ranch in Montana.

• [Character 2 Callen Skinner]: [Horse Wrangler/worked in Hollywood with horses on films before coming home]. His father gambled away the family farm, The Longbow ranch bought the land and now the remainder was bought by the resort, Cal grew up with the Longbow kids, Bodine had a crush on him

• [Character 3 Alice Bodine]: [Missing Aunt of Bodine]. Alice packed a bag and headed to Hollywood after her sister's wedding to make a more exciting life, a few postcards were sent, then nothing...

(There are more, but these are the main characters)

FINAL THOUGHTS  

• The Good: The worldbuilding, setting the scene and characters, whether it was in the present, or in the past where my heart was hurting for Alice. The pacing was just right, switching from the trauma to the slightly more cheerful romance between Bodine and Callen.

• The Bad:"Honestly couldn't think of anything!"

I would point out that this book will trigger some readers, but it was written in 2017 before everything was broken down to tropes and triggers on the blurb.

• Verdict: It may have taken me years to finally pull this off my TBR shelf (so many indie author commitments!), but I’m so glad I did. Now that we’re living the caravan lifestyle and traveling around NZ, I’ll be dropping this copy into the nearest Little Free Library for someone else to enjoy 😊.

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AUTHOR BIO 

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard Review

 

BOOK: Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard

Pub Date: 12 Nov 2025

 BLURB

Cassandrea has never doubted her king.

Not when she spied for him. Lied for him. Killed for him. Not even when it cost her her husband... She would do it all again.


Because peace demands sacrifice. Because traitors deserve no mercy. Because enemies must be hunted down before they disrupt order and cause chaos.


However, Cassandrea's unwavering loyalty is put to the test when she is sent on a mission to take over a coastal town critical to her king's war effort. Accustomed to working alone, she finds it hard to trust another. Especially when the charming kelpie spy she is paired with has an infuriating habit of asking the very questions she has spent a lifetime avoiding. But as the war rages on, one doubt becomes two.


Two become a crack.


And sometimes...


That's all it takes for someone's world to start falling apart.

 

BOOK LINKS 🔗

Amazon | Goodreads | Storygraph 

 REVIEW

  

Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK: Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard (Format: eBook)
Pub Date: 12 Nov 2025
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

• What character did I love? Kerr... 😣
• Feeling bored? No
• Feel frustrated? No
• Lose interest? Definitely not

QUICK IMPRESSION
From the start, you get a strong sense of Cassandrea’s unwavering loyalty to her king. Alone, isolated, and shunned by humans and her own kind alike, her determination to rise above discrimination stands out right away.
Civil war broke out when the dragon king's heir, Terren, rebelled against him. The war rages on with neither side gaining ground for long. Cassandrea's latest orders send her to Renglow to infiltrate the walled city and sabotage its defenses—but this time she has a partner, a kelpie named Kerr. With only three days together in constant close proximity, Cassandrea finally allows herself to feel and care for someone else.

PLOT TWISTS
Chapter 14: Major twist, OMG 😱 I didn't see that coming! I had to re-read a page in Chapter 14 twice because I couldn't believe what I was reading. It’s not often I’m completely bowled over by a plot twist! 👏🏼

QUOTES TO KEEP
"You are my shadow, child. My shadow that I send across the land to cut short the cries of the dissidents, traitors, and rebels."

"Fear," the handsome dragon said, "is the key to their souls."

"Does everybody and everything you meet swoon over you?"
"That’s a loaded question, coming from a siren."
"Yet you still haven’t answered it."
"Are you falling in love with me?"
"No!"
"Then no. Not everybody."

"I’m trying to distract you from yourself," Kerr countered. "The work we do is hard. You’re going to burn out if you don’t allow any fun into your life. So, let go. For one night? Just be here. With me."

KEY CHARACTERS
• Cassandrea Thalarin: A half-blood siren, spy, saboteur, and lone guerrilla operative for her dragon king, Valderan. She has long golden hair, green eyes, and a scarred neck running to her chin that mars her siren beauty.
• Kerr: A handsome, brash, and dangerous kelpie. He has a mane of wavy brown hair, red eyes, broad shoulders, and a mischievous, sensual side. The attraction between Cassandrea and Kerr is powerful, driven in part by their mythical natures.
• Dragon King Valderan: An ancient ruler and one of three triplet siblings. As a dragon, he is a massive black beast with golden eyes, a huge maw that could swallow ten men at once, and a voice that can shatter windows. In human form, he is tall and broad-shouldered with ebony hair and molten gold eyes. He is beautiful in both forms, but utterly brutal. His army relies on ruthless obedience, strength, and enslaved labor.
• Dragon Heir Terren: The young dragon prince who rebelled against Valderan. He leads an army of patriots that grows larger as he sweeps through towns and villages. They fight and work tirelessly for him because they genuinely believe their cause is just.

FINAL THOUGHTS
• The Good: Incredible worldbuilding, vivid character descriptions, and a very detailed glossary at the back. The plot builds a clear picture in your mind, and that plot twist was totally unexpected! 🫨👏🏼
• The Bad: That plot twist 💔... KIDDING! Honestly, I couldn't think of anything!
• Verdict: I found myself thinking about this book and its characters even when I wasn't reading. It's rare for a story to play in the background of my mind like that, but this one did. If you like sirenic water lore, a duty-versus-desire romance, assassin/spy protagonists, and high-stakes royal politics involving dangerous mythical beasts, I highly recommend this! I already have Book 2 on my TBR and cannot wait to read it!

TROPES & AESTHETICS
🔸 ❤️‍🔥 Duty-versus-desire romance (Fade to black)
🔸 🌶 Medium-burn / insta-lust
🔸 💔 Betrayal
🔸 🧜🏼‍♀️ Magical beings & lore
🔸 🥷🏼 Assassin/spy protagonists
🔸 🚨 High-stakes royal politics

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BOOK ART