Review of Her Unexpected Joy by Caitlyn O'Leary, Jasper Creek series #9

 

Her Unexpected Joy: Small Town Romantic Suspense (Protectors of Jasper Creek Book 9) 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 19, 2026

Blurb 

What if the moment everything went wrong was actually the moment everything went right?

Zoe Avery has always been able to laugh her way through anything. A snowstorm? No problem. A ditch? Inconvenient, but manageable. A broken cell phone in the middle of nowhere Tennessee? Annoying, sure.

Going into labor, eight months pregnant with her sister's baby, alone on a deserted mountain road? Yeah. Even Zoe couldn't joke her way through that one.

Then a stranger appeared out of the whiteout. Steady hands. Calm eyes. A four-year-old named James who thought delivering a baby in a Ford F-150 was the coolest thing that had ever happened to him.

Adam Beckett wasn't looking for chaos that night. But somehow, chaos had never looked quite so worth staying for.

Buy Links

🩵Purchase Links 🩵

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wWCZAY

B&N: https://surl.li/ejexjd

Apple Books: https://surl.li/fbdkbv

Kobo: https://surl.lt/sjnrjo

Google: https://surl.li/ljhort

Review 

I'll start by saying this is one of my favorite series. 

This book opens with the continuation of the ending scene in book 8 Her Unending Horizon, and I have waited patiently to find out what happened when Zoe Avery went in the ditch... At 8 months pregnant 🫣, with her sisters baby she was being surrogate for.

So the beginning of this book starts out with a pretty nail-biting scene.

I'm glad I had a pretty lazy week planned so I've ignored the chores and kept turning the pages as our Hero of the hour  

Adam Beckett (and his adorable son James) find Zoe in the ditch in the snowstorm going into labor, alone on a deserted mountain road?

Yeah intense! 

But again Ms O'Learys words brought the scene to life, Adam with 4 years old James, who brought some lighter moments throughout the delivery in the back of Adam's Ford F-150 (All I could think of was that it's a good job Americans like super sized utes 🤣.)

We get a sweet slow burn romance, with a bit of suspense from both Zoe's and Adams workplaces. 

Favorite character... James 

Favorite scene... When James is talking about sleepovers 😉

The book was everything I was waiting for, and yay there'll be another book in October 😁 go 

grab your copy now.

Author Bio 

Caitlyn O’Leary is a USA 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 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.

Even After Release Day & Review

 🐺❄️Check out this fantasy romance series❄️🐺

Series books links:  https://amzn.to/4pu2eYO

Blurb 

Even Though, Even If, Even When...

Philip Avery and Rose Everhart are bound by fate, their connection undeniable, their souls intertwined by something deeper.

But destiny is never simple. Fate can be cruel, and love isn’t always enough.

Torn between his pack and Rose—his trium perfectum, the one person meant to balance his magic, heart, and very being. Philip walks away when his alpha demands a choice—his pack or Rose—leaving behind the one person who truly saw him

Even after heartbreak and separation, their souls refuse to sever.

Philip and Rose must decide: Can love survive the weight of regret? And is redemption possible when the person you hurt is the one you’ve always belonged to?

Review

I have not read the authors other work, other than a short story about glitter bombing pixes. And that didn't really help me understand what was happening in this world the story is based. But it was an entertaining novella 😁 and made me want to know more about the world, which is why I read this book.

In this story We follow Phillip and Rose, who share a magical bond from the moment they meet as kids, but they somehow know it's not the time to fully connect. Is a lovely sweet childhood friendship/blossoming romance.

As the story developed, Phillip ended up doing, what I thought was something out of character to the boy he was in the beginning, but if he hadn't, I guess the storyline would have been a bit boring 😉 and let's face it, peer pressure is real for teenagers.

Anyone who reads my reviews, knows I don't do spoiler reviews. But at the end of the story, we have Rose and Phillip and their bond connected with them happy at the end of the book.

What I liked:

It feels like the start of a massive, epic story arc and I enjoyed the authors writing style. I loved following Phillip and Rose's journey!

What still confused me:

If  this had been a fated mate storyline I would have not been confused but with this emphasis on three... 

  The whole Trium Perfectum ? ( I googled it in Latin it's basically reads, Threes is perfect) And series is called "Trium Perfectum" ... yet there are only TWO of them?! 🧐 Is there a third person missing? Are the answers hidden in the author's previous books or will this be revealed further on in other books?

Update -

I reached out to the Authors PA and they said Accidental Faerie Tale and Even After are prequels. 

Conclusion:

If you love stories where a hidden magical realm seamlessly twists into our normal world, you need this on your radar. BUT maybe don't jump in part way through a series 🫣 like I did, look at the other books first: 

So I'm concluding this review with saying I suggest reading 'An Accidental Faerie Tale first Even After ☺️

Tropes: checklist:

❄️ Redemption Arc

🐺 Second Chance

❄️ Mental Health Rep

🐺 Portal Magic

🐺 Protective Heroe

❄️ Fated Bonds

🐺 Shifters

❄️ Found Family

🐺 Real-World / Fae Crossover

NOW LIVE! To Desire a Devil: A Revenge Obsession Mafia Romance by Victoria Holliday is available now!

 

TO DESIRE A DEVIL by Victoria Holliday NOW LIVE   NOW LIVE! To Desire a Devil: A Revenge Obsession Mafia Romance by Victoria Holliday is available now + read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!   “a spicy, vengeful, mafia romance filled with suspense, amazing characters, and incredible world building” – Goodreads reviewer   US: https://amzn.to/4gI4YzB UK: https://amzn.to/4dJZYqY CA: https://a.co/d/08vVAoAl AU: https://amzn.asia/d/00E1plCG Universal: https://geni.us/desiredevil   Add to your Goodreads TBR ➩ https://t.ly/2t6bf   She's his past, his pain, his revenge... and his biggest weakness. Fiero I’m finally where I deserve to be: Don of the Bellucci mafia family and free of the monster who raised me. They call me the Devil for a reason. I’ve avenged every person who’s ever wronged me, except for one: Pfeiffer McAllister. Fifteen years after she broke me, her uncle’s debt lands her in my club. I vow to make her remember exactly who I am, and to ruin her the way she ruined me. But revenge becomes dangerous when obsession takes its place. And the more she trembles beneath my fingers, the more I realize I don’t want her begging for freedom. I want her begging to stay. Pfeiffer One month working for the masked owner of New York’s most exclusive club, and the debt disappears. Simple. Until the mask falls, revealing Fiero Bellucci, the quiet boy my uncle forced me to torment when we were children. He’s grown into something terrifying—a beautiful monster wrapped in bloodshed and Brioni, determined to ruin me for every scar I inflicted. But somewhere between his cruelty and possessiveness, I stop wanting to escape. Because the most frightening thing about Fiero Bellucci isn’t that he wants to destroy me. It’s that I think I’d let him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author note: This is a standalone dark mafia romance with many of the triggers you would expect from a novel of this genre. Reader discretion is advised.   Coming soon in the Bellucci Brothers series   #2 To Covet a Wolf https://geni.us/Covet   _______________________________________         Facebook TikTok Website Email

Metal Slinger: Fire & Metal, Book 1 Audiobook Review

Metal Slinger: Fire & Metal, Book 1

Rachel Schneider (Author), & 2 more Format: Audible Audiobook

Book 1 of 2: Fire & Metal

Book Link https://amzn.to/4vtTJhX

Blurb 

The breakout romantasy sensation by Rachel Schneider that has taken the internet by storm—bursting with suspense, romance, and breathtaking twists, this heart-stopping debut also includes a bonus scene from the highly anticipated sequel, Light Wielder.

Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta—the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people—and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true.

Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart.

Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, Metal Slinger is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series.

Audiobook Review 

Listening to this book via my library app.

The book was recommended after I had finished Quicksilver. Although this is less graphic to start due to the Alaha rules of no hanky panky before marriage, by chapter 50 it gets graphic, but I preferred the slow burn as I think gives more time for the storyline to flesh out.

I enjoyed the beginning of this storyline, you think this book is a bit like a fantasy Waterworld and Swashbuckling sea folk. But by the middle we find out that Brynns origin has been a lie and shes not some orphan sea urchin.

Once Acre (not sure that is the correct spelling but that is what it sounds like) has  Brynn asking questions about her past where she learns not only is she not an orphan, but that she's been hidden from her magic, things start ramping up in the adventure and their relationship.

I thought this at first when Acre came on the scene that l knew what would happen... Whether that pans out by the end, I'm not sure. But I'm enjoying it so far.

What I liked about the MFC

That Brynn, although was seen as lower than the other Alaha residents, she was never not kind. She is a good main character. - LoL I wrote that in the first half... I wonder what Brynn (Jo) will be like in book 2.

Poor Acre didn't know what hit him 🫣

Ok now it's getting very spicy 🥵

And BAM... The plot twists and 😷🤯😳

WOW that's not where I thought this was going..

Guess I will be checking out book 2 soon as.

TO DESIRE A DEVIL by Victoria Holliday NOW LIVE

TO DESIRE A DEVIL
by Victoria Holliday

NOW LIVE

 

NOW LIVE! To Desire a Devil: A Revenge Obsession Mafia Romance by Victoria Holliday is available now + read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
 
“a spicy, vengeful, mafia romance filled with suspense, amazing characters, and incredible world building” – Goodreads reviewer
 
US: https://amzn.to/4ptn3Ui
UK: https://amzn.to/4dJZYqY
CA: https://a.co/d/08vVAoAl
AU: https://amzn.asia/d/00E1plCG
Universal: https://geni.us/desiredevil
 
Add to your Goodreads TBR ➩ https://t.ly/2t6bf
 
She's his past, his pain, his revenge... and his biggest weakness.

Fiero
I’m finally where I deserve to be: Don of the Bellucci mafia family and free of the monster who raised me. They call me the Devil for a reason. I’ve avenged every person who’s ever wronged me, except for one: Pfeiffer McAllister.

Fifteen years after she broke me, her uncle’s debt lands her in my club. I vow to make her remember exactly who I am, and to ruin her the way she ruined me.

But revenge becomes dangerous when obsession takes its place. And the more she trembles beneath my fingers, the more I realize I don’t want her begging for freedom.

I want her begging to stay.

Pfeiffer
One month working for the masked owner of New York’s most exclusive club, and the debt disappears. Simple. Until the mask falls, revealing Fiero Bellucci, the quiet boy my uncle forced me to torment when we were children.

He’s grown into something terrifying—a beautiful monster wrapped in bloodshed and Brioni, determined to ruin me for every scar I inflicted.

But somewhere between his cruelty and possessiveness, I stop wanting to escape. Because the most frightening thing about Fiero Bellucci isn’t that he wants to destroy me.

It’s that I think I’d let him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author note: This is a standalone dark mafia romance with many of the triggers you would expect from a novel of this genre. Reader discretion is advised.
 
Coming soon in the Bellucci Brothers series
 
#2 To Covet a Wolf https://geni.us/Covet 

Cover Reveal for The North American cover of COLD REDEMPTION by Nalini Singh. A Psy-Changeling Trinity Novel

 Cover Reveal for The North American cover of COLD REDEMPTION by Nalini Singh.

A Psy-Changeling Trinity Novel

Coming December 2026

Cover Art: Tony Mauro (art) and Rita Frangie (design)  🥰 🤩 isn't it gorgeous!

Blurb

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives deep into the icy heart of a man on the brink of psychic disintegration and the only woman brilliant enough to save him.

Amara Aleine was born emotionless. A scientist with a piercing, cold intellect, the only person who matters to her is her identical twin. Some term her a psychopath. They might be right.

Pax Marshall is the epitome of Psy perfection. Raised by his ruthless grandfather, he was never permitted to be anything less. But Scarab Syndrome has ravaged his mind, until he’s now mere weeks away from total psychic collapse, insanity…and death. Any cure will come too late for him, but he is determined to spend his last weeks fighting for the rest of the afflicted.

Amara has never seen a mind as clean, as orderly, as beautiful, as Pax Marshall’s. Patient Zero. A twin just like her. And a man so cold-blooded that everyone warns her about him—when she is used to being the predator in the room.

As they work together in a hunt for the cure, Pax’s enemies deliver a violent strike. The choice Amara makes as Pax struggles to survive will have consequences far beyond anything Amara or Pax could have ever imagined.

This time, Amara might just have played herself…

Pre-order Links

Ebook

• Kindle: https://amzn.to/45e0euh
• Kobo: https://bit.ly/4ppQlDf
• B&N: https://bit.ly/4pK3FTj
• Apple: https://bit.ly/4wRnBWA

Hardcover:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Rm1oki

B&N: https://bit.ly/3R2KKGm

The Chosen, book 3 of the Hunter Trilogy by TK Leigh Release Day

Title: The Chosen

Series: Hunter Trilogy #3

Author: T.K. Leigh

Genres: Dark Romance/Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Captive Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Age Gap

Morally Gray Hero, Hades & Persephone Retelling

Revenge Romance, Forced Proximity

Release Date: July 16, 2026

BLURB

She was supposed to be a pawn. Now I’ll  down the world to keep her safe.

I thought I knew what evil looked like.

I was wrong.

For years, I believed Victor Kane was the monster at the center of everything...

The man pulling strings, destroying lives, and hunting the people I love.

I was prepared to burn down the world to stop him.

But Victor was only a distraction.

The truth is darker. Older. More sinister.

And it’s been watching me far longer than I ever realized.

Now Ariana is caught in the crosshairs of something far bigger than revenge.

Something that doesn’t just want power.

It wants obedience. Devotion. Sacrifice.

I’ve hunted monsters my entire life.

But this time, the monster isn’t in the shadows.

He’s been standing beside me all along.

The Chosen is the epic conclusion to The Hunter Trilogy, a dark captive romance. Grab your copy today.

GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

UNIVERSAL / WEBSITE

REVIEW 

⭐⭐⭐⭐  

I loved the first book, but was sorely disappointed with the way the second book turned out in regards to the 🌶️ scenes went. 

I was honest in my thoughts and I'm going to be honest with this book.

I started the book with a sense that it would continue in the same vein as book 2 but, I will say that although the BDSM was still there. It was written in a way that - and I'm still not convinced someone who's been abused for 10 years would accept this, but they were not as bad as the others, so I didn't let them sway my view. But that book needed Better trigger warnings.

Now onto what I did like... (As spoiler free as possible) 

That we were back into the action, suspense and investigation of finding Sarah.

I loved that it was Ariana that was responsible for saving herself in a situation.

BUT WAS suitably traumatized by it even though it was self defense.

 Henry said 

"I thought I knew what evil looked like.

I was wrong.

 For years, I believed Victor Kane was the monster at the center of everything..." Well there's someone close who's been keeping secrets... Oops... No spoilers 😉

As the investigation deepend, I was literally ignoring everything else other than reading the next page.

And that was how it continued up to the ending. 

I will say that there is a lot to trigger readers, so it's not a series I'd recommended jumping blindly into just because you have read some dark romance before. Check out the triggers. 

But overall... This story really was an emotional, thrilling action packed read that I'm glad I stuck with to find out if Ariana and Henry get their happy ever after...

At The end of this book, you get a sneak peek into Blake's book... So maybe Henry and Ariana will Pop up in that. 

I'm assuming it will be another dark Read, but I was already intrigued by his past in this book to know that I want to read it when it's out.

ALSO AVAILABLE

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

UNIVERSAL / WEBSITE

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

UNIVERSAL / WEBSITE

AUTHOR BIO

T.K. Leigh is the USA Today Bestselling author of romance ranging from fun and flirty to sexy and suspenseful. Originally from New England, she now resides outside of Raleigh with her husband, beautiful daughter, special needs rescue dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.

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