Fire Mountain

Author: Dana Mentink

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 1, 2025

A great contemporary read with beautiful setting and issues the characters face that readers will resonate with.

Ana Leigh Watkins has been through her share of trauma lately and going to spend the summer in Bitter End Tennessee to help her great-aunt clear out her house to move to a retirement home is just what she needs. When she gets to Bitter End, she finds out her Aunt has planned a trip and is leaving Ana Leigh to handle the house details herself. While cleaning it out she meets a group of bird watchers in the mountains and finds herself enjoying the time with them and taking her mind off her past problems. Along with the solace of the group Ana Leigh also finds her share of family drama she didn’t know about and finds herself transformed by the journey she goes through in Bitter End.

Amanda Cox is a phenomenal contemporary author and I always find myself excited when she has a new release coming out. While I have loved all her books I would not say The Bitter End Birding Society was my favorite. The story itself was good and the characters were engaging, just not as much as some in the past. Ana Leigh is a great protagonist and I enjoyed the way her story played out. A few of the secondary characters were a bit much for me and tended to take me out of the story at times, which is not fun. Other than those minor frustrations, I will say it was a very enjoyable read that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys a good contemporary story.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Bitter End Birding Society

Author: Amanda Cox

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 19, 2025

A great contemporary read with beautiful setting and issues the characters face that readers will resonate with.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Dead Draw

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: Tracy Crosswhite #11

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 27, 2025

The newest addition in the Tracy Crosswhite series does not disappoint and will leave fans aching for more from one of the best writers out there.

Tracy Crosswhite has dealt with killers and the worst of the worst without losing her cool. Now she must deal with Erik Schmidt, a sociopath worse than she has ever dealt with who is a suspect in two cold cases she is trying to solve. Schmidt has connections to Tracy’s past that are cause her haunting nightmares and flashbacks to Cedar Grove, her hometown and the death of her sister. When Schmidt gets out on a technicality, Tracy is afraid he is going to come after her and her family, something she refuses to let happen.

The Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni is one of my very favorites. I have enjoyed all the books in the series but none have been able to compare to the first one and how amazing it was. That is until now, A Dead Draw is the closest to My Sisters Grave, and that’s saying something being Book 11 in the series. Dugoni is a fantastic storyteller and the way he ties elements together from previous books is amazing. With each additional book he has managed to make Tracy relatable to readers, especially now that she has a family and has changed courses in her career that could make her and the series slow down, instead it takes it up a notch. A lot of series get boring after a few books but Dugoni has found a way to keep the fire alive in this one and I can’t wait to see how things will continue to play out in the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Atlas of Untold Stories

Author: Sara Brunsvold

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 17, 2025

This book is like a slow ride through the countryside, take your time and enjoy every page.

Chloe Vance must tell her mom some very hard news and the longer she waits the harder it is going to be. Her mom feels Chloe is not realistic in her life and wishes she could be more like her older sister, Lauren. Chloe has accepted a position as an instructor at a Christian school in Prague, a job her mom won’t be thrilled about. Hoping to soften the news Chloe invites her mom on a road trip dealing with some of their favorite books and authors. The road trip winds up being Chloe, Lauren and their mom, and with each passing mile the tensions also rise between the three of them. Just when they feel there is no common ground the sisters and their mom find a way to support each other and learn from past mistakes to try and make the future time they have together as good as it can possible be.

Sara Brunsvold is fantastic at writing a contemporary novel that hit all the right feels at all the right moments. I love when I can open a book like this and get completely lost in the story. Contemporary can be tricky, either it can be written with supreme emotion, or it can be boring and lose the attention of the readers. I have yet to have that problem with a Sara Brunsvold book and am eager to see what else she has cooked up each time I pick up a new one she has written. With characters that are full of emotion, conflict and so easy for readers to relate to it was hard to put the book down and focus on anything else until I found out if they would find a way to get along in the end. If you are a reader that enjoys a good contemporary read this is one you will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Kaua’i Storm

Author: Tori Eldridge

Series: Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery #1

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 20, 2025

A story of family, action and mystery all rolled into one.

It’s been ten years of working as a national park ranger in Oregon and now Makalani Pahukula heads back to Kaua’I to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. It’s not easy to fit back in with family when she has been gone for a decade and Makalani comes back to find her family is not so close and two of her cousins have gone missing. Makalani uses all her skills to help despite her family not as open to her helping as she would have hoped for.

This story had a bit of a slow start but ended up being one I really enjoyed. If it keeps at this pace this could be a mystery series that ends up with a very long shelf life. The scenery was breathtaking as you would expect with the tropical atmosphere and family history there. That was just one of the many things the story had working for it. The characters were well written, but I would like to see a little better development for them as the story progresses in the next addition. If you are a fan of mysteries set in a fun tropical location with great twists and turns, this will be a great addition to your home library.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Summer Guests

Author: Tess Gerritsen

Series: The Martini Club #2

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: March 18, 2025

A high stakes thriller with the perfect mix of tension and drama on every page.

Maggie Bird was looking for a quiet life after retiring from being a spy. She settles in Purity, Maine and tries to move on but her old life won’t leave her behind. She has a group of friends that have a past like hers and together they work to help the local police chief, Jo Thibodeau, in finding a local missing teenager. The case isn’t going to be easy with twists and turns at every new clue, Maggie and her friends are going to have to work fast in order to discover the truth before more lives are lost.

The second book in the Martini Club is a slam dunk of a thriller by Tess Gerritsen. Maggie and her book club friends are the perfect get away for readers wanting a good read to get away from the everyday life. As they tackle this new mystery Maggie and police chief are going to have to learn to trust each other and that isn’t always the easiest. I liked the interactions between these characters and the way they each used the skills they learned over the years to help the people around them. Even though Maggie wants a quiet life she can’t help but get involved when others are in danger, and she just might be the only person able to solve the case. This is a great addition to a fun series that thriller fans will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: National Parks Summers #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 6, 2025

A perfect romance with even more perfect settings that took my breath away.

Kate Cunningham has an amazing life working as a zoo photographer and experiencing the wonderful animals around the world. When she is approached by National Geographic to try and get a rare picture of a legendary bear found in Grand Teton National Park, she knows she can’t pass up the opportunity. There is a reason no one has ever gotten a picture of this rare bear and Kate is hoping to be the first even with the odds stacked against her. She meets Grant Cooper, a park ranger who has worked in the Tetons and knows the area which might help her succeed. The only problem is they are not the only one on the hunt for this bear and the closer they get the more danger they find themselves in.

Suzanne Woods Fisher did a fantastic job with Capture the Moment. I fully felt immersed in this story and setting and did not want to leave when the last page finished. I love national parks and the Grand Tetons are on my list of wanting to visit the first chance I get so this story only made that wish stronger. Kate was a perfect protagonist and had a driving force that pulled me into the story and the adventure she was going on in such a way I had a hard time getting anything else accomplished until I finished. This is the kind of book that will take readers far away into the parks and emotions of the characters that will hit just right. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy storybook settings, romance that has all the right feels and the start of what I hope will be a great series with many more to come.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

When Stars Align

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: May 1, 2025

A coming of age story that didn’t quite align for me.

Miranda, Germaine and Sicily have been friends since childhood navigating the life of Hollywood and teenage success together. As time goes on, they drift apart and find troubles with drugs, men or other wild child moments. It has been almost a decade since the friends last were together and when fate brings them close once more they finally have a chance to deal with secrets they thought they had buried and hope it’s not too late to save the friendship.

This book had a lot of potential but fell flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and what they were dealing with, as well as the storyline in general. I do believe it will be a good read for some but for me it wasn’t a good fit. Miranda and her friends start out strong but then fizzle out, then we see a good bit of time pass, and they are back together trying to work through the hardships they faced throughout the years. I think when authors try hard to make characters, and their names, unique it can backfire big time. That is what happened here, and I have found myself disappointed in the time wasted with this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Boomerang

Author: Robert Bailey

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 1, 2025

A fast-paced thriller full of all kinds of twists and turns making for a super-fast and fun read.

Eli James has worked for the president as his Chief of Staff and seen him through all kinds of trials, including his secret battle with cancer. Just when things look bleakest, they take a turn as his condition improves, but as the president shows signs of improvement Eli finds out his daughter is now sick. At each new turn of events, he finds a crazy cover up going from the top of Big Pharma all the way through the White House and with each new piece of evidence he finds himself and his family in more danger. Only wanting to save his daughter Eli and his family flee and find themselves in a crazy war to survive.

Now this was a fun read! I enjoyed the fast-paced thrill ride with each page and new danger the characters faced. This book pulled me in and didn’t let go until the last page finished, I loved the characters, especially Eli and the love he had for his family. For me, that is what drove the story, the strong sense of family connection and protection Eli had kept me wanting to see him have a safe and successful outcome. After several reads that have been lackluster in the past few months it was nice to have this one be quick and enjoyable. So many books have become the same old same old and it is getting a little harder to find good entertaining ones. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the fast-paced action with great character connections throughout.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Across the Crying Sands

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Series: Women of Cannon Beach #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 20, 2025

A heartwarming tale set in just the right time and tone.

Mary Gerritse, like most young girls her age, wants one thing: to find a husband and start a family. Even though sixteen is young to be married, it is not uncommon and when Mary finds a husband, she isn’t sure why she still feels unsatisfied with her life. Being antsy for something new she jumps at the chance for a change along the Oregon coast.

Jane Kirkpatrick has done a great job in crafting the start of a new series with new characters that will be easily likable and one readers will want to cheer on. I enjoyed this story and the characters throughout, Mary in particular was easy for me to like, she was spunky and full of life. Remembering the time frame this is set in will help readers relate to the characters and the hardships and even the accomplishments they might achieve. This was a quick read that I enjoyed more than I expected for a historical fiction, which can sometimes be slow reads. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical fiction and have been fans of Jane Kirkpatrick.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.