Book Reviews

Coffee, Cars and Necromancy by Neen Cohen

Lily is a necromancer who’s ended up on Death’s bad side…and that’s not even the worst news. A string of otherworldly murders has threatened the balance of life and death, forced her to work with the surly but sexy detective who hates her, and even closed down her beloved coffee shop. With friends and enemies on both sides of the Great Beyond, can she learn who to trust in time to avert disaster and survive caffeine withdrawal?

Coffee, Cars, and Necromancy is a compelling and entertaining, character-driven story that grows more engrossing with each chapter. With her unique blend of sarcasm, snark, and fierce loyalty, Lily is an intriguing heroine who undertakes an internal journey that is just as dramatic and perplexing as the external challenges she faces. Despite her otherworldly occupation, her struggles with guilt, grief, and crippling questions over the things she once put her faith in make her authentic and relatable. The rest of the characters--from the snarky but secretly endearing Detective Alanor to Lily’s colorful found family of witches to Death themself--are also various shades of deep and delightful.

These characters bring to life a plot that is full of paranormal intrigue, suspense, and angst and is told with equal parts humor and poetry.

In short, Coffee, Cars, and Necromancy is a riveting and remarkable read! 

Surface Pressure (Love, Tails, and Battle Wails Book 2) by Adrian J. Smith and Neen Cohen

When Soulara’s beautiful underworld kingdom is jeopardized by an invasion of destructive humans, she must assume the roles of general and princess she’s always avoided, but war isn’t so simple when she’s quickly losing her heart to one of the enemy. Autumn’s drab life as a soldier gathering resources from foreign planets changes in an instant when she meets the captivating sea princess, but questioning orders to protect the woman she’s growing to love could cost her everything.

Surface Pressure is the second captivating book in the Love, Tails, and Battle Wails series, although it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone adventure. As women who are, in some ways, both distant from yet fiercely loyal to their worlds, Soulara and Autumn are intriguing main characters. The physical and romantic tension between them is electric even as it deepens into a fierce emotional connection. A gorgeous yet fragile sea kingdom beneath an exotic land commandeered by a destructive army serves as a compelling backdrop to the internal and external angst of Soulara and Autumn’s story, as do the complicated politics of both the human and mer world. Underscoring the drama are profound themes of community, justice, conscience, and most importantly: love.

If you enjoy exciting, otherworldly tales of unlikely love, you’ll be mesmerized by Surface Pressure. 

For the 1000th Time by Jen-Lea Mercy

Abi has loved her best friend’s older sister Tess for ages, but she never had a chance with her. Now her friend’s upcoming wedding has thrown Abi and Tess together. Will the excitement and romance of the festivities bring them closer or tear them apart forever?

For the 1000th Time is a sapphic romance full of longing and passion with two flawed but adorable main characters. Abi loves Tess with abandon and persistence, sometimes to her own detriment. Tess is warm and generous with everyone but herself. The author does an excellent job showing how the two women complement each others’ weaknesses and strengths, and how their physical chemistry builds from that. Their connection is sometimes enhanced and sometimes hindered by their surrounding colorful community of friends and family, who all feel realistic and comfortable.

The depth of emotions, humor, and passion make For the 1000th Time an entertaining and engaging read. 

Cover Story by Rachel Lacey

When successful movie star Natalie Keane hires Taylor Vaughn to be her bodyguard and fake girlfriend, it doesn't take long for their pretend attraction to spark very real feelings, but with both women deeply scarred by the past, is a Hollywood-style happy ending possible?

Strictly speaking, Cover Story is a celebrity romance. Natalie Keane is a successful film actress whose career is at a high point thanks to a recent Golden Globe nomination. She has an entourage and even lives in a large house that boasts its own observatory with a telescope. But that being said, this is not the glitzy, glamourous, escapist story some readers might associate with the celebrity romance trope. While she may be a powerful star to the outside world, internally, Natalie is quiet, introspective, and perpetually haunted by a traumatic incident from her past. Her carefully insulated world is an extension of the emotional barriers she's built around her heart.

Enter Taylor Vaughn, the sexy, competent bodyguard Natalie hires to pose as her girlfriend while providing extra security. On the surface, she's the perfect heroine to rescue the reclusive Natalie, all while their attraction sizzles to the point of combusting. But Taylor has vulnerabilities and self-doubts too, and the closer she gets to Natalie, the more she risks pushing past her own physical and emotional limitations.

Cover Story has plenty of Hollywood excitement, including red carpet interviews and movie stunts. And there is no shortage of romance or heat between Natalie and Taylor, but what really gives the story impact is the poignant and authentic journeys of heart and mind that the characters take separately and together. The journeys are not straightforward, but ultimately, they highlight the power of healing, taking risks, and finding a person to feel safe with.

If you enjoy sapphic stories with romance, steam, but also a healthy dose of angst and authenticity, you'll be captivated by Cover Story. 

Cursed in Love by Bryony Rosehurst

Luce and Ophelia’s worlds collide dramatically and messily while Ophelia is on the run from two men desperate to steal an antique sapphire ring that’s caused her endless trouble ever since she found it. As the chase grows more dangerous, the two women must rely on each other for safety and support, but is their growing closeness a matter of survival or something much more powerful?

Cursed in Love is a sweet and entertaining sapphic romance with a perfect blend of adventure and heartwarming moments. Ophelia and Luce are two dynamic and relatable characters who, despite their many differences, have undeniable chemistry. As Ophelia opens up about her grief and Luce about her generalized anxiety disorder, their bond grows deep in a short time, yet it doesn’t feel rushed.

For fans of a good old-fashioned adventure with romance and humor, Cursed in Love is a can’t miss read! 

The Dating Show by Violet Morley 

After a steamy one-night stand, Avery and Stella never expect to see each other again, but then a reality show brings them back together. With TV drama, lights, and constant camera surveillance, it’s hard to know if their connection will grow or implode.

The Dating Show is an adorable, funny, and touching sapphic romance that manages to feel authentic and warm despite being set in the outlandish world of a reality television competition. Avery and Stella are charming characters who each have a blend of self-doubt and moxie, and the secondary characters are entertaining and engaging. The author does an excellent job of gradually building the romantic and emotional tension throughout the story, pulling the reader deep into Avery and Stella’s dilemma. As a bonus, unlike with some romances that center around a reality show, there is also space given for character and relationship development outside the artificial parameters of the show itself. This makes the story feel more realistic and genuine.

If you love witty and warm sapphic romances with characters that threaten to steal your heart in each chapter, you’ll definitely want to make a date with The Dating Show. 

Murder on Castaway Island by Alicia Gael 

When eight seemingly unconnected strangers are summoned to a secluded island, each has a unique reason for coming. Little do they know that the real reason is murder.

Murder on Castaway Island is a clever and suspenseful reimagining of an Agatha Christie classic set in contemporary times and with Sapphic characters. The mystery sparkles in this setting thanks to compelling characters and heart-pounding suspense.

Whether or not you’re a Christie fan, this exciting whodunnit will keep you turning the pages long into the night then force you to sleep with a light on when you finally get to sleep! 

Heart of Stone by Eliza Luce 

Medusa’s curse has left her lonely and grieving until a beautiful blind woman with a heart of gold wonders into her home. The two have a chance at love if Medusa’s insecurity and reckless warriors don’t get in the way.

Heart of Stone is a sweet, spicy, and compelling take on the famous Medusa myth. The two main characters are compellingly written and the romance unfolds beautifully, which is impressive for such a short story. 

Daydreams of You by Carol Wyatt 

Heather and Vanessa share a fiery night together before parting ways. When they suddenly meet again in awkward circumstances, the spark between them still burns, but will geography problems, family drama, and their age difference quench it?

Daydreams of You is simultaneously passionate and heartwarming as the immediate chemistry between Heather and Vanessa quickly grows into something deeper. A fake relationship between Heather and her best friend, Megan, creates just enough tension to keep the pages turning without overwhelming the story with angst. Delightful if meddlesome side characters and a dual setting that contrasts bustling Manhattan with placid and rural Pennsylvania ease the romance to a sigh-inducing conclusion.

For fans of spicy and sweet sapphic age gap romances, Daydreams of You is absolutely a dream come true. 

Love Me at My Worst by Adrian J. Smith 

Isla's bright, energetic, and mischievous persona in the schoolroom masks the pain she carries from recent upheavals and longterm grief. Andry, her principal, is learning to navigate her life post-divorce and as the mother of a soon-to-be college student. Their growing friendship outside the school relieves the loneliness both women feel, but it also opens the door to attraction, tenderness, and the threat of heartache.

Love Me At My Worst is a warm and moving story about emotional healing, the complexities of various relationships, and the power of choosing vulnerability with the right person. Isla and Andry are wonderfully authentic characters with real and relatable challenges that endear them to the reader. As their romance slowly grows, it isn't difficult to see how well they fit. But unlike with some romances, the connection between Isla and Andry is not portrayed as a blanket solution to all of their problems, but rather as a catalyst for the growth and healing they each must do as individuals. Andry still must come to terms with her broken marriage, and Isla still has to make peace with the past and her family (her stepmother Linda and best friend Wil). The way they learn to take these difficult journeys with help from each other rather than doing it alone is truly beautiful.

Any reader who enjoys sapphic romances with depth, passion, and a splash of humor will adore Love Me At My Worst. 

Roses are Red, Violet is Dead by Morgan Spellman 

Starting a business is never easy, especially when you’re a paranormal investigator who has limited experience, a reluctant business partner, and a personal life complicated by a new girlfriend and old heartaches. But none of that stops Abby Spector from taking on a job investigating the ghostly former resident that seems to be sabotaging the Valentine’s Day festivities at a bed and breakfast.

Roses are Red, Violet is Dead is an entertaining, funny, and engaging follow up to Say I Boo, the first book in the Abby Spector Ghost Mystery series. The bed and breakfast setting with its over-the-top Valentine’s Day theme and unusual cast of characters (living and dead) is fun and immersive, and the ghostly mystery that Abby, Lucas, and Mina scramble to solve is cunning and full of surprises. As a main character, Abby continues to shine, delight, and occasionally frustrate as she investigates suspects on both sides of the Great Beyond while attempting to juggle her case, her friendship with Lucas, and her budding romance with Mina—all while narrowly avoiding becoming a victim. The complexities of work/life balance for a still inexperienced ghost hunter make for a riveting and charming tale that’s difficult to put down or forget.

If you enjoy an eerie mystery with quirky characters and more than a few laughs, you’ll love Roses are Red, Violet is Dead. 

An Unlikely Partnership by Katie Trapp

Witchy shop owner Rue and shapeshifter detective Nikko’s lives collide when Rue’s mentor leaves her with a massive responsibility at the same time as a spree of violent crime hits her beloved town’s magical community. Despite their differences and Rue’s initial reluctance to work with the police, she and Nikko have great sleuthing chemistry…and maybe even more.

An Unlikely Partnership is an entertaining and cunning mystery with colorful supernatural characters that draw the reader in right away. Rue and Nikko are particularly engaging as they challenge each other, work together, and eventually uncover one another’s hidden depths of compassion and determination.

If you enjoy great whodunnits with a magical flare, you’ll be enchanted by An Unlikely Partnership. 

Deep Sounding Chaos (Love, Tails, and Battle Wails Book 1) by Adrian J. Smith and Neen Cohen

Zendalia goes rogue to chase down and exact revenge on Kaelin, the mermaid she’s convinced murdered her father. Kaelin lives a life of forced exile and oppressive guilt. Their first clash is tumultuous, but when a common enemy threatens their lives and all they hold dear, they’re forced to work together with results neither of them could have expected.

Deep Sounding Chaos submerges the reader in breathtaking battles, heart-wrenching internal conflict, and an epic romance from start to finish. This is mostly due to an engaging blend of colorful world building and intense character development. Zendalia and Kaelin are each impressive heroines who navigate their watery domain with strength and bravery while still remaining poignantly vulnerable in the face of a complex array of emotions, ranging from grief to anger to despair to love. The external and internal forces they confront keeps the pages turning as the reader accompanies them on the adventure.

If you enjoy flawed but sexy and powerful heroines facing daring battles of body and heart in a gorgeous fantasy world, you’ll be thrilled to dive into Deep Sounding Chaos. 

Say I Boo by Morgan Spellman

Say I Boo is charming, sweet, cunning, and a little spooky. Abby Spector is the aptly named main character, a quirky and capricious young magician with a haunting past. The grief of lost love keeps her rooted to her younger years and unable to move forward, even when her best friend Lucas and other peers are tackling adult transitions all around her. But this grief also makes her uniquely equipped for the challenge of being confronted with the fact that ghosts are truly real when one suddenly attacks her at the old mansion where her best friend's sister is getting married. No sooner than she accepts her new reality, Abby enthusiastically if ill-advisedly undertakes her first paranormal whodunnit with the begrudging help of Lucas, a distractingly attractive stuntwoman named Mina, and several other eccentric characters--both living and dead.

While ghosts and the supernatural abound in this engaging mystery, Say I Boo shines a flashlight beam on the complex, sad, and beautiful aspects of lived experience also: from heartache, to growing up, to family conflict, to friendship, and to new beginnings. Accompanying Abby and company as they traverse these highs and lows is both moving and fantastically entertaining.  

The Stars Over Hollywood by Carol Wyatt

Hayden is discouraged over her fledgling acting career, and Tracy, former TV star turned surf instructor, is second guessing the life choices that have left her single and lonely when they bond at their friends’ sumptuous getaway wedding in Spain. The connection that forms between them stuns them both, but is it strong enough to withstand some Hollywood drama?

The Stars Over Hollywood is a brief but lovely story about love, dreams, life decisions and, perhaps most importantly: self-discovery. Hayden’s journey of realizing and acknowledging her true identity is portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, and the romance that builds between her and Tracy is sweet and a little steamy. The romantic settings, from the Spanish seashore to a starry California night, really serve to enhance the narrative.

Fans of the entire Hollywood Series will enjoy glimpses into the lives of past characters and will be equally delighted by this latest addition. However, this can also be read as a standalone book. 

Don't Quit Your Daydream by Adrian J. Smith

When they first meet in an elevator, icy, middle-aged businesswoman Laura has a briefcase full of judgements and preconceptions about the younger, upbeat entrepreneur Skylar. But when the two are forced to work together to boost Laura’s fledgling business, the antagonism slowly melts into respect and something even more unexpected.

Don’t Quit Your Daydream is a romance with a slow but perfectly paced burn. Laura is a complex character with a challenging past and Skylar, while ostensibly warmer and more open, is cautious with her heart. The mutual respect and trust builds between them in a gradual and authentic way as each woman grows as a person all while a potentially combustible attraction simmers beneath the surface. Watching these various dynamics play out is as satisfying as it is entertaining.

Don’t Quit Your Daydream is a romantic, hopeful, and engaging story that is certain to enthrall fans of sapphic age gap romance.