Review: Kissing Tolstoy - Book #1 Dear Professor - Penny Reid - May 2014 Penny Reid is one of my all-time favourite authors, especially when it comes to quirky, geeky, nerdy characters and what I like to call Geek Chic Lit. Her characters always seem to speak directly to my heart because, more often than not, I can see a little bit of myself in them. The overthinking, the awkwardness, the love of books and knowledge… yep, Penny Reid gets me! Kissing Tolstoy had actually been sitting patiently on my Kindle since its release, and I honestly cannot believe it took me this long to finally read it. LOL! But, as they say, better late than never, and I am so glad I eventually picked it up. Imagine going on a blind date with a ridiculously attractive man, only to discover months later that your super-hot mystery date is now your Russian Literature professor. What do you do? Well, if you're anything like Anna , you overthink absolutely everything, panic internally, and pray for a swift end...

Review: Queen of Wilmette - Book #7 Queens of the Castle - U.M Hiram - January 2022 Queen of Wilmette by U.M. Hiram is a story about love, second chances, family, and finding the strength to build the life you deserve even when the past refuses to stay behind you. Milan Alessia Jackson has already been through her fair share of heartbreak and hardship. After surviving a contentious relationship, she carries scars that have shaped the woman she has become. Thankfully, she had her grandaunt, who served as her protector, guardian angel, and source of strength until her final breath. Milan's journey is one of resilience, and I really enjoyed seeing a heroine who has been through so much but still refuses to let her past define her future. Then there is Vikkas Germaine, Milan's childhood friend and the man who has always held a special place in her heart. Life separated the two of them, but fate and Vikkas's father Khali ( the OG King of the Castle) has other ideas. Their reuni...

Review: Queen of North Shore - Book #3 Queens of the Castle Series - Sierra Kay - January 2022 I always enjoy a book that reminds me that women can be strong, successful, vulnerable, and still figuring things out all at the same time, and Queen of North Shore by Sierra Kay was exactly that kind of read. Solange Porter thought she knew what her life looked like. She had her husband, Emeril, and a future they had planned together. But when Emeril dies, Solange is left not only grieving the man she loved but also dealing with one huge surprise: she is now the head of a tech company she never wanted to run. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! What I really enjoyed about Solange was that she wasn't suddenly this perfect #girlboss who had all the answers. She was grieving, questioning herself, and trying to navigate a company where many of the staff weren't exactly thrilled about her being in charge either. I found her journey relatable because sometimes life throws us into s...

Review: Red, White and Sensual - Book #1 Red and White Series - Bec Botefuhr - May 2013 Red, White and Sensual by Bec Botefuhr is one of those reads that reminded me why I sometimes love picking up books that were published over ten years ago. I don't know exactly what it is, but the writing from that era often just hits differently for me. Maybe it feels less overdone, or maybe it's because self-publishing was still finding its feet and authors were taking chances and writing the stories they truly wanted to tell. Whatever the reason, these older books often seem to find just the right spots for me. That's not to say there aren't plenty of amazing books being published today , I have read some incredible five-star books recently but there is something comforting about returning to an author I enjoyed years ago. When this book was originally published, I fell in love with Bec Botefuhr's Phoenix Rockstar series, and since then I've enjoyed several of her other ...

Review: Lumberjanes - Book #4 - Various Contributors - April  2026 There are some series that you enjoy, and then there are those series that feel like coming home and for me, Lumberjanes is absolutely one of those. In fact, I can safely say that this is my favourite graphic novel series ever! So, you can imagine how excited I was when I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Boom! Studios. Lumberjanes – Book #4 collects issues #37–48 and takes us straight back to the wonderfully weird and magical world of the Roanoke Cabin scouts. Just when you think things might finally calm down for our favourite campers, summer decides to throw even more chaos their way. From family visits and mysterious voices in the woods to strange time loops and, of course, a jackalope hunt with consequences nobody could have predicted, there is never a dull moment at camp. One of the things I love most about Lumberjanes is that, underneath all the magical mayhem, mythical creatures and completely bizarre ...

Review: Echo Road - Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot - July 2024 There are some authors whose books I will pick up without even needing to read the blurb, and Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot are definitely two of those authors for me. They are both among my favourite female thriller writers, so I was incredibly excited to dive into Echo Road. But what makes this book even more special is that it brings together two characters I already love: Mercy Kilpatrick and Bree Taggert. And honestly? This pairing was everything I hoped it would be. Mercy and Bree are both strong, intelligent, and determined women who are not afraid to put themselves in danger when justice is on the line. They also share something deeply personal: both women have found themselves raising their siblings' children after their siblings were murdered. That shared experience gives their connection an extra layer and makes their partnership feel natural rather than forced. These are two kick-ass women who will go to ...

Review: The Bad Guy - Celia Aaron - May 2017 Reading The Bad Guy by Celia Aaron felt a little like coming home. It transported me back to my early days of book blogging, back around 2017, when my blog was only seven years old. Fast forward to today, and The Phantom Paragrapher is now celebrating 16 years! I remember when Celia Aaron first burst onto the book world, and I loved her writing then. Even now, all these years later, I still find myself excited to pick up one of her books. And honestly? This book was exactly what I needed. Lately, I have found myself picking up books that just haven't quite hit the spot. You know that feeling when you're reading, waiting for something to click, but it never quite does? The Bad Guy was the opposite. From the moment I started reading, it just felt right. This is very much an anti-hero romance where the so-called bad guy might actually be the right guy, while the supposedly nice guy turns out to be... well, a complete jerk. Sometimes the...

VBT# A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras - Book #5 Vintage Cookbook Mystery - Ellen Byron - August 2026 There are some books that entertain you, and then there are books that take you by the hand and lead you straight into a happy memory. A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras by Ellen Byron did exactly that for me. It was a delightful reminder of two things I love: the comfort of a good old-fashioned cookbook and the wonderful memories I made in New Orleans. The first connection was the Edmonds Cookbook. For so many New Zealanders, the Edmonds book is more than just a cookbook , it is practically part of the furniture! It has been a staple in Kiwi homes for generations, with its well-loved recipes and familiar yellow cover. Reading about the food, cooking and characters in this cosy mystery gave me that same warm, homely feeling. There is something wonderfully comforting about a story where food, friendship and community are woven into the mystery. The second memory was much more persona...