Iron Canuck Reviews & More

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Release: Dosa Day by Veena Katikineni, illustrator Karina Nechval

Dosa Day

by Veena Katikineni

Children’s Picture Book

Date Published: June 2, 2026

It’s Dosa Day!

Join a curious child and their loving Ammamma on a joyful kitchen adventure filled with crispy dosas, colorful chutneys, and heartwarming family traditions. As they learn about different kinds of dosas, they discover that the real magic isn’t just in cooking—it’s in the time spent together.

Dosa Day is a playful children’s picture book celebrating Indian cuisine, family traditions, and intergenerational love. With rhythmic read-aloud text and vibrant illustrations, this story creates a rich sensory experience that introduces young readers to culture, connection, and mindful togetherness.

Perfect for children ages 3–7, this diverse picture book is ideal for:

Multicultural children’s books
Indian and South Asian culture stories for kids
Picture books about food, family, and traditions
Engaging read-aloud bedtime stories

Whether you’re introducing Indian cuisine like dosa for the first time or building a more inclusive children’s library, Dosa Day is a meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf.

About the Author

In the quiet magic of the Mojave Desert, where the sky stretches wide and the sunsets set everything golden, Veena Katikineni found the perfect place to let her imagination wander.

Dosa Day was born from a heart full of cherished memories: big, bustling family gatherings with her beloved Indian family, where the house was always full, the food was always flowing, and the smell of something delicious was always drifting through the air. Food wasn’t just food — it was love, laughter, and the heartbeat of every gathering.

A physician by training, Veena has spent her career caring for others, but she has always believed that stories heal in their own special way. This is her love letter to dosa, to her roots, and to the joy of sharing both with the world.

When she’s not writing or seeing patients, you’ll find her on her yoga mat, planning the family’s next adventure, or exploring the world with her loving husband and two spirited boys, her favorite companions in wandering and in life.

She believes magic lives in the everyday moments, especially the ones shared around a table.

Contact Links

Purchase Link

Release: One in a Billion (Accidentally Yours #1) by Jennifer Bernard

One In A Billion

by Jennifer Bernard

Available now!

https://geni.us/OneInABillion

Available on All Platforms

First in a new series where meet-cutes go wrong… or exactly right.

Pilot Rory Baker was born to fly. Schlepping around Lincoln Kerr, a billionaire with an ego as big as his bank balance? Not so much. Especially when Lincoln suddenly demands they fly to Hawaii despite severe weather warnings. Rory’s perfect flying record is about to crash and burn—literally. It’s a miracle he survives. Even more miraculous that rescuers find him in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle, and one of them is the hottest woman he’s ever seen…who also happens to swing a machete like a champ. Rory makes a snap decision: pretend to be his boss until he knows who he can trust.

Mathilda Wheeler is living on borrowed time. An agreement with her parents has allowed her to live the carefree life of a grad student for nearly a decade, but she’s been avoiding a major decision—one that’s about to track her down all the way from England to a hidden research camp in a lush Hawaiian valley. Why now, when she’s finally found a man she could love? And why him, billionaire Lincoln Kerr, the very type she’s been avoiding? Though…Mathilda has to admit, he’s unlike any rich guy she’s ever met. For instance, even some of her fellow scientists seem to know more about Lincoln’s personal and professional life than the man himself.

Hidden identities, ancient bequests, intimate nights, a jackass billionaire…and speaking of, what was Lincoln Kerr’s super-secret trip to Hawaii all about, anyway? Rory and Mathilda have no idea. But judging by the sudden appearance of murder drones and masked commandos, clearly there’s more to this story than an accidental one-in-a-billion meet-cute.

Release Boost: A Very Grumpy Veterinarian (Wolf Valley: Grumps #14) by Shaw Hart

A Very Grumpy Veterinarian

by Shaw Hart

Available now!

https://geni.us/AVeryGrumpyVet

Read On All Platforms

I think I’m finally ready to fall in love… I just didn’t expect it to be with my grumpy boss.

Pearl
I’ve worked at Wolf Valley Veterinary Clinic for years.
I love my job, I love the animals, and I loved working with Dr. Harris before he retired.
Then his replacement gets here, and I realize that there might be something else I love about my job.
Him.
Dr. Wells Bennett.
He’s quiet, brooding, annoyingly handsome, and the kind of man who looks at you once and sees too much.
He showed up a few months ago to help out his mentor, but then he stayed.
Took over the clinic.
Took over my routine.
Took over my peace of mind.
Now I’m dealing with a boss who barely talks, glowers at anyone who smiles with me, and finds excuses to stay late when I’m the only other one here.
I should be focusing on my work, but all I can think about is what it would feel like if my grumpy vet finally made a move.

Wells
I came to Wolf Valley to help my mentor through his last months at the clinic.
I thought it would be temporary.
Then I met Pearl.
She’s sunshine and fire all wrapped into one gorgeous, curvy woman who cares more about animals than most people care about each other.
The first day I saw her hold a trembling puppy to her chest and whisper softly to comfort him, I was done for.
Completely gone.
So, when my mentor retired, I didn’t hesitate.
I stayed.
But things are complicated.
Pearl works for me, and I’m terrified of risking the one bright thing I have here.
Only now, every day she’s near me is torture.
Every smile she gives someone else is a punch to the gut.
And every time she brushes past me in the hallway, I have to remind myself she’s not mine.
Not yet.

Excerpt Reveal: Undercover Lover by Jacqueline Francis

Check out the 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐭 below for the upcoming release for 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 set to release 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡
https://mybook.to/UndercoverLover_JF

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎
She’s not 𝘶𝘯attractive.
That’s the first thing I think as I take her in…because I’m a man. And that’s what we do. She’s got a decent rack on her, I’ll give her that much, but she’s definitely not…my type. I usually go for tall, leggy models with soft curves and even softer voices. The woman standing in front of me, however, is none of those things. Short, a little stocky, and built like she could probably bench-press me if she tried. Her dark hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail, like a drill sergeant who’s ready to run an obstacle course or…wrestle someone to the ground.
I’m willing to bet she’d prefer the latter.
Nothing about her is delicate or feminine. Maybe her eyes. She’s got really pretty eyes, but those caramel-colored spheres are currently burning a hole straight through me, so they’re no less hostile than the rest of her.
I clear my throat to ease the awkward tension. “What are the chances that your boss is gonna come back here and tell us he’s changed his mind because he’s realized this is the dumbest idea he’s ever come up with?”
“I’d say…roughly zero.”
That doesn’t sound promising, but I persist because I need to find a way out of this. “But you don’t want to put your future career on the line working with someone like me. It’s too risky. I’m not trained for something like this. I’m just going to end up being a liability.”
“Trust me, I already knew you’d be deadweight on this case before we even drove over here, but Detective Collins calls the shots, so…here we are.”
I’ll admit, that stings a little, but the egomaniac in me refuses to accept that I could possibly be bad at anything. So, I’m just going to take that snarky little remark as a challenge. She thinks I can’t do this job, so now I have to prove to her (and anyone else who doubts me) that I can. With my mind made up, I throw myself headfirst into this assignment.
Assignment? See? I’m starting to think like a cop already.
I lean back against the couch, casually stretching my arms over the backrest. “So, do you have a name, or should I just call you Officer Stiff?”
“Lopez.”
“That’s your last name. What’s your first?”
She hesitates, then irritably mutters, “Valeria.”
I let the name roll around in my head for a second. “Valeria,” I repeat, testing it out. “That’s a hard R. Valeria. I dig it. Valerrrrrrria.”
Her eyes shoot another dagger into me. She’s mentally stabbed me about six times already. From this brief interaction, I gather that she’s not much of a talker. Curt and to the point seem to be more her style. But if we’re going to do this, I need her to say more than three words to me.
“Fancy. Sounds like you should be ruling a kingdom, not glaring at me like you’re wishing I’d spontaneously combust and disintegrate into ashes.”
She crosses her arms. “Not glaring. Just waiting for you to start acting like a grown-up so we can get this over with.”
I grin. “Oh, sweetheart, if you’re waiting for that, we’re gonna be here a long time.”
She exhales sharply through her nose. “Don’t call me sweetheart.”
Yeah, she hates me. Which is fine. I can work with that. At least she’s…talking.
“Okay…Valerrrrria,” I say, stretching her name out again just to annoy her, “since we’re supposed to be madly in love, maybe you should tell me a little about yourself. You know, give me some intel.”
“Uh…I’m a cop,” she says as if I didn’t know that already.
“Wow. Riveting. Got any hobbies? Favorite color? Do you eat food, or do you just survive on pure determination and the smell of fear?”
She levels me with a look. “I don’t have time for hobbies. I work.”
Jesus. I’m supposed to fake date a woman who has the personality of a brick wall.
“Well, you sound like a fun time,” I say. “Look, no offense, but if we’re going to convince people we’re a couple, we should at least try to act like we don’t despise each other.”
“Who says I despise you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the open hostility you keep flinging in my direction and the look of absolute disdain on your face.”
“You’re mistaken.” She fakes a smile. “That’s just my face.”
“Charming.”
She exhales as if I’m testing her last shred of patience. “As long as we don’t have to hold hands or kiss or—God forbid—be affectionate, I think we’ll be fine.”
I press my hand to my chest, mock-wounded. “That hurts, Val. And here I thought I was irresistible.”
“Yeah, well, I have quite a high resistance to bullshit.”
I laugh, because okay, that was a good one. “Fair enough. How about we start small and work our way up? First, you need to stop looking at me like I ran over your childhood dog?”
“Fine.” She lets out an aggravated breath and tries her best to adjust the scowl on her face. “There you go. What’s next?”
“I’m gonna put that down as a work in progress because…your face hasn’t changed at all, but we can work on that in conjunction with point two.”
“Which is?”
“Which is…you sorta, kinda need to pretend that you don’t find me…repulsive.”
“I’ve never been good at lying.” She fakes another smile. “But if you put on a shirt, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Deal.”
I head upstairs to my bedroom, shaking my head as I pull a T-shirt from my dresser. She’s got an attitude; I’ll give her that. I tug the shirt over my head, then grab another one before heading back down.
When I reach the living room, she’s still standing there with her arms crossed, scanning the room like she’s looking for threats. It’s like she never takes a second to relax. Without a word, I toss the extra T-shirt at her.
She catches it on reflex, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “What’s this for?”
I drop onto the couch, stretching my legs out. “Maybe if you dress normal, it’ll be easier to slip into character.”
Her frown deepens. “I am dressed normal. This is my uniform.”
“Exactly.” I gesture vaguely at her. “You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, not my personal SWAT team. The gun isn’t an accessory my other girlfriends have.”
She groans but pulls the T-shirt on over her uniform, yanking it down to cover her gun.
I watch her for a second, tilting my head. It’s weird, but— “Huh.”
She shoots me a wary glance. “What?”
I shrug. “Wasn’t expecting it, but you look…kinda cute in that.”
She groans again and flops onto the couch, as far from me as possible. “Can we focus?”
I wipe the wide grin off my face and draw my eyebrows together to feign seriousness. “Yes, of course. Mild distraction. I’m razor-focused now.”
She ignores me. “Collins says we need a solid backstory, something believable.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
She leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. “So, I don’t know what my undercover name is yet, so let’s call me X for now. We—”
“Wow. X? How imaginative. You thought of that on your own?”
I get visually stabbed for the seventh time before she lets out an irritable breath and continues. “We met at a…diner. They’re probably going to make me a waitress…or a bartender, so—”
“What in the Cinderella bullshit love story are you trying to spin here? It’s unbelievable straight out the gate. It’ll make more sense if you were a talent agent or an exec—”
She swiftly cuts me off. “It’s not about the job. It’s about how easy it is to disprove. You fake an executive role, someone makes one call and I’m exposed. You fake a service job, and no one can pin anything down. A waitress makes sense. High turnover, inconsistent schedules. Restaurants open and close all the time, and there’s no public paper trail. If someone digs, there’s nothing solid to contradict our story.”
I guess that makes sense. “Okay, so you’re waitressing at this diner and I, what? Came in and swept you off your feet with my wit and charm? I have that effect on women, you know?”
She tries her best to suppress a gag. “No. You started a conversation. I wasn’t interested.”
“Mm. See, now that’s where your story loses credibility.” I lean in a little. “A hot movie star walks into your diner, flirts with you, and you…say no? No one’s gonna buy that. Wouldn’t it be more believable if you were fangirling? That’s usually the response I get.”
“Maybe that’s what intrigued you about me,” she says, as if her explanation is more plausible. It isn’t, but I’m trying to humor her. “I didn’t care about your stardom, but you were persistent. You asked me out for coffee. I said no. You asked again.”
I smirk. “Again?”
“Yes.”
“I would never ask again. I have what some would call…self-respect.”
“Well…” She stumbles for a second but quickly recovers. “You made an exception for me. You found my cold, borderline hostile rejection oddly… magnetic.”
I squint at her, trying to make sense of her distorted relationship with reality. “So, let me get this straight. You think I, a man who has women practically climbing over each other to breathe the same air as me, chased you because you were mean to me?”
“Exactly.”
“Sounds like I need therapy.”
“You probably do.”

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
https://forms.gle/dYqXszjwtSaAcFrQA

#UndercoverLoverExcerptBlast #UndercoverLoverJacquelineFrancis #ExcerptBlast #JacquelineFrancisExcerptBlast #EnticingJourney

Hosted by Enticing Journey Book Promotions

Monday, June 1, 2026

Reading Challenge Check-in

Here I stand on my Reading Challenges for 2026

I have been doing well with this one based on Titles. I only need Q and X, both of which I have books lined up. I have also stayed up with the monthly mini challenges.

Another one where I am doing well. I have listened to 23 audiobooks so far. I had chosen "My Precious" which is 30+ audiobooks. I am debating moving up to "Marathoner" - 50+ books. I am not sure if I can do that many so I will stay where I am for the time being.

For this one, I had chosen the level Detective (16-25). As of the end of May, I have completed 13. I should be able to achieve this goal by the end of the year.

My goal is Ancient History (25 books). I have read 18 books so I should achieve this challenge by the end of the year.

I always seem to struggle this one, but I am working at achieving this one by the end of the year. My level goal is Silver (25 books). At this point, I have managed to read 7 books at this point. Fingers crossed that I can push myself a little harder.

I always start this one with a desire to read more paranormal books. My goal is level 4, which is 20+ books. I am at a lowly 7 books. There is still time, so I definitely am not giving up.

There is always the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I do this more to keep track of my reading altogether. I set my goal at 225 books. It seems that I have made it to 115 books (it says 22 books ahead of schedule) so I should make it.

Next month, I will just record how many I add to each challenge monthly.

Till next time,

Release: My Grumpy Boss (Alphas in Charge Series) by Shaw Hart

My Grumpy Boss by Shaw Hart is Available Now!

https://geni.us/MyGrumpyBoss
Read With Kindle Unlimited

Working for Hudson Cole was supposed to be temporary.

Everyone in the office knows Hudson is impossible.
He's cold, demanding, and allergic to smiling.
His assistants usually quit within days, but I refuse to be one of them.
I organize his schedule, keep his billion-dollar company running smoothly, and ignore the way his dark eyes follow me when he thinks I'm not looking.
Hudson Cole may be the grumpiest man alive, but there's something about him that I just can't seem to ignore.
He's the first man, the only man, who makes my heart race.
I know that a perfectionist like him would never be interested in a curvy girl like me, though.
I should just ignore this crush, but I can't.
Not when he notices when I skip lunch, remembers how I take my coffee, and always seems to be looking out for me.
Now I'm wondering if my grumpy boss could have a crush on me, too.

Release: Hidden Echoes (Braeden Creek #2) by Hayleigh Davis

Hidden Echoes by Hayleigh Davis is now live on Amazon and FREE to read with KindleUnlimited!

https://geni.us/HiddenEchoes

He was supposed to be one unforgettable night, not the man who makes me feel safe enough to stop running. But when danger follows me to Braeden Creek, Austin Kinley's protective instincts collide with buried secrets, a deadly betrayal, and a romance neither of us can walk away from.

For months, I've kept my head down, working behind the bar at Creekside Bar & Grill and building a quiet life where no one asks questions. It's safe. It has to be. Because if the wrong person finds me, everything I ran from will catch up to me.
Reconnecting with Austin Kinley wasn't part of the plan.

A year ago, he was one reckless night I never forgot, even when I tried to convince myself it didn't matter. Now I'm back in his town, and the connection between us is just as strong. And just as dangerous. The more time I spend with him, the harder it is to keep my distance, and the easier it becomes to forget why I need to.

Then there's the stranger who keeps showing up. Watching. Waiting. Always a little too close. I know what that means. I've been found.

But the deeper this goes, the less sense it makes. The fear, the unease, the feeling that something isn't right. That maybe I've been focused on the wrong threat all along. Because the truth is more dangerous than I ever imagined, and when it finally comes to light, I'll have to decide if I keep running… or trust the one man who makes me feel safe enough to fight.

The problem? The real danger isn't who I thought it was.

It's the one I never saw coming.

Hidden Echoes is the second standalone romance in the Braeden Creek series, where danger lurks beneath the surface of a close-knit mountain town. Featuring hidden identities, emotional baggage, possessive hero energy, suspicious strangers, simmering attraction, and a heroine forced to confront the truth, this romantic suspense is packed with twists, tension, and a love worth fighting for.

Perfect for fans of:
Friends to lovers
Protective small-town hero
Strong but guarded heroine
Touch her and die vibes
Found family friendships
Forced proximity

Ebook Review: Drifter (Satan's Fury MC - Little Rock #10) by L. Wilder

Blurb:

Some men are born drifters. Others are just waiting to find their way home.

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller L. Wilder brings you a new addition to the Satan’s Fury MC- Little Rock series that will have you rooting for new beginnings.

Loss is tough.
Some learn to live with the grief and move on.
I couldn’t.
There were too many memories.
It hurt too much, so I packed up and left.
I spent years trying to outrun my ghosts

And then, a threat drew me back in.

It wasn’t my fight.
Hell, it wasn’t even my chapter.
I was only in Little Rock to deliver a warning.
I never intended to stay.
And I certainly never intended to meet her.

She was beautiful and soft in all the ways that can undo a man.
And she unraveled me without even trying.
I had no business getting tied up with her, but I couldn’t stay away.
She reminded me what it was like to have something worth living for.

Now, I had to make a choice.
Stay lost or find my way home.

Drifter is an emotional, slow-burn romance about grief, healing, the real meaning of family, and learning that loving again doesn’t have to mean letting go. HEA and no cheating.

Amazon: Amazon.com: Drifter: Satan's Fury MC: Little Rock (Satan's Fury MC- Little Rock Book 10) eBook : Wilder, L., Cover Creations, Mayhem: Kindle Store

Bookbub: Drifter: Satan’s Fury MC: Little Rock (Satan’s Fury MC- Little Rock Book 10) by L. Wilder - BookBub

Goodreads: Drifter: Satan's Fury MC: Little Rock by L. Wilder | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars -

Wow! This story touched my heart. I felt so much for both Drifter and Raelyn with their pasts. I loved the way Raelyn kept her life going. She was a wonderful mother, daughter, and friend. Her sons, Thomas and Lucas, added very much to the story. As Drifter came to terms with his past and his future, I had tears. I enjoyed how this author had me caring for all the characters. I look forward to the next one.

I received a copy through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

Book Tour: Drifter (Satan's Fury MC - Little Rock #10) by L. Wilder with my review

Drifter

Series: Satan’s Fury MC - Little Rock

by L. Wilder

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Genre: MC Romance

Photographer: FuriousPhotog

Cover Model: Stuart Reardon

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4uvDrFk

Bookbub: https://bit.ly/43aP6NY

Blurb:

Some men are born drifters. Others are just waiting to find their way home.

Loss is tough.

Some learn to live with the grief and move on.

I couldn’t.

There were too many memories.

It hurt too damn much, so I packed up and left.

I spent years trying to outrun my ghosts

And then, a threat drew me back in.

It wasn’t my fight.

Hell, it wasn’t even my chapter.

I was only in Little Rock to deliver a warning.

I never intended to stay.

And I certainly never intended to meet her.

She was beautiful and soft in all the ways that can undo a man.

And she unraveled me without even trying.

I had no business getting tied up with her, but I couldn’t stay away.

She reminded me what it was like to have something worth living for.

Now, I had to make a choice.

Stay lost or find my way home.

Drifter is an emotional, slow-burn romance about grief, healing, the real meaning of family, and learning that loving again doesn’t have to mean letting go. HEA and no cheating.

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Universal: https://mybook.to/Drifter_SFMC_LR

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H248NV9T

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H248NV9T

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H248NV9T

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H248NV9T

Praise:

5 Star Amazon Review - “What an excellent and heartfelt story in the Fury Series…”

5 Star Amazon Review - “This was a shocking and emotional edition to the Little Rock Chapter of Satan's Fury MC…..Some suspense with a beautiful and tragic story on both sides. Ending in a HEA that you don’t want to miss.”

5 Star Cajun Heat Book Blog (Barb) - “

This was such a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down! A tragic tale that will have you all up in your feels!”

Also Available (Kindle Unlimited):

Grim

Memphis

Ghost

Seven

Preacher

Creed

Sergei

Skid

Goose

Universal: http://mybook.to/SatansFuryMC_LR_LW

Author Bio:

Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller, L. Wilder, writes about hot, alpha men and the women who love them. She currently has six series available for readers: The Devil Chaser's MC, Satan's Fury MC, Satan's Fury MC-Memphis, the Redemption Series, the Happy Endings Collection, and the Ruthless Sinners MC. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you smiling like a school girl at the end, L. Wilder is the author for you.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeslieWilder

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wilder_leslie

Instagram: http://instagram.com/LWilderbooks

Website: http://www.lwilderbooks.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1RGsREL

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/311622.L_Wilder

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/L-Wilder/e/B00NDKCCMI

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/l-wilder

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lwilderauthor