Books I Plan to Read May 24-30 and last week's results

 

Hello to all,

The weather here cannot make up its mind. We made it into the high 80's (some places the low 90's) but went right back into the 50's and 60's. Not sure if this means when summer actually comes, it will be a scorcher or not. We did get some heavy rain one day, causing flooding on a lot of roadways.

Okay. Here are the stories I read or listened to, though I did not get to one of the audiobooks I had planned on.

Ebooks:

Off Season by Clive Fleury (really began this last week) - 4 stars

Pushing Styxx by E.C. Land - 5 stars

The Yellow Hair by Dwight Holing - 5 stars

A Forced Bond by Ann D. Lang - 5 stars

Every Shattered Note by Claudia Burgoa - 5 stars

Audiobooks:

Magic in His Kiss by Anabelle Bryant - 4 stars

For the week of May 24-30, here is what I plan on reading/listening to. It may change as I had agreed to read an ARC which has not arrived yet though the book is out on May 26.

Ebooks: 

Audiobooks:

Retirement has allowed me to relax every morning with a book for a couple of hours, except for Sunday because that is church day for me. I am getting through a lot more of my TBR pile. They say that reading even 15 minutes a day is a great way to exercise the mind, making it healthy. Take the time to read something and relax. 

Until next week, stay safe while enjoying the Memorial Day weekend (if you live in the US), but do remember why we have this day. For everyone else, hopefully the weather is better where you are.

 

Ebook Review: Every Shattered Note (Heartbreak Mixtapes #3) by Claudia Burgoa

 

Blurb: 

From USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa comes a slow-burn, mistaken-identity romance about hidden fame, second chances at life, and the woman who accidentally falls for a rockstar in disguise.

I plan other people’s love stories for a living. Perfect nights. Perfect moments. Perfect control.

So when my guitarist cancels an hour before a high-profile event, I do what any professional would do—panic quietly and pray for a miracle.

Then he walks in.

Late. Soaked from the rain. Incredibly handsome. Unapologetically charming.

A man I absolutely shouldn’t notice.

He plays music like the storm outside taught him how to feel.

He saves the night. And without meaning to, he starts unraveling mine.

I don’t know that he’s a world-famous musician in hiding.

I only know that when he looks at me, the world stops spinning.

I build love stories for other people. It’s chaotic, but it’s always strategic, straight-forward.

But this time, the one falling—hard, fast, and completely unplanned—is me.

There’s no seating chart that can contain, or explain, the storm that is Dexter Vaughn. But maybe his humor, guitars, and big heart are exactly what I need to build my own breathtaking love story.

Amazon: Every Shattered Note: A Mistaken Identity Rockstar Romance (Heartbreak Mixtapes) - Kindle edition by Burgoa, Claudia. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Bookbub: Every Shattered Note: A Mistaken Identity Rockstar Romance (Heartbreak Mixtapes) by Claudia Burgoa - BookBub

Goodreads: Every Shattered Note (Heartbreak Mixtapes #3) by Claudia Y. Burgoa | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

This story kept me reading. It pulled at my heartstrings because of both Alyssa and Dexter's past and current circumstances. I loved how Alyssa worked hard on keeping her dream going but also how she trusted and stood by Dexter when the going got rough. Dexter was determined to get to know Alyssa and was mostly patient. He spoiled her in several ways but did not make her feel less than. The support both received from friends brought more entertainment to the story. Well worth reading. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I received an ARC, and this is my unsolicited review.

Preorder: The Ugly Stick (Stallions Hockey Romance #1) by Cori Lane

The Ugly Stick 

by Cori Lane 

Releases on May 26th!

https://geni.us/TheUglyStick

Read With Kindle Unlimited

When hockey’s grumpiest single dad returns to my hometown, he doesn’t even recognize me as the ugly duckling from his past.

I was the most forgettable girl in high school. You know the one – fat, braces, bad clothes, the works. And so painfully awkward that it never occurred to me to fight back, even when the other kids said I got beat with the ugly stick.

But ten years later, I’m a whole new woman. I’ve lost weight, gained confidence, and all I want is to enjoy the new life I’ve built and leave the past where it belongs.

Of course, that would be a whole lot easier if I didn’t just find out that big-time hockey star Caleb Stone, the leader of that crew of popular kids who made my high school life so miserable, is back home to play for the Stallions this year after losing his temper on the ice one too many times to stay in the big league.

It’s bad enough that he’s got the whole town talking, but now he’s eating at the diner where I work, shopping where I shop, and to top it off, he’s even living in my building!

Then I see him with his daughter. Daisy has Down syndrome and a smile that lights up a room. And as the sweet little girl and her single dad melt my heart, I start to wonder if maybe Caleb Stone isn’t the man I always thought he was.

So much for leaving the past behind me…


If you’re craving a clean, no spice romance with elements like:

• a hockey celebrity returning to his home town
• an ugly duckling becoming a swan
• a single dad with a very special daughter
• a cozy small-town setting
• forced proximity
• a grumpy sunshine duo you can’t help rooting for

This is the book for you!

 

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

A Very Grumpy Veterinarian 

by Shaw Hart 

Releases on May 29th!

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.

 

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Undercover Lover by Jacqueline Francis

Undercover Lover

by Jacqueline Francis

Release: June 11, 2026

Genre/Tropes:

• Contemporary romance

• Action romance

• Celebrity romance

• Fake dating

• Forced proximity

• Billionaires & Millionaires Romance

• Law enforcement/ action romance

• Reverse grumpy x sunshine

• Opposite attract

Blurb:

I didn’t join the force to play dress-up in designer heels and pretend to be someone’s girlfriend, but apparently life has a sense of humor. And mine comes with a six-foot-something ego, a movie-star smile, and a peculiar knack for getting under my skin.

Marco Dal Santo is everything I don’t trust: cocky, charming, reckless, and way too comfortable in a world built on smoke and mirrors. I’m supposed to use him to get close to people who hide crimes behind champagne and expensive suits. He’s supposed to be a means to an end. Convenient. Temporary. And fake.

The problem? It doesn’t really feel fake because every time he touches me, every time he pushes past my defenses and makes me feel something real, I forget that we’re supposed to be pretending.

One minute we’re trading sarcastic barbs and sharing one very inconvenient bed; the next I’m laughing at his terrible jokes and wondering how a man who looks at me with nothing but raw lust can possibly be faking it. Somewhere between the staged kisses and very real arguments, the lines get blurred, and I can’t tell what’s part of the job…and what isn’t.

Now we’re caught up in a world where one wrong move can get us killed, and I’m starting to realize the most dangerous part of this case isn’t the criminals we’re chasing.

It’s him.

Because if anyone finds out I’ve fallen for my informant, I’ll lose my badge, my mentor’s trust, and possibly my heart in the process.

So yeah…I’m in way over my head.

And the worst part?

I’m not sure I want to be rescued.

PreOrder Links:

Universal: https://mybook.to/UndercoverLover_JF

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2FVC7N9

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H2FVC7N9

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H2FVC7N9

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H2FVC7N9

Author Bio:

Number cruncher by day, raging romance novelist by night; Jacqueline’s creative inspiration stems from romance and all its literary and rom-com depictions. Matters of the heart are what fascinates her, because ultimately, what makes a life out of - what would ordinarily be a typical existence - is Love

Social Media Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveromance446

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14726407.Jacqueline_Francis

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jacqueline-Francis/author/B0187LV746

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jacqueline-francis

 

Book Tour: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series #1) by Ann D. Lang with an excerpt and my review

A Forced Bond

Series: Dark Pack Series Book 1

by Ann D. Lang

Release: May 15, 2026

Cover Design: Ann D. Lang

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3OgIQQX

Genre/Tropes:

• Adult Paranormal Romance

• Werewolf Shifter Romance

• Forced Mate Bond

• Fated Mates (revealed at the end)

• Wolf Shifter FMC

• Future Alpha MMC

• Pack Alliance Marriage

• Instant Attraction

• New Adult

Blurb:

Forced together. Fated forever.

She was supposed to find her fated mate under the full moon.
Instead, she is ordered to bond with a stranger.

The full moon after Rhia’s twentieth birthday was meant to be the happiest night of her life. Among wolf shifters, it is the first full moon after turning twenty when a wolf might finally recognize the mate chosen by the Moon Goddess.

Rhia has always hoped that mate would be Caleb, the boy she has loved for years.

But when an entire neighboring pack is brutally wiped out, everything changes.

Fearing they could be next, the Red Moon Pack forms a desperate alliance with the powerful Silver Lake Pack. And alliances between alpha families require one thing above all else: a mating bond.

As the only unmated alpha daughter of Red Moon, Rhia’s future is decided for her. Instead of discovering her fated mate under the coming full moon, she is ordered to form a bond with Jalen, the future alpha of Silver Lake.

Leaving her home, her family, and the life she thought she would have.

Jalen never wanted a forced bond any more than Rhia did. But protecting their packs comes before everything. What neither of them expected was the instant pull between them, a connection that feels far too real to be political.

But if the Moon Goddess had a plan for their bond all along, it may be because the Dark Pack is not finished yet—and their own may be the next target.

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Amazon Universal: https://mybook.to/ForcedBond_ADL 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHQR5HTG

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GHQR5HTG

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GHQR5HTG

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0GHQR5HTG

Excerpt:

"Race you to the rocks?" Rhia points to the little collection of rocks well off the shoreline.

"They are further away than you think," I try to warn her from experience, but she has already taken off.

As I soon realize, she is not only an excellent fighter but also a very good swimmer. I love it. I am a decent swimmer myself, but it is not exactly my strongest form of movement. Plus, I am still a little slower than usual. At least that is what I am telling myself as I try hard to keep up with Rhia.

I am right behind her, but there is no hiding my labored breathing when we reach the rocks. On warm days, my friends and I love to climb onto the smooth stones and sunbathe. Unfortunately, it's not quite warm enough for that yet.

Unlike me, Rhia is not even a little winded, and I admire her strength. "You're an amazing athlete. I can't wait to see what you can do without the necklace," I grin at her.

'Oooh, well she's hot!' Hunter's voice comes through the mind link, and I let out a growl. Turning to the tree line behind me, I easily spot his wolf in the bushes.

'Leave now, or I will end you! This is your future luna!'

'Jealous, huh? Relax, man, I was just going for a quick hunt. I'll leave you two lovebirds to it.' His wolf actually gives me a wink before he turns around.

"Are you coming in?" As I turn back around, Rhia is already swimming away from the shore.

We head back at a slower pace, leisurely swimming next to each other.

"Do you think they would mind if we skipped the communal dinner tonight?" Rhia asks.

"Not in the mood for a crowd?"

"Not really. It's just all a little much," she shrugs, then adds quickly: "I'm sorry, I don't want you to get the wrong impression. I am looking forward to spending more time with your pack. Just not quite yet."

"You need some time to process everything, I get it."

She gives me a questioning look when I reach for her hand before I get up, pulling her with me. The contact sends tingles up my arm. "We need to head back and talk to our parents if we want to avoid dinner. They might whip us and throw us in the dungeon, and I don't think I could take that." I wink at her to make sure she knows I am joking about that last part.

She chuckles, gripping my hand a little tighter. We are silent on our way to the packhouse, and it feels good to be walking with her like this. Her smaller hand fits into mine just right.

Author Bio:

When Ann D. Lang isn’t writing, she can be found with her family and her cats — who treat everyone in the house as their personal servants and are entirely unbothered by deadlines. A lifelong lover of paranormal romance in all its forms, from vampire courts and fae kingdoms to witch covens and wolf pack politics, she has spent years falling in love with other people’s worlds — and one day simply decided to open the doors to a world of her own.

Social Media Links:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anndlang/

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ann-D.-Lang/author/B0GWLP7S61

My Review - 5 of 5 stars -

I found this story very hard to put down, though it did start a little slow. I read it in one sitting. There was plenty of action, loss, love, and family. I loved both Rhia and Jalen as they put their packs ahead of their true feelings. As they got to know each other, a connection began to form. They were both honest with each other from the start and admired the other's skills and intelligence. I look forward to the next in this series to see how the background story plays out. 

Ebook Review: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series #1) by Ann D. Lang

 

Blurb: 

Forced together. Fated forever.

She was supposed to find her fated mate under the full moon. Instead, she is ordered to bond with a stranger.

The full moon after Rhia’s twentieth birthday was meant to be the happiest night of her life. Among wolf shifters, it is the first full moon after turning twenty when a wolf might finally recognize the mate chosen by the Moon Goddess.

Rhia has always hoped that mate would be Caleb, the boy she has loved for years.

But when an entire neighboring pack is brutally wiped out, everything changes.

Fearing they could be next, the Red Moon Pack forms a desperate alliance with the neighboring Silver Lake Pack. And alliances between alpha families require one thing above all else: a mating bond.

As the only unmated alpha daughter of Red Moon, Rhia’s future is decided for her. Instead of discovering her fated mate under the coming full moon, she is ordered to form a bond with Jalen, the future alpha of Silver Lake. Leaving her home, her family, and the life she thought she would have.

Jalen never wanted a forced bond any more than Rhia did. But protecting their packs comes before everything. What neither of them expected was the instant pull between them, a connection that feels far too real to be political.

But if the Moon Goddess had a plan for their bond all along, it may be because the Dark Pack that destroyed one pack is not finished yet — and their own may be the next target.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

If you love wolf shifters, forced bonds, pack politics, and warm, addictive romance with genuinely good characters — this one is for you. Not dark romance. Warm hearts, real danger, HEA guaranteed. For readers who want their hero strong and good, not broken and brooding.

A Forced Bond is Book One of the Dark Pack Series, a five-book paranormal romance series best read in order.

Content warnings: explicit sexual content, violence including death (not graphic), forced/arranged mating bond, brief captivity.

Amazon: Amazon.com: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series Book 1) eBook : Lang, Ann D.: Kindle Store

Goodreads: A Forced Bond (Dark Pack Series Book 1) by Ann D. Lang | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I found this story very hard to put down, though it did start a little slow. I read it in one sitting. There was plenty of action, loss, love, and family. I loved both Rhia and Jalen as they put their packs ahead of their true feelings. As they got to know each other, a connection began to form. They were both honest with each other from the start and admired the other's skills and intelligence. I look forward to the next in this series to see how the background story plays out.

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

Audiobook Review: Magic in His Kiss (Vauxhall Voices #2) by Anabelle Bryant, narrator Victoria Aston

Blurb: 

Vauxhall Gardens may be London's ideal attraction with its diverse population, unusual entertainment, and illicit pleasure walks, but for Sofia Gallo, it's also a safe haven.

Leaving Italy with her brothers, she escaped the threat of scandal and the longer she performs as a tumbler, the more Vauxhall feels like home. Especially when she meets Noah Wright, a handsome bachelor seeking work as a magician.

Yet predicting the future is far from a magician's illusion and when Sofia's past collides with her present, she discovers forbidden love is more dangerous than she ever dared to imagine.

Contains mature themes.

Amazon: Amazon.com: Magic in His Kiss: Vauxhall Voices, Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition): Anabelle Bryant, Victoria Aston, Tantor Media: Audible Books & Originals

Audible: Magic in His Kiss Audiobook by Anabelle Bryant

B&N: Magic in His Kiss by Anabelle Bryant, Victoria Aston | 2940159583376 | Audiobook (Digital) | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Magic in His Kiss Audiobook by Anabelle Bryant | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Magic in His Kiss by Anabelle Bryant - Audiobooks on Google Play

Bookbub: Magic in His Kiss by Anabelle Bryant - BookBub

Goodreads: Magic In His Kiss (Vauxhall Voices #2) by Anabelle Bryant | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

Running from her past mistake, Sofia found family along with her brothers at Vauxhall. She was smart and daring, but tired of the overprotection by her brothers. Her attraction to their new neighbor, Noah, had her rethinking her past love. Despite her brothers and her past, she gave her heart to Noah. Noah was kind and caring, while still keeping his own secrets in order to get revenge. Strong feelings overcome all. I enjoyed this story.

I bought the audiobook. The narration by Victoria Aston was well done. It added to the story, bringing the smiles and tears out again. Still an enjoyable story.

Ebook Review: The Yellow Hair (The Nick Drake Mysteries #10) by Dwight Holing

 

Blurb: 

New Badge. Old Blood.

Nick Drake traded his past as a fish and wildlife ranger for the Sheriff’s star, but Harney County, Oregon doesn’t do election honeymoons. His tenure kicks off with a double homicide staged as a murder-suicide—a lie Nick isn't buying. As he digs into the crime’s rotting core, the rookie Sheriff finds himself fighting a war on two fronts: a lethal learning curve with unproven deputies and a political recall designed to bury him. In the High Lonesome where secrets kill, Nick must strike first and strike hard. Because in this office, the only thing shorter than his term is his life expectancy.

The Yellow Hair delivers the trademark tension, unforgettable characters, multiple storylines, and cinematic settings that Dwight Holing fans crave.

Amazon: The Yellow Hair (The Nick Drake Mysteries Book 10) - Kindle edition by Holing, Dwight. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: The Yellow Hair by Dwight Holing | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: The Yellow Hair eBook by Dwight Holing - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: The Yellow Hair by Dwight Holing - Books on Google Play

Goodreads: The Yellow Hair (The Nick Drake Mysteries) by Dwight Holing | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Nick Drake, new sheriff in town, had to find his way through politics, murder, livestock, and his own past. The clues led everywhere and nowhere, and had me guessing all the way to the end. The history of the First Nations, their beliefs, as well as some tragic history of the Vietnam War strengthened my feelings for these people. Nick was so patient, intelligent, and a very caring person. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a copy through RABT, and this is my unsolicited review.