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Captured by Love (Michigan Brides, #3)

Jody Hedlund

10.0 (2 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Michigan Territory, 1814 A voyageur and a young woman swept up in a time of upheaval and danger ...

Map of My Escape

Cheryl Reed

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The shooting of a homicide detective is captured on film by a mysterious figure from a second-floor...

Detective Mystery

Merissa (14146 KP) rated You Otter Know (Part of: Double-Booked for the Holidays) in Books

Nov 24, 2025

YOU OTTER KNOW is part of the Double-Booked for the Holidays series, and it is a cabin by a river that is double-booked in this story. Both Bodhi and River were looking forward to a quiet Christmas, away from well-meaning but repetitive mothers and loud family time. Instead, they have a Christmas that is both sweet and steamy, with a missing desk clerk and surprise gift baskets left on the porch.

You may want to hold onto your hat for this one, as the pacing is FAST. In twelve or thirteen chapters, you get an entire year, a pregnancy, and a relationship from meeting to marriage; all at breakneck speed.

I would have preferred a little more show and less tell, but it's a cute, easy read that begins and ends at Christmas. If you're not looking for anything more than that, then this is the one for you.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 24, 2025

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated At Death’s Dough in Books

Dec 18, 2025 (Updated Dec 18, 2025)

A Frozen Valentine’s Day

It’s the beginning of February, and Delilah O’Leary is finding the quiet season is quieter than she planned on. She’s hoping for a full restaurant on Valentine’s Day to help carry her through to tourist season again. On one of the restaurant’s days closed, Delilah and her great aunt go out ice fishing, and they make an unexpected discovery - a dead body under the ice. The victim was dressed for scuba diving, but who would dive in the lake in the middle of the winter?

The premise definitely caught my attention, although I found the pacing was uneven. Yes, I could tell the story was being set up, but it felt a bit random to me for a while. Once things really got going, I was hooked, with plenty of excitement, especially in the final quarter. And we did reach a logical conclusion. The characters continue to shine, and I especially appreciated seeing Delilah growing while building her relationship with her boyfriend. And we get another four recipes to enjoy at the end. If you enjoy culinary cozies, you’ll find yourself grabbing all the slices in this series.

Kudos

Composed (The Art of Love #7)

Merry Farmer

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

These childhood friends are the last to realize they’re perfect for each other… Nally...

Contemporary MM Romance

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Trees Grew Because I Bled There in Books

Apr 14, 2024

71 of 220
Book
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: collected stories
By Eric LaRocca
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eight stories of dark fiction from a master storyteller. Exploring the shadow side of love, these are tales of grief, obsession, control. Intricate examinations of trauma and tragedy in raw, poetic prose. A woman imagines horrific scenarios whilst caring for her infant niece; on-line posts chronicle a cancer diagnosis; a couple in the park with their small child encounter a stranger with horrific consequences; a toxic relationship reaches a terrifying resolution…

This was a compilation of stories from a very talented authors. You get taken on a journey with these short stories. A few stories stood out from the crowd! The Strange things we become a story of how cancer destroys everything it touches and plays with the mind.
You’re not supposed to be here l, I think this is my favourite of them all a parents worst nightmare and a dark tale of secrets and desperation.
I’d also mention Where Flames Burned as Grass, would you sacrifice your child on the word of a complete stranger?

Really enjoyed these stories and the writing style.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2631 KP) rated Death in St. George’s in Books

Aug 13, 2024 (Updated Aug 13, 2024)

Failed Vacation, but Fun Case

Stefanie and Thomas are taking a week’s vacation in Bermuda. At least that was the plan. They’ve hardly arrived when they get pulled into a case. A bracelet that had recently been uncovered in a dig on the island was stolen. Stefanie and Thomas agree to join the dig for a day in hopes they can figure something out. But then a murder happens. Will they figure things out?

The mystery started well, and I was intrigued. Unfortunately, I did find the pacing was uneven as our leads spent quite a bit of time theorizing. Still, there was a strong mystery underpinning the book, and I was impressed when I reached the end. I love Stefanie and Thomas, so I enjoyed spending more time with them even if a sub-plot involving their relationship made me roll my eyes. The suspects became strong characters by the end of the book. I’ve definitely got some sights I want to see if I ever make it to Bermuda in person. Until then, I enjoyed this virtual vacation with murder.