Fat Stack Friday November 14, 2025

 

Here's what I got this past week. Lots of goodies.

In the Mail:

Heart Life Music by Kenny Chensey

Hubby pre-ordered this one for me. I love me some Chesney. I also had the audio from Libby and finished it up yesterday. It was fun listening to/reading his story.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #2) by Mary E. Pearson

I absolutely adored this duology. Pearson just knows how to write fantasy so well. I had to have a copy of this pretty on my shelf to match my other one. I'm really hoping Fairyloot decides to put out an SE of this to match the first one! 

The Bibliophile's Coloring and Lettering Book

I won this online. It's really rather cute. I may post pictures as I color them!

NetGalley/Edelweiss:

Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

Monaghan writes such poignant stories. I love how she presents her characters. So much emotion and emotional growth. I was super excited to get this one (approved just one day after I requested it!). I cannot wait to dive in!

The Odds of You by Kate Dramis

I have a Kindle copy of this one but it was available on audio on NG and I love to read and listen along so I requested. This will be my next audio after I finish the Kenny Chesney book.

Meet Me Under The Lights by Cassie Miller

I won a copy of this on Goodreads but it was a read now on NG and thought I could trade off back and forth between paper and Kindle.

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner

This was suggested in an NG email and the blurb spoke to me. I'm once again a sucker for read now books! I hope it's as good as the beautiful cover suggests it will be!

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

I always enjoy Painter's stories. Some more than others. And usually I enjoy her adult more than her YA. Excited to see what this story has in store.

Kindle:

Snowed In by Navessa Allen

This was available as audio on NetGalley, though I see she wrote this story a while ago. I'm interested to see what this story is like compared to her dark stalker romance.

 

The Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles

This one just looks too cute so I had to grab it. My TBR is ridiculous at this point!

Ship of Spells by H. Leighton Dickson

I love a good nautical book. Add to that some romance and pirates and I'm good to be entertained. Plus, this one is so pretty!

Libby/Hoopla

Bound by Ali Hazelwood

I will read anything and everything Hazelwood puts out. Not sure why she chose to only do this on audio, but I grabbed it from Hoopla and I'm really enjoying it. I started it yesterday and I'm about 3/4 of the way through so I should finish today.

How about you?

ARC Review: The E.M.M.A. Effect by Lia Riley

 

Jane Austen meets Ali Hazelwood in this steamy, friends-to-lovers, STEM rom-com! He’s her best friend’s little brother and NHL forward. She’s a computer scientist used to being in control. The E.M.M.A., her elite AI training program, claims optimizing his performance requires one thing: the perfect match. According to its calculations, that’s her… Will Harriet discover that The E.M.M.A. knows best?

Harriet Smythe’s AI was supposed to create sports legends—not encourage her crush on her best friend’s totally off-limits, hot younger brother. But when funding runs dry, she has no choice but to enlist Gale Knight as her test subject. The same Gale she’s been secretly crushing on for years. The player who follows her every instruction with a knowing smirk that threatens to short-circuit her carefully maintained system.

Everything changes when The E.M.M.A. determines that finding Gale’s perfect match is essential to his peak performance. Even worse? According to its data, that match is Harriet.

Determined to keep things professional, she makes it search for new candidates. But as Gale dutifully endures awkward outings with pop stars and athletes, the chemistry between them only intensifies. And his willing cooperation during their sessions definitely isn’t helping her stay focused.

With her deadline approaching and The E.M.M.A. still playing cupid, Harriet must choose: trust in pure logic, or admit that sometimes taking control means letting go.

Maybe The E.M.M.A. knows something they don’t—even if they’re not ready to compute it yet.

Title: The E.M.M.A. Effect

Author: Lia Riley

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will admit, the concept of this book drew me in immediately. I love STEM and especially women in STEM. And with the AI in our world becoming some prominent in so much of our lives, I was excited to see how it was used in this book. Plus it's a Jane Austen inspired story and likened to Ali Hazelwood. So I had to give it a try. I actually did not realize this book was connected to Puck and Prejudice. While you see some characters from that book, this one could definitely be read as a stand alone. Riley has been hit or miss with me in the books I've read from her. Since I enjoyed the first book in this series, I figured I'd give this one a try.

Harriet Smythe has created E.M.M.A., an AI program to help athletes the best they can be. When Harriet employs her best friend's baby brother, Gale Knight, to be one of her test subjects, she's expecting it to boost his waning career. She's not expecting the AI to evolve into a program that evolves to include more personal things in its assessment, like how it decides the best way to get Gale's game back in line is to pair him with Harriet.

From the start I enjoyed Harriet's character. She was fun and  just a bit on the quirky side with how intelligent she was. Of course she's been attracted to Gale for as long as she can remember. But she never thought it was a good idea to act on it since he's her best friend's brother. She never imagined he'd be her perfect match. Of course Gale has always been in love with Harriet but he never thought she'd have those same feelings for him. So it was fun to watch them realize they wanted to be with each other. 

I was really into this story until about half way through the book. Then it just started to have some plot holes I could not get over. LIke the fact that E.M.M.A. needed Gale to wear a device so she could track him but she easily sussed out Harriet's moods without her having any device. It didn't make sense.  And the chemistry between the characters started to feel off. I understood there was some miscommunication between them but it didn't seem to make sense to me. I hated that Harriet was keeping secrets from Gale. And I wasn't a huge fan of how the plot centered around a relationship being able to fix everyone's problems.

Finally, the submissive/dominant relationship between the characters didn't seem real. It seemed forced into the story to try and make it more interesting to the reader. Another plot line that didn't seem as organic as it could have. And I am in no way against reading this type of spice, but it just didn't work with the characters in this story. Had there been a bit more background, maybe some flashbacks to show these characters traits, I would have found them more believable.

While I enjoyed this one enough, I felt like it was too forced towards the end. I needed the characters to grow organically and it just didn't happen.

Overall it was fun and if you enjoy women in STEM, best friend's brother, friends to lovers, and a little kink exploration, give this one a try!

Author:

Lia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves the beach, fresh flowers, foggy redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.

ARC Review: The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson

 

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.

Title: The Mating Game

Author: Lana Ferguson

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love me some paranormal romance. And my new love is shifters. I read The Fake Mate and adored it so I could not wait to read this one. I was excited for Hunter's story. And it was just as great as I expected it would be. Lana Ferfuson is an auto-read author for me. I don't think there's anything she can write I won't love.

Hunter Barrett is a guy that sticks to his routines and doesn't put himself out there. He's a grumpy alpha (though he has some amazing golden retriever and cinnamon bun sides come out in this book). When Tess Covington is shoved into his life, he's not expecting to warm up to her, or even fall for her. And Tess has spent her life believing she's a beta when she's suddenly showing late presentation as an Omega. So when she takes the renovation job for Hunter's family's lodge she doesn't expect to present while on the job. Of course she goes into heat and the only one around to help her is Hunter.

I absolutely adored both these characters. Their connection was quite instant though I didn't feel like it was insta-love. They were drawn together because of who they are as shifters, but they easily warmed up to one another and opened up. Hunter presents as a grump but he truly warms up. And his support of Tess is amazing. He never makes her feel like she's alone in what she's experiencing. And he realizes that his self-isolation has not  been what he's needed in his life. When he finally opens up to let others in, he's amazed to find the support there for himself.

The side characters in this book are also fabulous. I loved Hunter's aunt and Tess's brothers. I hope we get to see more of them along the way. And it was great to see the appearances of the characters from The Fake Mate in this book, though you can easily read this one as a stand alone without having to be introduced to that couple.

And Lana gives such great spice in this book. Who knew I'd love knotting and all it brings? Plus she knows just how to pace a book to bring you along through the story and keep you turning the pages for more. The plot for this one was similar to the first book in this series, I will say. I wasn't sure how Ferguson would really make this one different since heats are a big thing with shifters. But she made it just different enough that it was fun to read and see what happened to these characters.

If you enjoy shifters, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity/snowed in, and omegaverse romance, this one is for. I will run to any book Lana chooses to write, especially the paranormal. 

Author:

Lana Ferguson is a USA Today bestselling author and sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.

Spotlight: The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann

 

I'm excited to help showcase a new fabulous book that released into the world today!

Check out The Marriage Narrative by Clair Kann

“Whether you’re a romance enthusiast, a reality TV fan, or someone who enjoys watching 

love bloom under pressure, The Marriage Narrative promises to deliver a heartfelt story 

wrapped in glitz, drama, and authenticity.”  —Houston Style Magazine

An ambitious, successful businesswoman, Zinnia turns her dating profile into a marriage-merger proposal with a unique goal: a few strategic meetings, move in together, and get married—all within thirty days. Her friends think it will never work… until she meets Jordan, a near-perfect applicant with a big secret.  

 

Jordan’s family has spent the last decade starring in a massively popular reality show. He has finally agreed to join the cast, but  production wants him to marry his ex in a romantic storyline to boost viewership.  

  

Convinced Zinnia is perfect for the role instead, Jordan proposes a mutually beneficial marriage agreement: she gets her business partner husband, and he gets to help his family on his terms. Together they face strict schedules, wild plot twists, and behind-the-scenes hostilities, all while acting like besotted newlyweds—an intense performance that evolves into a relationship they never expected. 

Title: The Marriage Narrative

Author: Claire Kann

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: Noember 11, 2025

Doesn't this one sound fabulous? I have it on my Kindle and really cannot wait to read it. Love me some marriage of convenicne!

Check out the author:

Claire Kann is the author of several novels and an award-winning online storyteller. Her favorite stories are the kind about everyday life with just a touch of magic hidden in the details. She lives and writes in dreamy California.

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday November 11, 2025

These are the books I'm most anticipating this week! Interestingly enough, I got to read these all early!

Brigands & Breadknives (Legends & Lattes #2) by Travis Baldree

This series is just so cozy! I had the opportunity to listen to this one early and it was fun. Check out my thoughts HERE.

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

If it has to do with academics and books I'm all over it! The publisher sent me a copy of this one. You can see what I thought of it HERE.

Honey Phase (Mountain Man Matchmaker #3) by Amy Daws

If you like Amy Award's Cocky Kingmans series, check this one out. I didn't love the first book but enjoyed the second book. This was also cute. See how much HERE.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats) by Mary E. Pearson

I love Pearson's writing. the first book in this series was phenomenal. I was itching to get my hands on the second one and was able to do so on audio. I loved the narrator. I pre-ordered a hard copy because the edges are just so pretty! I am hoping Fairyloot does this second book so I can have the match to my SE of the first one. Check out what I thought about the second installment in this story HERE.

Which books are you anticipating?

 

ARC Review: The Last Vampire by Romina Garber

 

Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally finds the world’s last vampire instead!

Pride comes before the fall.


When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.

After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.

Soon, William uncovers a chilling truth: He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?

Title: The Last Vampire

Author: Romina Garber

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Expected Publication Date: December 2, 2025

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

It's been a while since I've read a paranormal vampire book. I will admit, my expectations for such books are high considering what I've read in the past. And given my penchant for loving dark academia, I had a certain picture of how things would play out in my mind. I was excited to jump into this one and see what the author had to offer.

The book had a fairly strong start. The writing was a bit more juvenile than I would have expected. But the book is YA so I know that writing for that age group can fluctuate. However, this book definitely comes off more middle grade than YA for me. I believe older teens or teens who have a larger vocabulary will not enjoy this title because of how simple the writing is. For this reason it's hard to really pinpoint who exactly should be reading this book.

But the story started off fairly quickly. I will admit I would have liked to have seen more character development to begin with but I figured I could get that later on in the book. Unfortunately, that never happened. The characters lacked depth. I didn't believe in any of the relationships be they friendships or romantic. There was nothing that had me believing how quickly all these kids became friends and decided to do bad things together. And there was nothing that made me believe in the romance, other than being told it was there. Not a lick of chemistry between the FMC and MMC which made it terribly hard for me to buy into their connection and romance.

Unfortunately, the book did not take off as I expected. It devolved into kids I didn't know (poor character development) and kids jumping into breaking the rules right away without any real background (see poor character development). The plot kind of slogs along with reveals that just make no sense considering the genre. So many of the ideas we know associated with vampires are challenged in this book. And, while I appreciate the idea of this, I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to believe in those changes.

I've seen other reviewers say if you like Twighlight you'll enjoy this. I do not agree with that assessment at all. For me, this story was a Twighlight wannabe. Add to this the pacing (SLOW) and the plot inconsistencies (many, even from one chapter to the next) and this book just did not hit me right.  The plot definitely has potential and perhaps a bit more editing would have done this book wonders since most of the dialogue and plot felt choppy and underdeveloped. Overall the story was just not well executed. I'm sure someone will enjoy it but that someone just was not me. The ending seems like there may be more to the story in the future but I will be passing on reading it if it does happen.

Author:

Romina Garber is a NYT/International Bestselling YA author who also writes under pen name Romina Russell. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, Romina landed her first writing gig as a teen—“College She Wrote,” a weekly Sunday column for the Miami Herald that was later picked up for national syndication—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She is a graduate of Harvard College and a Virgo to the core. For more information about her books, visit www.rominagarber.com

Fat Stack Friday November 7, 2025

 

Happy Friday!

Check out what's new to my stack this week.

NetGalley/Edelweiss:

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

I enjoyed Condie's other thriller so I'm interested to see where she takes this one.

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

I read this author's other book, Give Me Butterflies, and it was just ok for me. I hope I like this one better.

Queen of the Night Sky by Amalie Howard

I love Howard and anything she writes. The first book in this series, The Starlight Heir, didn't grab me right away but the ending rocked! I can't wait to read this one!

Save The Date by Mallory Kass

This was a widget sent to me by the publisher. This is author Kass Morgan (The 100) writing under her own name. This looks adorable.

Sibylline by Melissa De La Cruz

I've read a variety of books from this author. This one sounds really interesting. I love me some dark academia. And those sprayed edges are gorgeous!

The Thorn Queen (The Rose Bargain #2) by Sasha Petyon Smith

Book two in The Rose Bargain series. The cover is AMAZING! Definitely want to know where this part of the story goes!

The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew

One of my most anticipated books for 2026. I love Andrew's writing so much. I have to read this one on the iPad but I'm ok with that!

Libby/Hoopla:

I'm Gonna Get You Back by Elena Armas

I really like Armas's stories. This one was cute. A little stalker/thriller/romance. I'm not sure I 100% believed the chemistry, but it was a fun short read!

In The Mail:

Fairyloot:

My Phantasma and Enchantra pre-orders came and they are GORGEOUS! I really hope Smith continues with stories in this world!

For Review:

How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

I love any story that has book stuff. Especially a romance. Excited to see what this one is all about.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying #1) by Ilona Andrews

I have no idea what this book is about but the cover is really quite pretty!

Kindle:

Coldwire (Coldwire #1) by Chloe Gong

I will say I fell for the cover of this book. I've heard good things about this author's writing but have yet to read anything by her.

Fallen City (Fallen City Duology #1) by Adrienne Young

I kept seeing this on my request sites but knew I would not have time to get to it. The blurb sounds awesome.

Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton

Another book with a gorgeous cover. And those edges! I might buy a copy if I like it enough!

Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley

I absolutely love Rowley's writing. He makes romance so much fun. I can't wait to laugh!

Won:

I won both these audio books on StoryGraph. I'm always looking for my next audio listen so these will be put right in my line up!

Break Wide The Sea (Break Wide the Sea #1) by Sarah Holland

Black Thorn by J.T. Geissinger

What did you get?