ARC Review: West of Wicked (The Great and Terrible Land #1) by Nikki St. Crowe

 

Dorothy Gale doesn’t know where she came from. She has only the vaguest memory of her life before landing in the dull, gray world of the vast Kansas prairie.

Then a cyclone rips through the night and carries her, her dog, and the farmhouse somewhere a lot farther than Dorothy imagined. She’s in a strange land that’s apparently cursed, shrouded in shadow. And to get home, Dorothy needs to seek out a wizard, following a treacherous path and watch out for a never-ending list of forest beasts, witches, a cursed mercenary, and perhaps most dangerous of all, the wizard himself.

Nikki St. Crowe vividly reimagines the world of the Wizard of Oz, where the villain gets the girl...and the girl gets the power.

Title: West of Wicked (The Great and Terrible Land #1)

Author: Nikki St. Crowe

Publisher: Bramble/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: Aril 7, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I'm a huge fan of re-imaginings. Especially when those re-imaginings are dark! I will be honest and say I wasn't quite sure how someone could take one of my favorite childhood movies and make it dark. But, as I got older and realized this movie was already a bit dark, having someone make it darker seemed appropriate. This is not the fun lollipop guild world you remember. Where Dorothy is revered, gets into a bit of trouble, and then gets to go home. Nope, this one plays on the darker thoughts of just exactly who Dorothy Gayle is and why she landed in Oz to begin with.

I really enjoyed the narrators for this audio book. I will say I wish I knew which narrators were playing which part, it would help me look at other books the narrators have done and maybe listen to those. But overall, all the narrators did truly amazing jobs voicing the characters and keeping my interest throughout.

As per the original story, Dorothy's house gets lifted up in a cyclone and deposited in Oz. And, while she does land on the witch of the East, this is not how that witch dies. And it's from there you realize this story is not going to be what you remember of your childhood Oz.  This retelling is dark, somewhat bloody, and a little terrifying, There's not telling who can and cannot be trusted. And all the characters have side stories and their own agendas. The Tin Man isn't just missing his heart, he's missing his scruples. And his oil that keeps him moving isn't just oil, but I won't spoil that for you. The Scarecrow is missing his memories instead of his brain. Or is he? He's definitely not who you think he is!

I won't dive into too much of the spice. There is some, though it's nothing super deep and it's just one scene. I actually was happy the story didn't center too much around the spice but really did rely on the plot and characters to lead the way. I definitely love me some spice, but I also prefer a good plot over an abundance of sexy times.

Crowe builds a new and imaginative version of the Oz everyone knows. The darker parts of the land are so dark. The entire journey to The Emerald City takes you through rough terrain and forests that are scary. The characters are well developed and definitely not who you think they are. The pacing keeps you pulled in the entire time. And the ending? Prepare for a bit of a cliffhanger that will absolutely leave you wanting the next installment yesterday.

Crowe takes a years old story and turns it into something new and refreshing, if not a little sinister. This is my first book by her and I can see I will be investing my time in her other stories for sure. I cannot wait to see where she takes Oz in the next book!

Author:

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today and No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author specializing in dark, spicy romantasy where the villain gets the girl and the girl gets the power.

Nikki considers the start of her professional career to be in the 4th grade when she placed 2nd in a Young Author’s Competition. Back then she crafted stories about magical mansions and lost treasure. She’s since ditched the treasure hunts, but she'll never give up on the magical mansions (or the morally grey men who inhabit them).

These days, when Nikki isn’t writing or daydreaming about villains, she can either be found in the woods or at home with her husband and daughter.


For information on new releases, sign up for Nikki’s newsletter, The Forbidden Garden: https://nikkistcrowe.myflodesk.com/th...

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday March 31, 2026

 

Here are the books I'm most anticipating releasing this week.

Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen

I actually have a paper ARC of this one but I didn't get a chance to get to it before publication date. I will eventually!

Starside by Alex Aster

I have read one book by this author and it was contemporary so I'm not sure how she will do with fantasy. We shall see!

Game on by Melissa Allen

I'll probably do this one on audio. That's what I did with the other two. I was unimpressed with the second book of this series so I hope this one is better as I really loved Lights Out.

What are you looking forward to seeing release?

ARC Review: Unbound (The Undone #3) by Peyton Corrine

 

A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Paloma Blake is, at best, antagonistic. But beneath the hairspray, attitude, and promiscuity is a scared girl whose trauma runs deep. Still, the walls she’s built are strong, ensuring everyone only sees Paloma’s sexy façade. Everyone except for Bennett.

Bennett Reiner, the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie, has his routines and sticks to them, which helps him keep a hold on his OCD compulsions and the crippling anxiety that comes with them. The quiet and meticulous Bennett sees everything, especially the girl beneath Paloma’s ever-present masks. And he always has.

Unbeknownst to their friends, Bennett and Paloma were each other’s first real love, which ended in crippling heartbreak. Bennett still doesn’t know what happened, and Paloma is determined to stay away from the comfort she used to find only in his arms. For years, Bennett has remained her protective shadow, coming to Paloma’s rescue whenever she asked, keeping her as close and safe as she’ll let him. But, like a tumultuous sea to a constant shore, Bennett and Paloma find each other once more.

Alternating between scenes from their past and present, Unbound contrasts the tentative tension and passionate beginnings of first love with the devastating loneliness and deep yearning of having that love ripped away from you without truly knowing why. As Bennett discovers the truth about Paloma’s past, the threads to his careful control start to come unbound, and both begin to realize that letting go of everything else might be worth it, if it means they both get the real love they once shared again.

Title: Unbound (The Undone #3)

Author: Peyton Corrine

Publisher: Atria

Expected Publication Date: April 7, 2026

Review:

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

I was so excited for this story. I absolutely loved Bennet in the other books in this series and really needed to hear the story of this quite, broody hockey player. I was not so crazy about learning about Paloma as I wasn't much of a fan of hers when she was introduced to the reader, but I knew Corrine would make a redemption arc that would more than likely change how I viewed her. Unfortunately, there were so many things with this book I didn't enjoy it was hard to find the things I did.

Before I start, I highly recommend you read the first two books in this interconnected series prior to this. While this could be read alone, you are introduced to these characters (and the minor characters) in the prior books and those introductions set the tone for who these main characters are. In my opinion, the reader will be lost if they do not first read the prior books.

Let's start with the characters. Did I love Bennet and Paloma as a couple? I wanted to. I really did. But their relationship was so co-dependent it was unhealthy. Did I understand each character's issues? I did. I loved the mental health representation. I do believe Corrine took her time to research this and presented it well on the page. But the mental health issues were all the main characters were. There was nothing more to Bennet and Paloma. There was no exploration of them outside of the autism and OCD for Bennet or the abuse Paloma endured. Their mental health issues are their entire identity. And, while I understand this was the major point of their characters and the books, there really was nothing else. Paloma is the epitomy of the miscommunication trope which I normally do not dislike but it was so overdone in the story it was annoying. I just could not connect with the two characters we are meant to watch grow, develop, and ultimately understand. I also found their love to be a bit too all consuming. They could not see beyond one another, ever. And their obsessions with each other didn't seem to make sense to me. Especially with the three years that happened between when they met and broke up. One other thing I would have loved to see is Paloma making friends. She so alone and it makes no sense that she doesn't find people who can support her. We do get introduced to her new roommate but we have zero idea of who she is. We don't see their relationship grow despite Paloma saying she's her best friend. It just made no sense.

Then we can talk about the pacing of the book. I understand the author wanted to keep a bit of mystery as to why this couple has spent three years apart, but it was so drawn out. Nothing happens until the last 20% of the book. Normally I love a dual perspective as it allows me to connect on a deeper level with each character. And I did like that aspect in this story. But Corrine also utilized past and present chapters which didn't always lend to pushing the story forward. The point of going to the past is to help the story develop in the future and that just did not happen. Add to this the flashbacks within the chapters and it just got totally confusing. The flashbacks were so random and not separated in any way that made any sense. I found myself constantly trying to figure out if I was in the present or the future and sometimes even forgetting who was narrating the chapter. Finally, for a romance this was way too long. I feel like things were harped on over and over again to make the book so much longer than was necessary including all the inner dialogue from both Paloma and Bennet. So much unnecessary stuff that ended up being repetitive rather than helping the characters grow and change. And the epilogue: TEN YEARS? It was just such a jump it made zero sense for me.

I was surprised to find so many plot holes in the story, as well. Things that we are introduced to that I thought would lend some understanding of the characters but were never resolved or even revisited. Characters who are introduced but we have no idea of the relationship they had with our main characters or how that relationship even came to be. Paloma gets kicked out of her dorm but we never find out why. She has a relationship with Alessia but she hasn't spoked to her in three years and suddenly they are back to being besties? What is Paloma's relationship with her mom? We are told about it but it's never shown to us in any way. The rift between Bennet and his dad which truly just didn't make any sense. These things are never addressed. On top of this, there were moments that were introduced that could have been explored more deeply but were just glossed over.

And the drama! There is so much drama throughout the book and never anything good or funny or fun. It makes the book so heavy, which I know is part of the point, but even heavy books can have moments of levity that help the reader want to move along in the book. This story is just trauma, intense feels, and repressed emotions. 

Where was the hockey? It's there but it's not. This is a hockey romance and we really don't get much of it in this book. Part of the reason I read sports romance is for the sport, But it's glossed over and there's no true exploration of it as it pertains to the story line.

I did love seeing the side characters that we have met in the previous books. It was fun to see them following their happy endings. I loved the found family aspect of this book, as well. It's super important for both main characters. Corrines theme of it's ok to not be ok is also important. This is something that needs to be shown to many and can definitely be relatable to most. And, as I previously stated, Corrine absolutely took her time to approach difficult topics with sensitivity. And I cannot wait to see where Toren's story goes because he is such a bad boy, mysterious character who needs to be explored.

Overall, I was disappointed with this installment. Will I continue to read the series? Absolutely. I adored the first two books. And I love that Corrine explores mental health issues within her stories.

2.75/5 stars rounded to 3

Author:

Peyton Corinne is a writer of romances with imperfect characters, angst and lots of heart. Her stories come with a healthy dose of swoon and angst, of hurt and comfort, and—though it make take them some time, they always end with a happily ever after.

She has been writing since she was young, but is finally letting those stories live further than her notes app.

If she's not writing, she's probably making another cup of coffee, rewatching Twilight and frantically reading through her own endless TBR.

Peyton loves to laugh, but her books might make you cry.

Review: A Latte Like Love by Michelle C. Harris

 

Love is brewing as a barista falls for a reclusive artist struggling with the tragic aftermath of an accident in this charming, epic romance.

Audrey Adams knows the exact routine for all her regular customers. That’s what happens when you work at the same Brooklyn coffee shop for years. So it’s completely normal that she notices Theo Sullivan, a shy new patron who comes in at exactly 8:17 a.m., right? And that this incredibly tall (and cute) man never drinks his coffee, always leaves a generous tip, only stays long enough to scribble in a notebook, and wears the same KN95 mask. Call it barista instincts or a reasonable reaction to Theo’s undeniable sweetness, but Audrey is crushing hard.

Eagerly anticipating Theo's visits, Audrey relishes the precious few minutes they chat every time he orders his large, extra-hot Americano. When an incident reveals the horrific facial scar he's hiding beneath his mask, Theo flees the café in shame, dropping his sketchbook and leaving a part of his broken heart behind.

Audrey decides to find Theo, return his book, and confess her feelings. Before long, they’re inseparable, talking nonstop and meeting up for dates at the coffee shop.

But Theo is reluctant to fully let Audrey into his heart. He continues to hide his scar and refuses to talk about his past. Their feelings are bubbling under the surface, but will Theo—and the truth behind his accident—keep him from finding the love they've both been longing for?

Title: A Latte Like Love

Author: Michelle C. Harris

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Publication Date: March 17, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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 love a good romance. I was excited for this one. I'll admit, when I started it it gave Phantom of the Opera vibes for me. I thought for sure the book would take this kind of turn. Alas, it did not. And I struggled. I wanted to love the story, I wanted to love the characters, but I just couldn't get into any of it, I always give debut authors the benefit of the doubt. Figuring they are reliant on their editors who should give them good direction when helping them make changes to their story. But I don't feel like that happened here. 

Genuinely, I feel like this author has a lot of potential. While I wasn't a huge fan of the story, the bones of a writer are absolutely there. It just feels like there needs to be more growth in how the author's story is presented.

There are some tropes in this one that had promise: sunshine FMC, Audrey, grumpy MMC, Theo, horrific accident and trauma healing. But these themes didn't seem to be going anywhere. On top of this, there is insta love. I know this concept can be done well but that was not the case here. I felt like the FMC was obsessed with the MMC without knowing anything about him at all. She's attracted to his inability to chat with her? And him hiding himself because of his scars? I just didn't feel like this was honest. And their relationship just screamed codependent to me rather than two people gettin got know one another, holding the other person's individuality in regard, and having a mutually beneficial relationship. As a matter of fact, the whole relationship felt a bit toxic from the beginning and Theo gave off dark broody red flag vibes with his intensity that actually had me scared for Audrey. I also could not connect to the characters given the lack of background. I needed to know and understand them. Instead the entire story seems focused on their romance and not much else.

I would have loved to see more development of the side characters, as well. Often times in romance stories, the supporting characters really help to build the story and give insight into the characters. That didn't happen with this story as I never got to know the side characters at all.

I also had zero connection with the characters. I needed more from both, It is written essentially in one POV, though I did read you get Theo's POV in parts of the book. I feel like that would have helped move the story better had it been introduced from the beginning. I really would have liked to see what Theo was experiencing during the relationship building part of this story. I did see he has a epilogue at the end, but I just wasn't invested enough to get to it and see what he even had to say.

The pacing was very slow for me. And the chapters were much longer than I would have liked for a romance. I pushed myself to get through them until I just could not anymore.

Add to all this the fact that the book is 500+ pages, quite long for a romance, and I lost interest and just couldn't bring myself to continue.

I do think this has an audience. I read in many places this is Reylo fan fic, so that kind of makes sense to me (as that's definitely a Phanton of the Opera theme). It's a light hearted story for the most part, or at least the part I read. I can see where people would be drawn to Audrey, who is obviously a care taker, and Theo, who is healing from trauma. 

Author:

Michelle C. Harris grew up deep in the heart of the Central Texas Hill Country, devouring as many books as she did tacos. By day, she wrangles academics at a university, and by night, she pens stories about love, magic, and men who yearn under the intense supervision of her Shiba Inu, Pippa.

In her spare time, you can find her playing volleyball, buying more tea than she could ever possibly drink, and writing fan fiction about star-crossed space wizards on AO3.

Fat Stack Friday March 27, 2026

 

Happy Friday! Check out all the goodies I got this week!

Kindle:

Just Friends by Haley Pham

This one just looks cute. I hope I like it!

The Night We Met (Say You'll Remember Me #2) by Abby Jimenez

Definitely a most anticipated book. I was hoping to read it early, since I read the first one early, but no such luck. I also got the audio version from my library so I'll be listening to that next week.

NetGalley/Edelweiss/Booktrovert:

Ruinous Ends (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #2) by L.V. Marie

So excited about this one. It's one of my most anticipated books and I really hope it lives up to my hype in my head. I adored the first book so much!

Stranger Things have Happened by Kasie West

I have the Kindle version of this but once again the audio of a book came up and I needed to get it, as well. Will most likley start this one next week. Here's to hoping it's good. I've been a bit disappointed in West's foray into adult. If I don't enjoy this, I probably won't read any more of her adult books in the future.

In The Mail:

My monthly Fairloot delivery!

The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine

Her Hidden Fire by Clíodhna O'Sullivan

From the publisher

The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza

No idea what this one is about but I like the title and the cover. Sounds like a suspense or mystery!

What did you get?

ARC Review: The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

 

She can hop into any novel, she just can’t stay there. Come along with the book witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes. 

Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

Title: The Book Witch

Author: Meg Shaffer

Publisher: Ballantine

Expected Publication Date: April 7, 2026

Review:

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

This is one of my most anticipated books of 2026. I've really enjoyed Shaffer's other magical realism books. They were warm hugs. This one was no different. I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the world. There seems to be nothing Shaffer can write that I won't enjoy. 

What book lover won't like a book about books? Not this girl. The Book Witch takes all the tropes we love, all the stories we have grown up with, and puts them in danger. That's right, DANGER! Danger of being changed or erased from existence. And we cannot have that. Enter Rainy March, a book witch who enters stories and ensures they proceed as they were written. Saves them from being changed by the characters within or the book burners who want the stories gone completely.

I absolutely adore the story within a story theme Shaffer presents. It's such a clever premise. Rainy and her all time favorite book character, The Duke of Chicago, hunt down the mystery of why stories are being altered, leading us on many adventures within books so many know and love! Stories like Nancy Drew, Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and even The Count of Montecisto! Shaffer takes the idea of the love of books and pushes the limits of what one would go through to ensure their stories survived no matter what. It's a nod to the power of books; how books shape lives and help people through hard times.

Shaffer's characters are well developed and relatable. It's impossible not to fall in love with them and root for them to win in the end. Her side characters are fun and give depth to the story line.

What Shaffer does phenomenally is make you believe in the magic of her stories. It's so easy to suspend your disbelief as you walk through the plot with the characters. She builds a world that just makes sense. From how the witches are able to save stories, to how they get into those stories in the first place. A story infused with emotion and heart. Shaffer has us asking if we could be thrown into a story, which one would we choose? And once there, how would we ensure the story proceeds as we know it to be? And if you were given the chance to stay there, would you?

There is a great twist Shaffer throws into the plot. One I cannot say here without completely ruining the entire story but let's just say, I was pretty surprised by it and didn't even think it was how things would pan out!

If you're a book lover looking for a charming story that feels like a warm hug and will resonate with the booknerd inside of you, don't ever miss picking up one of Shaffer's books!

Author

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.

ARC Review: The Gravewood (Gravewood #1) by Kelly Andrew

 

Shea Parker has lived her entire life in the shadow of the Gravewood – a deadly forest that’s cut her town off from the world. With resources dwindling, she’s forced to ration her hearing aid batteries. When her stash runs out, she’ll be left in silence.

Her only hope is Oliver Lysander, the volatile leader of the vampires who rule the Gravewood. Their deal is simple: she gives him her blood, he brings her batteries. No lines crossed. Nothing personal.

Until Shea’s best friend is lured into the Gravewood, and her brother Asher Thorley returns from the frontlines, willing to expose Shea’s darkest secrets to get his sister back.

Ever the opportunist, Lysander offers a new bargain: if Asher kills his vampire rival, he’ll help find the missing girl. And if Shea agrees to Turn, he’ll cure her ailing mother.

But every deal pulls her closer to Lysander – and to becoming a monster herself.

Title: The Gravewood (Gravewood #1)

Author: Kelly Andrew

Publisher: Scholastic

Expected Publication Date: April 7, 2026

Review:

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

I had the pleasure of reading a Kelly Andrew book early last year and I adored it. Her writing is so good. I love how she can easily tell a story that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked on the plot. This one did that and more. I loved the themes: paranormal, dystopian, a little bit of romance. And I loved the plot. This book has cemented that I will read anything Andrew chooses to write.

I haven't read a vampire like book in a long time. At least not one that drew me in so well and keep me wondering what would happen next. Andrew managed that and more. While the characters are not strictly what I normally think of as vampires, that theme is definitely there. But Andrew puts a bit of a twist on how they come about being the blood sucking creatures we know from history. Not only does she include paranormal creatures in her story, but she managed to make it dystopian, as well. A world where a "rot" has taken over and killed off more people than not. A "rot" that transforms people, but not always. It's such an interesting and unique concept.

I love a book with dual POV and Andrew chose to incorporate that here. The FMC, Shea, and MMC, Lysander, were well developed and relatable. The idea of Shea making a deal with the "devil" really pushed the plot forward. Everyone in the story had something to gain (or lose) from the deals that are made. While Shea is a sweet and a bit naive, Lysander is a great morally gray character who exerts his influence over her. Their dynamic really seeps off the page. You feel the pull they have for one another through the bond that forms given their deal (I don't want to spoil it so I'll leave it at that). 

Andrew chose to include a disability in this book: the FMC has hearing loss and wears hearing aids. I knew she had done this and love that she was able to include what she has personally experienced in her life in this book. It was authentic and real. I've seen Andrew's posts on IG about her hearing loss and use of hearing aids; I've even asked her questions because I needed to understand it more. This book truly shows how such hearing loss affects people. What they go through as the hearing aids bring the world's sounds into more focus. Andrew shows how overwhelming this can be for the individual. It was so well done!

The politics in this one really form the overall theme. The "vampires" are in charge, whether the characters believe it or not. There are deals being made left and right. Areas that are off limits to others. Places where people should not go. Andrew really builds the world out well. Especially with the introductory chapter that gives some back story. Much of the book focuses on the survival of the characters and how they manage to do that. The overall feel reminded me of Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Mind series, though the theme is totally different. But I could see the influence of many books during this story: Twilight, Divergent, The Darkest Minds, The Vampire Diaries, and many others. But Andrew makes this one all her own with it's uniqueness.

The romantic theme is another part of the story I enjoyed. There's a push and pull between the two main characters that you're not quite sure is an attraction or something that is happening relate to their deal. I'm happy Andrew did not make it the central theme but it is underlying throughout. I felt the push and pull between the FMC and MMC as well as the side character that creates almost a love triangle (though not quite). I had the feeling the romance was headed into a throuple, but it didn't go there and I was honestly happy as I recently read a YA book where that happened and it was not done as I would have liked for YA.

Finally, I loved the found family aspect of this book. The main characters parents are not quite present so they are forced to become more adult and be on their own. It was easy to see how they characters, including the side characters, would form a bond. All had distinct personalities, and motives. Some made me more mad than others. Plus there is diverse representation in the book which I always appreciate to help me expand my mind.

If you're looking for a unique twist on vampires and a book that draws you in from the very start and keeps you turning pages, Andrew is one to make sure you read. I am excited to see where she takes the rest of this series!

Author:

Kelly Andrew lost her hearing when she was four years old and she’s been dreaming up stories in the silence ever since.

Andrew lives in New England with her husband and their two daughters (and a very grouchy Boston Terrier). She has a BSW, but received her Masters in English & Creative Writing. When she’s not writing, she enjoys obsessing over a good book, scouring flea markets for treasure, and getting intentionally lost in the woods.

Andrew is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.

Most Anticipated Release Tuesday March 24, 2026

 

Here are the books I am most anticipating this week!

Most Likely to Murder by Lish McBride

I love me a good murder mystery. And YA murder mysteries are even more fun. Plus there's always a little romance. I did get to read this one early. You can see what I thought HERE.

The Night We Met (Say You'll Remember Me #2) by Abby Jimenez

One of my most anticipated books. I tried to get an early copy but no such luck. So I grabbed it from the library!

My Kind of Guy (Hockey Guys #4) by Sarina Bowen

I haven't started this series but I love me some Bowen. I need to get all of these and read them!

What about you?

ARC Review: All To Play For (Frontrunners #3) by Josie Juniper

 

Sage Sikora, the new driver for the Emerald F1 team, is bold and daring, on and off the track. This season, as the only female driver on the grid she has a single-minded to be the first woman to win a Grand Prix. But there's one thorn in her side, the unfairly gorgeous and spoiled journalist and popular blogger Alexander Laskaris-who seems to have it out for Sage.

When one of his blog posts goes too far, Alexander finds himself working for Emerald as penance and his new boss is none other than Sage herself. Despite their battle of wills, the pair end up as allies when trouble arrives and Alexander begins to fall for F1's Queen of Chaos. Sage soon realises there's more to spoiled playboy Alexander than meets the eye. But with the critical eyes of the racing world upon them, she has too much to prove and even more to lose. Can her feelings take a backseat or will Emerald's first female driver fail to reach the podium?

Title: All To Play For (Frontrunners #3)

Author: Josie Juniper

Publisher: Forever

Expected Publication Date: Apri 7, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I have to admit, I started this series and was disappointed with the first book. But I loved the second book. So I really needed to see where Juniper would take this third story (especially given it is about a female F1 driver). And I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved how the story of Sage and Alex played out.

What I love about interrelated romance is that we meet the characters in other books. So when we come to their story, we are already rooting for them. And we're definitely interested in how the author will develop them and their story line. To say I was enamored with these two is an understatement. The prickly Sage with the golden retriever Alex was so much fun to watch.

Sage is the grumpy in this grumpy/sunshine relationship, for sure. She keeps her distance from so many: friends, family, teammates. She doesn't allow herself to get attached. She doesn't feel she has it in her to do so. She's full of baggage from her family, from her job, from who she is in general. But Alex breaks down her walls. He takes what she can give him and never asks her for more. He remains stoic and true to who he is. At the same time, his emotion and draw to Sage spills off the page. I actually preferred his character to Sage's, even if I did understand why she was the way she was.

I will admit there was not as much F1 in this story as I was expecting. I kind of wanted to see more of Sage driving and how her being a woman affected this. It is alluded to a bit but the author never really dives into that part. Given the overwhelming male presence in F1, I feel like it would have been important to really explore this aspect. We do get some of it from Sage's POV, but not as much as I would have liked. I did notice the author has some good background in F1 with her the verbage she used and how she did integrate the races. I just feel like this should have been much more at the forefront of the story given the FMC's position on the team.

The book does touch on addiction. Juniper does a decent job with this. Having grown up in this environment, I am often weary when authors introduce. I can see there is some research that has been done, though not as much as I would have liked.

If you're not a fan of third act break ups, skip this. There is some miscommunication, though it's forced from the MMC, to be honest. These two tropes are not my favorite but Juniper does them well enough to not bother me enough not to enjoy the rest of the plot.

If you're looking for an F1 romance that is light on the F1, this one is a good start. I would read the previous books so you understand some of the relationships that are presented. Overall, this one was fun. I loved Alex and just felt meh about Sage. The side characters were fun but not all that deep. Not my favorite romance book but it kept me interested enough to keep turning pages to see how it ended.

Author:

Josie Juniper writes high-steam romance featuring hot, angsty men who are dirty talkers with hearts of gold, and smart, snarky women with hilarious foul mouths. She works in mathematics and has been a staff writer and/or editor for four publications, winning awards for her sharp, funny, iconoclastic writing. She lives in Portland, OR and loves rain, swearing, lost causes, tattoos, F1 racing, and prime numbers.