BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT: Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness #1) by Ashley Bennett

 Happy publication day to Muscles & Monsters!

ABOUT MUSCLES & MONSTERS

A gym-owning wolven and a headstrong baker discover howl real their connection is in the first book of the beloved Leviathan Fitness series.

After a wedding cake catastrophe on the street, local baker Tegan lands in the most unexpected place—a solid wall of fur and fangs named Atlas. She’s never met anyone like him and finds herself enamored by his wolfish charm. After their sweet encounter, Atlas invites her to his gym anytime she needs his cake-lifting services.

However, Tegan is through with being a damsel in distress. She signs up for a membership with Leviathan Fitness, determined to build her strength…and if she sees the handsome wolven again, it’s a win-win scenario.

Atlas can’t believe his eyes when Tegan walks through the doors of his gym, and nearly goes snout-over-paw to offer her personal training. Shared glances over the barbell and accidental touches at the water fountain set Atlas’s heart racing in a way he swore it couldn’t again.

Primal desires emerge as Atlas and Tegan test just how much their new love can lift. Could Tegan be the unexpected mate of Atlas’s dreams?

Title: Muscles & Monsters (Leviathan Fitness #1)

Author: Ashley Bennett

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: 2/10/2026

How cute does this book look! I'm loving the theme and I cannot wait to jump in and devour it. Have you heard of this one? Will you be putting it on your TBR? DO IT!

A little about the author, Ashley Bennett:

Ashley Bennett is a small-town paranormal and monster romance author from Baltimore, Maryland. She writes stories that are equal parts spice and swoon. When she's not writing, you can find her reading webtoons, playing cozy video games, and taking care of her houseful of rescue animals.

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Blog Tour: Love In Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly

 

Beth Lundberg has always dreamed of becoming a pilot, but financial barriers and tricky family dynamics prevent her from soaring through the clouds—until George Bunsen flies into her life.

 

Sure, her brother’s best friend may be both a talented pilot and an extremely good-looking man—but Beth can’t stand him. He’s always been frosty towards her, and Beth assumes that George is just another member of the pompous boys’ club that dominates the skies. But when her first ride-along with George dives toward disaster, Beth is horrified to find herself with an adrenaline-fueled crush on the sexy pilot who just saved her life. 

 

Feeling guilty for their near-catastrophe, George offers Beth free flying lessons. The more time the duo spends navigating the sky, the more the turbulence between George and Beth dissipates. But can Beth really take a risk on romance when her pilot career isn’t even off the ground?

 

LOVE IN PLANE SIGHT is the perfect high-flying read for fans of Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, and Beth O’Leary. Connolly’s blend of wry millennial wit, laugh-out-loud humor, and stirring emotional depth will have readers soaring on a fun-filled journey through the pages. In addition to serving up a charming love story, Connolly draws attention to the sexism and inequality that female pilots often face.

Title: Love In Plane Sight

Author: Lauren Connolly

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Publication Date: December 16, 2025

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 provided here are my own.

To say I was excited to get a copy of this book to read early is an understatement. I absolutely adored P.S. I Hate You by Connolly and was excited to see what she would write next. And this book was chef's kiss for me. I adored the characters and the plot.

Beth Lundberg is no stranger to her brother's best friend, George Bunsen. For as long as she's known him, he has never liked her, going as far as leaving rooms when she enters. When a ride along flying lesson with him goes horribly wrong, Beth finds herself with an adrenaline fueled crush. And when he offers to give her lessons for free as she struggles to pay her mother's medical bills, she truly cannot say no. As they spend more time together, the walls that have been built between them start to melt and they find themselves bonding and even, maybe, liking each other just a little bit more than they should.

I loved how Connolly built the relationship between George and Beth. Not only is there intense chemistry, but their banter is top notch. I love how sarcastic they are with one another. There were so many laugh out loud moments that had my family looking at me like I was losing my mind. I'm a sucker for a good pining story and this one had that in loads. 

Beth is well developed but I had just a few issues with how often she was trying to convince herself that George just did not like her. That he was only doing things for her because of his guilt due to their emergency landing. That her brother, Shawn, was the one to make him spend time with her. This particular trope drives me bananas. Miscommunication can absolutely be done well but it was a little over the top in this book with how many times the FMC mentioned the MMC not liking her. I understood where it was coming from and why it was being used, but there were so many times I wanted to bonk Beth on her head. I did enjoy her inability to ask for or take help. She wants so badly to be independent she just cannot find it in her to accept when others are truly wanting to help her without her having to give anything in return. The guilt associated with this is palpable throughout the book. It was nice to watch her slowly realize others are happy to assist her when she needs it.

The pacing of the book was great. I didn't want to put it down. I needed to find out how Beth and George's story would play out. And the first chapter truly starts with a bang and pulls you right into the story. I was hooked right from the start!

It was so easy to fall in love with this story and all the characters contained within it. I especially loved Beth and Shawn's relationship. He was such a great support for her. Their relationship was so sweet. You could really feel how much they truly cared for each other. The tricky family dynamics seemed like they would interfere with this relationship, but the characters did not allow it. I absolutely would not mind a story for Shawn in the future because I feel like he truly deserves to be happy.

Overall I was delighted with this book. It was fun and fast paced and touched on some really important topics. If you love Katherine Center, Abby Jimenez, and Carley Fortune, you will be sucked right into Connolly's story. I can't wait to see what Connolly comes up with next!

Author:

Lauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and magical romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.

ARC Review: A Wtich's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

 

A whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…

Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone...and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

Title: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025

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 truly loved the other book in this world and was super excited when I heard there would be another. Don't be fooled, though, this book is not a sequel. While it takes place in the same world, the characters are all different and there is no true overlap with them.

Mandanna did a fabulous job of pulling me right into this story. I love her magical theme and how she integrates it with the characters and the plot. She's queen of the cozy fantasy plot for me. She wraps me in her stories and they give me all the good feels.

Sera is such a great character. She's funny and loving and caring. Almost too much. She barely takes care of herself. Which is commendable but also somewhat detrimental. She has lost most of her magic but wants to desperately get it back. As if that would make her a better person. But what she learns along the way is that she is already that amazing person. She surrounds herself with people who love and care for her, even if she doesn't truly let them.

Luke Larson just wants to take care of his autistic sister, Posy, and do his job. But he cannot find a good fit for his sister to be educated in the ways of magic. She doesn't fit into the "normal" box of a witch so it's harder for her to be educated that way. And his parents are no help. They just want her to be "normal" and Luke understands she is not like other witches. He grew up being different and forced into a box and he does not want that for his sister. When he finds Sera's inn, it's not by mistake. The inn allows those who need it to be drawn to it. Luke has no intentions of staying but somehow he does and it turns out to be the best thing for both him and his sister!

I love the found family theme in this book. It shows that blood is not always true to accepting you for who you are. And it shows you can find others to be your family when your own family won't. I love how they all work together to attain the goal of finding out how to bring Sera's magic back. I also love that they all are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save each other.

Overall, this book wrapped me up and guided me through so many emotions. I laughed, I teared up, I got nervous, and then I was so happy at the end. Mandanna knows how to write a story that keeps you engaged. I was entertained the entire time. I loved the world building, the character development, and the plot. This book was charming and fun. Highly recommend picking it up and giving it a try!

Author:

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.

ARC Review: Rewitched (Rewitched #1) by Lucy Jane Wood

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.

Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.

But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .

With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you've been waiting for.

Title: Rewitched (Rewitched #1)

Author: Lucy Jane Wood

Publisher: ACE

Publication Date: September 19, 2024

Review:

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

I love a good witchy story. And this one was read now and caught my eye in an email. I'm so glad I read it. It was adorable. 

Belladonna Blackthorn barely uses her magic. She's called to her witchy trial to see if it needs to be taken away. She must prove her worth. With a witch who has been ousted and her keeper by her side, can she get through the trials?

Belle was such a great character. I loved that she used her powers for easy things and had no idea of her true power. It's fun how she slowly finds it. It's also great that she winds up in a situation where she must solve a mystery all the while finding her witchy way.

Rune was so sweet. He's got a bit of mystery to him and is a bit reserved. But you can see his snark and fun hidden just beneath his surface. I really wish he would have had more page time, to be honest. This one would have been fun as a dual POV. But he treats Belle with such kindness and helps her see she is worth all things witchy.

And the romance? It's not the center of the story but it's there in such a sweet way. I loved how it was simple and Belle and Rune grew into each other.

The side characters are great, as well. I loved the animals and Belle's best friend!

I will say there were some slow parts but over all the pacing was nice. 

If you're looking for a cozy fantasy, pick this one up. Great for lovers of Assistant to the Villain and Legends and Lattes. I'm looking forward to reading the next story!

Author:

I found myself falling into the world of writing almost by accident. My blogging friends at university were applying for swanky magazine internships, and I decided I should probably do something useful like that for myself. It was an obvious decision that almost made itself on my behalf, because writing is just who I am, and reading has always just been what I do.

Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.

I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.

 

Most Anticipated Releases: May 7 , 2024

   Happy Tuesday May 7, 2024 release day! 

These are my picks for most anticipated releases this week.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (Tomes & Tea #1)

All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.

But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town that boasts more dragons than people, and open the shop of their dreams.

What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.

I received an early copy of the second book in this series, A Pirate's Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea #2). I'm looking forward to getting a copy of the first one to read before I dive into that. any book about a bookshop, books, library, or anything bookish automatically gets added to my TBR!

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

She thought it was love. Then he vanished.

On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel Cafferty's phone buzzes with a disturbing text message. Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP. The words would be jarring from anyone, but the sender is the only man she ever loved. And it's been several years since she learned he died.

Seeing Drew’s name pop up is heart-stopping. Ariel’s gut says it can’t be real. But she goes to the tree anyway. She has to.

Nobody shows. But the text upends everything she thought she knew about the day he left her. The more questions she asks, the more sinister the answers get. Only two things are clear: everything she was told five years ago is wrong, and someone is still lying to her.

The truth has to be out there somewhere. To safeguard herself—and her son—she’ll have to find it before it finds her. And with it, the answer to what became of Drew.

With a heart-stopping romance that only Sarina Bowen can execute, The Five Year Lie is a page-turning, spine-tingling thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.

I really like Sarina Bowen. Mostly her hockey books because they are fantastic MM romance. But I liked her writing style. This is a thriller and a romance so it should prove interesting!

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

Carley Fortune has quickly become one of my auto-read authors. I have really enjoyed her previous books. I received this one early and had a chance to read it and it was entertaining. You can find my review HERE.

What books are you looking forward to being published this week?