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Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

Elle Cosimano

SeriesFinlay Donovan #6

PublisherMinotaur

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatKindle ARC

Pages320

Pub. DateMarch 4, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

Life hasn’t been easy for Finlay Donovan lately, but it just got a whole lot harder. Her nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland, where she’s facing criminal charges for a theft she swears she didn’t commit. A prisoner to an ankle bracelet as she awaits her trial, Vero is forced to live with her overbearing mother and nosy aunt. Threatening messages keep arriving on her mother’s door, demanding Vero “turn over the money . . . or else.” And if she doesn’t figure out who really stole her former sorority’s treasury funds, her next home might be a prison cell.

But proving her innocence might be an impossible feat. Vero was the treasurer of her sorority when the money went missing—one of the only people who had access to the cash. And her alibi is a date who ghosted her. With her court date quickly approaching, and her mysterious stalker on her tail, Vero needs to clear her name fast.

Finlay decides a trip to Maryland is in order. After all, Vero stood by her through her darkest moments, and Finlay will be damned if she lets her best friend and children’s nanny be convicted for something she didn’t do. She sets off on a mission to sus out the real thief and bring Vero home.

MY THOUGHTS

If series titles could get better and better the more it progresses, then the sixth book in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line definitely fits the bill. I love this because we don’t have Finlay, et al, ready to solve another crime. In this book, Finlay’s best friend, Vero Ramirez, has been extradited to her home state of Maryland is us under house arrest. Finlay misses her, and she strongly feel the entire case against Vero is wrong and she is determined to prove her innocence.

The case against Vero goes back to when she was in college, and at the time, Vero and her sorority sisters were involved in some underground poker games. One night a bag of the winnings disappeared and all fingers pointed at Vero. She dropped out of school, fled Maryland, and started a new life when she began working for Finlay. Now that she has been found, she is under house arrest until trial, and could be facing years in prison.

Finlay isn’t the only one concerned about Vero’s future. There is also Javi Romero, Vero’s boyfriend - and he is willing to do anything to help Vero, even if that involves breaking the law. Significant to this is that Vera swears her innocence, and doesn’t want to make things worse.

So, how does Finlay cross the one, as this book is titles? Finlay, our novelist, mother and detective, is desperate to focus on proving Vero’s innocence. Her boyfriend, Nick Anthony, has generously offered to stay with the children while Finlay goes to Maryland. Finlay crosses the line in more than one way in this fun jaunt with a lot going on. 

This book delivers quite a few things - the strength of Finlay and Vero’s friendship, Finlay and Nick’s relationship proving solid, and some fun chaos. I loved this installment and am looking forward to reading more books in this engaging series.

Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.

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Robin Loves Reading

Review - The Mother-Daughter Book Club

 

The Mother-Daughter Book Club

James Patterson; Susan Patterson

PublisherLittle, Brown and Company

GenreMemoir

FormatAudiobook

NarratorEllen Archer, et al

Length7 hrs 35 mins

Pages352

Pub. DateA;ril 20, 2027

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

DESCRIPTION

Secrets, spritzes, and second chances

“An entertaining book ... As friends talk books, hopes, dreams … and dishy revelations … it’s romantic love—both old and new … that drive[s] the story forward.” —Kirkus Review

Between their busy lives and their far-flung residences, the Mother-Daughter Book Club—four longtime college friends and their five daughters—more often discuss the books on their nightstands via 2 a.m. texts than in-person meetings. And maybe it’s just as well, after what happened at their last get-together ... 

So it’s an emotional reunion when they finally gather again, this time on the spectacular shores of Italy’s Lake Como. Sightseeing excursions, reminiscing fueled by “Como-politans,” and a hint of vacation romance all build toward the book club’s trademark “Night of Secrets.” 

These friends, and sometime rivals, are close readers—of novels, memoirs, and of each other. But as the years and the distance cast shadows and doubt, confidences and sympathies turn into surprising revelations.

MY THOUGHTS

Earlier this year, I read James and Susan Patterson’s Things I Wish I Told My Mother, and I was glad to be able to read another book that focused on the mother-daughter dynamic.  This story centers around four college friends who have worked hard over the years to maintain their relationships and make time for regular gatherings. It wasn’t just the four friends who came together - their five daughters were also part of these reunions.

Sadly, three years earlier, as one of those gatherings was coming to an end, Meg and Kathleen, the twin daughters of one of the women, were involved in a devastating accident. The aftermath fractured the friendships among the women and daughters and even damaged the once-close bond between the twin sisters.

Now, they all reunite and attempt to mend old wounds. Between them are secrets, unresolved feelings, and plenty of emotional baggage. The question is whether they can rebuild the relationships that once meant so much to them.

This is a warm, second-chance story that explores friendship, forgiveness, grief, and even romance. Using the framework of a book club, the women and their daughters are given an opportunity to confront the past and perhaps repair what was broken. While books bring everyone together, they definitely come second to the relationships explored throughout this story.

There is a bonus at the end of the book - delicious recipes.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan Solie Patterson has a Bachelor of Science/Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was also an All-American swimmer. She is the author of Things I Wish I Told My Mother and Big Words for Little Geniuses, which was a New York Times bestseller.

- - -

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Robin Loves Reading

BLOG TOUR - The Wife After Me

TitleThe Wife After Me

AuthorNora Valters

PublisherBookouture

GenrePsychological Thriller

FormatKindle ARC

Pages282

Pub. DateAugust 24, 2026

Rating4 Stars

DESCRIPTION

She married my ex-husband. They're living in my house. One of us won't make it out alive...

I share a house with my ex-husband, Ben. A floor each, a schedule for taking turns to use the kitchen. It may sound odd but it’s all perfectly amicable. Then his new wife moves in…

Yasmin breezes in on a cloud of expensive perfume, and it’s clear Ben is besotted. But her perfect veneer soon starts to crack. I know she’s been in my room. And I realise I have more to fear than I’d ever imagined…

Then Ben disappears, and I’m alone in the house with her. I hear a noise in our basement. I run down the steps and the door slams behind me. But is it Yasmin turning the key in the lock, or is the truth even more dangerous?

And will I survive…?

Fans of None of This Is True, John Marrs, T.M. Logan and Freida McFadden will be utterly gripped by this addictive, page-turning psychological thriller.

MY THOUGHTS

Steph and her ex-husband, Ben, have a rather interesting living arrangement. Their home is absolutely beautiful, and neither one wants to give it up, so they come to an agreement: they will share the house while maintaining separate spaces and following a schedule for common areas, such as the kitchen. It may be unconventional, but for them, it works. Steph has also changed careers and, for the past five years, has worked remotely as a grief counselor.

Then everything changes - and far too quickly for Steph’s comfort. Ben has found someone new, Yasmin. Steph doesn’t want Ben back and genuinely wants to be happy for him, but she soon feels increasingly hemmed in when Yasmin begins spending more time at the house and disregarding the rules Steph and Ben established. Meanwhile, Steph’s father, a former cop with whom she shares a wonderful relationship, is dealing with troubles of his own. Add to this the family of a former patient whose situation has left Steph with an unrelenting grief, and she certainly has her hands full. 

However, as Steph soon discovers, the drama surrounding her may be spiraling into something far more perilous. This thrilling story kept me on the edge of my seat. I managed to figure out a couple of the twists, but there were still more to come, so my enjoyment of this thriller was not diminished in any way. In fact, I couldn’t wait to see how everything would ultimately unfold.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai. She currently resides in Weston-super-Mare.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller Her Biggest Fan was published in October 2020. Her latest novel is His First Girlfriend and she’s currently writing her seventh novel, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, knitting/crochet, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs!

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/nora-valters

Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - You Know Why

  

“We know what you did.”

“The surprise. The trip. The leaving. The email. The stranger. The secret.”

TitleYOU KNOW WHY

AuthorJ. T. Ellison

PublisherBrilliance Audio

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatALC

NarratorBrittany Pressley, et al

Length

  12 hrs 18 mins

Pages428

Pub. DateAugust 25, 2026

Rating

4 Stars

DESCRIPTION

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a suspenseful domestic thriller about identity, revenge, and the dangerous secrets kept hidden from the ones we love most.

It’s the holidays, and photographer Brooklyn Locke is bound for Italy with her husband, Trey, and their two children. But when Trey vanishes from the airport, missing their connecting flight, their impromptu vacation—and life as she knows it—begins to unravel.

Desperate to find her husband, Brooklyn accepts help from a stranger on the same flight, Eden Barrow. But Eden soon makes a shocking claim. She is the sister of Trey’s first wife, and ten years ago he was the main suspect in her murder.

Struggling to comprehend these accusations, fate delivers one more a violent accident that leaves Brooklyn fighting for her life. With nowhere else to turn, Brooklyn leans on Eden for support. But each kindness feels too rehearsed, feeding her doubts about Eden’s motives and Trey’s true past.

Brooklyn has her own dark history she’d rather forget and confronts an unsettling possibility. Her life is not what it seems, and the truth is a trap—laid by someone waiting for the perfect time to strike.

MY THOUGHTS

Food blogger and formerly sought-after food photographer Brooklyn Locke is married to Trey, and together they have two children. With Christmas just around the corner, Trey has a surprise for Brooklyn: a three-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. He tells her that he is taking his boss’s place on a business trip, but that most of their time will be devoted to the family. Although Brooklyn is more than a little unsure about the sudden change of plans, she agrees to go.

The next morning, the family boards a plane bound for Italy. But when Trey looks at the monitor, his expression suddenly changes. The flight is being diverted, and their travel plans have been completely rearranged. They have to board another plane. Even more unsettling, another passenger, Eden Barrow, recognizes him - but she calls him by a different name. Trey panics, makes an excuse, and leaves the plane. What else can Brooklyn do but follow, except Trey has completely disappeared. Now she is left stranded with her children. With little choice, Brooklyn is forced to accept Eden’s eagerly offered assistance.

The book is told through dual perspectives - Brooklyn’s and Eden’s. It is through Eden’s narration that readers discover she is the twin sister of Trey’s first wife, and she is convinced that Trey murdered her sister. Although he was cleared of the crime, Trey disappeared and started a new life. Eventually, he met Brooklyn, seemingly leaving that traumatic chapter of his life far behind.

There is more. So much more. Brooklyn begins to question whether she ever really knew her husband. Before she can sort through everything she is learning, she is involved in a terrible accident that leaves her fighting for her life. This makes her even more dependent on Eden, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Brooklyn has secrets of her own.

This is a multi-layered story built on deception, secrets, revenge, mental illness, and ultimately, danger. It is a story where the ghosts of the past can suddenly catch up with you when you least expect it.

The pacing is excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me invested from beginning to end. I also found this to be a particularly thrilling audiobook experience. With several narrators bringing the characters and their perspectives to life, it was easy to follow the different voices and added another layer to the suspense.

Many thanks to Brilliance Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

J.T. Ellison is the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 novels, and the EMMY-award winning co-host of A WORD ON WORDS, Nashville's premier literary show. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 26 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.

Social Links:
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Twitter
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BLOG TOUR - The Girlfriend’s Secret

DESCRIPTION:

My son thinks she’s perfect. But I know she’s here to destroy me…

From the moment I meet my son’s new girlfriend, I know she’s going to be trouble. Haven isn’t the kind of partner I imagined for my darling boy. Joel is sensitive and kind, whereas Haven is so loud and full of confidence. Her sun-kissed locks and gleaming smile are perfect… too perfect. She doesn’t belong here. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of her…

Except Haven is smart. I underestimated her. I thought if I made life uncomfortable she’d leave my son alone. Instead, she’s somehow wormed her way into the heart of my family, and now she’s living under my roof.

I’m sure she’s not really here because she loves my son. I catch her staring at me with her big blue eyes. She smiles, like she knows something she shouldn’t. Like she knows my darkest secret. And my heart skips a beat.

Why is Haven really here? And how far will I go to protect my family…?

A completely addictive and twist-filled page-turner from the king of psychological thrillers and number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden

BUY LINK:Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GZC319YGsocial

Title:  The Girlfriend’s Secret

Author:  Daniel Hurst

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   284

Date of Publication:   August 19, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Told from multiple perspectives, The Girlfriend’s Secret is a thrilling story that unfolds in the aftermath of a tragic death. While visiting her mother, Liane discovers her dead at the bottom of the stairs. What a devastating loss for Liane and her entire family. Liane, her husband Frederik, and their sons Joel and Scott are left to grieve. But there is another person in the picture: Haven, Joel’s girlfriend.

From the outset, Liane doesn’t trust Haven. Each member of the family is left a sizable inheritance, and Liane becomes determined to prove that Haven knew Joel was going to come into money and that his inheritance is the only reason she is with him. Convinced that Haven is hiding something, Liane sets out to uncover the truth.

Told through the perspectives of Liane, Haven, and Scott, this story will definitely give readers pause. Is there more to the way Liane’s mother died? Is at least one of them hiding a secret? And, perhaps most importantly, who can be trusted?

As always, Daniel Hurst delivers a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with suspicion, secrets, and unreliable narrators. I never quite knew who was telling the truth, and that uncertainty kept me turning the pages. That is exactly why I love reading his books!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst is an Amazon number one, multi-million-copy bestselling author of addictive, fast paced psychological thrillers and the King of jaw-dropping endings. His chart-topping titles include The Doctor’s Wife, The Couple’s Revenge, I Want Your Family and Our Perfect Holiday.

Daniel has been a full-time author since 2021 and prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/daniel-hurst

Website: https://www.danielhurstbooks.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhurstbooks

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

Review - Perfect Stranger

Title:  Perfect Stranger

Author:  Gregg Dunnett   

Publisher:  Storm Publishing

Genre:  Psychological Thriller 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   387

Date of Publication:   August 19, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A BRAND NEW THRILLER FROM A #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR.

The morning we set out, I told myself it was the beginning of everything. A camper van we'd built with our own hands, the open road unspooling south and James at the wheel – the boy I love. The boy I'm almost certainI love...

What I didn't tell my boyfriend was the real reason I wanted to go on this road trip. Years ago, my brother Ben disappeared on a family camping trip in the woods. The man who did it has never said where he buried the body – he's in prison now, and likes to taunt the press with clues about where Ben might be. I've waited years for an answer. Now I'm going to find out for myself.

But the further south we go, the more certain I we're not alone out here. Someone has been following us since the morning we left, and they know exactly where we're headed. Which means they know about Ben. And they're getting closer...

A gripping, twisty psychological thriller from the #1 bestselling author of Little Ghosts. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Riley Sager.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Emily and James are about to embark on van life. Their van has been completely kitted out, and Emily has a very personal reason for making the trip. Fifteen years ago, her brother Ben was taken and murdered while their family was camping. Emily has never been able to find closure, and she hopes this journey will help her finally come to terms with what happened.

The trip should also be relatively easy to fund because they plan to vlog their travels. The more views they get, the more money they can make. But sharing their journey with the world also means giving up something incredibly important: privacy - and potentially, safety.

Things become even more interesting when they meet an older man who is a surfer, something that immediately appeals to James. The three seem to hit it off, but as is often the case in thrillers, appearances can be deceiving.

The story also shifts perspectives to Sergeant Sean Carter, a soldier serving in Serbia. Sean and his men are captured, and one of them tells Sean something deeply disturbing. From there, the story begins to connect in ways I didn’t see coming, with shocking twists, unexpected revelations, and at least one very convincing red herring.

Filled with danger, suspense, and a rapid pace, Perfect Stranger is definitely a bizarre story - but bizarre in the best possible way. I never quite knew where the story was headed, and that kept me turning the pages. Gregg Dunnett has created a compelling thriller that takes some unexpected turns and keeps the tension high throughout.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregg Dunnett writes twist-packed psychological thrillers set where the land meets the sea – a habit born of years chasing waves as a windsurfing journalist and all-round beach-bum. His novels include the Amazon #1 bestsellers “The Wave at Hanging Rock” and “The Things You Find in Rockpools” (now in development for TV) and the Audible #1 hit “Little Ghosts”.

After twenty years on England’s south coast, Gregg, his partner María (who translates the books into Spanish), their two kids and a daft Labradoodle named Loki set off on another adventure – moving to Spain to draw artistic inspiration from the moody Cantabrian mountains and the wild Atlantic coast. Plus the food’s really good. 

Grab two free thrillers – just search “Gregg Dunnett free books” in your browser.

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BLOG TOUR - Murder in a Yorkshire Village

DESCRIPTION:

A stream of bikes speeding along the road in the annual cycle race. And one in a ditch upside down, wheels still spinning… with a body lying next to it. Can Kitty Underhay get to the bottom of this?

England, 1938. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a stroll in the Yorkshire town where she and her husband Matt are visiting his family. As she stops to take in the rolling hills, she suddenly sees a most unexpected sight. There’s a bike in the ditch just along the road… and the cyclist is dead.

Abandoning her plans for a picnic with Matt, the pair start to piece together what happened. But there’s more than meets the eye to the man now pushing up daisies. The victim is no stranger; it appears he has unexpected Devon connections. Why is he here? And who is behind his murder? Has his ex-girlfriend hit the brakes? Or could it be the woman he was courting in secret? And the other cyclists aren’t faultless either…

But just as Kitty and Matt set the wheels in motion and the investigation picks up speed, there’s another murder, shaking up the quiet country town further. Then Kitty and Matt realise that they too have been marked by the killer, and the duo need to unearth the connection between the two murders immediately…

Can Kitty and Matt catch the killer before they get to the finish line? Or will it be game over for both of them by the end of the race…?

Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Verity Bright will adore this totally charming murder mystery. The perfect treat for cozy crime fans!

BUY LINK: 

Amazon:  https://geni.us/B0GMRB6N5Tsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Title:   Murder In a Yorkshire Village

Author:  Helena Dixon

Series:  Miss Underhay #24
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  275

Date of Publication:  August 18, 2026

My Rating:  4 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Kitty and her husband, Matt Bryant, are in Yorkshire and looking forward to enjoying a bicycle race. Kitty decides to take a stroll before the festivities and notices a bicycle lying in a ditch. It looks fairly new, so she wonders if one of the riders lost their footing and had no choice but to leave it behind. But when Kitty investigates further, she discovers the rider. Shockingly, the rider’s body is mostly submerged in the mud and is very much dead!

Needless to say, the lovely afternoon Kitty had planned, including a picnic with Matt, is not going to happen. Instead, Kitty and Matt immediately begin searching for answers. But their investigation doesn’t move quickly enough to prevent another murder. The connection between the victims soon becomes a priority, especially when Kitty and Matt realize that danger may be much closer than they expected.

Set in 1938 England, this historical cozy mystery series follows Kitty and Matt as they visit his parents in Yorkshire. With their unique skills and personalities, the two make a terrific crime-solving team. This was an entertaining and enjoyable mystery, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next installment!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the internationally bestselling Miss Underhay cozy mystery series. She is a Black Country girl living in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She was the winner of the RNA Romance Prize in 2007 and the RNA Love Story of the Year 2010.

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