Review - A Fall to Remember

A Fall to Remember

by Ellie Alexander

SeriesHalf Moon Bay #1

PublisherStorm Publishing

GenreRomance

FormatKindle ARC

Pages272

Pub. DateSeptember 1, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

If you love cozy small-town settings, swoon-worthy autumn vibes, second-chance romance, and The Gilmore Girls, pour yourself a pumpkin spice latte, and curl up with A Fall to Remember.

Miranda Brown never meant to become famous. She just wanted a quiet vacation―a rare break from running The Green Grocer, the cozy market that's been the heart of Half Moon Bay, California, for three generations. But when her spectacularly terrible travel photos go viral, Miranda becomes an unlikely internet sensation.

Now a major travel company wants her to cover her hometown's beloved Fall Harvest Festival, sending the charming (and undeniably handsome) Jim Cole to help capture her authentic, imperfect magic on camera.

As golden leaves fall and the scent of apple cider fills the air, Miranda finds that being yourself is harder than it looks―especially when she's falling for Jim. But when she learns his job depends on this campaign's success, she must decide: are his feelings real, or is she just part of his marketing plan?

A cozy, heartwarming romance that celebrates second chances and finding love when you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Julia Olivia and Misty Wilson.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Miranda Brown has become an internet sensation, and quite by accident. She has just returned from vacation, and it’s the photos from her trip that are responsible for her sudden rise to fame. Why? Because Miranda is absolutely terrible at taking selfies - and has proudly been sharing them. Now, a travel company wants to featured her in a media event for the upcoming Fall Harvest Festival in her hometown. To make it happen, the company sends talented photographer Jim Cole to capture Miranda in all her wonderfully bumbling glory.

Miranda is the single mother of a young adult son, Pete, and she has devoted her life to raising him. She is surprised by how drawn she is to Jim - and the feeling is clearly mutual - but she is hesitant to pursue the attraction because a part of her doesn’t want to let Pete down in any way.

What a fun story! What begins as a simple publicity opportunity turns into a much bigger campaign than Miranda ever imagined, with Pete getting swept into the spotlight as well. Are mother and son ready for what comes with instant fame? Miranda has always been content running the market that has been in her family for generations, perhaps never imagining that life might have something completely different in store for her. But as this charming second-chance romance reminds us, love has a way of getting in the way of even the best-laid plans.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. I believe that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, my goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding. 

I love inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and am passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, I guide writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them. 

Come on a storyventure with me! 

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Robin Loves Reading

Review - Taipei Story

Taipei Story

by R. F. Kuang

PublisherWilliam Morrow

GenreMulticultural Interest 

FormatKindle ARC

Pages288

Pub. DateSeptember 8, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

From R.F. Kuang, the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasisand Yellowface, comes a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.

College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon has her classmates viciously gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she thought would feel like home.

Then shocking news Lily’s grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she’s drawn into a journey of self-discovery—piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and devastating attempts at connection.

Taipei Story What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding—of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Lily Chen is one of many Chinese American students who will be studying at a notable university in Taipei. Hoping to reconnect with a part of her heritage that has always felt missing, she spends the summer in an intensive language program, determined to become “more Chinese.” But Lily is not prepared for the language difficulties, culture shock, and friction that arise among some of the students.

The program is incredibly difficult and stressful, and Lily’s living situation only adds to her challenges. She has been assigned a roommate, Ana, and a place to live that can only generously be described as a shoebox. From the beginning, Lily and Ana struggle to get along, and their problems never quite resolve. What Lily envisioned as an exciting summer in Taipei ultimately proves to be far more unsettling than she anticipated.

When Lily receives devastating news of her grandfather’s death, her journey takes a different direction. Acknowledging the missing pieces in her understanding of her culture, she begins searching for answers. Her attempts to find them are often awkward and stumbling, and this is where R. F. Kuang does a wonderful job of weaving humor into what might otherwise have been a very serious story.

Under the watchful eye of the strictest of teachers, Lily struggles to forge genuine personal connections while confronting perplexing questions that often seem beyond her comprehension. What unfolds is ultimately a journey of self-discovery, independence, and an exploration of the profound meaning of home - a concept that proves to be far more complicated than Lily initially imagined.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this novel was the occasional inclusion of images. I don’t know that I had ever really seen Taipei 101, so I appreciated having a visual connection to this famous landmark. One of the characters describes the building as looking like takeout boxes stacked on top of one another, which made me smile. Of course, Taipei 101 is so much more than that. Being largely unfamiliar with Chinese culture, I also felt as though this book gave me a window into a world I knew very little about, allowing me to experience it alongside Lily.

I used the Read Aloud feature on the NetGalley app, and I was thrilled to hear actual Chinese words spoken as Lily struggled to make sense of the language. This happens throughout the book and added another layer to my reading experience.

Although I had never read R. F. Kuang before this novel, her name has been on my radar ever since I added Yellowface to my TBR. I’m glad Taipei Story finally gave me the opportunity to experience her writing. I also appreciated that, before the story even begins, Kuang provides helpful disclosures about transliteration and her perspective on the place and culture explored in the novel.

It looks like I have another author to add to my must-read list - and I’m definitely planning to explore her backlist!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy and Babel: An Arcane History, among others. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.

http://www.twitter.com/kuangrf

http://www.rfkuang.com/

Robin Loves Reading

Review - The Forty-Year Grudge

The Forty-Year Grudge

by Liza Tully

SeriesMerritt & Blunt Mysteries #2

PublisherBerkley

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatKindle ARC

Pages352

Pub. DateJune 9, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

When the World's Greatest Detective reunites with her college friends, she discovers that time doesn't heal all wounds.

It's been four decades since the women of Sigma Delta Tau were last together. The years have been kind to some but not to others.,,, !    

Still this is supposed to be a pleasant diversion for former sorority member and current private investigator Aubrey Merritt. She's come to New Mexico to reconnect with old friends, and she's brought her personal assistant Olivia Blunt along with her to help with her bags.

But when one of the sorority sisters is murdered, all eyes turn to the World's Greatest Detective to solve the case. It's going to take both Aubrey and Olivia to cut through the knot of old hurts and current grievances to find the killer.

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS

If you read the first book in this series, The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant, you’ll remember Aubrey Merritt and Olivia Blunt as polar opposites with a rather contentious relationship. Over time, though, they’ve developed a begrudging respect for one another. This is really good because it’s on their next case that a decades-old grudge finally comes to light.

The Sigma Delta Tau sorority is holding a reunion in New Mexico, and Aubrey isn’t particularly interested in attending. But when she learns that one of her former sorority sisters is in danger, she decides to go - and brings Olivia along as her assistant. Olivia is still learning the ropes of investigation, but Aubrey knows she’ll be an asset.

While it will take time for Olivia to master the nuances of detective work, she quickly realizes how much she still relies on Aubrey’s guidance - even as she starts to find her own footing and instincts for uncovering answers. Meanwhile, away from home, Olivia finds herself quietly examining her relationship with her husband and sorting through her feelings for him.

Aubrey and Olivia have to get to work fast: shortly after they arrive in New Mexico, one of the sorority sisters is murdered, proving the earlier threat was no empty one. Investigating the case together strengthens their partnership as much as it tests it. What really makes the book work is its almost locked-room atmosphere, a long-standing grudge, a quiet, dusty desert setting in New Mexico, and a memorable cast of characters.

The Forty-Year Grudge delivers everything I loved about the first book, plus a mystery that kept me guessing until the final reveal. Watching Olivia come into her own alongside Aubrey made this one even better than the last. Highly recommend - whether you’re new to the series or already a fan.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liza Tully is a pseudonym for Elisabeth Brink, who writes dark thrillers under the name Elisabeth Elo, as well as literary fiction under the name Elisabeth Panttaja Brink. To learn more about her suspense novels visit elisabethelo.com.

Before turning to fiction writing, she worked as an editor at a children’s magazine, a project manager at a tech company, and a counselor at a halfway house. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, she earned a PhD in American Literature from Brandeis University, and is the author of scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as Cinderella and Walt Whitman. She lives in Boston, MA.  

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Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Texas Cold Case Murder

Texas Cold Case Murder

by Laura Scott

SeriesTexas Justice #4

PublisherLove Inspired

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatALC

NarratorEmily Sutton-Smith

Length5 hrs 30 mins

Pages203

Pub. DateAugust 25, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Link to shop the series

DESCRIPTION

Unraveling secrets from the past

could be fatal.

Texas Ranger tech specialist Nina Dobson is determined to uncover the truth about her identity and her birth mother’s unsolved murder when she suddenly comes under gunfire. The danger intensifies as she discovers her uncle dead, forcing her to flee. Desperate for assistance, she reaches out to Texas Ranger Jackson Woodlow. With threats emerging from every direction, Jackson instantly assumes the role of protector. Together, they delve into Nina’s mysterious family past, each clue drawing them further into peril. Can they outsmart a killer who wants a secret to stay buried?

MY THOUGHTS

Texas Ranger tech specialist Nina Dobson has never stopped wondering what led to her mother’s murder. Although she never knew her mother’s name, years of digging have finally connected her with a man who claims to be her uncle. Nina arranges to meet with him, only to find him dead in his cabin from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Within moments of her arrival, gunshots begin firing, and Nina has no choice but to escape into the woods.

While she was briefly at her uncle’s house, Nina spotted something at his leg and was able to grab it before she fled. What she found was a picture of a red-haired woman holding a baby. Could this be her mother? There’s no doubt in Nina’s mind.

Hiding in the woods, Nina contacts one of her co-workers, Texas Ranger Jackson Woodlow. Over the years, she has learned to trust Jackson and his friends—Jackson in particular. However, after having her heart broken by another Ranger in the past, Nina is understandably hesitant to let herself become emotionally involved again. Yet, with danger closing in around her, she can’t help but find herself drawn to Jackson.

Clearly, Jackson and the other Rangers are determined to keep Nina safe, but she isn’t ready to give up her search for answers about her mother. With danger pressing in closer and closer, Jackson makes protecting Nina his first priority. As it turns out, Nina isn’t the only one affected by his nearness. Jackson finds her irresistible, even as he struggles to keep his focus on keeping her alive.

Texas Cold Case Murder is the final book in Laura Scott’s Texas Justice series. The previous titles are Texas Kidnapping Target, Sam Hayward (with Mari), Texas Ranger Defender, Tucker Powell (with Leanne), and Dangerous Texas Secrets, Marshall “Marsh” Branson (with Stacy). Each of these stories has been very engaging, and I have enjoyed following these Texas Rangers as they protect the women they’ve come to love while facing danger, secrets, and threats at every turn. Laura Scott has created an enjoyable Christian romantic suspense series, and Texas Cold Case Murder is a fitting conclusion to the series.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Scott is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger. She lives with her husband of twenty-five years and has two children, a daughter and a son, who are both in college. She works as a critical-care nurse during the day at a large level-one trauma center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spends her spare time writing romance. Visit Laura at www.laurascottbooks.com. 

Author links: 

Author website: https://www.laurascottbooks.com/

Author newsletter: https://www.laurascottbooks.com/contact

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurascottbooks

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16591802.Laura_Scott

Robin Loves Reading

Review - The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives and a Mystery at Sea

The The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives and a Mystery at Sea

by Jenny Kane

Series
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives #3

Publisher
Hodder & Stoughton

GenreCozy Mystery

FormatKindle ARC

Pages369

Pub. DateSeptember 3, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

A perfect blend of suspense, humour, and heart. The clues were cleverly placed, and the ending was both surprising and satisfying. I can't wait to read the next book in the series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⛵Get ready to join the Fish and Chip Shop Detectives as they set sail on their latest investigation... ⛵

In the picturesque Cornish seaside village of Mousehole, Maggie and Ryan are busy running Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop. They love nothing more than a cup of tea, a nice slice of cake... and solving a murder mystery.

But Maggie and Ryan weren't expecting to find a dead body in the castle on St Michael's Mount, a famous island known for its causeway that disappears under water at high tide.

Already searching for a local youth, Mitch, who's been missing for three weeks, Maggie and Ryan fear the worst. Then when a fishing boat is stolen, the detectives begin to suspect that all three mysterious events are somehow connected...

Has Mitch found himself in at the deep end? And can the amateur sleuths solve their latest case before the truth is left out at sea?

Don't miss the next book in the Fish and Chip Shop Detective Agency Series, perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch and Peter Boland!

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS

Maggie Tyson and Ryan Stepney are back in this third book in a delightful cozy mystery series by Jenny Kane. Maggie runs a fish and chip shop and Ryan works for and rents a room from her. As they have already proven adept when it comes to solving murders, they have created The Fish and Chip Shop Detective Agency. 

While they often find accepting assistance by a local police Sergeant, David Peters, Maggie and Ryan still end up finding themselves right in the middle of trouble. It would be to remiss to not mention one of Maggie’s longest customers - Harry. He is always there to lend a hand - or to reveal a bit of gossip that just might end up being useful the cases they take on. Harry takes exceptional pride to be an honorary member.

Maggie and Ryan’s latest case is a search for a missing teen, Mitch Ashley. He has been missing for several weeks. When a dead body is discovered on a nearby island, their search is ramped up. There are other things in play, and it doesn’t take Maggie and Ryan to discover that it all revolves around Mitch’s disappearance. Even when they find answers, the find that that some clues seem unhelpful.

While the mysteries in this story are well-done with a few nicely placed twists, the story also has a message that it shares to its readers - found family can love you as much or more than family members.

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

Robin Loves Reading 

Review - The Silent Sister

The Silent Sister

by Angela Henry

PublisherStorm Publishing

GenrePsychological Thriller

FormatKindle ARC

Pages289

Pub. DateAugust 27, 2027

Rating🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

DESCRIPTION

A gripping, twisty psychological thriller about the stranger you let into your home –perfect for fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl, and The Last Mrs. Parrish.

A nurse. A sister. A friend?

When an accident killed her husband, Taylor Ambrose lost everything else with him. The house was his, and now it’s being sold out from under her. The money’s gone. Her memory of that day is gone too. She has no family, no savings, and no one to call.

Then Valerie arrives. Warm, capable, impossible to refuse. She says she’s the sister Troy never mentioned, and she’s a nurse—so when Taylor can barely walk, can barely cope, Valerie is there. She helps her pack. She finds her somewhere to stay. She takes care of her. Day by day, Valerie becomes the only person Taylor can lean on.

Then the cracks start to show. The questions Valerie won’t answer. The rooms Taylor isn’t allowed to enter. A past that doesn’t quite add up.

Because Valerie knows things about Taylor’s husband. About the day of the accident. And about the secret Taylor has tried to forget.

Valerie isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

I picked up The Silent Sister because the cover immediately caught my attention - and psychological thrillers are my favorite genre. At first, though, I had a couple of minor snags with the story. One moment in particular caught my attention when a character noticed Taylor’s bookshelf and commented specifically on the Black authors, mentioning Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Octavia Butler. 

I actually posed a question in a readers’ group about whether this might be an example of “in-group bias.” A fellow reader gave me a helpful response - appreciating Angela Henry’s recognition of Black authors. As I got deeper into the book, I realized how favorable it was. That conversation led me to do something I probably shouldn’t have done unless I was prepared to add another author to my already overflowing TBR: I clicked Angela Henry’s name on Goodreads. And now I have another author whose backlist I absolutely have to binge!

In The Silent Sister, we meet Taylor Ambrose, a successful Black author who seemingly has everything she could want. But her life is suddenly turned upside down when her husband, Troy, dies in an accident that nearly claims her life as well. Taylor is left in pain, struggling with memory loss and unable to remember what happened that day. Even more unsettling, she begins questioning why she has been affected so profoundly by the accident.

Taylor barely makes it home and has no idea how she is going to manage. Then someone knocks on her door. Her name is Valerie, and she claims to be Troy’s half-sister. Valerie quickly steps in to help Taylor, offering support when she desperately needs it. But before long, that help begins to feel more like control as Valerie slowly takes over Taylor’s life.

At times, this psychological thriller brought to mind Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and Misery by Stephen King. I also couldn’t help thinking of the movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? There is something deliciously unsettling about watching someone slowly lose control of their own life while trying to figure out exactly who they can trust.

Angela Henry did a superb job keeping me on my toes. This is definitely a compliment because I spent much of the book guessing, questioning, and trying to figure out where the story was going.

The Silent Sister is a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with secrets, manipulation, and plenty of twists. I loved how everything eventually came together, and by the end, I was already thinking about which Angela Henry book I should read next. Clearly, that Goodreads click was dangerous!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Henry is an Amazon Charts bestselling and award-winning author of twisty mysteries, thrillers, and urban fantasy. A retired library reference specialist, she’s the author of the Kendra Clayton mystery series and the Xavier Knight series, as well as the thrillers The Perfect Affair, Her Pretty Lies, The Family Lies, and The Paris Secret. She also writes middle-grade fiction as Angie Kelly. Angela lives in Ohio with her husband and their spoiled Chiweenie, Gidget.

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