Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Review - GLP-1 Meals Made Easy

Title:  GLP-1 Meals Made Easy
Authors:  Aliza Olive, MD; 
  Kellie Badie PharmD
Publisher:  Callisto Publishing
Genre:   Self-Help
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   192
Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Millions of Americans are managing their weight and blood sugar with the help of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. But medicine is only half the battle. Understanding how this drug affects your appetite and digestion can be daunting, especially when figuring out what to eat. GLP-1 Meals Made Easy looks to deliver on the promise of simplified nutrition. Written by a doctor and a pharmacist team who run a clinic for GLP-1 patients, GLP-1 Meals Made Easy features 80 recipes, dozens of photos, and insightful tips and meal planning advice backed by real-world clinical experience
Developing a better relationship with food

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

As someone currently taking the GLP-1 medication Wegovy, I’m always on the lookout for self-help books that can support me on this journey. While weight loss itself has been significant, methods definitely vary. With GLP-1 medications studies cited here and elsewhere suggest an average loss of 15–20 percent weight loss. I’ve personally lost 35 percent of my body weight and continue to hope for broader improvements in my overall health.

Even knowing how critical good nutrition is, simply wanting to eat better hasn’t always translated into feeling better. That’s what initially drew me to GLP-1 Meals Made Easy. The book is divided into two sections - Getting Started and Meal Planning and Recipes - and it was the promise of practical meal ideas and guidance that really caught my attention.

There is always something new to learn about GLP-1 medications, and the first section of this book is both informative and eye-opening. One of the focuses is on setting a strong foundation by creating a solid plan. This is with the goal of helping readers to understand how GLP-1 medications work and how nutrition can be used to optimize fat loss. For some people, myself included, the weight seems to melt off. However, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and low energy can still be ongoing challenges. This book speaks directly to those struggles.

The second section introduces a structured 21-day meal plan that emphasizes protein intake and a specific calorie range. It’s designed to help readers build their own 21-day plan, with the goal of increasing energy and supporting overall well-being. With more than 80 recipes as well as photos, this section feels practical, approachable, and motivating.

I highly recommend GLP-1 Meals Made Easy to anyone considering starting a GLP-1 medication, as well as those already on this journey. Paired with guidance from my physician, information like this has been incredibly helpful to me. I believe it could be just as beneficial for others navigating the same path.

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

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Monday, February 9, 2026

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Antihero


Title:  Antihero
Author:  Gregg Hurwitz
Series:   Orphan X #11
Publisher:  Minotaur
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Audio ALC & Kindle ARC
Length:  14 hrs 12 mins
Narrator:  Scott Brick
No. of Pages:   416
Date of Publication:   February 10, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

In the latest in this New York Times best-selling series, Evan Smoak takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he has to not only protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.

Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.

When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to meet Luke. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help―and sets out tracking down the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods―no vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice, with a measure of mercy.

First commandment - Assume Nothing
Second Commandment - How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything 
Third Commandment - Master Your Surroundings
Fourth Commandment - Never Make It Personal 
Fifth Commandment - If You Don’t Know What To Do, Do Nothing 
Sixth Commandment - Question Orders
Seventh Commandment - One Mission at a Time
Eighth Commandment - Never Kill a Kid
Ninth Commandment - Always Play Offense
Tenth Commandment - Never Let An Innocent Die
unofficial 11th commandment - Don’t Fall In Love With Plan A


MY THOUGHTS:

Evan Smoak. The Nowhere Man. Orphan X. A man with nary a friend. His life as a Black Ops assassin may be over, but walking away from the Orphan program has not brought him peace. Instead, it has left him fighting battle after battle, and this means he stands alone. His training was brutal and no-nonsense, and when Evan needs his skills, he doesn’t hesitate to use them.

Evan does have one constant in his life: Joey. His ward of sorts, and she affectionately refers to him as her “Uncle-Person.” A hacker extraordinaire, Joey has proven indispensable time and again. But now she wants more. She wants a greater role, even to the point of going into the field. This is the last thing Evan wants as he is doing everything in his power to leave that dangerous life behind.

Does trouble follow Evan? It certainly seems so. He leaves a trail wherever he goes—body after body. Evan has a strong moral code, so this is always in the name of justice. Evan fights for the underdog at every opportunity. Luke Devine, however, is anything but an underdog. Still, he’s in serious trouble and desperate for Evan’s help. Reluctantly, Evan boards a flight to New York to help Devine confront a situation that could cost him his life. Along the way, Evan uncovers the kidnapping of a young woman. He is determined to find her. As always, the story doesn’t end there.

Action. Action. Action. That’s exactly what readers will get in Antihero, the eleventh book in the Orphan X series. Yet, as with every installment in this compelling series, there is a sharp emotional edge that reminds us that Evan Smoak is far more than a trained assassin. He is a man with feelings, loyalty, and a deeply ingrained moral code. That humanity is on full display here. Still, Evan demands justice, and no one stands in his way. 

This book and series is expertly narrated by Scott Brock, making the story even more compelling. Bring on the next book, because I can’t wait to read what comes next.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times, #1 internationally bestselling author of 22 thrillers, including the ORPHAN X series, and two award-winning thriller novels for teens. His novels have won numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Gregg has written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios (including THE BOOK OF HENRY), and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing in the USC English Department, and guest lectured for UCLA, and for Harvard in the United States and internationally. In the course of researching his thrillers, he has sneaked onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALs, swum with sharks in the Galápagos, and gone undercover into mind-control cults.

Additionally, Gregg is actively working to end polarization in politics and on college campuses. To that end, he's produced several hundred commercials which got over a hundred million views on digital and TV platforms. His editorial pieces have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bulwark, and others.


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BLOG TOUR - The Midnight Taxi

Title:  The Midnight Taxi
Author:  Yosha Gunasekera
Publisher:  Berkley
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   February 10, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Siriwathi Perera doesn’t quite know where she’s going in life. She never expected to be a taxicab driver in New York City, struggling to make ends meet and still living with her parents at twenty-eight. The true-crime podcasts that keep Siri company as she drives don’t do much to make up for the legal career she imagined for herself, or the brother she’s grieving.

When public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab, they make a quick connection through their shared Sri Lankan roots. Siri, whose social circle is limited to her grade-school best friend, Alex, thinks things might finally be looking up with this new potential friendship. But she’s suddenly dropped into her own true crime when she discovers her next passenger murdered in the backseat, and she has to call Amaya sooner than she’d expected.

Pinned as the obvious and only suspect, and desperate to clear her name, Siri chases down leads across the boroughs of New York City with Amaya’s help. But with her court date looming, they have just five days to find out who really killed the midnight passenger—or Siri’s life will be over before she can even truly live it.


MY THOUGHTS:

From her love of true-crime podcasts to becoming the subject of one herself, Siriwathi Perera’s life takes a terrifying turn in The Midnight Taxi. Siri is a Sri Lankan New York City taxi driver whose routine late-night shift ends in shock when her final fare is discovered murdered in the back seat of her cab. In an instant, Siri goes from observer of crime stories to the center of one—and the consequences are swift and devastating.

Culture and family are central to Siri’s identity, grounding her even as her world begins to unravel. When she is arrested and charged with the murder, the odds feel overwhelmingly stacked against her. A small but meaningful stroke of luck comes in the form of Amaya Fernando, a previous passenger and fellow Sri Lankan woman. The two women had immediately connected during their brief ride. This is an unbelievable blessing to Siri, as Amaya happens to be a public defender and had given Siri her card before stepping out of the taxi. That chance encounter couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.

Black and Brown wariness and outright prejudice are stumbling blocks as Amaya helps Siri face those challenges, and what looks like irrefutable evidence that Siri is responsible for the murder. The two make a fine pair as Siri is desperate to clear her name, forming an unlikely partnership. However, time is of the essence so they must dig deep to uncover the truth before time runs out for Siri.

The Midnight Taxi is a strong and confident debut by Yosha Gunasekera, delivering a gripping, fast-paced mystery that keeps the tension high as the clock ticks down. I especially appreciated the rich cultural references and the way the novel highlights racial inequities within the justice system. Despite the heavy subject matter, the story maintains a wonderful balance. Siri’s sharp wit and well-timed humor provide moments of levity, rounding out the narrative and making her an engaging, memorable protagonist. This is a suspenseful, thoughtful read that lingers long after the final page.

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


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Review - Cross and Sampson


Title:   Cross and Sampson
Author:  James Patterson; Brian Sitts
Series:   Alex Cross #35
Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company 
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   368
Date of Publication:   February 9, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

Detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson are better together—until they’re called to separate locations to investigate a pair of serious crimes. 

In Washington, DC… Metro PD detective John Sampson stands in a crater in the middle of a DC street, calling in the bomb squad. “Dispatch, this is Sampson. Contact the FBI and the ATF. We’ve got a suspected terrorist attack here.” In Chapel Hill, NC… Alex Cross searches the apartment of a missing psychology grad student—his own son Damon. Has following in his famous father’s footsteps made Damon a target? From FBI headquarters, in police stations, on airplanes, and at murder scenes, the detectives track crimes committed hundreds of miles apart. It will take more than distance to weaken the partnership of Sampson & Cross.

MY THOUGHTS:

In Cross and Sampson, Detective Alex Cross, his best friend and fellow officer John Sampson, and Alex’s wife Bree find themselves locked in a race against time. When Alex learns that his college-aged son, Damon, has gone missing, he and Bree immediately fly to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, launching a desperate search for answers.

In nearly every major case Alex has faced, Sampson has been right by his side. This time, however, a deadly bombing in Washington, D.C. forces Sampson to remain behind, separating the partners as they pursue parallel investigations under mounting pressure.

From the moment Alex and Bree arrive in Chapel Hill, the urgency is relentless. Damon, who lives off campus in an apartment he shares with his girlfriend, becomes the focal point of Alex’s frantic search. The story moves at a fast pace, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The cases faced by both Alex and Sampson are equally gripping, and Alex’s fierce love for his family is palpable throughout the story. Just as powerful is the deep bond between Alex and Sampson, whose long-standing friendship adds emotional weight and depth to the high-stakes thriller.

I’ve been a devoted fan of the Alex Cross series since its inception and thoroughly enjoyed Cross Down, the 31st installment in the series. As it is also the first book in the John Sampson series, Sampson played a significant role there and that strong presence continues in Cross and Sampson.

While I always look forward to more Alex Cross stories, it’s refreshing and exciting to see Sampson take on a more prominent role as well. I’ll be eagerly awaiting future installments in either or both series.

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

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Sunday, February 8, 2026

BLOG TOUR - The Orphan at the Irish Adoption House


DESCRIPTION:

Ireland, 1920. As they take my baby away, I choke on my tears. I grew up alone, abandoned in a place like this. I won’t let my newborn share the same fate.


Arriving at St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, it’s not the first time Mary-Kate has faced hardship. She grew up in a poor orphanage in Dublin after her father died and her mother gave her up, and never stopped working for a better future.


But, as her baby is taken from her arms moments after coming into this world, Mary-Kate almost loses all hope. She can’t do this by herself. The baby’s father has made it clear he wants nothing to do with the child. And she hasn’t heard from her only friend since she was trapped here. 

When a kind nun finally hands her a letter, it revives some of her determination. Help is coming for Mary-Kate and her baby. But as much as the secret plan to get them out raises her spirits, the letter is also gut-wrenching. Why was she left to grow up all alone… when her father is actually alive?

Could Mary-Kate really have a family out there to rely on? Or will counting on the offer of help in the letter leave her more alone than ever?


This achingly beautiful and emotional historical novel is perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Sandy Taylor. The family secrets will have you sobbing – and you won’t be able to put it down! 



BUY LINK:



Title:  The Orphan at the Irish Adoption House
Author:  Michelle Vernal
Series:  The Irish Adoption House Book 3
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Historical Fiction 
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   310
Date of Publication:  February 6, 2026
My Rating:  5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS: 
Having spent several years in a Dublin orphanage, Mary-Kate’s life has been shaped by hardship. Yet despite everything she has endured, she maintains an optimistic outlook. When she becomes pregnant, life grows even more complicated. Unwed but determined, Mary-Kate plans to raise her baby herself. However, the nuns at St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, where she is forced to seek refuge, doe their best to take that decision away from her,.

Mary-Kate’s early life marks a pivotal turning point in the novel. Having never known her father and having been abandoned by her mother, she is determined that her child will not suffer the same fate. The deep bond she feels with her unborn baby, filled with fierce love and hope, fuels her determination as she tries to plan a future for them both.

Her childhood becomes even more tragic when a man claiming to be her uncle removes her from the orphanage. Sadly, this was an act that quickly proves to have nothing to do with love. These years are marked by profound pain and trauma. Still, despite being only fifteen years old, Mary-Kate’s strength and resilience shine through. These experiences prepare her for what will soon become the fight of her life.

This was a heartbreaking read. I was moved to tears when Mary-Kate went into labor and faced the devastating events that followed. As more truths about her past are revealed, the story becomes even more gripping, drawing me deeper into the emotional turmoil she must endure. Michelle Vernal once again delivers a deeply sensitive and compelling story, one that held my attention and my heart from beginning to end.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader's Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.

 

Author social media: 

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleVernal

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

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

Website: https://www.michellevernalbooks.com/

Newsletter sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/michelle-vernal

 

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Friday, February 6, 2026

BLOG TOUR - The Wife Before



DESCRIPTION:

She says your new boyfriend killed his ex. He says it’s all lies. Who do you believe?


When I first met Jack, he broke down in tears as he told me about the tragic death of his wife, Natalia, on a family holiday. As our relationship blossomed and we started planning a future together, I would lie awake worrying about filling Natalia’s perfect shoes. But everything changes when her mother turns up at my door…


‘Your boyfriend killed my daughter,’ she says.


Jack swears she’s lying, and I want to believe him but something isn’t right. Why doesn’t he have a single picture of her? And why do I feel afraid when I confront him about the night Natalia died? What if it wasn’t grief after all, but guilt?


As I stroke my baby bump, I wonder if I can really trust the man I love. If he killed Natalia, could I be next?


Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will be absolutely hooked on this nail-biting psychological thriller. Prepare to be gripped!


BUY LINK:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0G3WL466Msocial

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

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Wife Before
Author:  Sheryl Browne
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  372
Date of Publication:   February 6, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars 

The Wife Before is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Kara, a woman scarred by the loss of her young son and husband in a tragic accident, finds herself on the brink of a tentative second chance at happiness with her partner, Jack. Pregnant and cautiously hopeful, Kara dares to envision a future once more. However, this newfound optimism is shattered as the shadow of Jack’s first wife, Natalia, and the circumstances surrounding her tragic death begin to unravel. This threatens to destroy everything Kara hopes to build.

Kara and Jack aren’t the only ones trying to build a new life. Jack’s teenage daughter, Evie, is part of the equation, and soon his former mother-in-law, Lina, enters the picture as well. Evie is fiercely devoted to her grandmother, especially as Lina’s worsening memory issues become impossible to ignore. Bringing Lina into their home quickly disrupts the fragile balance Kara is trying to maintain. Already vulnerable, Kara begins to question whether opening her heart - and her home - was a terrible mistake.

Things begin to go awry for Kara, things that make her doubt her sanity, even her safety. Although I couldn’t help but think of the film Gaslight, it is purely evident that this book is so much more. It is drama and intensity, doubt and uncertainty, even to the point of danger entering the picture. With a sharp dramatic edge, this book is certain to take readers on a ride and even wanting to yell at more than one of the characters. I wanted to reach my hand through my Kindle screen and pull Kara out of that situation. 

For a suspenseful and emotionally charged read, look no further than The Wife Before. It is certain to keep you on edge and have you questioning everything until the very last page.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sheryl Browne writes psychological thriller and edgy contemporary fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and awarded a Red Ribbon by The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.



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