Monday, April 20, 2026

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Last One Out

 
Title:  Last One Out
Author:  Jane Harper
Publisher:  Macmillan
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers
Series:  Aaron Falk #3
Format:   Audiobook ALC
Narrator:  Angeline Armstrong
Length:  11 hrs 38 mins
No. of Pages:  326
Date of Publication:  April 14, 2026
My Rating:  5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Exiles and The Dry comes a captivating new novel set in a modern ghost town.

Carralon Ridge, a once vibrant village in rural New South Wales, has become a shell of itself, its houses and buildings bought up and left to rot by the mining company operating at its borders. A decade into its slow death, surrounded by industrial noise and swathed in thick layers of dust, the skeletal town is all but abandoned, with just a handful of residents clinging onto what remains.

After years of scorning those who left the Ridge behind as it fell into ruin, Ro never imagined she'd become one of them. But everything changed when she lost her son. Five years ago, Sam vanished while visiting during a break from college, leaving behind a rental car with his belongings inside. Sam had loved Carralon Ridge, and had been working on an oral history of the town to preserve its legacy before it vanished altogether. It wasn't long after his disappearance that the rest of the family began to crumble away too.

But when Ro returns to Carralon Ridge to be with her husband and daughter on the anniversary of Sam's disappearance, she begins to suspect that something important was overlooked in his case. Because while nothing can stop Carralon Ridge from dying, someone seems to want to make sure that its secrets die with it.


MY THOUGHTS:

Last One Out is a quietly gripping, emotionally charged story that lingers long after the final page.

It has been five long and difficult years for Ro since the loss of her son, Sam - a grief that has never truly loosened its hold. With a mix of reluctance and necessity, Ro returns to Carralon Ridge alongside her husband and daughter to face the anniversary of Sam’s death. The Ridge, once a forward-thinking and thriving village, has since deteriorated into something far more fragile. What remains is a community clinging tightly to its past, determined to preserve what little is left, even as it slips further into decline.

Ro is one of the many who left Carralon Ridge behind, and after Sam’s death, she had little reason to look back. But Sam never fully let go of the place. Before he died, he had been working on a report that could have safeguarded the Ridge’s future - an effort that now feels more significant, and more suspicious, with time. Ro becomes convinced that whatever Sam uncovered is tied to his death, and her return becomes less about remembrance and more about uncovering the truth.

Just as Ro is significant in the character-driven story, what truly stands out is the Ridge itself. Jane Harper has a remarkable ability to turn the setting into something almost sentient, as Carralon Ridge clearly proves. Its isolation, its secrets, and its quiet resistance to change create an atmosphere that is both haunting and immersive.

This is more than just a mystery; it’s a story about grief, resilience, and the lengths a mother will go to for answers. The emotional weight of Ro’s journey is palpable, making it impossible not to feel deeply for her and her family. Thoughtful and compelling, Last One Out draws you in with its slow-burn suspense and keeps you invested with its heart.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane was born in Manchester in the UK, and moved to Australia with her family at age eight. She spent six years in Boronia, Victoria, and during that time gained Australian citizenship.

Returning to the UK with her family as a teenager, she lived in Hampshire before studying English and History at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

On graduating, she completed a journalism entry qualification and got her first reporting job as a trainee on the Darlington & Stockton Times in County Durham.

Jane worked for several years as a senior news journalist for the Hull Daily Mail, before moving back to Australia in 2008.

She worked first on the Geelong Advertiser, and in 2011 took up a business reporting role in Melbourne.

In 2014, Jane submitted a short story which was one of 12 chosen for the Big Issue's annual Fiction Edition.

That inspired her to pursue creative writing more seriously, breaking through with The Dry at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards in 2015.

Jane lives in bayside Melbourne with her husband and their two children.

Review - Stakeouts and Strollers

Title:  Stakeouts and Strollers
Author Rob Phillips
Publisher:  Minotaur Books
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   March 17, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Amateur private investigator and new dad Charlie Shaw gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to track down a young girl’s missing father in Rob Phillips’ award-winning debut.

Charlie Shaw is low on sleep. And cash. Otherwise, life is going pretty well for the ex-crime reporter: He’s happily married to his college sweetheart, he’s a first-time dad to the most adorable baby girl in existence, and he’s making ends meet as a rookie PI. But when Charlie meets Friday Finley, a frightened sixteen-year-old runaway on a stakeout-gone-wrong, his world gets a little more complicated.

Friday is looking for her estranged father Shawn, an unreliable alcoholic who left when she was young—and who also happens to be her only shot at avoiding the foster care system since her mother’s death a few weeks earlier. At first, Charlie believes the man is simply hiding out somewhere, avoiding his responsibilities as usual, but the more he investigates, the more unsettling—and dangerous—Shawn’s disappearance becomes. When his own family is threatened, Charlie realizes he’s in over his head, but can he back out now that he’s begun to care for Friday as his own?

A perfect blend of humor and high stakes, Stakeouts and Strollers is a heartwarming story of fatherhood, family, and what it really means to be a “Girl Dad.”


MY THOUGHTS:

Charlie Shaw, a new dad juggling his role as an amateur private investigator, finds himself in a challenging situation. Like many new parents, he’s struggling with sleep deprivation and limited time. Despite these obstacles, Charlie’s responsibilities demand that he take on cases, even those with potential danger.

One of Charlie’s new cases takes on a personal significance. Friday Finley, a sixteen-year-old girl, is desperate to find her father after losing her mother. While she doesn’t anticipate a warm reunion, she recognizes that he’s the only living relative she has left. Either Friday finds her father or she’ll end up in the foster care system.

Maybe because he is the father of a six-month-old daughter, Charlie’s concern for Friday deepens. He hopes for a reunion between her and her father, hoping that he can turn his life around. However, danger lurks for both Charlie and Friday, and it becomes evident why they’re struggling to locate her father. Despite these challenges, Charlie remains determined to find Friday’s father.

What a delightful debut novel! All the protagonists, including Charlie’s long-suffering wife, were enjoyable. The story is excellent, with humor that keeps it light-hearted. I’ll definitely be reading more by Rob Phillips in the future. 
Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rob's debut novel, STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS, won the Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Award. STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS is now available for preorder (publication date 3/17/26).


Rob grew up in the Dallas area, where he became an Emmy-winning sportswriter covering the Dallas Cowboys for print, radio and television. Rob and his wife are proud parents to a spunky senior King Charles spaniel and a lively young daughter who’s still waiting for her first stakeout.



BLOG TOUR - The Happy Family



DESCRIPTION:

Behind closed doors, nothing is as it seems…

I stare at the photograph. It was taken on an ordinary day at the park. The four of us look so happy – our smiles wide and cheeks rosy. But just a month after this image was taken, I lost everything.

I’m watching them now, walking in the park my handsome husband, my beautiful daughter and my adorable son. They’re with her. She’s playing happy families with my loved ones. She stole them from me.

She thinks she’s got rid of me.
But I’m going to get my family back.
And I’m going to get revenge…

The Happy Family is an utterly page-turning and completely addictive psychological thriller full of incredible twists by number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden.


BUY LINK:

Title
:  The Happy Family
Author Daniel Hurst
Series:  The Hunt Family #3
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   April 20, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

The Happy Family by Daniel Hurst is a perfect example of the author’s talent for creating protagonists you’d never want in your real life - yet you can’t look away from the chaos they create. His books are, quite simply, addictive.

In this trilogy, readers are introduced to Luna, whose diabolical mindset drives the entire series. From the very beginning, she wants what Sadie has: a husband, two children, and that picture-perfect life. In I Want Your Family, Luna carefully crafts a plan to take everything from Sadie. Working as a delivery driver gives her the perfect access - and the perfect opportunity to insert herself into Sadie’s world. By the time we reach I Stole Your Family, Luna has succeeded in getting exactly what she wanted.

So where does that leave us in The Happy Family?

Sadie has lost everything - and she’s not backing down. She’s determined to expose Luna and reclaim her life, no matter the cost. Throughout the book, one thought kept circling my mind: only one of them can win. The tension feels almost gladiatorial, as if you’re watching an inevitable, brutal showdown inch closer with every chapter.

I’ll admit, I didn’t read this trilogy in order - I went into The Happy Family completely blind. But that misstep didn’t last long. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I quickly went back and read the first two books, and I’m so glad I did. It gave much-needed depth to the story - especially with the introduction of Gemma, whose role proves to be pivotal.

The Happy Family delivers a fitting end to an utterly addictive series. Hurst has crafted a central character who is completely unhinged - and somehow, that’s exactly what makes you unable to stop reading.

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 bestselling author of fast-paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include The Doctor’s Wife, which reached number one in the UK Kindle store in February 2023, The Couple’s Revenge, The Couple in the Cabin and The Perfect Nurse. 

Daniel prides himself on writing fast-paced, twist-filled stories with jaw-dropping endings and he loves engaging with his readers.



Saturday, April 18, 2026

BLOG TOUR - The Secret House in Orchid Bay


DESCRIPTION:

Kelly blinks back tears as she gazes at the wildflower meadows outside her window. In her trembling hands is a letter from beyond the grave, with a secret that could change everything forever…


Kelly’s heart is still in pieces following the death of her husband, Rob. As she opens the creaky gate leading to Orchid Hall, she draws a ragged breath, remembering her final promise to him to travel to Ireland. Desperate to understand his last wish, she hopes this house holds the answers she is searching for.


The glimmering sea and the gorgeous coves of Orchid Bay soon sweep Kelly off her feet. Spending long days and nights renovating the tumbledown house with the help of handsome local villager Mike, she slowly feels her heart beginning to open again. Did her husband send her here because he wanted to give her a fresh start by the wild Irish Sea?


But then a letter from Rob from beyond the grave turns everything she thought she knew on its head. In the pages of his letter, she uncovers the mystery of the house, and its true connection to her husband. The secret shakes her to the core and makes her question everything she ever knew about her husband. Will her husband’s past stop her from making a new life in Orchid Bay, or can she trust again, and take a second chance on love?


An utterly heartbreaking and page-turning read filled with Irish charm, perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Tricia O’Malley and Mary Alice Monroe.


BUY LINK:
 
Title:   The Secret House in Orchid Bay
Author:  Ann O’Loughlin
Publisher:  Bookouture
Series:  Orchid Bay, Book #2
Genre:   Women’s Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   337
Date of Publication:  April 15, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Kelly is reeling from the devastating loss of her husband, Rob. Before his sudden death, he made her promise to travel to the Irish coast. Although why he asked this of her remains a mystery, she honors his request. Kelly is accompanied by her Aunt Val, with no idea just how much her life is about to change.

Orchid Bay is undeniably beautiful, but Kelly’s grief runs so deep that she can’t imagine ever feeling whole again. Then, shockingly, she receives a letter from Rob - and soon discovers there will be more to come. It becomes clear that Rob has a story to tell, one that not only explains his final request but gently guides Kelly toward a new future in Orchid Bay.

What a beautiful story. I fell in love with the idyllic village of Orchid Bay when I first visited it in A Secret Daughter from Ireland, and it was wonderful to return in The Secret House in Orchid Bay. There’s a quiet, healing magic woven into this setting - first for Becky in the earlier book, and now for Kelly. I especially loved the letters and how they serve as a bridge between past and present, playing such a meaningful role in the healing process. They truly make this story shine; one that is emotional, meaningful, and impossible to forget.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.

 

Author social media:

 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annolwriter

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

Newsletter: https://www.bookouture.com/ann-oloughlin



Thursday, April 16, 2026

Review - A Soldier’s Wife

Title:  Soldier’s Wife
Author Blair Underwood
Publisher:  Amistand
Genre:   Memoirs
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   208
Date of Publication:   April 14, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this moving biography and memoir, Blair Underwood, acclaimed star of film, stage, and television, pays homage to his mother, sharing her well-lived life, and key lessons learned as a fashion designer, mother, and soldier’s wife.

In this moving biography and memoir, Blair Underwood, acclaimed star of film, stage, and television, pays homage to his mother, sharing her well-lived life, and key lessons learned.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Marilyn Ann Scales Underwood dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. Moving to New York City to study at the Traphagen School of Fashion, she became an assistant designer and eventually returned to her hometown where she began her career as the first Black female executive at Barmon Brothers Company. Independent and content with being single, she wasn’t interested in marriage until she met Lieutenant Frank Underwood.

Blair Underwood honors his mother with this remarkable work, bringing into sharp focus her life as a soldier's wife, mother, and successful entrepreneur, drawn from his memories, her letters, and interviews with family and friends. Told thematically, and organized around essential pillars such as Wisdom, Faith, and Patience, Underwood gently peels back the layers of his mother’s life and character to reveal highly, triumphant, and sometimes-scary moments told in Marilyn’s warm and witty voice that connects with readers. Painting a wonderfully rich and deeply human portrait of a woman whose indelible mark is felt by all privileged to know her.


MY THOUGHTS:

Admittedly, I picked up A Soldier’s Wife because of the author, Blair Underwood. I hadn’t read the blurb beforehand, so I went in completely unaware of what to expect - and found myself fully drawn into his mother’s story. In fact, the complete title says it all: A Soldier’s Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood.

Though relatively brief, this book shines a heartfelt spotlight on Underwood’s mother, Marilyn. It was especially interesting to learn about her early life and the experiences that shaped her. Through a blend of personal recollections, letters, and conversations with family members, Marilyn A. Underwood’s story unfolds in a way that feels both intimate and genuine.

The structure of the book is particularly thoughtful. Each chapter is built around strong, defining qualities - wisdom, devotion, perseverance, and more - and concludes with a meaningful takeaway tied to those themes. Adding to its charm, every chapter opens with a beautiful photograph of Marilyn, capturing moments from throughout her life and giving readers a deeper connection to the woman at the heart of the story.

While this book may not have widespread attention in terms of reviews, it’s one I would still recommend. What resonates most is how clearly Underwood loved his mother and how warmly he shares those memories. It’s a touching tribute that lingers long after the final page.

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


AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Too Close to Home


Title
:  Too Close To Home
Author Seraphina Nova Glass
Publisher:  Graydon House Paperback
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Audiobook ALC and Kindle ARC
Length:  7 hrs 53 mins
Narrators:  Brittany Pressley, 
  Rebecca Lowman, Karissa Vacker
No. of Pages:   304
Date of Publication:   April 14, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The two-time Edgar Award–nominated author of ON A QUIET STREETand THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10, Seraphina Nova Glass, is back with TOO CLOSE TO HOME

Nothing in this idyllic community is quite what it seems…


Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top-notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they’re heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires.

But everything changes when Regan Hoffman’s car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together—something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband…alive.

When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community—and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.


MY THOUGHTS:

If you’re looking for a captivating, entertaining story packed with intriguing characters, then Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass is a must-read. This engaging narrative unfolds through three narrators - Brittany Pressley, Rebecca Lowman, Karissa Vacker -each offering a distinct perspective on the central trio - Regan, Andi, and Sasha. While other characters certainly leave their mark, the chapter titles cleverly signal whose voice you’re about to step into, with each perspective delivered in the first person, drawing you even deeper into their chaotic lives.

The story itself is undeniably thrilling. A car bomb abruptly shatters a Labor Day celebration in the otherwise peaceful community of Clover Hills, Connecticut, instantly setting the tone for a novel that’s nearly impossible to put down. The drama surrounding Regan, Andi, and Sasha is thick with tension - the kind that keeps you listening without pause.

At its core, the novel is driven by murder, and the mystery surrounding it adds real depth. Yet what makes this book stand out is its darkly humorous edge, woven seamlessly throughout the narrative and making the experience all the more enjoyable. The pacing is sharp and deliberate, and the narration flows effortlessly, keeping the momentum strong from beginning to end. And that ending, one that is genuinely unexpected, was terrific.

I highly recommend this book. It gave me strong The Stepford Wives vibes, with a touch of Desperate Housewives energy mixed in. Even without having watched the shows myself, that familiar sense of suburban secrets and simmering drama came through loud and clear - and I was thoroughly entertained because of it.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nova Glass is an assistant professor of instruction and playwright in residence at the University of Texas, Arlington, where she teaches film studies and playwriting. Her novel On A Quiet Street was nominated for an Edgar Award, was a New York Times Summer Read, an Amazon Bestseller and Editor’s Pick, and also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle. Publishers Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in dramatic writing from Smith College and a second MFA in directing from the University of Idaho. She is a proud dog mom and loves to travel the world with her husband. She resides in Dallas, Texas.