BLOG TOUR - Race to Save Her

DESCRIPTION:

From the dark shadows of the water, a hand appears, pale and cold. Katie locks eyes with the woman she’s been searching for, her once-beautiful face now crusted with salt and etched with pain. "Please…" she whispers, "I'm going to die…”

Working late one evening, Detective Katie Scott crosses the dimly lit parking lot alone to find a small white box left on the passenger seat of her car, a manicured and perfectly preserved finger within. Choked by fear, Katie can’t tell if it’s a dark message, or a deadly threat. But if this twisted individual wanted her attention, they’ve got it.

The next day, an arm is discovered by a runner out on a local nature trail, and Katie’s team are quick to link it to the same innocent female victim. Trawling the scene for any shred of evidence, Katie can only hope that the blood found on a napkin in the shrubs is the lead they so desperately need. But as more body parts belonging to more women start turning up all over Pine Valley, the clock is ticking on one of the most challenging cases of her career.

Then forensics come back to confirm there’s a chance one of the victims, Patricia Kahn, might still be alive. Katie must sacrifice everything to get ahead of the chase. But following the killer to his hunting ground at a local yoga studio, and into the darkest depths of depravity, is she already too late? Will she be the next piece in this deadly monster’s collection?

This nail-biting and totally addictive serial-killer thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh. Another unputdownable page-turner from a USA Today and Amazon bestseller!

 

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MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Race to Save Her

Author:  Jennifer Chase

Series:  Detective Katie Scott #16
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   342

Date of Publication:  August 16, 2026

My Rating:  5 Stars

Detective Katie Scott demonstrates once again why she is such a compelling character. Her tenacity is unmatched, whether she’s working a cold case or pursuing a killer, although her determination sometimes leads her into actions that border on recklessness. Fortunately, Katie has a solid partner in Sean McGavin and is living with her love interest, John Blackburn. But they aren’t the only ones in her corner. Her longtime K9 partner, Cisco, is by her side whenever possible.

Katie’s latest case is particularly gruesome - and it quickly becomes clear that this killer may have a personal interest in her. She is horrified to find a small white box left in her car containing a single finger, carefully manicured and preserved. Is it a threat, a message, or something even more sinister? Whatever the reason, Katie immediately jumps right into action.

Unfortunately, the finger is only the beginning. The very next day, an arm is discovered, and Katie can’t help but wonder if it belongs to the same victim. As she begins her search, more body parts are found, and it soon becomes clear that there are multiple victims. When investigators learn that one of the victims may still be alive, Katie ramps up her efforts, knowing she is in a race against time to find her. All the while, that disturbing finger left in her car remains firmly in the back of her mind.

In this fast-paced 16th book in the series, Jennifer Chase keeps readers on the edge of their seats with exciting twists and turns that never lose their way. The final scenes are breathtaking and filled with suspense, while Katie’s emotions are portrayed with remarkable authenticity.

If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller filled with suspense, danger, and plenty of twists, look no further than Race to Save Her. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Katie Scott!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

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Review - Escape to Lighthouse Cove

Title:   Escape to Lighthouse Cove

Author:  Kate Hewitt

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  288

Date of Publication:  August 12, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Grace longs only to hide away. Fleeing both a traumatic marriage and a scandal-laden divorce, she needs to disappear somewhere safe with her six-year-old son Jacob.

Finding the job running a small nature reserve on the remote, beautiful island of Lighthouse Cove off the rugged Maine coast feels like a miracle. It’s a tiny slice of land with a population of exactly twelve—about as much peace and solitude as a person could possibly dream of. But Grace isn’t the only one looking to hide away.

No sooner has she arrived than she has a run-in with Noah Lawrence, the reclusive, fiercely unfriendly but dangerously attractive billionaire owner of the island, when she attempts to rescue a seal on the desolate shoreline of his magnificent gated property.

Noah ends up having to rescue her and Jacob, but his arrogant remoteness infuriates Grace because it reminds her so much of her ex-husband— privileged, wealthy, and without morals. Even if Noah is totally gorgeous, there’s no way she wants to get involved with a man like that.

But Noah has just as many secrets as she does, and he has reasons to want to hide away, too. Grace is about to find out that even when you try to hide from the world, you can’t hide from your feelings…

This novel is the first in the Lighthouse Cove series, but is a standalone with a HEA.

Link to shop the series

 

MY THOUGHTS:

Grace Wyatt is a marine biologist who travels from New York City to Lighthouse Cove Island with her six-year-old son, Jacob. She has taken a job as a warden at a nature reserve there on the sparsely populated island. After years in an unhappy and controlling marriage, Grace has finally had enough and is determined to build a new life for herself and her son. Grace loves Jacob without abandon, and since he has become selectively mute after she left his father, her love and concern for him know no bounds.

Noah, a man who lives in complete seclusion on an island, returns home after a successful career in New York and a devastating tragedy. The only person he has allowed into his life is Isaiah, an older man who has known Noah and his family since childhood and has taken on a protective, fatherly role. When Grace arrives, Isaiah immediately imagines a potential romantic relationship between her and Noah, but Noah refuses to entertain the possibility. Haunted by tremendous loss, he believes he is broken and unworthy of love. Grace, who has endured a terrible marriage, is unsure if she can ever trust a man again.

What a compelling story! I devoured this book in just a few hours. While it has all the sweetness of a story promising a happily-ever-after, it also delves into guilt, devastating grief, and the heartbreaking reasons behind Jacob’s silence. But this book offers more than the promise of a warm and happy ending. It does more than that by offering a path toward healing and a reminder that sometimes, love really does find a way. Every Kate Hewitt book I’ve read has been an emotional and rewarding experience, and Escape to Lighthouse Cove is no exception.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Murder in Blackfriars

Title:   A Silence in Belgrave Square

Author:   Jennifer Ashley

Series:  Below Stairs Mystery #9
Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  ALC and Kindle ARC 

Narrator:  Kymerley Cochrane

Length:  11 hrs 23 mins

No. of Pages:   320

Date of Publication:   August 11, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

In Victorian London, valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must help the man she loves solve the murder that will finally uncover his mysterious past, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Silence in Belgrave Square.

Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.

The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

It is Victorian London, and Kat Holloway is struggling to navigate an uncertain future. She is increasingly worried about the fact that the family raising her daughter, Grace, will be moving away from the city. At the same time, Kat’s fiancé, Daniel McAdam, has been arrested for murder. Kat immediately sets out to clear his name.

Daniel has been looking for answers about his past for years. That opportunity is lost when the man that might have had information is the man that Daniel is accused of murdering. That murder leaves more questions than answers. Both Kat and Daniel are surprised that the murder may be connected to Daniel’s mysterious past. Although he is released from custody fairly quickly, Kat is determined to solve the murder - not only to clear Daniel’s name, but also to finally uncover the truth about his past and why he knows so little about his own origins.

Kat and Daniel are both resolute when it comes to finding answers, but Kat has other things weighing on her mind. As an accomplished cook in a busy household, she dreams of using her exceptional baking skills to work for herself. If she can make that dream a reality, she may finally have a way to bring Grace back into her life on a permanent basis.

Throughout the story, there is also an underlying fear surrounding what might happen if Daniel discovers the truth about his early beginnings. As Kat searches for answers, she must contend with the possibility that some secrets are better left buried.

I enjoyed the combination of mystery, family, and personal revelations in this latest installment featuring Kat Holloway. The Victorian London setting adds another layer to the story, and I especially enjoyed seeing Kat continue to work toward a better future for her and Grace.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Ashley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Below Stairs Mysteries, the Shifters Unbound paranormal romances, and the Mackenzies historical romances. She also writes as USA Today bestselling mystery author Ashley Gardner.

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Review - The One Who Walked Away

Title:  The One Who Walked Away

Author:  Karen Rose

Series:  Romantic Suspense #34
Publisher:  Berkley Books

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:   528

Date of Publication:   August 11, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A bounty hunter must outrun her past before it catches up to her in this pulse-pounding new standalone thriller 

Bounty hunter Elle Randolph takes on every case she can, in an effort to outrun herself. Three years ago, she was the only one who walked away from a car crash that killed her husband and two others. Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing, she is fueled by guilt and dedicated to solving other people’s problems. But her running is over when she’s identified as a person of interest in a murder investigation.

Detective Ronan Clarke, a single dad for fifteen years, has been laser-focused on raising his daughter and serving the people of Mendocino County, California. He’s got everything under control—until a bounty hunter enters his jurisdiction, keeping secrets and bringing murder to his quiet town. The hunter is definitely involved in his current case, but exactly how is his question. Could she be his killer? As he unravels her secrets, he becomes increasingly troubled by what he finds. While Elle is forced to reexamine every painful memory of the life she left behind, Ronan grows more and more sure of her innocence. But can he trust himself to uncover the truth amid their growing attraction?

Link to shop this series

MY THOUGHTS:

Escaping from an abusive marriage did not happen the way Elle Randolph imagined it would. Now widowed, Elle is a busy bounty hunter who doesn’t shy away from dangerous cases. Outrunning not only her past but also the harsh and critical judgment of others is something that never strays far from her mind. So, becoming a person of interest in a murder investigation is definitely not what she expected. Even so, Elle remains focused on her current case, and part of that means determining whether she can trust the police - especially one police officer in particular, Detective Ronan Clarke.

Elle doesn’t work alone. She is part of a small bounty-hunting operation run by Sara, who is both her boss and her friend. Sara’s experiences have taught her not to trust the police, and she becomes increasingly unsettled as Elle grows closer to Ronan. But Elle has more than just a murder investigation to worry about. As she works to clear her name, she also can’t help but think about her future. She once had a successful career as a lawyer, and she often finds herself questioning her decision to leave that life behind.

Meanwhile, several murders begin to look as though they could be connected, forcing Elle to dig deeper despite the very real danger surrounding her. Fortunately, she and Ronan soon realize that if they are going to work together, they will have to learn to trust each other.

Built on suspense, The One Who Walked Away delivers plenty of action while also weaving in the growing feelings between Elle and Ronan. Karen Rose keeps the tension high as the mystery unfolds, making this an engaging addition to her impressive body of work.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Internationally bestselling author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn't concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.”

Her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published more than fifteen novels and two novellas. Her twenty-sixth novel, QUARTER TO MIDNIGHT, will be released in 2022.

Karen's books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa(#1) and Australia! To date, her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.

A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than thirty years. 

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Review - Delusional

In brief: Michael Bennett is an NYPD detective. Widowed for years, he’s been raising his ten adopted children with the help of the family’s nanny, Mary Catherine, and his grandfather, Seamus, a retired Irish priest.

Michael takes on tough cases, but as the series has matured, so has his relationship with Mary Catherine. The two are now married (as of book 13, The Russian). Theirs was a slow-burn romance, built gradually over several books — and it’s a great example of why this series rewards reading in order. While each book works as a standalone case, following the series lets you watch that relationship develop naturally toward marriage. The later books also introduce Rob Trilling, another recurring character and Michael’s current NYPD partner.

 

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Title:  Paranoia

Author:  James Patterson; James O. Born

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company

Series:  Michael Bennet #17

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   3f84

Date of Publication:   February 10, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

NYPD Detective Michael Bennett will stop at nothing to protect family: his wife, his kids—and his fellow officers—in the latest psychological thriller from bestselling author James Patterson.

At every death scene, Bennett says a prayer over the victim. 

But recently, too many of the departed have been fellow cops. 

“I want you to look at these deaths on special assignment,” NYPD Inspector Celeste Cantor says. “Report only to me.”

Bennett excels as a solo investigator. But he’s chasing a killer who feeds on isolation… and paranoia.

MY THOUGHTS:

In the 17th book in the Michael Bennett series, Paranoia, Michael has been tasked with finding out why there is a sudden spate of deaths among former police officers. The request was made by Inspector Celeste Cantor and Michael is only to report to her in his solo investigation.

On the home front, Michael is the loving father - and now husband to Mary Catherine - and together, they are expecting what will be their eleventh child. Mary Catherine’s pregnancy is at risk, and as has been shown throughout the series, Michael’s loving and close relationship with his family shines through. They all rally around Mary Catherine and provide endearing support, especially as this new assignment of Michael’s requires his nearly undivided attention. 

Title:  Delusional

Author:  James Patterson; James O. Born

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company

Series:  Michael Bennet #18

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   374

Date of Publication:   August 18, 2026

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Detective Michael Bennett and army-sniper-turned-NYPD-officer Rob Trilling travel to Montana to investigate a case that crosses state borders and family lines in this thriller from the world's bestselling author.

In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes. Across the river, a military base is burglarized for munitions. In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman. Are the incidents related?

Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate. A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they’re only trying to make the world a better place. To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional.

Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?

MY THOUGHTS:

In Delusional, Detective Michael Bennett’s latest case revolves around investigating a series of deadly bombings. It appears that they have a highly sophisticated bomber on their hands, one who seems to have little regard for human life. Simultaneously, Mike’s new partner, Rob Trilling, is tasked with handling a family matter in Montana. This unexpected situation ultimately pulls Mike away from the bombing case to assist Trilling. 

Although his visit to Montana is brief, it appears that Mike has made yet another enemy - something he has dealt with many times in his career. Meanwhile, Mike is juggling the responsibilities of husband and father. This dynamic adds a refreshing balance to this fast-paced installment in the exciting series. The situation is precarious as the bombings initially seem random. Regardless of whether Mike is excelling as a brilliant detective, a loving husband and father, or navigating a new partnership on the job, this series continues to improve and captivate readers.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

James Patterson has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. As of January 2016, he has sold over 350 million books worldwide and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers. In addition to writing the thriller novels for which he is best known, he also writes children’s, middle-grade, and young-adult fiction and is also the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on the New York Times adult and children’s bestseller lists.

The son of an insurance salesman and a schoolteacher, Patterson grew up in Newburgh, New York, and began casually writing at the age of nineteen. In 1969, he graduated from Manhattan College. He was given a full ride to Vanderbilt University’s graduate program in English but dropped out after a year, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to continue reading and writing for pleasure if he became a college professor.

Instead, he moved to New York to become a junior copywriter for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson, eventually becoming CEO of its North American company.

In 1976, while still working for J. Walter Thompson, Patterson published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, with Little, Brown and Company. After being turned down by thirty-one publishers, it won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Patterson’s 1993 novel, Along Came a Spider, his first novel to feature Alex Cross, was also his first New York Times bestseller in fiction.

In 2001, Morgan Freeman starred as Alex Cross in a film adaptation of Along Came a Spider, and Tyler Perry also played the character in the 2012 film Alex Cross. A film adaptation of Patterson’s middle-grade novel Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life was released in theaters in October 2016.

For his initiatives to help kids become passionate readers and for his philanthropic efforts, Patterson was awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2015 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.

James Patterson has donated more than one million books to students, emphasizing some of the most under-resourced schools and youth programs in the country. In 2015, Patterson donated $1.75 million to public school libraries throughout the United States, $1 million to independent bookstores, and a further $250,000 in holiday bonuses to individual bookstore employees. He also gave $1 million to independent bookstores in 2014.

Patterson has recently donated over $26 million to his and his wife’s alma maters—the University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, and Manhattan College—and he has established over four hundred Teacher Education Scholarships at twenty-four colleges and universities throughout the country. Patterson has also donated over 650,000 books to U.S. soldiers at home and overseas.

In May 2015, Patterson launched a new children’s book imprint at Little, Brown, called JIMMY Patterson, that is unwaveringly focused on one goal: turning kids into lifelong readers. This imprint also provides resources, strategies, and programs to serve teachers, parents, librarians, and booksellers. Patterson invests proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives.

Patterson has also founded ReadKiddoRead.com, a website designed to help parents, teachers, and librarians ignite a new generation’s excitement for reading. Awarded the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize and the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids, the site features thoughtful book reviews from a variety of genres and age ranges, a large and lively Facebook community, and contributions from other authors.

Mr. Patterson’s awards for adult and children’s literature include the Edgar Award, the International Thriller of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award for Author of the Year.

He lives in Palm Beach with his wife, Sue, and his son, Jack.

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James O. Born is a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). He has been involved in investigations in such areas as organized crime, violent crimes, economic crimes, drug cartels, and public corruption. It has now been fourteen years since Born started writing, and ironically, he has the same editor as W E B Griffin and Tom Clancy - the very authors he spent his time reading during those long surveillances years ago. Born currently lives in suburban Palm Beach County with his wife Donna, and two children, John and Emily.

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Review - The Secrets We Hide

Title:  The Secrets We Hide

Series:  North Falls #2

Publisher:   William Morrow

Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers

Format:   Kindle ARC

No. of pages:   448

Date of Publication:  August 11, 2026

Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The next thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent Series.

Welcome to North Falls. A small town where everyone knows everyone. But nobody knows the truth.

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors.

When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead.

Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town.

And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth…

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

Tension from beginning to end, The Secrets We Hide, the second book in the North Falls series, finds Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, former FBI agent Jude Archer, determined to uncover who murdered former police officer Allison Vickery. Even more heartbreaking, Allison’s daughter, Mandy, is left clinging to life.

The horrific crime occurs on the very day the once-estranged sisters are burying their mother. With little time to grieve, Emmy is forced to throw herself into the investigation while desperately hoping Mandy survives.

North Falls is a town of barely a thousand people, where everyone knows everyone - or at least they think they do. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that the town is built on secrets and lies. Emmy works herself to exhaustion trying to solve the case, while Jude remains by her side as each new lead sends the investigation in another direction.

The mystery is gripping, but the emotional drama is just as compelling. Beyond the town’s hidden secrets, there is the unresolved tension between Emmy and Jude, as well as the mystery surrounding why Jude continues to spend night after night sleeping on Emmy’s couch.

Karin Slaughter, best known for the Will Trent series, has done an outstanding job with the North Falls series. The first book, We Are All Guilty Here, was exceptional, and this sequel is every bit as strong. Emmy is a deeply flawed protagonist, yet she is incredibly easy to root for and connect with. Filled with one shocking twist after another and layered with genuine emotion, The Secrets We Hide is a compelling, page-turning read. I closed the book with eager anticipation and what might become a little impatience - to see what Slaughter has in store for Emmy next.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Published in 37 languages, with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her nineteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and the instant New York Times bestselling novels Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter. Her most recent novel, The Last Widow, features Sara Linton and Will Trent. A native of Georgia, Karin currently lives in Atlanta. Her novels Cop Town, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her are all in development for film and television.

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Review - Feast

Title:  Feast

Author:  Catherine Kurtz   

Publisher:   Berkley

Genre:   Fantasy; 

  Historical Fiction;  

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   June 9, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

'I can taste anything. Everything. Every ingredient in a recipe. The earth in which the potatoes were grown. The tree on which the fruits were ripened. I can taste it all.'

In the soot-streaked alleys of 19th-century London, Minha is a girl unlike any other - born with an extraordinary an overwhelming, all-consuming sense of taste. Desperate to escape a life of poverty, she crosses the sea to France, chasing the shimmer of a better future.

At Château de Bellefalaise, a grand estate with fairytale turrets perched above a sleepy village, Minha's talent is discovered when she detects poison in a dish about to be served to the château's master, Duc Nicolas. For the first time in her life, her strange ability becomes her salvation - and her curse. Appointed the Duc's personal poison-taster, she is confined to her tasting room and forced to live in the chateau's shadows. With each dish, she enters a world of glittering porcelain and gilded secrets, where danger simmers beneath every course...

But when she loses her miraculous gift and suspicion coils through the corridors, Minha must confront a terrifying without her gift, who is she - and what remains of the life she's fought so hard to build?

Feast is a sumptuous historical novel brimming with intrigue and sensory wonder - a dark fairytale for readers who love Jessie Burton, Elizabeth Macneal and Bridget Collins.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

In the year 1899, amidst the bustling streets of London, young Minha, a mixed-race girl, discovers a remarkable gift - an extraordinary heightened sense of taste. Born into poverty, she yearns to escape her circumstances, particularly after the passing of her grandfather. Driven by determination, Minha takes a leap of faith and ventures across the English Channel, embarking on a new journey in the enchanting land of France.

At her new place of employment, the Château de Bellefalaise, Minha’s unusual gift saves Duc Nicolas from being poisoned. She is subsequently appointed as the Duc’s official poison taster, a critical role because someone at the château is determined to kill him.

Minha’s new job is not easy, particularly because she is not readily accepted by the household staff, mainly due to the color of her skin. Still, she manages to stay one step ahead of the poisoning attempts and works to keep the Duc alive. But Minha’s life begins to change, especially when it comes to her extraordinary gift. Slowly, her heightened senses begin to fade, forcing her to confront questions about her identity and, ultimately, her future.

What an intriguing story! Feast is an exceptional novel that delves into profound themes such as identity, survival, love, and resilience, especially when it comes to how Minha’s life changes.The atmosphere is meticulously crafted, creating a captivating reading experience. Beyond introducing danger and intrigue into Minha’s life, the story possesses an almost fairytale quality, especially as the later chapters unfold, making that element particularly enchanting.

An entertaining blend of historical fiction, mystery, and fairytale-like storytelling, Feast is a story that feels both timeless and wonderfully unique.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine Kurtz was born in Cambridge, was brought up in London and now lives in Kent. She completed an art foundation at Wimbledon School of Art before studying fine art at Chelsea School of Art. Upon graduating, Kurtz was made artist-in-residence at the Royal Ballet School. She is a painter represented by The Redfern Gallery, a member of the Guild of Food Writers, and grand jury member of the International Chocolate Awards. Her journalism has been published in a variety of publications including the Spectator’s Scoff, ckbk and Celebrated Living. In her fiction she explores the female experience, her mixed-race heritage and the power of creativity. She has an MA in creative writing from West Dean College and is currently working on her next exhibition and her next novel.