Book Review: "The Social Circle" by Sophie Wan

“After all, if friendship is a plant that needs to be watered regularly, theirs should have withered to nothingness long ago. But maybe real friendship is not a plant. Maybe it’s a mountain. Sometimes difficult to ascend. But there, always, through the storms and the seasons.”

This was so good! I had been eyeing this book for a few months and I finally picked it up over the weekend. I love stories about friendships and how they go off course.

Ten years ago, Maggie met Adam, Charles, and Hari, shortly after she arrived as a transfer student at the University of California at Berkeley. Together, they create Circle, initially as an effort to help their fellow students navigate the school’s clubs, but it eventually becomes the first major social media platform.

As Circle grows in popularity, the friends have to balance the challenges of college and managing user demands and expectations. At the same time, the line between friendship and love gets blurry, which causes friction on the business side. And when it all falls apart, Maggie finds herself on the outside looking in.

Ten years later, as Circle gets ready to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Maggie receives a personal invitation to join the other three on a remote Norwegian island. She’s not sure if she can handle rehashing the history among them, but her new company could use the publicity. Will they be able to move past the issues that derailed their friendships, or will the hurt and anger win again?

I loved the fact that the book dwelled more on the relationships between the friends and how they handled the growing business than the platform itself. It made me a little nostalgic for a time in my life where things were simpler and you could just enjoy your friends without life getting in the way. This was really, really good!

Book Review: "Murder at the Movies" by Alicia Malone

“She said people think movies take you away from real life, but actually…they can help make sense of it.”

This was great fun! I’m a huge fan of old movies, so a murder mystery taking place in an old movie theater was right up my alley. And the author is a host on Turner Classic Movies, so she knows her stuff.

After blowing up her career as a Hollywood publicist, Audrey moves to Pine Island, off the coast of Maine. Her grandmother left her the owner of the Starlight Movie Palace, which has been in her family for decades. Pine Island is a tight-knit community that doesn’t love newcomers, so Audrey’s welcome is not enthusiastic.

She finds a note on her door telling her not to go through with it. She’s a little weirded out by that, but nothing is going to stop her from re-opening the theater. On the first night, she shows the Hitchcock classic Suspicion. And after the movie ends, she finds a dead body in the projection booth.

It turns out the victim was Liam Ross, a real estate developer who made more than his share of enemies. But while the police investigate his murder, the theater has to remain closed, so Audrey decides to do some freelance investigation to see what she can find out. Of course, getting her new neighbors to open up to her is easier said than done.

I loved all the movie trivia Audrey mentions in the book and the way she mentions a film actor or actress as she describes different people. The mystery itself was pretty compelling, and I liked how the plot tied itself up in the end. This is the start of a new series, and the second book comes out in June!

Book Review: "The Rally" by Carla Vass

I had so much fun reading this! I definitely wouldn’t mind being obscenely wealthy for a few weeks and getting to live a life like the characters in this book did! (I could do without the copious amounts of alcohol, but sign me up for the other stuff.)

Charlotte and her best friend Shane designed a dating app while in college. This app, called Flutter, became an overnight success, and suddenly Charlotte became one of the new stars of the tech world. But when the inevitable backlash toward a successful young woman became too much, she got sacrificed.

Much to her surprise, she gets ousted from the company and is being forced into signing an NDA and a non-compete agreement. While she will make a healthy amount of money, she won’t ever be able to design anything in the tech space ever again.

Feeling sabotaged, and with nothing to fill her time, Charlotte decides to join her best friend on the Rally. It’s an annual European road trip where the participants drive fancy classic cars. There’s plenty of exclusive parties, fancy food, gorgeous accommodations, and beautiful destinations. They’ll travel from Slovenia to Italy, Monaco, and France.

Charlotte tries to lose herself in the excitement of the Rally. It’s not long before the alcohol flows abundantly and a flirtation with one of the participants ignites. But try as she might, she can’t shake her grief and anger about being pushed out of her company. She wonders whether walking away is best for her future, or if she should try and fight.

I love rich people behaving badly, but rich people driving fancy cars to storybook locations? This was a really enjoyable book but it wasn’t all fun and games. There was definitely some social commentary about the double standards that exist in the business world. Definitely a terrific debut!

Book Review: "Receipts from the Bookshop: A Bookseller’s Year in an English Seaside Town" by Katie Clapham

This book was an absolute delight. As someone who managed a bookstore in college and then worked at a Barnes & Noble for a short while, I have lots of anecdotes about customers, book shipments, and everything in between. But Katie Clapham has me beat hands down!

“A bookshop is a mausoleum to a product that refuses to die. Media consumption has evolved beyond recognition in such a short time, but physical books persist against the odds and so the bookshop comes to represent so much more than just another retail unit on the high street. Every day is another triumph against the vision of the town without us; a gap in the shelf of our high street. After all, a town without a bookshop is a tragedy.”

Katie and her mother have been running Storytellers, Inc., an independent bookshop in Lytham St. Annes, an English seaside town, for more than 14 years. The business requires a lot of attention and it’s not always profitable, but there’s a magic in owning a bookshop, particularly when you love to read.

“…if you stumble in on a Friday, you might find me behind the till, drinking a never-ending cup of coffee, ordering books that are mostly for myself and writing down the goings-on that make up the book you’re about to read.”

The book is comprised of Katie’s reflections on a year of bookselling. She touches on her amazingly loyal customers, who often help keep the shop afloat during tough times, as well as those who stumble into the shop and are compelled to make a purchase. She also shares comments from the many who pass by the bookshop on the way to something else. And she relays the enthusiasm of young children (and dogs) who come into the shop.

Katie’s voice is so humorous and warm. I almost felt as if she was sitting near me sharing her anecdotes. If you’ve worked in a bookstore for any appreciable amount of time, you’ll recognize some of her stories. This was really a wonderful read!

Book Review: "Switzy" by Emma Cline

“Disconcerting, this mental ice floe, populated only by David, floating off into the polar darkness. He was sometimes a figure standing on the shore, watching himself float away, and sometimes he was on the ice floe, losing sight of land.”

David, a retired businessman, is on a private plane to London. He sleeps a bit on the flight, but when he gets restless, playing solitaire on his phone soothes him. At times he feels a bit disoriented, but he finds his notebook inside his jacket pocket and it acts as a comfort.

His assistant, Cody, is ever-vigilant, seeing to David’s every need and making sure he rests during the flight. He reminds David of their itinerary—dinner with his daughter in London, visiting her home the next day to see his grandson, a quick trip to France where he will reunite with an estranged high school friend, and then to Zurich.

David is in the throes of Alzheimer’s disease. It is definitely taking its toll on his memories and his mind. One moment he is perfectly cognizant of where he is and why he’s there; the next moment, his mind travels at warp speed, shifting between different times in his life. The gaps between lucidity and confusion are getting shorter and shorter.

This is a powerful story, told in stream of consciousness so it mirrors David’s mind. As he loses his grip on reality, it became more and more difficult to follow, because the narrative kept meandering. If you’ve had someone in your life deal with dementia, you may find this book to be very triggering.

Book Review: "All's Fair in Love and Pizza" by Lane Hayes

Y’all, this book had me at PIZZA BAGELS. I enjoyed a lot about the story—the chemistry between the characters, the competition, the banter—but it was all about the pizza bagels for me.

Mateo has been working at his family’s pizzeria for as long as he can remember. Since his father and his uncle died, Mateo and his cousin run Boardwalk Pizza. It’s an institution in the college town of Haverton.

When Mateo and his crew learn that the empty space next door is going to be taken over by a bagel shop, they’re somewhat excited. The shop will be run by Rob Vilmer, Mateo’s football teammate in college who had a great pro career.

Rob remembers having a huge crush on Mateo back in college, but since Rob was closeted nothing ever happened. He’s excited to see Mateo again—until the two of them butt heads when Rob reveals his plan to make pizza bagels. How can this guy just come into town and start selling pizza bagels next to a pizzeria?

Mateo gets angrier and Rob loves egging him on. Rob’s business partner suggests the two stores have a bake-off that will last through football season. And when the heat of competition bubbles over to the bedroom, both have to decide whether to trust their heart to their rival.

This was fun, steamy, romantic, and hunger-inducing. It’s been a while since I read a rom-com by Lane Hayes, and I’ll be back for more!!

Book Review: "Second Helpings" by Dylan Morrison

Y’all, this book had a dog named Pastrami! I thought this was really sweet, but it had me at Pastrami.

Sam has been a part of Silverman’s Deli, his family’s restaurant, for as long as he can remember. It’s been an institution in Cleveland for 75 years. He’s now the manager and he loves every aspect of the job.

But things have been dicey since the restaurant got a scathing review by a well-known columnist. Sam and his staff question the authenticity of the review, because there are a lot of criticisms that seem completely false. Regardless, the number of customers who have been coming in has reduced sharply, and Sam isn’t sure he can keep the deli afloat for much longer.

To top things off, one day Jake walks into the deli. Jake was Sam’s high school boyfriend until a tragedy ripped them apart. They’ve not seen each other in 12 years, and although their first few encounters are awkward, they quickly realize how much they’ve missed one another.

Having Jake around helps Sam’s anxiety about the deli, and Sam gets to cook for him, which is definitely one of his favorite things. But as they draw closer, they need to confront the event that tore them apart, and there are other secrets that Jake needs to share.

I enjoyed another book by Dylan Morrison so I had a feeling I’d like this one too. I’m a big fan of second-chance romances and I thought that Sam and Jake had great chemistry. And now I’m going to lament that there are no good delis around here…

Book Review: "Dolly All the Time" by Annabel Monaghan

Annabel Monaghan is an absolute auto-buy author for me. Her characters are always so well-drawn, and her books have such an emotional richness to them. I’ve loved every one of her books, but Dolly All The Time may be my new favorite.

When a small fire occurs one night in her childhood home, Dolly and her teenage son Gus leave their lives in Boston and head back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island. Ever since her mother left their family when Dolly was 12, she’s been the one who has taken care of everything—for her father and her two younger siblings.

Dolly loves being back in Whitfield and quickly assumes the caretaking role once again. One day after working at the family’s fish house, she comes across Stewart Whitfield, the handsome heir to the Whitfield fortune. (Their hometown is named for his family.) Stewart’s car has a flat tire and he has no idea how to fix it. Dolly shows him how, and the press takes an impromptu picture of them, as Stewart’s engagement has just ended in a scandal.

Stewart is desperate to close the deal on his becoming the company’s new. The one drawback is that his parents think he’s too much of a workaholic to succeed. So Stewart asks Dolly to be his fake girlfriend, a challenge she accepts. Suddenly she is attending benefits and client dinners, and bringing out a whole different side of Stewart.

I’ve read tons of romances and rom-coms that have fake dating at their core. Even though the approach is familiar, the way the relationship between Dolly and Stewart unfolds is just lovely.

I absolutely loved this book. Not only were the main characters totally appealing, but the supporting characters rocked also. There was banter, steam, self-discovery, happiness, sadness, and humor. It was exactly what I needed!

Book Review: "The Hitch" by Sara Levine

This was one of the wildest, most creative books I’ve read in some time. I'll never look at corgis the same way again!

Rose is an anti-racist, secular Jewish feminist eco-warrior, a believer in eating healthy foods, and the owner of an artisanal yogurt business. She’s unmarried and doesn’t have children of her own, but she dotes on her six-year-old nephew Nathan and her beloved Newfoundland, Walter.

Rose is one of those people who knows everything about everything. She has an article, a study, a program to back up all of her opinions. And one of her opinions is that she should get to spend more time with Nathan, but her brother and sister-in-law don’t necessarily think she’s the best influence on him.

However, when her brother and sister-in-law take a vacation to Mexico, they agree to leave Nathan in Rose’s care. Rose is so excited; she has her spare bedroom redone for him, and has outlined a vegan meal plan for the week. But only one day into her caregiving stint, disaster strikes. When Rose, Nathan, and Walter are in the park, Walter attacks and kills a corgi.

Walter has never acted aggressively before. And when Nathan starts acting strangely, Rose figures it’s his reaction to the incident. But then Nathan tells Rose that the corgi’s soul is living inside him. And this dog is a troublemaker. If Rose can’t fix this, she’ll never be trusted to care for Nathan again.

Although the concept of the book sounds silly, it’s actually quite moving and thought-provoking. Rose is not the most likable character but she does grow a bit by the end, and she really does love Nathan. I’ll be thinking about this for a long while!!

Book Review: "Dead Money" by Jakob Kerr

My first read of 2026 was a twisty thriller-ish mystery about the multibillion-dollar machinations of the tech industry and the double crossing that occurs in the thirst for power and money.

Mackenzie Clyde is more than a fixer. A trained attorney, she’s worked her way up to be the director of investigations for one of the biggest venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. She makes problems—and problem clients—disappear before they harm the firm’s investments.

But then Trevor Canon, CEO of Journey, one of the hottest startups, is found murdered and his assets are frozen. It just so happens that her boss and his firm are the biggest investors in the startup, so getting answers ASAP is crucial. Mackenzie gets a role as an “advisor” to the investigation, which means she has to collaborate with the FBI, who aren’t the most forthcoming.

Everyone’s a suspect—the other executives at Journy, other venture capitalists, even organized crime. Because the murder—and the motive behind it—is about more than money. And Mackenzie doesn’t know whom to trust—or if she’ll be left out to hang when the truth is uncovered.

“It was much simpler, she thought, to see the world for ‘what it could be’ if you never had to actually experience the world as it was. It’s a lot easier to be a visionary when you’re at the top of a skyscraper than when you’re battling for elbow room on the street.”

This is an interesting read which gets a bit technical from time to time. There were definitely lots of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing. I would’ve liked a little more action, but I still couldn’t stop reading.

Book Review: "Saving Face" by Mansi Shah

The CEO of a global skincare company, Ami Shah is a role model. Raised in Singapore, she had to break down a lot of barriers to get to where she is, and convince many that despite her gender and the color of her skin, she’s a businesswoman to be reckoned with. Her company, Amala, is about to merge with a Fortune 500 company.

Her nomination for the Global Changemakers Award is unprecedented. This prestigious award has only gone to white men; she is the first woman of color to be nominated. If she wins the award, it will increase the value of Amala and cement her legacy.

While she should be beside herself about this honor, Ami would prefer to withdraw her nomination. All of the publicity makes her nervous—not because she’s shy, but because she’s not who she says she is. Ami (whose real name is Monica) was an orphan raised in a convent in Singapore. But since orphans in her country never had a chance to amount to much, she decided to steal a former classmate’s identity and move to London, which is where her new story began.

But as the merger details are finalized and the award ceremony draws closer, Ami starts getting threatening text messages promising to expose her lies if she didn’t confess. She knows if the truth comes out, everything she built will fall apart. To figure out who is blackmailing her, she must go back to where she vowed she’d never return: Singapore.

“She wanted to prove that just because a girl had been abandoned, it didn’t mean she had to carry that weight with her forever. She could find purpose, and through that, she could find herself.”

This was such a thought-provoking, emotional book. Mansi Shah created a story that seemed so plausible, and even though it’s a bit of a slow burn, it was tremendously compelling.

Book Review: "Battle of the Bookstores" by Ali Brady

“For better or worse, my library has always grown faster than my social circle.” (Do you not feel that quote in your soul?)

Josie is the manager of a Boston bookstore that specializes in “serious” literature. She loves a good chunky book and loves recommending books to her customers.

Ryan manages a romance bookstore just down the street from Josie. He hates it when people denigrate romance as a genre or dismiss the books as frivolous.

Both bookstores are owned by the same person. Josie and Ryan are thrown when their boss tells them he wants to combine both of their stores into one—and only one of them will run the new store. He’ll decide after a three-month period in which the two stores will compete against each other for the highest sales.

The idea of competing with one another turns Ryan and Josie into enemies, and it seems as if neither can say anything to the other without sparking animosity. Of course, the chemistry between the two is so intense—but they’re too busy fighting one another to notice.

The more they get to know each other, they realize how good they are at running their stores and each has secret wounds they’re keeping from one another. Who will win the competition? Will enemies turn to lovers? Ali Brady knows how to weave a story with romance, steam, emotion, and humor. I absolutely loved this!!

Book Review: "A Love Like the Sun" by Riss M. Neilsen

I can’t seem to get enough romances with fake dating and friends to lovers tropes. And this book had both, so how could I resist?

Laniah and Issac have been friends since childhood. They’re kind of like family but at the same time, there’s an indisputable pull between them that tempted them once when they were teenagers.

Now, as adults, Issac is a famous influencer and brand spokesperson who has gained notoriety for both his art and his videos about relationships. Laniah is still in their hometown of Providence, running a natural hair products store with her mother. As much as Issac is a presence online, Laniah couldn’t be more private.

When Issac returns to the East Coast for the first time in a long while, he is surprised to learn that Laniah’s business is failing. He offers to bail her and her mother out financially, but she categorically refuses to take his money. So he mentions on his social media that they’re dating, and that’s all it takes.

The minute Issac mentions Laniah, business explodes. She reluctantly agrees to a fake relationship for the summer, so she can get her feet back under her financially and perhaps find an eager investor. But when the lines between friendship and love get blurred, how can you separate real from fake?

This book has been on my stack for a while but I’m so glad I read it. It’s beautifully written, emotionally evocative, and it has such well-drawn characters I couldn’t stop rooting for. This kind of relationship always melts my heart.

Book Review: "Every Tom, Dick & Harry" by Elinor Lipman

What a fun, bighearted book this was! I think I might have had a smile on my face from start to finish.

“I’ve been estate-sale adjacent since I could add and give change, spending weekends at a table, wrapping and bagging purchases.”

Emma moved back to her small hometown of Harrow, Massachusetts, where her parents still live. She helps out with their estate-sale business, and when they decide to retire to Cape Cod, Emma takes over the business (which she renames “Estate of Mind”) and their house.

She hears about a large house being put on the market, so she quickly reaches out to see if the owners would let her handle the estate sale. It turns out that this wasn’t just any house—it was a bed and breakfast as well as a brothel. (The customers used different sets of stairs.) Given all of the furnishings and other tchotchkes in the house, Emma expects quite a windfall, but she doesn’t count on the stress that dealing with the madam, her ex-husband, and their daughter will bring.

There are many other things going on in Harrow. Emma begins a secret romance with Luke, the chief of police, whom she went to high school with. Her boarder, Frank, a retired high school teacher, begins dating Luke’s widowed mother. And then there’s all the craziness related to Frank’s late wife…

Elinor Lipman’s books always have complex and memorable characters, and often are quite humorous. There’s a lot going on here but it’s just such a sweet, fun read. And boy, given all that’s going on in the U.S., it’s exactly what I needed!

The book will publish 2/11/2025.

Book Review: "I Think They Love You" by Julian Winters

Julian Winters is one of my auto-buy authors, so when I saw he had a new book coming out I was definitely excited. And as much as I’ve loved all of his YA books, learning this would be his first adult novel was even more exciting!

As the son of the CEO of 24 Carter Gold, Atlanta’s most prominent event planning company, Denz has always been expected to make a good impression. He’s tremendously conscious that someone is always watching him, which as an adult has translated into social media success for the company.

When his workaholic father announces his retirement and a search for the company’s new CEO, Denz decides to become a candidate. His family questions his seriousness and his commitment to things, so he tells them he has a boyfriend to prove them wrong.

Of course, now he has to find a boyfriend, or at least someone who’ll pretend to be one. The person to fill the role is the last person Denz is expecting: Braylon, his college boyfriend, who took a job in London after graduation and broke his heart. (Braylon needs Denz’s connections, so it’s not a one-sided fake relationship.)

As Denz jumps through hoops to try and prove his worthiness to be CEO, he and Braylon go all in on fake dating. Of course, there’s always some truth in every pretend relationship, but can either of them admit their true feelings before it’s too late?

I loved how much heart this book had. It’s not only a story about second chances; it’s also about family, friendship, ambition, fear, and trying to figure out what you want out of life. This is a sexy, romantic, emotional story, and proof that Julian Winters succeeds no matter what genre he’s in.

Book Review: "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at this book and thought about reading it. The cover cracks me up every time, so I took the plunge.

This is a creative book that is wacky as hell. Charlie used to be a happily married business journalist. Now he’s a divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in his late father’s house, which his siblings would like to sell from under him. He dreams of taking over the neighborhood pub—if only he can get $3.4 million.

Then he learns that his Uncle Jake, whom he hasn’t seen since he was 5, has died. There are lots of people who are happy he’s dead (once they’re sure he’s not faking it). It turns out that Uncle Jake was a billionaire, but his fortune wasn’t entirely legitimate.

Charlie suddenly finds himself in charge of his uncle’s super-villain empire. Now, he’s the target of all of those who wanted Jake dead. Figuring out what to do isn’t easy, but he can’t just hide out in his uncle’s secret volcano lair, can he? Luckily he has intelligent cats who can type, unionized (and foul mouthed) dolphins, and a few dangerous masterminds on his side.

“A stupid villain threatens, Charlie. A smarter villain offers a service.”

The book started out fairly normal but it gets crazier and crazier as the plot unfolds. I’m always amazed at the creativity of writers who can think of wild stories like this. I enjoyed it—although at times I felt like it was trying too hard—and thought it was a great change of pace from the heavier books I usually read.

Book Review: "Something Close to Nothing" by Tom Pyun

“Adulthood isn’t a fairy tale; long-term relationships don’t play out like a Hallmark movie. Relationships are primarily about having shared goals, like creating a family. You have to be in it for the long haul.”

Winston (Wynn) and Jared have been together for a number of years now. Jared is the responsible one; Wynn recently quit his corporate job to become a hip-hop dancer. But they’re about to take a major step: flying to Cambodia for the birth of their baby girl via a surrogate.

The thing is, Wynn isn’t so sure he wants to be a father. Jared may already be planning for their second child, but Wynn can’t imagine being tied down, forced to take care of a baby and give up his dreams. As they get ready to board the plane, Wynn flees, leaving Jared alone with no explanation.

Jared can’t believe that Wynn didn’t tell him sooner that he didn’t want a baby. But Jared desperately wants to be a father, so he makes the trip on his own and his mother meets him in Cambodia, where they await the birth of his daughter.

As Jared deals with the rigmarole of surrogacy in a foreign country and then settles in back at home in San Francisco with his new daughter, Wynn is trying to find himself and get started on his new dance career. Jared devotes himself to fatherhood while Wynn auditions for a singer’s comeback tour and teaches dance in different countries. Both think the other is self-centered and wonder if they made a mistake, but try to get on with their lives.

Neither character is entirely likable, but you can see how they are both right and completely wrong for one another. This is a book about what it feels like to realize you need to grow up, and how you don’t have to give yourself up to be with someone else. It’s both a funny and sad story, and very thought-provoking.

Book Review: "Shell Games" by Bonnie Kistler

Whoa. This book had me hooked from the very first page, and I barely moved from the couch in the few hours it took me to read it!

Kate Sawyer was a force to be reckoned with. She was a multimillionaire, a shrewd real estate developer, and well connected in both Florida society and state politics. She always did things her way—and that didn’t make life easy for her daughter, Julie, who felt like she was always living in her mother’s shadow.

When Kate marries her high school sweetheart Charlie, 50+ years after they first dated, it appears that she’s finally getting the happy ending she deserves. But on their wedding night, Charlie admits that he was behind one of the most notorious crimes from several decades ago. Horrified, Kate calls the police.

When Charlie’s alibi from back then checks out, no one is sure what has occurred. Charlie says he never admitted anything to Kate; Kate thinks Charlie is gaslighting her and trying to prove her mentally incompetent; and Julie’s husband Eric thinks Kate is in the early stages of dementia.

Julie worries about her mother, whose behavior becomes much more erratic since her wedding night. She isn’t sure what to think. Is her mother starting to lose her mind? Is Charlie trying to get Kate’s money by questioning her mental state? And why is Eric involved? Julie starts to wonder about her own marriage as well.

I love books when you can’t figure out whom you should trust, or how things are ultimately going to unfold. I kept waiting to see what the truth was and which characters I should be rooting for, and while Julie was an annoying character for a part of the storyline, I could find justification for her actions. This one kept me guessing!

Book Review: "Marshmallow Mountain" by A.J. Truman and M.A. Wardell

An M/M romance that’s part of a series called “Big Boys, Small Spaces,” and the characters are both Jewish? I couldn’t have loved this any more than I did.

Marshall and Marshall (aka “Data”) were together for eight years, when Marshall unceremoniously ended their relationship, saying he needed time and space. Marshall is an aspiring comedian and Data is an accountant.

The two haven’t spoken in six months, so Data is shocked to get a phone call from Marshall. He suggests the two of them travel up to Maine to pack up the cabin they co-own, so they can sell it. Data is still angry and hurt, so he’s determined to pack everything up over the weekend, and then he won’t have to see Marshall again. But of course, neither of them are counting on a snowstorm which strands them together at the cabin.

“I’m not good. I’m stuck in a cabin with my ex who broke my heart six months ago and is now attempting to pick his way inside to do more damage by having amazing sex with me multiple times before we pack up and sell the damn place. I should write a country song.”

Between multiple rounds of breakup sex, the two talk about where things went wrong; each of their anxieties about life, work, and family; and keep getting distracted from finishing the packing. But how could you not root for two guys with the same first name?

Both Truman and Wardell are great authors in their own right, but this first collaboration hit the spot. It’s super steamy, emotional, romantic, and funny, and you can bet I’m ready for Book 2 in the series!

Book Review: "Don't Go Bakin' My Heart" by Shane K. Morton

Like I could resist a book with this title? This was as good as I hoped it would be.

Foggy Basin is a quintessential small town in California, not too far from San Francisco. Many of the businesses in town have existed for years, but recently a resort developer has been trying to convince the owners to sell, so a gigantic resort and golf course could be built. And they’re not above making offers that would allow the owners to live quite well.

Percy grew up in town, and his parents owned a bakery called Don’t Go Bakin’ My Heart. When they were ready to retire, Percy left his job as a pastry chef at a Michelin-starred hotel in Europe to buy the bakery from them. It’s hard keeping a business going, but the bakery is in his blood.

Percy and Ben grew up together, and became very close, until Ben became afraid of his feelings and proceeded to treat everyone, especially Percy, cruelly for four years of high school. Ben couldn’t wait to leave Foggy Basin and never look back. He’s on the verge of becoming partner at the development company where he works, but his promotion depends on him convincing the business owners of Foggy Basin to sell and make way for the resort.

Percy can’t believe Ben has returned after 10 years. Their feelings for one another still burn intensely, but Percy has to get over his resentment of how Ben treated him in high school. As they draw together again, there’s one little secret—the reason Ben has returned—that can tear them apart for good.

Did I guess how the book would go just from the description? Yes, but did it matter? Nope. This is a sweet, emotional, sexy love story with more than a touch of pastry, and the characters were just terrific. I’m looking forward to a return to Foggy Basin!