Book Review: One Shattered Crown By Rebecca Zanetti

   I picked this audiobook off of NetGalley in order to fulfill a prompt for a "re-re-re-telling" of a fairytale. 

In general I do not like Re-tellings. They just don't do it for me. Other LOVE them, but for me, I want something a little more original.  And YES- I know it's sometimes even more of a challenge to make a well know tale "fresh" or original. 

And thus we have One Shattered Crown

It does come with beautiful sprayed edges and a vibrant cover. Of course, my audiobook did not come with that cover! :) 

This is a Cinderella re-telling that is sure to be a big hit for Book Tok Romance readers.  We meet Ella and Justice, two young folk from two powerful tech companies and add in the Irish Mafia, and you may be seeing where this is going.

Ella is the disowned heir to a social media giant.  She's delicate like a Pixie, and a wild risk taker with a soft heart. She is stubborn and tough, but also of course, tiny and vulnerable. 

Justice is the tough Mob Boss who also heads up a different social media giant.  He's wary of Ella, as she is dangerous, but also- exceedingly attractive, so much so that the fact that she infected his brother with a virus that almost killed him doesn't really phase him. He has to have her. Justice is bound and determined to protect the reckless Ella, even when she requests that he cease and desist.

We can see where this is headed?  If you cannot, you have not read many of these romances. 

I enjoyed this novel.  It fits the mode of the mafia romance without any unusual twists or turns. I felt like the re-telling aspect was more of a nod to the basic Cinderella story, and this remake in the modern world, with  cell phones, high speed cars, and on-line presence really made it stand out as original in that sense. 

The Narration of this book by Emma Wilder and Lance Greenfield made the listen entirely enjoyable.  Both voice actors voiced the characters exactly as I imagined them in my mind!  I don't recall having either of these narrators prior to this book, so I am excited to discover new narrators that I enjoy! 

Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, morally gray characters, and dark romance with power imbalances will want to add this to their shelves.  Many Thanks to RB Media for the Advanced Listener Copy. 

STATS

First Published  July 28, 2026 

Pages: 400

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings: Animal cruelty, death of parent, gore, guns, drugs, kidnapping, assassination attempts, Dub Con.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

 

Please Look After This Bear- how Paddington Became British by Melanie Ramdarshan Bold and Aishwarya Subramanian

 If you grew up on Paddington, the bear from Peru, you'll want to check out this volume. I picked it up thinking I'd learn more about the story of the small bear bought for Mr. Bond's wife. I thought it might talk about the various marketing campaigns and how he first had a yellow hat and then suddenly had a red hat.

I am so old that the Paddington Bear that I received when I was six years old had a yellow hat. I have deep childhood ties to the awkward and lovable bear. I admit, I never really examined those ties much beyond affection until I picked up this Audio book from Highbridge on NetGalley (Thank you so Much!)

Within these pages is the first examination of Paddington as a social and Cultural phenomena. The book is specifically focused on how Paddington, a Bear from Peru- embodies most of the values that British people hold as true and as ideal values for British citizens.

As a child, I was unaware of any particular political imagery attached to one of my very favorite characters. As an adult, I was gratified to learn that Paddington's tag came with the memory of the Kinder-transports of WWII, and that while becoming quintessentially British, he also stands as an example of immigrant and refugee children - especially as he arrived with the Windrush generation which often faced difficulty in the times when the original Paddingtons were published.

Will this book be for everyone, possibly not. Given it's brevity (6 hours on audio) I felt it was a delightful glimpse into literary analysis that is not often presented to the general public and a very thought provoking volume.

First Published :  5/18/2026

Pages: 224 

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes  ~ 6  hr  Coming from Highbridge July 17, 2026 

Trigger Warnings: history, racism, classism, issues of immigration, personhood,  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Dinner with an Astronaut by Leroy Chiao (with Victoria Bruce)

 

If you are following along with me in 2026, you know, I chose Outer Space as a reading theme for this year! I have been straying into some Science Fiction that isn't really space related, and several other genres as I've been offered various reading options.  So, when I saw this book listed on Net Galley, I jumped with joy!  I was even more excited because it was an audio copy, which is always helpful for me with my eye issues.

With this very appealing cover, I was so ready to dive into this one. Leroy notes he is the first "full blooded Chinese" person to go to Space, (his words- not mine!) and his experiences are fascinating. 

   The format of the book is meant to feel as if one is enjoying a meal with Leroy and he's answering some questions that most space enthusiasts have. As the audio is also read by Leroy himself, it has a bit of a homey feel. For me it felt as if I was experiencing one of those  "story worth"  creations where families choose prompts for their loved ones and create their own memoirs.  The main difference of course, is that Leroy has massively interesting stories about going to Space, doing Space Walks, and working with Russian and Chinese Astronauts. 

   I feel like the audio production could have leaned into this some more with an additional narrator to ask the questions and possibly even add in commentary, but- it might have been hard to do that without it drifting into the hokey category. As it is, the audiobook is an effortless read/listen that moved along with perfect pacing. 

    This is a good one for adults and kids to listen to together. Leroy covers his early childhood passions for planes and rockets, his education choices that lead to his astronaut candidacy and qualifications, and his training and missions as an astronaut. He has a lot of "flying" time, and EVA (Extra-vehicular activity) time in Outer Space, and so brings a great perspective - having experienced NASA through several iterations.  Also a good choice for book clubs, and readers who want to include some non-fiction in their reading diet. 

This comes out June 16, and would be a fun one for family listening if you are taking a road trip this year!

First Published :  6/16/2026

Pages: 256

Available as an Audio Book :  yes ~ 8-9 hrs

Trigger Warnings:   discussion of various space missions that resulted in deaths, alcohol use, marital issues, mention of some controversial political figures (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

   

Book Review: Married to the Mafia by Lucy Smoke

 I had a lot of fun with this one!  This is such a fun read and great for folks who have wanted to do their toes into Dark Romance, but didn't maybe want to dive in, without checking out the waters a bit 

I requested this audiobook on Net Galley on an impulsive whim.     

The cover was AMAZING  and I do find it hard to resist a good cover. Like many romance readers, I like a good mafia romance.  I am entirely convinced that any actual crime syndicate doesn't operate like in the romance novels, but...I can suspend reality all the time when I read fantasy novels. If I can enjoy an find a book about an alien snail race taking over the globe, a mafia romance... is not really as far a stretch.  

   Lucy Smoke is a new author to me, and I loved this book. It reminded me of the giggly fun feelings I get when reading Brynne Weaver's series about Serial Killers who fall in love. 

   As a synopsis:  Daisy is a new college graduate and she and her college bestie move to NEW YORK CITY to experience life and make their mark on the world.  New York isn't particularly kind to the girls and they find themselves getting by with temp jobs and a shared loft. Daisy's picked up a shift at a wedding, hoping for tips when she finds herself stuck in a room with a lot of good looking me, and one very very un-alive bride. 

 Julio is a "member of the family" but he's been told it's time to marry if he wants to move up. He's picked his bride and arranged the marriage and is quite put out to find the woman he needed to marry- very very un-alive. 

Readers of romance, know that this wedding must go on, and of course, Daisy, the server fits the dress perfectly. (or ALMOST perfectly) 

Daisy figures she's standing in so the man doesn't lose face, and it's only quite a bit later that realization dawns, she's really and truly married to a stranger- and not just any stranger, one who seems VERY VERY dangerous. 

   What's a girl to do? 

Well- I won't spoil it, readers will want to read- or listen to find out.   The audio book features a smooth, but upbeat dual narration from Gomez Pugh and Lisa Zimmerman.  Gomez took on the sometimes tough job of a stereotypical New York wise guys accent and was able to make it sound natural- with the accent getting stronger and fading at different moments, just as it would in natural speech- never totally gone but sometimes coming out bold, and other times softening. Lisa as Daisy was Hilarious! She injected all the spunk and sassiness that was needed to bring Daisy's inner monologue out to play. 

I loved the audiobook, and my entire reading experience with it. 

This one popped on shelves on April 21- so I hope someone will pick it up because I want so badly to giggle over certain moments, and to discuss predictions- I suspect there's a second book involving Daisy's bestie Michelle.  

STATS

First Published: 4/21/26

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :  YES  ~ 9 hrs

Trigger Warnings:  violence, Death, gun violence, reference to Suicide, Foster Care flashbacks, more death, on page sex, cursing. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review: Morsel By Carter Keane

  WOW!  Just WoW!

What if there was a monster in the woods, but the only way to conquer this monster was to embrace it wholly, and completely?   This is where we find ourselves with Morsel. 

  Carter Keane is a new author to me, and Morsel  is their debut novella. 

This does not read like a debut.  It was one part polished writing, and one part gritty reality, all rolled into one delicious novella.  it's an excellent way for readers who are interested in horror to dip a toe in without committing to something more involved.  Readers will get a story that feels relatable on various levels, the grisly gore of horror, as well as a surprisingly satisfying ending. 

So honestly, Carter Keane, I was prepare to not like this.  Appalachian/mountain horror is considered "hot" right now - especially on Tik Tok where videos of deserted towns and haunted hollows are hugely popular. I enjoy those videos also, but with a bit of reservation, as I grew up in the world of "hollers" and valleys and some deep dark woods. And the place is a wild, weird and wonderful as it is touted to be... but it's also a difficult place to live, and as my own mother said, kinda boring day to day. The videos sort of use the people and places as props to support whatever it is they are selling, and that never quite feels genuine for me. To be 100% honest, things like internet, medical care and even phone service coverage all create unique challenges. Not to mention, your creepy neighbor who is an entertaining character in a book- is an actual real live creepy neighbor!  So I was a bit skeptical as I requested the book. I was wrong! I really enjoyed this fast paced ride through Southern Ohio. 

  This novella was the real deal. I felt the strong feeling of nostalgia hit me square in the face as the cicadas began singing in the first few page and I was hooked.  

I'm gonna try to give a spoiler free summary here: 

Lou is our main character. Lou grew up in poverty but she's done everything "right" found a way to go to college, and got an office job that pays better than what her Mother makes. She isn't a fan of the job, but she's taking care of her mother, and like it or not, there is a corporate ladder to climb. Lou doesn't fit in well, and when she is offered an opportunity to work independently - taking some appraisal photos in a rural part of the state, she's all for it.  Her friend Emma isn't so sure, but Lou wants to support her Mom, and to please her boss. 

    Once she and her trusted dog Ripley,  start on this project, she quickly realizes that something isn't right out here.   She uses all of her skills to try to right this situation, but it becomes more dire and bizarre as time passes.  I had several moments wondering  who was going to be our final girl as the situation devolves from just creepy to downright dangerous. Monstrous creatures are a foot, and not all of them are human. Lou, who has spent a lot of the novel seeking guidance/reassurance that she's doing what's expected of her from every person in her life, finally makes a choice that seems right, and owns her situation,  and reclaims herself in the process. 

For me it was delicious. From start to finish. Is this for everyone? Probably not.  Readers who have enjoyed Steven Graham Jones, and CJ Leede will likely find this as satisfying as I did.  It is also perfect for those readers who want to explore the horror genre, but are a bit concerned about their reaction. This does contain some slasher type horror, as well as body horror, but it is also a novella, so if it becomes a problem, it's a short problem! 

Many Thanks  To Macmillan Audio for the advanced Listening copy.  Narrated by Lindsey Dorcus, a smooth reading was provided, with excellent timing and cadence - she was able to switch between snark and serious situations flawlessly.   I fully enjoyed the audio and felt that it was not distracting from the narrative.  

STATS

First Published  4/14/26

Pages: 264

Available as an Audio Book : ~ 7 hrs 

Trigger Warnings:  violence, blood, body injury, body horror, sexism, animal harm, motor vehicle harm, wild animals, angry leadership cult leaders, poverty, death of parent. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

    

Book Review: Japanese Gothic By Kylie Lee Baker

 This novel Blew me away!

  I enjoyed Baker's novel Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng. I thought it was well written commentary on the Pandemic (and it's effects on people/populations) at a time when other "Pandemic" books were not yet published or were sort of vague.  But, I am unsure if I REALLY  LOVED it... 

In fact, in part because it was so tied to the Pandemic, I kind of had a visceral reaction to it, which really had nothing to do with the novel, and everything to do with the Pandemic. 

Despite my reaction, I knew Kylie Lee Baker was an author to watch.  So, when Harper Collins/Hanover Square reached out with an e-arc of the book, I jumped at it. Although my eye condition remains - sort of- BAD, I can still read, so I wanted to give it a shot. I just have to kind of go slow.  

  I went into this book entirely blind. (not a pun about my eyes!!)  I had read not one word about the book at all, and I think, honestly that's the way to go with this one!

I LOVED IT with my whole body and soul. 

At this point, I am going to give a bit of synopsis, so, if you are taking my advice to go in blind, you probably should skip the next paragraph and maybe enjoy this image which may or may not be related... If you do read the book you'll come to find this photo from 1877 to be verrrrrrry interesting. 

 

Stillfried & Andersen, Publisher. Samurai or Retainer Kneeling Before Government Official or Daimyo. Japan, ca. 1877. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2009632874/.

   As  a synopsis, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.  Sounds simple enough.  We have all read a few of these time hopping type novels.  But, wait, there's more! 

        Lee is a college student  in 2026. He's sure he's done something horrendous, and illegal, so he flees to his father's new home in Japan. Sen is a Samurai who is in exile with her family in 1877. Sen's father is a Samurai who returned from conflict - but Sen is convinced that it isn't really her father, but some grotesque version of her father. 

        Both Lee and Sen know something is wrong, but neither can exactly pinpoint the problem.  The story alternates between timelines, with Lee and Sen.  Someone is a ghost, and one of the stories is a lie.  Over time, readers will realize that both Lee and Sen are unreliable narrators. Typically I do not like an unreliable narrator, as it usually makes me feel sort of duped or something...  BUT, a lot of the fun and excitement I had while reading the book was the generation of theory after theory about what was really going on, how there was a bridge between two worlds, and why it was occurring so regularly. I came close to drawing a few diagrams. 

Baker weaves a tale around the 1877 in Japan, Modern day current times and the myth of Urashima Taro- a fisherman who saves a turtle and dallies at the bottom of the ocean in the magnificent Ryugo-jo. As he enjoys his under the sea experience, time passes in unusual ways- and for Sen and Lee, time is also passing in unnatural ways. The intersection of these three story lines is crafted seamlessly, and kept me on the edge of my seat- formulating theories right up until the last chapter. 

Ok, OK- If you were skipping the synopsis - you can go back to reading now! 

When I was about 50% through reading the book, I was also approved for the audiobook version! (Thank you Harlequin Audio!)  It is narrated by Natalie Naudus!  Naudus is a real voice professional.  She does not rely on sound effects or large voice changes, but produces tension and emotion just by subtle changes in tone and timbre.  The result is a smooth narration, which made me forget I was even listening- her voice seems to fade away and the story continued to play out in my mind cinematically.  I loved the experience of the audio book, and I recommend it, if you enjoy audiobooks.  It was such a good rendering of the story that I felt I could go between the print book and the audio book with no issues and pick right up where I left off in one or the other! I even did some "immersive" reading with this one.  As the book has a lot of subtle plot points, and I had a lot of theories, it was definitely a great way to experience the novel. 

  This is the kind of horror I love.  There's no specific jump scare moment, but rather, a series of encroaching creepy moments that create that unsettling tension, punctuated with truly horrific moments that made me sit up and take notice! 

STATS

First Published :  4/14/2026

Pages: 352

Available as an Audio Book :  YES ( ~ 10.2 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Child death, parental death, mental illness, main character death, body horror, blood, violence, references to racism, stereotyping, and more.

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke

 

Firstly Many Thanks to macmillan audio for the advanced listener copy of Starry and Restless. 

This is a non-fiction book for those who want to start reading more non-fiction!   Julia Cooke has brought to life the amazing lives of three woman reporters who were most certainly the talk of the town. It reads a bit like a memoir but has more commentary and information giving historic context to the women's lives.

In my very progressive school, I was taught that the women's rights movement really came along in the 1960's and 1970's. I was led to believe that women were pillars of domesticity up until that time. Obviously there's truth in this, but exploring the lives of these women who decided it to shed those expectations showed me that there were indeed many degrees of this domesticity. 

    Martha Gellhorn, Emily (Mickey) Hahn and Rebecca West were three women who defied custom and made their way in the world as writers. These women traveled the world, married who they pleased, reported on the events of the day, and all left their mark on American journalism.  Although their names are not well known in this day and time, their influence is unmistakable. 

    In very readable (listenable) language, Cooke introduces us to these women and illustrates how they themselves interacted, influencing each other. I was fascinated by the lives they carved out for themselves, defying many social norms and expectations. 

   Andi Arndt is the narrator for this gem and her clear reading voice made this a fantastic read for my morning commute. Arndt always has perfect pacing, and this narration is no exception!

   This book was fascinating and while reading, I was reminded of Isabel Allende's My Name is Emilia Del Valle, which is a fictionalized story of a female reporter in about the same time frame. While I enjoyed Allende's work quite a bit, I was most intrigued by Cooke's new book because these ladies were real living beings- one who owned a pet Gibbon! One who chose to be a single mother in a time when this was not at all the norm, several who traveled to exotic places and married "exotic" men. The truth always does seem stranger than fiction. 

One to add to the shelves if you like historical fiction, or non-fiction. Definitely one to share with young aspiring writers as they figure out how to make a mark in the industry. 

First Published :  February 2026

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings: drug use, war violence, (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen

  This is the final book (supposedly) in Megan Bannen's Tanria Trilogy!

 Honestly this was one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2025- and in fact, when saddened by the world, I did remind myself that Rosie and Adam would be coming out as something to look forward to as things seem to be going up in flames all around us. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! 

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of the audiobook! Narrators Kacie Rogers and Jim Frangione really brought to life Rosie's "act first think later" personality and Adam's reserved demeanor- as well as the magic of Tanria and all of the beloved characters we adore! 

   Because this book is billed as romance, I do not think it gets enough credit as a novel that is also fantasy and has some fairly extensive world building which doesn't have a lot of plot holes.  One of the biggest themes that all of Bannen's novels deal with in this series is the idea of immortality and death. In some ways, I really found all three of the novel's exploration of death and or lack of death to be fascinating and frankly very comforting. People fear death, and a popular fantasy trope is immortality- granting a character time to make lots of mistakes, woo lots of lovers and generally feel they haven't missed out on anything.  As a person with extremely elderly parents, the idea of death is constantly on my mind and I am sometimes filled with some anxiety regarding the changes it will inevitably create. Bannen addresses this with her immortal and mortal characters, and in the end, shows that possibly mortality is a better bet for most. It certainly was comforting to see characters who had lived for decades and decades feeling that it wasn't all it's cut out to be as an experience. This is all set in a fun, campy very 1950's cowboy country kind of atmospheric world, with of course some very active Gods (both old and new ones indeed!) and it's just fun to read about the clothing and wonderful Auto-ducks (cars that are water and land rovers) while contemplating just exactly what will happen between our lovely Rosie and lonely Adam! 

  As far as a romance, this also has a lot to offer- a tall demi-god and a short king, an age gap (Adam is a few thousand years old  while Rosie is only 150! Oh - La-La!), forced proximity trope (work project gone wrong), DRAGONS!, possibly he Falls First - though it seems that they really fell years ago, but didn't have an opportunity to pursue things properly. The Happy Ever After ending was perfectly satisfying as both Rosie and Adam had started off in such a lonely state. Readers who has read the entire series will be glad to know that Bannen doesn't leave up hanging with Zeddy and Duckers- we do indeed find out how they are coming along as well.  

Highly recommend this book if you're looking for a quirky, fresh romance with some LGBTQIA  representation (not the major focus), dragons, and an entirely tear jerking romance. 

STATS

First Published : July 2025

Pages: 432

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Death, parental neglect (minor),family drama, toxic relationships.