Mini Book Reviews – October 2024: What To Read & What To Skip

Welcome to my regular round up of mini book reviews of what I’ve read this past month! 

In my list of mini book reviews, I include everything I’ve read recently that I finished.  I like to share both my five star reads and any misses to help you get a better idea of what you should read or might want to skip.

As always, I love to hear if you agree or disagree with my ratings! Let me know in the comments what you thought of my October 2024 mini book reviews.

 

The Holiday Cottage by Sarah Morgan

My love for Sarah Morgan knows no bounds — she writes the most charming stories that focus just as much on female relationships as romantic ones.

This holiday novel features three women — a mother and daughter running a winery plus their event planner who are all struggling in their own ways but find connection, love and forgiveness in each other.

There are also tons of adorable animals and a very handsome vet. | 5 Stars | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

I just discovered Riley Sager recently and have been devouring all of his backlists books! He consistently writes chilling thrillers that will keep you in suspense without being toooo scary.

Jules is offered a lifeline when she accepts a job apartment sitting in a prestigious building in NYC. The rules are pretty strict, but for $1,000 a week and no other options, she’s willing to do anything.

Within a few days though, she’s starting to wonder if the rumors about the dark nature of the building are true. Another apartment sitter mysteriously disappears in the middle of the night and she’s desperate to uncover the truth about what’s happening here. She realizes she may be in serious danger too. | 4 Stars | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Crush by Noelle Douglas

It’s a bakery showdown as Lawrence and his small bakery business take on a cookie conglomerate trying to open a new location. The project is being led by Elena, who gets under his skin in all the right ways, even though she’s representing the enemy!

Elena is struggling against a ruthless manager and a soulless company and the small town charm and Lawrence’s love and devotion are winning her over. Can these two find common ground despite being on opposite sides of the cookie aisle!?

This is everything I could have hoped for from a baking based Christmas romance! Tons of delicious descriptions, bakery dates, and Christmas charm. I adored these two and their head over heels relationship. Plus, my fellow PA readers – you’ll love that this is set in New Hope! | 5 Stars | Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

As always, I recommend using Libro.fm if you’re an audiobook listener!! Libro.fm directly supports indie bookstores, but costs the same as Amazon’s Audible! You can get TWO audiobooks for only $15 with my link and code CHOOSEINDIE.

 

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

This is one I could see myself returning to over and over again. When we meet Kiela, she’s happily working as a librarian in the capital city but a rebellion threatens her library and her books, so she races away as fire lights up her most precious place. The few carts of spell books she’s able to save and her talking plant, Kaz, are all she’s able to bring with her.

Kiela sets sail for the island where she grew up, hoping that her parents cottage will provide a safe place to stay. But surviving on her own is more difficult than she imagined and she’s starting to realize she may never be able to return to her beloved library. So, she forces herself to interact with the other villagers and her overly friendly neighbor, who’s actually quite handsome.

She realizes she’ll need some way to earn money, so she turns to her spell books for simple “remedies” that she can pass off to the villagers. Magic is strictly forbidden by the government, but this island desperately needs the help of her spells. Everything is going surprisingly well until a woman washes up on the island and discovers magic has been used. She starts hunting down the source, threatening everything that Kiela has begun to build.

I cannot describe how much this book feels like a warm hug and a cup of tea all wrapped up in one. It has the most delightful characters, from the talking spider plant to the lovely bakery owner to the magical creatures that inhabit the island. And Kiela is so easy to root for — a true introvert who is discovering the joy of friendships and opening herself up to the possibility of love.

You don’t need to love fantasy to enjoy this! It’s a must read for anyone! 5 Stars | Buy On Amazon | Listen on Libro.fm (Get 2 FREE Audiobooks When You Try A Membership!)

 

 

 

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

I had high hopes for this one since it’s a thriller set against the backdrop of a reality show. I always love reading books about reality shows since you get a glimpse behind the scenes. In One Perfect Couple, five couples are sent to a remote island to compete for a cash prize.

After a horrible storm leaves them stranded, their left to fend for themselves. As more and more days pass, any hope of rescue starts to die…and the bodies are piling up too. Are these deaths the result of their circumstances or is someone among them a murderer?

Ultimately, the reality show piece was just a small portion of this plot, so I was disappointed with that aspect. Plus, the whole story is a very slow burn. This didn’t have any of the tension / page turning action that I normally want from my thrillers / mysteries. | 3.5 Stars | Buy From Amazon | Buy Target Exclusive Edition

 

 

 

eBooks:

 

Til There Was You by Lindsey Hameroff

I had been meaning to read this book for ages and I’m so glad I finally did!! Normally I’m not a huge fan of music related romances, but this was fantastic.

Lexi’s sole goal in life is to become a chef in a Michelin star restaurant, but right now she’s still working her way up in the industry. She makes a rare exception to her no-dating rule and enjoys a steamy weekend with a dive bar musician.

But he leaves the next day and unexpectedly becomes an overnight sensation. He had promised to pursue things with her, but she never hears from him again. So, she keeps her head down and sticks to her cooking.

Until Jake shows up again and against her better judgement, she falls under his spell again. Is she deluding herself that a relationship could work or is it worth the risk to her career and her heart? | 4.5 Stars | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

To See Even More Book Reviews from this past month, check out my video below!

 

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