Dawn's Book Reviews 12/29/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 12/29/25

Crowntide by Alex Aster

Lightlark #4

Release Date: 12-02-2025

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

Blurb: The highly anticipated fourth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Some worlds deserve to be destroyed . . .

Isla Crown has charted a new destiny and leapt into the unknown, determined to defeat her insidious ancestor, Lark, no matter the cost. But Skyshade is nothing like she anticipated, and she’ll have to use all of her skills just to survive, let alone end Lark for good.

Meanwhile, Grim and Oro would sooner set fire to their own kingdoms than leave Isla stranded on a path toward certain death. But getting her back will involve forging an alliance—if they can find a way to forgive their long history of betrayals.

The key to Isla’s return—and the fate of the realms—lies close to her heart. But in the face of her most powerful enemy yet, will Isla be able to reconcile her past in order to carve a future of her own making?

Dawn's Book Reviews 12/28/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 12/28/25

Grim and Oro by Alex Aster

Release Date: 09-30-2025

Rating: 3/5

Spice: 1/5

Plot: 2/5

Primary Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

Blurb: Two brand-new romantasy novellas bound into one deluxe, novel-length volume written from the perspectives of Grim and Oro, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

True love knows no bounds. This premium, dual-sided volume includes two complete novellas bound together to create one can’t-miss collector’s item. The first novella—told from Grim’s perspective—gives readers insight into his past: the motivations and events that cemented his fate as Isla’s eventual love interest. The second is narrated by Oro and offers a window into his complex identity: that of a king torn between desire for justice and passion for the woman he loves more than anything. Grim and Oro: Dueling Crowns Edition includes key moments from the rulers’ love stories with Isla, expanded upon in their own voices.

This gorgeous dual-sided Lightlark companion book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster contains two full novellas bound together in one breathtaking package that boasts a suite of premium features:

Dual-sided slipcase with two unique cover designs
Die cuts and foil stamping in two colors on both sides of slipcase
Full-color case with illustrations on both sides
Full-color, stenciled edges
Full-color endpapers with never-before-seen illustrations

Grim and Oro is certain to thrill readers and test allegiances, leaving new and longtime fans second-guessing who they’re rooting for in the breathtaking battle for Isla’s heart.

Dawn's Book Reviews 12/27/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 12/27/25

Skyshade by Alex Aster

Lightlark #3

Rating: 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance

Blurb: The pulse-pounding third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Love kills kingdoms…

Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.

Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.

As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.

With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.

Dawn's Book Reviews 11/2/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 11/2/25

Saint by Aries Skye

Love Brothers #3

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 3/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Mafia Romance

Blurb:

Saint Love is reckless, ruthless, and ready for war. When his family is accused of killing a powerful ally, bullets fly and blood spills, leaving one member of the Love family fighting for their life. Saint dives headfirst into revenge, uncovering dangerous ties and a betrayal closer than he ever imagined. In the middle of the war, he finds unexpected solace in Lowe—the calm to his storm. The right calm caught at the wrong time.

Forced between loyalties, Saint must eliminate the enemy threatening their family before they destroy them all.

Dawn's Book Reviews 11/2/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 11/2/25

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

Rating: 3/5

Spice: 0/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Blurb:

The magical Quigley sisters return to bargain with fate once more in this follow-up to the “charming, uplifting, and utterly enchanting” (Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author) national bestseller The Crescent Moon Tearoom.

The Crescent Moon is thriving after a much-needed expansion, with the ladies who step through its doors continuing to seek comfort in the glimpses of their futures found in the swirls at the bottom of their teacups. Anne is leading the city’s witches as Chicago’s Diviner, Beatrix is swept away on a book tour across the country, and Violet has found her place with her feet swinging through the air above the circus crowds. That is, until the Quigley sisters find themselves stumbling on their chosen paths, and they are drawn back home in search of refuge in each other’s company.

As Anne struggles to balance her growing responsibilities, Beatrix fears she has lost her gift for storytelling, and Violet is shaken after an accident at the circus, the future the sisters had drawn for themselves feels murkier than ever. And, when the threads of fate begin to unravel, Anne must lean on her sisters and team up with a mysterious—and oddly infuriating—necromancer to save the city from an uncertain destiny and help old friends find a happy end.

With all three Quigleys back in the warm comfort of the Crescent Moon, they set out to bargain with Fate once more. But will the sisters find the courage to embrace who they have become while returning to what they left behind, or will the future unfold in a way that even a Quigley couldn’t have predicted?

Dawn's Book Reviews 11/1/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 11/1/25

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

The Spellbound Sisters #1

Rating: 3.5/5

Spice: 0/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Cozy Witchy Fantasy

Blurb:

A cozy and uplifting debut novel about three clairvoyant sisters who face an unexpected twist of Fate at the bottom of their own delicate porcelain cups.

Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamom at the bottom of their customers’ cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers.

That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne’s magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters’, Beatrix’s writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus—and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet. It seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

Dawn's Book Reviews 10/29/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 10/29/25

Behind the Shadows by J.A. Owenby

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 4/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Dark Romance

Blurb:

Some of us were born into darkness. Others were shackled. They drugged me. Chained me. Tore apart my mind until the pieces didn’t fit anymore. Then they gave me a name. Cleaner. K!ller. Son. Monster. Told me the blood on my hands was hers. Then they smiled and made me k!ll again. And they told me she never existed. But I’ve seen her. In dreams. In flashes of red hair and blood. And now she’s real—flesh and bone and terrified eyes. But they made one mistake. They didn’t bury her deep enough. Now she’s back. And even if she doesn’t remember me—My obsession remembers everything. She runs. I follow. She screams. I savor it. She looks at me like a stranger. And I try not to laugh. Because I know her body better than she does. I’ve watched her sleep. Touched her skin. Marked her without mercy. And now that I’ve found her again…There’s no version of this where I let her go.
You don’t have to love me, little ghost.
Lock the door. Scream my name. Run.
I’ve never needed permission to take what’s mine.

**Dear readers, this dark romance contains multiple storylines, and many exciting moving pieces that come together in one satisfying and unexpected HEA. If you enjoy a single storyline, this book might not be for you.
BEHIND THE SHADOWS is Kip and Holland’s story—a standalone pitch-black stalker romance and psychological romantic thriller of obsession, betrayal, and deadly lies. Perfect for readers who crave dark romance with a morally gray antihero, a forbidden captor/captive love story, and a heroine fighting to survive a monster who can’t be saved. No cheating, no third-act breakup, and includes an HEA. Check author’s website for TW/CW.
***While not required, it’s highly recommended to read the duet In the Shadows and Back in the Shadows first.

Dawn's Book Reviews 10/29/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 10/29/25

Fateful Vengeance by Marla York

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 4/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Dark Romance

Blurb:

Control, pain, and sorrow are all I’ve ever known. When something inside me snaps one night after too many cracks in my soul, I take matters into my own hands.

Freedom was supposed to taste sweet, not leave a sour pit in my stomach. When a nightmare from my past resurfaces. My deceased boyfriend’s father helps remove the root of all my problems.

Let the scars serve as a testament—my vengeance will be absolute, and my abusers will pay.

Dawn's Book Reviews 10/16/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 10/16/25

Beautiful Nightmare by Kinsley Kincaid

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Dark Romance

Blurb:

It’s too deranged to be a dream
But to one, it is beautiful.
Creating fear and possessing souls.
None of this is a figment of imagination.
Everyone involved is very awake, even if they wish they weren’t.
With beating hearts and trembling lips, tranquility no longer exists.
Because tonight, nightmares become real.
Welcome to Agatha Manor, in Hollows Grove.

This is a paranormal thriller which ends in a HEA.

Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Thursday Murder Club #1

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 0/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Mystery

Blurb:

Now a Netflix Film!

The first installment in the beloved and New York Times bestselling series from Richard Osman, also author of We Solve Murders

Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case
A brutal murder
Welcome to...
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club.

When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?

Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard

Rating: 5/5

Spice: 1.5/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

In this sweeping, second-chance romance, a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone and face the events that led to their estrangement—and confront their unresolved feelings for each other.

Subject 74 Perry Street

So begins the email that turns June Wood’s entire world on its head. Five years ago, she lived on Perry Street with her former best friend Adam Harper. But why is the management company reaching out to her about it now?

Still smarting from the news of her hit TV show being canceled, June has nothing else to lose. She boards a plane from Los Angeles to New York City to find out more about the mysterious email and the promised opportunity it alludes to. It turns out that, thanks to an unbelievable legal loophole, if she and Adam can live together in the stunning West Village brownstone for a month, it’s theirs. Any true New Yorker knows you don’t pass up prime city real estate, and that fall in the city is magical—so what’s there to think about?

And yet, though most things have changed in the time since they last spoke, one thing hasn’ June and Adam have unfinished business. They didn’t exactly end on good terms when they each went off to chase their dreams. Now, confronted with the consequences of their choices, they must navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know together.

Every day they move closer to owning Perry Street reveals misunderstandings, long-term resentments, and long-buried feelings . . . which are suddenly feeling very, very not so buried. But they’ve already lost their friendship once before, devastating them both. Can they risk losing it again for something a little different this time?

Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 9/22/25

Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 3/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

In this paranormal spicy age gap romance, a successful horror author whose novel is being adapted into a movie clashes with the actor cast as the male lead, all in a cozy mansion filled with ghosts, from the author of Best Hex Ever
Rosemary Shaw’s ability to see the dead has never scared her. In fact, it’s secretly inspired most of her horror novels. Now at twenty-nine, Rosemary is an acclaimed author, and her most successful book is about to be a blockbuster movie. The film set is in a beautiful manor house in the English countryside, and it’s no surprise there are ghosts hanging around. But ghosts are something Rosemary can handle; she’s not so sure how to deal with her infuriatingly handsome leading man, who is all wrong for the role. Ellis Finch is a longtime Hollywood heartthrob with a secret of his own. He’s tired of playing the action movie hero and would much rather be gardening with his sweet dog, Fig. Frankly, he’s getting too old to maintain the industry’s standards of what a man should look like. Starring in a historical horror movie will be perfect for his new image, until he finds out that the author tried to get him kicked off the project, but Ellis won’t go down without a fight. Amidst filming the movie and the chemistry-filled feuding between Rosemary and Ellis, Hallowvale manor comes alive, literally. Trying to balance the mayhem of her writing deadlines, an adorable ghostly dog, and a pair of Regency-era women who are definitely nothing more than friends, Rosemary is at risk of telling Ellis her secret, or worse—falling for him.