Sunday, October 11, 2026

Murder with a Side of Red Velvet review


Murder with a Side of 

Red Velvet

The Honeybee Diner Mysteries Book 2

Skylar Warren
 


It’s a blazin’ summer in Willow Bluff, Georgia, and chef Jessie Haynes has prepared the best darn wedding buffet the town has ever tasted. Love is in the air—peppered with the tantalizing aroma of fried chicken, and just a dash of… murder?

At the centre of Jessie’s pitch-perfect dinner table sits a tiered red velvet cake, decorated in pearly-white icing and delicate pink roses, just waiting for its moment to shine. But when groom Tommy Prescott takes a bite, he immediately slumps to the floor, dead. His wedding toast becomes his eulogy as his bride collapses in a sobbing heap of tulle and lace beside him.

Back at Honeybee’s Diner, Jessie dusts down her apron and rolls up her sleeves, fixin’ to find the killer—fast. But as folks around town start to spill the beans, she realizes this investigation won’t be a piece of cake. The happy couple were surrounded by bad apples—was it the one of groom’s grown children who feared they would lose their inheritance? Or the bride’s former foe, in an extreme case of sour grapes?

Honing-in on the bride’s years at Willow Bluff High, Jessie has success in her sights. But then the wedding planner goes missing, and the investigation looks to be well and truly cooked. Terrified the blushing bride could be next, the race is on for Jessie to follow the breadcrumbs and catch this killer before the whole case crumbles…

A deliciously gripping cozy mystery that will leave you hungry for more. If you like Ellery Adams, Deany Ray or Agatha Christie, you won’t be able to put this down.

My thoughts:

This is a very fun, cozy mystery in a small town, where everyone thinks they know what happened. After a catering job, Jessie and her crew wind up in the center of a murder investigation, with everyone in town giving them the side eye and wondering if they're to blame.
 
So of course Jessie leads them all into trying to solve the mystery themselves, but can they solve it before the murderer realizes that they're a danger to him or her? Can they be safe while they solve this crime, or should they just go back to their normal diner business?
 
This was a fun story and I enjoyed it, but it did seem to be a stretch sometimes to make the story flow. I will definitely read the next book in the series! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

What readers are saying about Murder with a Side of Red Velvet:

“I may have piled on the pounds just READING this!… can leave you drooling… an absolute joy to read… I loved this so much.” Acozymoose, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I almost died cackling… delicious… love this… the plot twist? Insert drama gasp here.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An absolutely delicious delight… This hilarious cozy mystery has a twist that I did not see coming!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I just love this.” Chronically.bookedxo, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Delicious… You will be left drooling over the pages.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Another 5-star read by Skylar Warren… highly recommend.” Britreadsbooks83, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What readers are saying about Skylar Warren:

“I loved this… can’t wait to read more! This was a really enjoyable cozy, small-town mystery. The characters were warm and engaging, and I loved all the food references.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I’m ready to pack my bags and move into this town! This is a fast-paced, small-town whodunnit that is so cozy you’ll want to crawl right into the pages. The atmosphere at Honeybee’s is so warm and inviting; I didn’t just want the food, I wanted a permanent seat at one of their tables.” Mii.chelles, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Such a fun ride… It feels warm and welcoming, even with a mystery simmering underneath… It absolutely delivers what you want from a cozy mystery. Warm, entertaining and full of Southern charm—this is the perfect curl-up-and-read kind of book.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Pulls you in right away with its small-town charm and keeps you hooked with a fun, fast-paced whodunnit.” Quilted.reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Author Bio

Skylar Warren is a Chicago native and a graduate of Chicago State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Media Arts and Theatre. She now lives in New York City and works as a claims adjuster. In her spare time, she enjoys watching mysteries and solving puzzles.


 
A portrait of the author Skylar Warren
















Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Not Home Alone Review




She just walked into her dream Christmas rental… and found her worst enemy already unpacked.

Eternal optimist Merrily Tucker is excited to spend Christmas in the most beautiful house in town; a twinkly, tinsel-lined rental that’s just hers for the holidays. But inside is one big problem… the man who once turned her down in front of the whole of Holly Grove, irritatingly handsome, certified Grinch Grant Moody. He says he’s the owner. And he’s planning to spend Christmas here too.

The town might think he’s a playboy, but Grant Moody is determined to spend his Christmas nights alone. Zero decorations, a ban on baked goods, and definitely no holiday spirit. A mix-up with the rental company isn’t going to get in his way. Even if the woman at his door is the irresistibly gorgeous one-who-got-away Merrily Tucker…

Merrily and Grant are both too stubborn to leave.

Battling for control over what music plays on the speakers and heaving Christmas trees in and out of the house, they find themselves all tangled in tinsel. But Merrily’s “when I think about you, I touch my elf” t-shirt has Grant’s candy cane tingling in a way that begs the question…

Secretly, do they actually want to be home alone together this Christmas…?

An enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity Christmas romance perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn, Lucy Score and Ali Hazelwood. Holiday cheer in female form + the six-foot grump she loves to hate = the perfect festive read.

TROPES:
Forced proximity

Enemies-to-lovers

Fake dating
Spice levels 🌶️ 🌶️

My thoughts:

This book is set in a small town. I mean a town so small that a public slight can haunt people for a decade. So when Merrily comes back for a visit over the holidays, she's excited to spend time with her family while still having a private space for herself. But she opens the door to find the bane of her existence already in her private space.
 
Grant hasn't stopped thinking about Merrily for all these years, and is keenly aware of what the town thinks of him due to a teenage choice. But things are changing, and working together with Merrily is the best thing for him, and for the town. Or is it?
 
This is a very fun holiday story.  The tropes are a bit predictable, but not in a bad way, and it is a very hot story! My absolute favorite though is the town play, and all of the quips and mystery that comes with it. I absolutely recommend this book for a hot, fun, holiday read. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

What readers are saying about Kayley Loring:

“I am having trouble words-ing right now because this book was AMAZING… THAT’S how much I loved this book… pretty much ticks every box there is… And Declan… sheesh… I can’t even… will be burned into my memory for the rest of my days… had me snort-laughing over and over again. It’s so funny!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“5 Jingle hop stars… This is my absolute fave Christmas read of the season… It is that good!!… the banging chemistry that these two possess, the humor—did I mention the humor! I love this book so much I want to hug it!!… comedic brilliance tied together with sexiness from another planet… It’s like the author reached deep into my soul, pulling out all my favorite things in an alpha hero, and the heroine was the stuff dreams are made of… I can’t wait to dive back in immediately.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This book is PERFECT! I think I may be on a book-high (is there such a thing?) right now, but this was just spot on!… WOW! This was my first book by Kayley Loring, but I sure do want to read more! There’s a huge smile on my face.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“5+ STARS!!… PERFECT… so amazing… I almost died in the chapter 24. Just hilarious… This is hands down the best rom-com I’ve read this year.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“5 Oh, My Gawd Stars… So Sexy… And Cute… And Unbelievably Romantic, and made you want more… So go and read this, I promise you will be facepalming and giggling.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Every once in a while you come across a book that just blows your mind. That you smile all the way through, that you fall desperately in love with… makes you swoon, laugh out loud, and makes you highlight every other sentence! THIS was that book! There aren’t enough stars to rate this, five is definitely not enough!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Author Bio

Kayley Loring is an Amazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romantic comedies. Read or listen to her books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!


 
















Thursday, October 1, 2026

The Baby in Her Arms Review



On a hot and dusty Parisian street, two brave women risk everything for a tiny, dark-haired baby…

Paris, 1942. Hustled along by cold-eyed soldiers, a mother is making a heartbreaking choice. As she is loaded onto a yellow bus, Irene knows that if she keeps her baby daughter with her, she will not survive what lies ahead. Her eyes meet Sadie’s, a total stranger, but whose face is kind.

The bus disappears. Sadie is left holding the baby in her arms, determined to give this little girl a chance at life. But she lives and works at The Blue House, surrounded by German officers. A dangerous place to hide a Jewish child…

Paris, 2024. On her eightieth birthday, searching for answers, Ellen travels from London to Paris. She arrives at the tall building she last saw as a little girl, determined to discover the story of the women who sacrificed everything so that she could live. But a dusty little book written by the woman who found her as a baby shatters everything she knew about who she was. Are some wartime secrets best left buried?

A completely haunting and heartbreaking read about the bravest of all mothers and the terrible sacrifices made as the streets of Paris crawled with enemy soldiers. Fans of The Nightingale, The Midwife of Auschwitz and The Alice Network will be swept away by The Baby in her Arms.

My thoughts:

This is a story that will get under your skin and stay stuck there for a long time. Filled with drama and history, it is a lovely multi-generational story that will make you smile, think, and weep within a very short period of time. 
 
Following the stories of these women is powerful, and often dark, but the book is very well written. I would definitely read more historical fiction by this author, as she does an excellent job with it. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. 

What everyone is saying about The Baby in Her Arms:

‘A beautifully emotional story that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Heartbreaking yet full of hope. A truly unforgettable read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Powerful and heartbreaking… I never wanted it to end… Amazing.’ ChristianBookaholic, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow I loved…so heartbreaking… peppered with bravery, hope and love… highly recommend. Perfect… I loved it!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heartbreaking… gripping… superb… powerful and emotional. I wholeheartedly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Pick up this gorgeous hug of a book and get transported to a beautiful place (Paris) wraps itself round you like a cosy blanket.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Author Bio
Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Whether she is working in her thatched cottage in Hampshire or her seaside home in North Cornwall, Suzanne finds inspiration in the secrets hidden by everyday life.