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Book Review:: Overruled | Lana Ferguson

Steamy romance readers will love Lana Ferguson’s newest release, Overruled, coming out July 1st, 2025.

Danica and Ezra are rival divorce lawyers who have been across the mediation table many times over the years. At the start of the novel they are already entangled in a hate-sex causal tangle with no strings attached. Dani is trying to pull away, not ready to commit to anyone or anything after having her heart stomped by her college beau, and lucky for her, Ezra enjoys the chase of it a little too much. When they find themselves on either side of the biggest case in their careers, the stakes are higher than ever, and the tension between them is at a breaking point.

Who doesn’t love a good rivals-to-lovers story? Danica and Ezra are both great at what they do and I love the true rivalry they have in the courtroom and the can’t-stay-away thing they have going behind closed doors. It’s very sexy. But what’s better than sexy? Swoon-worthy romance. And folks, we get that too. Lots of it.

Both characters have good backstory to support their inner-conflicts, which makes the story seem justified and believable. The part that fell down for me was the logic of Dani’s overreaction in the third act. I mean, I guess it makes sense, but it’s reaching a little too far for me. I wanted it to be stronger, and for that I just can’t bump it to five stars. Really though, it’s just a blip in the larger picture, and this is a romance I can recommend with absolute confidence!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Overruled
Author:: Lana Ferguson
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 432 pages
Audio Length:: 13h
Audiobook Narrator:: Samantha Summers & Connor Crais
Published:: July 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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Book Review:: Songs of Summer | Jane L. Rosen

Maggie Mae Wheeler inherited a vintage record shop from her adoptive parents and has started a fling with her lifelong best friend that feels natural but not earth shattering. When he proposes off-the-cuff, she can’t think of any reason to say no, except that she wants to find her birth mother first.

Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen Book Cover

Her search leads her to a little place called Fire Island and a quirky bunch of people she learns are her blood-related family. There’s a wedding on-island, and a chance meeting with one of the insiders gives her a way to observe them without divulging her relation to them. The festivities are full of the kind of drama only close-knit passionate families can produce, and despite the chaos and sheer volume of crisis that occur while she’s there, Maggie finds herself drawn in by this family she’s never had the opportunity to know.

This book was like a breath of fresh air. It’s not so much about Maggie’s romantic relationships, but about all of the relationships she cultivates, both old and new. It’s about friendship and family and chosen family and the messy webs of relationships we find ourselves caught up in. Humans are messy and complicated and passionate, and that leads us to do sometimes strange things and make mistakes. But with love in our hearts, things eventually turn out right again. Usually.

Songs of Summer is filled with a quirky cast of characters you won’t soon forget and a playlist of songs you’ll find yourself bopping to without meaning to. I really connected to Maggie’s story, and I can’t wait to see what else is to come in this trilogy by Jane L. Rosen!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Songs of Summer (The Fire Island Trilogy #1)
Author:: Jane L. Rosen
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 11h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: May 20th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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Book Review:: The Seven O’Clock Club | Amelia Ireland

What does it take to earn a five-star rating? Is it simply capturing and holding your attention? Is it making you feel things down deep in the depths of your soul? Is it creating a world/character/story that will linger in your mind for years to come? If your answer is yes to any of the above, The Seven O’Clock Club makes the list without even trying.

The Seven O'Clock Club by Amelia Ireland Book Cover

This is a book about grief – possibly the most complex of human emotions. Four people are selected to be a part of an experimental project, led by a woman named Geniveve. Each of them has a pain so deep and vivid they can’t face it, it’s ruining what is left of their lives. Geniveve brings them together once a week at seven o’clock for a gently led support-group style meeting. Slowly they are asked to introduce themselves: who they are, how they’ve changed, and eventually, what it was that happened to bring them to the group.

Each of them has a story, each of them a pain so great it fundamentally changed them. And together, they find community. Friendship. Family.

I knew early on this book was going to be a profound experience. The characters opening themselves up and pouring out their pain was so powerful. Chills were had. Tears were shed. My own heart broke a little bit for every one of them.

These characters and their situations were so well-realized, and when the twist came I was skeptical at first, but it allowed for the themes to resound even more powerfully and left me with a lot to ponder once the story ended.

I am so grateful I got the opportunity to read this book early through netgalley after being one of the chosen ones by Berkley for this title. This is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Amelia Ireland!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Seven O’Clock Club
Author:: Amelia Ireland
Genre:: General Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 368 pages
Audio Length:: 12h
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: April 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

Linky Links!!

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Book Review:: Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) | Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) is the second book in the Vera Wong series. If you haven’t read Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers yet, start there! This is my review.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto Book Cover

Vera is at it again when she meets a young woman named Milly who is too scared to step into the police station (don’t ask why Vera is there…a phone scam. She was phone scammed). Milly is afraid something happened to her friend Thomas, and Vera is happy to employ her considerable investigative skills to help her.

While this book has the same grandmotherly charm and Vera is up to the same level of nosiness-with-care as usual, this one didn’t have quite the same impact for me as the first book.

Vera’s personality still shines in this book. She’s still as nosy and runs just as much interference here, and cooks even more than ever for those she cares about.

“You think I won’t? I am Chinese mother, all I do is create conflict.”

She is not afraid to stick herself into situations she’s not invited to, and to smooth things over once she’s caused some offense. It is her greatest skill.

The cast we love from book one is still around, particularly some characters that weren’t explored much, her son Tilly and his new partner, the police officer Selena. Vera is tired of waiting on grandkids, and she’s not afraid to mention it. Repeatedly.

One issue I had is Vera’s first break in the case, the one that really allows her to make any headway at all, is waaay too convenient. I guess it kind of works given the tone and Vera’s tendency to always find what she’s looking for, but that one really pushed the line for me.

The other piece that bothered me a little bit is that the subject matter is incredibly dark and honestly disturbing. There is justice in the end, but the ones apprehended in the end are not the full scope of the problem, and that haunts me (and it should haunt you too). There is only so much an old Chinese mother can do to warm up coldness like that, and for me, it just wasn’t enough.

HOWEVER

Is it still worth reading? Absolutely. Will I be continuing the series? What…and leave Vera to her own devices? I don’t think so! I’ll be there for her next adventure, and I’m sure she’ll have a bowl of delicious Chinese cooking for us once we get there.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (Vera Wong #2)
Author:: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Genre:: Contemporary Mystery
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 11h
Audiobook Narrator:: Eunice Wong
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: April 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

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Book Review:: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers | Jesse Q. Sutanto

If you love contemporary murder mysteries and haven’t yet discovered Vera Wong, you’re in for a treat. She is the fun and spunky lead in an investigation no one invited her into. She’s happy to help, of course, because young people don’t always know the best way to do things these days. She knows because she keeps an eye on things with The Google and The Facebook. You have to, if you don’t want to be left behind.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Jesse Q. Sutanto Book Cover

Vera Wong is a widowed Chinese Auntie with a grown son who never heeds her relentless advice, like how to wake up early when you’re young to make the most of your day. When a dead body shows up in her failing tea shop, she jumps at the chance at helping the police by getting a jump start on the investigation before they arrive. It’s not disturbing evidence if she wears rubber gloves and follows the procedures she’s seen on CSI, right? And no one will mind if she keeps a little something the deceased was holding…no one else saw it, so no harm done! But when the police aren’t convinced the victim has been murdered at all, she continues the investigation herself, pinpointing four suspects who showed up at the tea shop after the body was discovered. Everyone knows the murderer always comes back to the scene of the crime! She is convinced it is one of them: the wife, the brother, an online reporter (The Buzzfeed!), and a crime podcaster, all of whom have their secrets. One of them must have done it, but which one?

I absolutely loved Vera and her steadfast all-knowing ways. There is a right way to do things, and she’s not afraid to let you know it. Life has been lonely since her husband passed away, and having a dead body turn up in her tea shop was unexpected, but certainly cured the monotony of her strict routine in a way she didn’t know she needed.

It is an unusual case, but her sleuthing does turn up some clues but while Vera is searching for a murderer, what she’s actually doing is connecting a handful of floundering individuals over this thing they now have in common – her.

This book is full of heart and humor, good food and matchmaking, family and community. It’s an always interesting story of how an old woman got her groove back and ultimately solves the crime that turned up on her doorstep.

If you’re a cozy mystery fan, you won’t want to miss Mrs. Vera Wong.

Details

Title:: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong #1)
Author:: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Genre:: Contemporary Mystery
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 339 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 41m
Audiobook Narrator:: Eunice Wong
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: March 14th, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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Book Review:: Swept Away | Beth O’Leary

This book is so much more than I expected.

It is easy to assume from the premise that it might be a romantic comedy full of worst-case scenarios that conveniently have little or no consequences while two hot co-eds fall inexorably in love. Or by the cover that it might be a sweeping women’s fiction romance in which the protagonist goes on a journey of healing and gaining (or regaining) her power and self-confidence with a side of man candy thrown in. But what this book really does is turn a high-concept premise into an incredibly realistic portrayal of human survival and an exploration of the bonds we forge, whether or not we mean to, with those we trust.

Technically, yes, this is a love story. Zeke and Lexi, neither one a boatsman, get stranded at sea on a craft that has not been prepared for any type of voyage, let alone a multiple day excursion. Nothing is charged or refilled, there are no phone signals, and the only food they have are the few emotional provisions Lexi bought thinking she’d stay on the houseboat a few days until she found a new place to live. They don’t know where they are, and they cannot move their damn boat.

For days.

Then longer.

When they met, Zeke and Lexi were supposed to share one night together – a one-night stand with clearly set boundaries. But now each other is all they have out on the open water, and physical safety is only part of the battle. Both of their emotional and psychological states are not in the best of places when they began, and adding a boatload of stress to that isn’t exactly helpful.

This book is emotional, and tense, and beautiful. It’s tangled, and scary, and hopeful. It’s about compassion and resilience and doing what needs to be done, even when you’re not sure you have the capacity to do it. Swept Away is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and then staring into the abyss for awhile once you finish. It’s a story that sticks with you long after you’re done reading. I loved it, and I can’t wait to read it again.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Swept Away
Author:: Beth O’Leary
Genre:: Romance Thriller
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 53m
Audiobook Narrator:: Connor Swindells & Rebekah Hinds
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: April 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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Book Review:: What Happens in Amsterdam | Rachel Lynn Solomon

Sometimes you have to go to the other side of the world to figure yourself out.

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon Book Cover

Dani’s life is in a bit of a shambles – she’s left with no boyfriend and no job and decides to apply to something exciting across the world in Amsterdam, a place she’s dreamed of ever since her family hosted an exchange student from there when she was in high school. She gets it, and she stumbles into him almost immediately after arriving. Did I mention they were more than friends back in the day? And that he broke her heart? This is the story of their second chance.

This book is awesome. From the cover to the characters to the interesting steamy scenes the type of which I’ve never encountered…I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.

Turns out running away from your problems doesn’t actually solve anything, and her first few weeks in Amsterdam are not as idyllic as she’d hoped. She needs a new place to live and a new job if she wants to stay, and lucky for her, Wouter has a whole building he’s caring for and helps her out with the first of those things.

If you don’t love Amsterdam already before reading this book, you’ll probably fall in love with it just as much as the characters. Dani’s journey navigating her new life full of new friends and experiences is the kind of escapism we need in this timeline!

I bought in full stop with the connection between Wouter and Dani. There is big chemistry there, and though their past leads to some uncomfortable awkwardness at the start, when they loosen up, there is a great basis for friendship there that develops right alongside everything else.

This book got really close to five stars for me, but I couldn’t go all the way there. In this case it feels like mentioning some of the tropes is introducing spoilers, so I will just say that there’s one here that is usually really hard to pull off, but in this book, it mostly works. For me there is some level of cheesy about it though that is just never gonna wash off. The only other thing that sticks out as a strike is Wouter’s reasoning for breaking things off the way he did when they were younger. It didn’t cut it for me, but he’s an honest guy, so it doesn’t feel like he’s lying either…it just felt like a weak point in the backstory.

Would I recommend this book to other romance aficionados? Absolutely. This is one of the 2025 spring/summer romance releases I think you won’t want to miss!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: What Happens in Amsterdam
Author:: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 11h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: May 6th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4.5-Stars

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Book Review:: Exes & O’s | Amy Lea

What if your next great love was one you already had? What a question. Timing is everything, after all. Then again, maybe fixating on your past can leave you blinded to what is right in front of you.

Tara needs a date for the Valentine’s Day event she’s attending, and her grandmother has convinced her to look to her past to find one. Explore the ghosts of romance past and reconnect with her exes to see if there is any lingering spark there. Her very own second chance romance. She launches a whole project on her bookish social media, typecasting her exes into tropes and reaching out to them to see if there is any lingering potential there. Her new roommate Trevor is as invested in the project as anyone, helping to coach her through the dates, giving her tips to avoid scaring them off too early (given that she’s often called “crazy” or “too much”).

It’s a high concept novel, in a way. The project is a gimmick, exposing all of Tara’s sometimes still-tender wounds and insecurities. This of course is perfect territory for real feelings to catch between her and Trevor, the one who’s always there for support when she’s continually disappointed.

It’s a successful trope for a reason, the trusty forced proximity roommate romance. They’re there to see all the high-highs and low-lows. The vulnerabilities and the celebrations. Real life. If they’re still interested after all that? They’re a keeper for sure.

The concept of a woman being ‘too much’ or ‘crazy’ I think is well placed here. It’s clear that it isn’t a her problem, it’s a them problem, and though she does learn some lessons along the way (confidence in herself being the big one), she is ultimately accepted by those she cares about for being her own dang self.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, lighthearted, Valentine’s-Day-season winner. If you’re looking for something fun to cheer you up this time of year, or to just get you in the mood for good ol’ V-Day, this one is a great choice.

Details

Title:: Exes & O’s (The Influencer #2)
Author:: Amy Lea
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 37m
Audiobook Narrator:: Natalie Naudus
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: January 10th, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 2.5

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Book Review:: Toto | A.J. Hackwith

You think you know what the yellow brick road will bring. You have no idea. When you live life through the eyes of a bad dog, it’s a whole new world.

The Wizard of Oz is an American classic. Toto is a hilarious take on what is objectively a bat-shit crazy tale. I guess this takes my original assumption that the events in Oz were just a dream Dorothy has and tosses it out the window, but hey, at least it’s done well.

This book is funny. I know I already said that, but it’s really funny. Toto is sarcastic and spunky and vein and thinks of Dorothy as the one he’s training to be a good human and not the other way around. Toto’s internal dialogue is *chef’s kiss*.

I found it to be a much wider tale than the film. There is far more depth to it, and the scope is wider. There are wars, and rebellions, and pestilence. There are also some interesting character quirks that might give you an idea of the kind of shenanigans you might encounter in this tale. The wicked witch of the west, for example, is an avid crocheter.

I found it to be a nice escape, but I didn’t find it very emotionally interesting. I didn’t care overmuch about anything happening, and it took me awhile to get through. That being said, it is an excellent book. I laughed a great deal and was so impressed by the cleverness throughout. Well done, Hackwith!

Note: I received this from the publisher & netgalley in exchange for review.

Details

Title:: Toto
Author:: A.J. Hackwith
Genre:: Humor, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher:: Berkley/Ace
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 45m
Audiobook Narrator:: Andrew Santana
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: November 12th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

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Book Review:: Under Loch and Key | Lana Ferguson

Under Loch and Key is a new Berkley paranormal romance release that will have you wrapped up in so many elements that are intrinsically interesting: family secrets, Celtic mythology, cryptids, curses, a generations-old family feud… Then you add in some really well executed romance ‘ingredients’, and you’ve got yourself a damn good book.

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson Book Cover

Keyanna MacKay travels to her father’s homeland of Scotland to spread his ashes and to meet her family on his side for the first time. A falling-out occurred when he moved to America before Key was born, so she isn’t sure what to expect. What she finds is a grumpy farmhand who calls her stupid two-seconds after meeting her (when he saves her from falling into the loch) and an unwelcoming grandmother. Key is all but ready to give up on her hope of connecting with her family when she does fall in the loch, and discovers an ancient, impossible secret about both herself, and the hunky farmhand, Lachlan. After that, she can’t leave until she gets to the bottom of the generations-old mystery.

First of all, bravo to the title. What a play on words while directly including the names of the two main characters. Color me impressed. There’s something special about a good title, and this one has it.

Let’s start with the romance.

Keyanna and Lachlan don’t get off to the best start (see above). And with their constant run-ins and a harmless prank, it gets close to EtL (enemies to lovers) territory. And ladies and gentlemen, these two have chemistry! Steamy, sexy chemistry. The force pulling them together is kinetic and so satisfying. Be forewarned that it does creep a little over the line into monster porn (lol) in two of the scenes, but the rest of them are everything, so I can forgive 😉

what about the plot?

Behind the romance is a mystery. We know Lachlan is hiding something early on through his POV chapters, but we don’t find out what it is until Keyanna does. Layers unfold just enough at a time to keep us readers tantalized with new facets to the story. There are secrets being kept on all sides, and Key is…you guessed it, the key to fitting all the pieces together (see what I mean about word play?). This is so much more than a romance, it’s a family saga, a mystery, and a literal legend.

If you’re looking for a new romance to escape into, this one is well worth your time!

Note:: I received an arc copy of this title from the publisher & netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Details

Title:: Under Loch and Key
Author:: Lana Ferguson
Genre:: Paranormal Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 13h
Audiobook Narrator:: Samantha Summers & Flint Park
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: December 3rd, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

Linky Links!!

Goodreads
Author Website
Amazon Affiliate Links
[Paperback] [eBook] [Audible]

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