Day: April 21, 2026

I’m drawn to books with these descriptions, knowing these people will have been thrown together by external causes that force them to join together and ultimately realise we can all relate or empathise with each other somehow. I love seeing those connections and this book did not disappoint.

This is the story of 3 women who find themselves in a hostage situation at their local post office, along with the post office worker and her husband, the person keeping them hostage. But it’s also so much more than that. It’s the story of all those connected to them, the intricacies of each of their lives and the strength of hope.

I really liked how this was written from all the different characters perspectives and how we find out about them all as the plot unfolds. Despite being set in one location, the surrounding stories told by the main characters added so much depth and richness to the plot . There was definitely suspense underlying everything but I didn’t feel it was the main focus. I felt it was the heartbreak that connected them all that stole the show.

A well paced, endearing read that kept me hooked.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Author: https://marybethwhalen.com/
Publisher: https://www.thomasnelsonfiction.com/
Release Date: 14 April 2026

So firstly, this book was not really what I was expecting. If you’re going in expecting some high octane vampire action, this is not it. Instead, this is more of a gorgeous take on relationships, between humans and animals, and the complexities of life and feelings, with the added element that one of the main characters just happens to be a vampire.

The pace is fairly slow and written from a more introspective perspective and whilst I found this frustrating at times, it also added to the nuanced thoughts and gentleness of the book. There were lots of well thought out elements and some unexpected moments, plus times I questioned my own ethics…’would I have made the same choices?’…choices I’ll never make given I’m not a vampire!

The dual timeline kept things interesting and allowed us to understand and follow things as they unfolded, with the events of the past almost shaping the future. I was hoping for a little more in terms of the plot and particularly found my attention dipping around the middle but then it picked up again. I suspect if I went into this book knowing what to expect I would have appreciated it even more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Author: Katherine Villyard
Publisher: Flower Feather Press
Release Date: 24 February 2026

What could be more cosy than reading short stories about the patron saints of grandparents?

Norrit and Hale make a Birthday wish that throw them into a new role of grandparenthood and in this book we follow them through a few adventures. It’s warm and comforting with a sprinkling of magic and feel good vibes. The adventures are a little on the light side in terms of action and there is quite a bit of repetition (certain world / technology descriptions). However, it’s to be expected with a collection of short stories that follow the same characters in the same world and I think it’s less of a problem if you’re reading this with children, as I’d expect. I particularly liked the balloon race story with the dynamics between the other characters and the bit of excitement it provoked! I’d recommend it as a sweet, easy read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Author: R. S. Kellogg
Publisher: Rebecca Kellogg International
Release Date: 01 December 2026