Dawn's Book Reviews 9/2/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 9/2/25

The Sinner by Shantel Tessier

L.O.R.D.S. #2

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Dark Romance

Blurb: LITTLE DEMON
I was raised in a world where money and power are at your fingertips. My father is a LORD, a very respected member of a secret society that knows no bounds. When tragedy struck my family, we discovered we weren’t untouchable. Just when I thought life couldn’t get any worse, I was shown what hell is really like. Then he came and saved me. The devil disguised as my personal hero. But of course, nothing is for free. Not when a soul is up for grabs.

I VOW. YOU VOW. WE VOW.
Easton Bradley Sinnett—Sin—uses his power for his own sick pleasure. Like a typical Lord, he never thought about the consequences of his actions. I grew up with him, obsessed over him, craved him. He was who I pictured when I imagined doing things my body shouldn’t want.

One day, I realized he was not who I thought he was. It didn’t change anything, though, because I was already too far gone. If anything, I fell for him harder.

Every now and then, someone enters your life who flips it upside down. Sin wrecked me in the worst way, and I thanked him for it by serving on my knees.

As they say, nothing lasts forever. Men like him never stay with a woman like me. I’m what they use, not keep. So when he threw me away, I shouldn’t have been all that surprised.

My body had always craved the darker side of love. The kind that left bruises and scars. I was what most would call unholy. And when the devil whispered in my ear that he loved me, I was more than determined to show him just how devoted I could be.

Dawn's Book Reviews 9/1/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 9/1/25

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

Bramble Falls #1

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Rating: 4/5

Spice: 0/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: YA Romance

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Blurb:

Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han in this autumnal teen rom-com about a city girl stuck in a quaint small town who must confront her future and her old flame while the town prepares for an annual fall festival. Ellis has a lot of expectations for her senior year, but moving from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut is not one of them. Yet in the wake of her parents' separation, that's exactly where she and her mother are headed. Bramble Falls might be charming, but it's also full of distractions. Like local barista Cooper Barnett, Ellis's one-time best friend—and first kiss—who has not only majorly glowed up but wants nothing to do with Ellis. Then there's the Falling Leaves Festival, a month-long tourist attraction run by Ellis's aunt—celebrating everything autumn. The festival seems nice and all, but Ellis doesn't have time to be roped into her aunt's enthusiastic planning. Dragged to each event, she can't stop bumping into Cooper, the one person she's hoping to avoid. But the longer she stays in Bramble Falls, the harder it is to pretend she's not falling for this town and the people in it. As her return to Manhattan gets pushed further and further out, Ellis is forced to confront exactly what she wants for her future—and what that means for her present.

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/30/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/30/25

American Indie Book Store Tour: The Midwest - North Dakota

We’re starting our indie books store tour out in North Dakota. I went to college in Wahpeton, ND for a semester and I lived less than an hour from the North Dakota border for most of my life. I’m not totally unfamiliar with North Dakota but I know the most about the Fargo/Moorhead area from 2010 and prior. I’ve compiled a list of indie book stores throughout the state worth popping into in case you’re driving through or staying a few nights. There are so many gems in here and some with some very interesting business models. I’ve posted photos if I was able to find them and these are generally taken from social media pages or the stores’ websites. The store names are clickable links that will take you to their websites or social media page if I was unable to find a website for them. I’m going very in depth with North Dakota’s indie book stores because honestly, there aren’t many. Fourteen, to be exact. Let’s support them! You won’t see this much detail for most of the states going forward because most states have so many more stores. North Dakota, bless your heart and your books.

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/27/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/27/25

New Blog Series: American Indie Book Store Tour

Please join me for my exciting new blog series! I am genuinely thrilled to embark on this journey, and my plan is to thoroughly research and showcase indie bookstores located in every state across the country. This project has the potential to inspire an incredible road trip itinerary specifically designed for book lovers.

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/26/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/26/25

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham

Maple Falls #1

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 2/5

Plot: 3/5

Primary Genre: Contemporary Romance/Fall

Blurb:

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Love is the sweetest spice of all. A fiery, coffee-loving city girl. A laid-back handyman with irresistible hazel eyes. Is this a recipe for disaster? Find out in this totally cozy and unputdownable enemies-to-lovers romance in the small town of your dreams! Gilmore Girls + spice + everything autumn = 🔥
Self-confessed coffee addict and food writer Madison has convinced herself she belongs in NYC. But then she’s called back to the small town of Maple Falls to save her childhood home, The Cinnamon Spice Inn. She’s NOT looking forward to seeing her ex, Zach—now a sexy bearded handyman who knows exactly how to push her buttons. But she won’t let anything distract her from the inn’s relaunch… right? Zach is frustrated in more ways than one when his latest job brings him face-to-face with the girl who got away. He’s already agreed to renovate her family’s inn and he’s nothing if not a man of his word. But the last thing he wants is to work side-by-side with that stubborn, infuriating—fine, totally gorgeous—red-head. Sparks fly as they prepare for the big Halloween opening. Will Madison save The Cinnamon Spice Inn and have a second chance at love, or will it all go up in flames? Grab your favourite spiced latte and settle in with this steamy romance, packed with small-town charm, scorching chemistry, and the perfect HEA. If you love Laurie Gilmore, Emily Henry, cozy autumn vibes and plenty of spice, this is perfect for you!
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Dawn's Book Reviews 8/25/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/25/25

New Book Releases Week of August 25th

Book releases for the week of August 25th, 2025. This is not a comprehensive list of every new release for the week, but rather a selection of books that I’m personally excited about or find noteworthy. Feel free to explore further by clicking on the cover art to learn more about each title.

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/18/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/18/25

08-19-2025 Book Releases

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/17/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/17/25

Read before you watch: Book to TV Adaptations Coming Soon to Netflix

20 Books to read before you watch the Netflix adaptation

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/16/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/16/25

Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 1.5/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Contemporary Romance/Halloween

Blurb:

She’s a little edgy. He’s a lot of sunshine.
Love’s about to catch them completely off gourd…
Textile artist Sadie Fox did not sign up for this. When she agreed to come home to Pea Blossom, Indiana, it was to care for her father’s beloved pumpkin patch. The deal was that—just for the summer—she would grow a ginormous pumpkin, win the Indiana State Fair's pumpkin contest and finally win back her father’s (grudging) respect. Instead, a horde of wild hogs destroyed the. entire. patch. Which is precisely when the annoyingly sexy, sunshiny next-door neighbor shows up. Josh Thatcher is a tech millionaire who traded in the office for growing gourds, including experimental squash hybrids. And for the life of her, Sadie can’t understand what he sees in her sweary, tattooed, prickly self—or why he’s offering to help his biggest competitor. But a storm-fueled kiss proves there’s definitely something growing between them. Maybe it’s just attraction. Maybe it’s more. Whatever it is, it’s already bigger than Sadie’s fast-growing pumpkin…or the secret that Josh has been hiding. From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.

Dawn's Book Reviews 8/14/25 Dawn's Book Reviews 8/14/25

Never Been Witched by Molly Harper

Starfall Point #3

Rating: 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Plot: 5/5

Primary Genre: Paranormal Romance/Witchy Romance

Blurb:

"Amid magical shenanigans...this book might just have you laughing out loud." —Hazel Beck for Witches Get Stuff Done

Shy, sunshiney small-town antiques expert and full-time witch-slash-ghost wrangler catches feelings for the charming, perfectly polished customer in an expensive suit as they work together to renovate his family's historic (and definitely haunted) hotel.

Alice Seastairs is in a precarious position for a witch—isolated from her coven and regretting a lot of her choices. Keeping herself from her sisters is the only way she can protect them from a threat only she knows is coming. While Alice should be searching for the final missing Welling locks and protecting the ghostly residents of Shaddow House, she distracts herself with a job offer from Collin Bancroft. Handsome, surprisingly sweet and filthy rich, Collin needs her expertise to restore his historic Duchess Hotel from the previous owner's ghastly citrus-toned taste. Little does he know, Alice is also the perfect consultant for what to do when you discover a ghost running nightly through the hotel hallways. Spoiler alert: The solution is almost always late night snacking and smooching.

The weight of Alice's secrets only gets worse when her manipulative grandparents threaten to ruin her relationship with Collin. And because her life isn't complicated enough, Collin's delusional ex walks back into his life like she never left. And then there's the minor problem of an ancient magical family trying to take over Shaddow House, using the ghosts within for who-knows-what to further their nefarious agenda. Alice can only avoid her coven for so long before they come looking for her… She could really use a friend—or a house full of family, both living and dead.

Will Alice break from generational toxic patterns and claim the joy that she deserves? A witch doesn't kiss and spell...

USA Today bestselling author Molly Harper's romances are perfect for readers looking for: