Friday, August 1, 2025

#BookReview ~ The Light Beside the Sea (A Zodiac Mystery) by Connie di Marco ~ @askzodia #Mystery #ZodiacMystery

The Light Beside the Sea by Connie di Marco


The Light Beside the Sea (A Zodiac Mystery)

Traditional Mystery

5th in Series

Setting: San Francisco, California

Publisher: CMA Literary (May 6, 2024)

Paperback: ‎341 pages

ISBN-13: ‎979-8989009596

Digital Print length: ‎318 pages

ASIN: ‎B0D393JQ87


About The Light Beside the Sea:

San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti has been haunted for years by the hit and run death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. The driver of the vehicle was never apprehended. The lone witness to the accident spoke to no one and now is dead. Even the cold case detective assigned to the case died before any resolution was found. Every time Julia thought she might be getting close to an answer, each clue led only to a dead end.

Michael, a graduate student, had just returned from an archeological dig in Guatemala when he was killed. But why did he mail his journal to Julia for safekeeping before his return home? What was he afraid of? Why did another graduate student fall to his death on that trip? And now, another man connected with that journey has been murdered closer to home. And the murderer hasn’t finished.

When Julia finally finds the courage to delve into the journal Michael sent to her years before, she learns of the undercurrents, jealousies and anger between members of the group. She begins to understand the pressure and fear her fiancé was coping with and his suspicions of their University mentor who was most likely engaged in unethical and illegal behavior. But events soon take a darker turn when Julia finds a likeness of the Maya god Hunhau, god of death and the underworld, on her doorstep. A strange man covered with markings and tattoos keeps appearing to her but no one else seems to see him. With guidance from another professor she’s introduced to a world she never knew existed.

Is the man she sees human? And is he under the sway of the Maya god of death?

Will he unleash evil or is he here to right a wrong done to his people?

Julia must move quickly or her death will be the next.

My Review:

The Light Beside the Sea is the fifth book in the Zodiac Mysteries. Julia is still reeling from the untimely and sudden death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. After returning home from Guatemala, Michael was run down and killed. Was the archeological dig he was part of, the reason for the death? Is the death of one his colleagues on that same trip related to Michael's death? Now, Julia learns of another recent death of someone related to that trip. Julia finally has the courage to read the journal Michael mysteriously mailed to her prior to leaving Guatemala. The journal, filled with passages of anger and jealousy, pushes Julia down the path of a world she was unaware of until now.

The Light Beside the Sea is a great addition to the Zodiac Mystery Series. The twists and turns in the book had my head spinning as I desperately tried to piece things together. The author pulled in characters that had motive, means, and opportunity. I enjoyed at the ebb and flow of the book and how the author tied everything together. The multi-faceted story kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book.Of course, the death of Michael has haunted Julia for years and during the parts where she had to revisit her past, I really felt her emotions bleed through the pages. She’s still grieving because there really hasn’t been any closure to the tragedy that struck. When she has to fully engage in the journal, new world she comes involved in, revisit the cold case death, and deaths of others from the same trip, her emotional wounds reopen.

The Zodiac Mystery series is very interesting. I'm glad I've been along for the ride. The author does a great job weaving together different threads.

I was provided a copy of this book.

Review previously published on Sapphyria's Books

My Rating:




Visit Connie di Marco:
 
Blog: http://conniedimarco.com/blog

Purchase Link:

Amazon



This blog uses affiliate links.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

#BookReview ~ The One I Left Behind by Piper Rayne ~ #Romance #PiperRayne #PlainDaisyRanch

The One I Left Behind by Piper Rayne


About the Book:

It’s the classic story—boy goes off into the world to fulfill his dreams and leaves the girl behind.

Not every boy returns home, and I wish Ben Noughton wouldn’t have come back to our small ranching town at all after he retired from playing professional football.

I figure it’s a quick layover for him. He always wanted out of this town and off his family’s ranch. I just have to bide my time until he turns his back on all of us again.

Then he takes on the coaching position for the high school football team and starts milling around too much, bulldozing the protective walls I’ve built around myself. But he goes too far when he takes my son under his wing to help him be the best player he can be. Leaving me to protect not only my own heart but my son’s too.

Because I promised myself a long time ago that I’d never be the girl in the rearview mirror again.

My Review:

The One I Left Behind is the first book in the Plain Daisy Ranch series. Ben Noughton left Nebraska to play football with the San Francisco Kingsmen. In doing so, he left behind the love of his life, never looking back. Now he's retired and coming back to Plain Daisy Ranch.

This story is a second-chance romance complete with a single mom and meddling townsfolk. I enjoyed Gillian's character. Her feelings were hurt all those years ago and the last she was looking forward to was Ben coming back to town. When they keep ending up in the same places at the same times, Gillian and Ben finally realize everyone in town is involved in getting them back together. 

When Ben and Gillian encounter each other for the first time, the sparks are still there. Their chemistry explodes like fireworks that never end. They truly are meant for each other. I just wish Gillian would have demanded more from Ben. He left to follow his dreams and Gillian was a casualty of his selfishness. She was left behind, brokenhearted, and the talk of the town. Gossip of her escalated when she had Clayton.

Clayton is a typical teenager. When Ben came back to town, Clayton didn't care who he was or his popularity. Clayton didn't immediately take to Ben. Clayton is completely devoted his mother, and doesn't want to see anything happen to Gillian. 

The One I Left Behind is a cute and fun second-chance romance. I enjoyed the story, setting, and characters. I can't wait for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book.

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

My Rating:


Purchase from Amazon

Add to Goodreads


Visit Piper Rayne: 




This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Friday, July 25, 2025

#BookReview ~ Savage Revenge by Kate Oliver ~ #DarkRomance #AlphaMale #StrongHeroine #TouchHerandDie #EnemiestoLovers #BillionaireRomance @greyspromo



Blurb:

Cash
Revenge is what I live for. My father’s blood stains the streets of Las Vegas, and I know exactly who’s to blame. To destroy the man who took everything from me, I’ll start with his daughter.

Jordyn is a sweet, spoiled princess—or so I thought. Kidnapping her was supposed to be my way to break her father, but she’s nothing like I expected. Her fire matches my rage, her softness tempts my darkness, and she sees me for more than the monster I am. Now I’m torn between punishing her… or keeping her. Or both.

Jordyn
My life appears perfect—wealth, power, and security all wrapped in a glittering lie. But it all fell apart the day Cash Savage took me to pay for sins I didn’t commit.

He’s cruel and relentless, but behind his anger, I see his pain. I should hate him, and I should run. But the more I see of the man beneath the heavy armor, the more I crave him. And now, I’m not sure if I want him to let me go.

Amazon

Goodreads

ASIN: ‎ B0DV9RVXS5
Publication date: ‎ July 22, 2025
Print length: ‎ 396 pages


My Review:

Savage Revenge is an intense journey through the dark underbelly of the Las Vegas casino industry.

Describing Cash Savage as unhinged is putting it mildly. He grew up in the casino world of Las Vegas, and that in and of itself is as close to being the mafia as you can get without actually being in the mafia. The business is cut-throat literally and figuratively. When his father is shot outside one of their casinos, there’s only one man to blame, and Cash is going to make him pay.

Jordyn may be in an executive position within her father’s casino empire, but it’s only to placate her and not because she’s good at what she does. Women don’t belong in this world, something her father never lets her forget. When she’s kidnapped from her home by her father’s main competition in Vegas, she doesn’t know whether to believe Cash Savage and his brothers about her father.

This story is dark, gritty, and filthy. It’s full of testosterone, control, and submission. I wasn’t just pulled into Savage Revenge, I was yanked. There were no door frames to try and grab, no way to slow the train down. This book pulls you in and pulls you in hard. I was mesmerized by Kate Oliver’s writing. The ability to dive into the dark side of Vegas with characters that make it out the other side speaks volumes of the author’s capabilities.

There are a few things that take place in this book that made me uncomfortable, and I made sure to read the trigger warnings first so I knew what I was getting into. I advise that you do, as well. My rating does not reflect my discomfort as the book overall is amazing, plus we are warned.


I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


My Rating:




This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

#BookReview ~ Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin #Romance #Frenemies

Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin is now live!


About the Book:

A spicy, sassy, and swoony fake dating romantic comedy from Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin.

A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college.

And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table.

Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves.

My Review:

Here for the Cake is a super cute fake-dating story.

Paisley’s sister is marrying one of Paisley’s exes. What an awkward situation for Paisley. Paisley then turns to a former college frenemy, and they decide to enter into a fake dating scenario. Paisley makes sure she has a date for her sister’s wedding, and Klein, an aspiring author, needs promotional assistance by way of Paisley’s marketing firm.

I loved Paisley and Klein’s chemistry. They may have been frenemies once-upon-a-time, but the author created a perfect fake relationship to get them back on track. Here for the Cake is a fresh story in a popular trope. I had fun reading about Paisley and Klein. Fantastic story, wonderful characters, and terrific setting.

I was provided a copy of this book.

Previously reviews on Sapphyria's Books.

My Rating:


Purchase from 


Add to 

Visit the Author:



This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.


Tuesday, July 15, 2025

#BookReview ~ Deadly. Set. Vegas. (A Vegas Victory FC Novel, Book 1) by Vanessa M. Knight ~ Romantic Mystery #Mystery #Romance

DEADLY. SET. VEGAS.

Vanessa M. Knight



Genre:

Romantic Mystery

About the Book:

Kennedy Romero is not a murderer. Why is she the only one who believes that? Well, her and her best friend believe it. And, yes, she knows it’s a little coincidental that she arrived in Vegas the same day her best friend’s husband was killed. But she swears she had nothing to do with it.

Unfortunately, Vegas Metro has other ideas—and they all lead to Kennedy. So instead of enjoying her vacation in Las Vegas, she’s stuck smack-dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

What she would give for an all-you-can-eat buffet and watching her best friend's soccer team play a match. But no. Instead of hitting the casinos, she’s trying to interview the players of the Vegas Victory FC and wishing she wasn’t the main suspect.

The body is growing as cold as the trail of the murderer. But if she doesn’t find the killer soon, Metro will be giving her a red card and she’ll be sitting in jail. Permanently.

My Review:

Deadly. Set. Vegas. is a fantastic murder mystery. Kennedy is a Chicago cop assigned to desk duty and mandatory AA meetings - you do the math. She finds herself in Vegas to support her bestie, Darcy Perrault, who is receiving an award. On the same day Kennedy arrives in Vegas, her bestie's husband, Chuck Perrault, is found dead in a VIP box at the stadium he owns. Since there's no love lost between Kennedy and Chuck, and her unfortunate and coincidental arrival, Kennedy shoots to the top of the suspect list, right next to Darcy. Knowing she didn't do it and neither did Darcy, Kennedy uses her training to dig up clues to exonerate them both. If only Detective Pagonis was easier to work with on this case.

I really enjoyed this mystery. There were twists and turns throughout. The sheer amount of betrayal put a couple of people at the top of my list. I was completely engaged in this story and surprised at who the murderer turned out to be at the end.

The characters are all flawed - significantly, making them more realistic. Kennedy is a great heroine and I enjoyed her encounters with Detective Pagonis. While Kennedy was a thorn in Pagonis's side, she ultimately was a great unofficial sidekick.

This book is so good I read it in one sitting.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:





Visit the Author:

Website: www.VanessaMKnight.com

Purchase from Amazon



This blog uses affiliate links.

Friday, July 11, 2025

#BookReview ~ Seducing Cinderella: A Fighting for Love Novel, Book 1 by Gina L. Maxwell @Gina_L_Maxwell

He’ll teach her the art of seduction…for a price.

Seducing Cinderella and Rules of Entanglement, the first two books in the titillating, sports romance series; Fighting For Love from New York Times bestselling author Gina L. Maxwell are both now available with bonus content!

Only months before reclaiming his championship title, mixed martial artist Reid Andrews suffers a serious injury. Fortunately, his trainer knows the perfect physical therapist to get Reid healed and back into fighting shape—the little sister of Reid’s best friend. But Lucie is no longer a little girl, and she’s more than capable of handling a bad boy with a bad attitude.

Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. Bookish girls don’t usually land the hot guys, and she’s gone unnoticed by a certain doctor for way too long. So when her childhood crush offers her lessons in seduction in exchange for getting him ready for the biggest night of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

But when his feelings begin to change, Reid finds himself in the fight of his life, and it’s not even in the octagon. Now he needs to switch up his game plan if he wants to win Lucie’s heart…before she gives it to somebody else.

My Review:

Seducing Cinderella was such a fun book. The older brother’s best friend trope was written well. I enjoyed meeting Lucie and Reid. What started off as a way for Lucie to catch another man’s eye, quickly becomes Reid’s next big challenge: Keep her eyes off the other guy and only on him.

Lucie and Reid are great together. Their chemistry is off the charts. I loved watching him pull Lucie out of her own head. Reid helped boost her confidence. He provided tips and tricks for Lucie to use to charm those around her.

Lucie’s friend Vanessa was a wonderful addition. She was the perfect friend for Lucie. Nessie protected Lucie, stood up for her, and knew Lucie’s worth and tried to get her to see it, as well.

I loved this story.

I was provided a copy of this book.

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

My Rating:


Purchase Links:

Purchase from Amazon

Add Seducing Cinderella to Goodreads 

For more information about Gina L. Maxwell and her books, visit her website: 

https://ginalmaxwell.com


This blog uses affiliate links.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

#BookReview ~ The Drawback of Single Dads by Piper Rayne ~ #ContemporaryRomance #Romance


About the Book:

He’s the father of my child and my best friend.

When Hudson and I met, somehow things just clicked between us. We had the same sense of humor and the same carefree attitude about our lives and goals. Neither of us wanted to lay down roots, we wanted to explore the world.

Then one night, too much alcohol and uncontrolled hormones led to the line blurring, and we fell into bed together only to discover a month later that we were more careless than we thought.

Like the upstanding guy he is, Hudson followed me back to my hometown of Lake Starlight, Alaska, where you can’t throw a penny and not hit one of my family members. We gave them the news that yes, we were having a baby but there would be no wedding. We loved each other but we weren’t in love.

Fast forward three years and we live side by side to make co-parenting our daughter easy. I’m a writer, and he’s a ski instructor. We’ve worked out all the rough edges. Life is good.

Until out of nowhere, things start to change. He has a girlfriend, we’re arguing more than ever, and it feels as if someone has come along and popped our perfect bubble. I’m not sure we’re ever going to fit back inside it now because things are developing. Things like feelings.

My Review:

The Drawback of Single Dads is the fourth book in the Lake Starlight series. The focus of this book is Palmer and Hudson, best friends who also got a bit wild and procreated. This friends-to-lovers romance was executed perfectly. Palmer and Hudson are wonderful characters. I loved meeting them, seeing them grow, and watching their romance unfold. The authors filled this book with tension, emotion, and passion.

The story was fantastic, the characters well-developed, and the world-building done spectacularly. I am a huge fan of Piper Rayne (they are pretty much on my "read anything I can get my hands on - without reading the blurb first" list). I was so engaged with Palmer and Hudson's story from the first paragraph. The writing, characters, setting, and story took my breath away. The Drawback of Single Dads and the entire Lake Starlight series are highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book.

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

My Rating:


Purchase from Amazon

Add to Goodreads



This blog uses affiliate links.