Threads of Red by Julie Wright-YA Fairy Tale Review

 Book Synopsis

"Red Riding Hood" meets "Goldilocks" in this sweeping fairy-tale retelling where love, jealousy, and magic collide.

Red Grimshaw has sworn to protect her younger sister, Kristell, not only from the poverty that plagues their family but also from their mother's cold ambition, which treats the sisters as nothing more than marriage bargaining chips.

But when Kristell flees her unwanted betrothal into the forbidden deep woods, she is bitten by an ice snake and falls into a deathlike sleep. Red has no choice but to venture into the cursed forest to find her grandmother—a conjurer who might be the only one who can save Kristell from death.

Armed with only her grandmother's enchanted red cloak—alive with its own mysterious magic—Red quickly discovers that the woods are a place where wolves howl, bears roam, and the trees themselves respond to magic's call. Joined by both her rival, Goldi Martin, and the boy they both love, Carrigan Woods, Red's path is quickly tangled with jealousy, secrets, and impossible choices.

As time ticks away for Kristell, Red and her friends must reach Grandmother's house before the night of conjures, when the woods are filled with magical beasts intent on hunting down any intruders.

In a world where conjurers are feared, and love can be both a blessing and a curse, Red must learn that every spell has a cost, every heart hides a truth, and bravery is written in threads of red.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: ‎ October 6, 2026
• Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tale 
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 1639935614

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

My Review

Julie Wright is a very talented storyteller, and Threads of Red pulled me straight into its pages right from the start. If you love fairy-tale retellings, this clever mashup of "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Goldilocks" is such a fun, dark, and enchanting read.

The story centers around Red, who would do literally anything to protect her younger sister, Kristell, especially from their awful mother, who is determined to marry them off for money. She had the personality of a wicked stepmother, even though she gave birth to both sisters. When Kristell runs away from her mother into the forbidden woods and gets bitten by an ice snake, she falls into a magical, deathlike sleep. To save her, Red grabs her enchanted red cloak (which honestly feels like its own character) and heads straight into the cursed forest to find her estranged grandmother.

I seriously admired how brave and courageous Red was throughout the entire book. No matter what got thrown her way, she was so resilient and simply refused to give up on her sister. That resilience stood out even more given the group dynamic on this rescue mission. Red ends up stuck traveling with Goldi, who had always bullied her, and Carrigan, the guy they both like. Things get messy fast, and I loved watching Red hold her own while they navigated past hurts, secrets, romance, and a forest full of wolves, bears, and dark magic.

Between the fast pacing, Red’s unstoppable determination, and the messy love triangle drama, I flew right through this one. If you're looking for a cozy-yet-dark YA fantasy with a tough, inspiring heroine and a really unique twist on classic stories, definitely add Threads of Red to your TBR.

****Meet Author Julie Wright****

Julie Wright (1972-still breathing) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She's lived in LA, Boston, and the literal middle of nowhere. She wrote her first book when she was fifteen. Since then, Julie Wright books have received several starred reviews, have been chosen as Teen Readers’ Choice Award Nominees, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, Tome Society Book Award winners, Whitney Award winners, & have been listed in the American Library Association’s top ten romances.

She’s a sucker for almost all things nerdy: Doctor Who, Disneyland, the Marvel Universe, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, fairytales, and Jane Austen. She believes in second chances, getting up and trying again, and in the power of generosity and compassion.

She has one husband, six kids, two grandbabies, one dog, and a varying number of houseplants (depending on attrition). She loves writing, reading, traveling, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.

~*~*~*~*Purchase: Threads of Red ~*~*~*~*

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Leaves and Longing: Rivals and Romance #1 by Amanda P. Jones-Small Town Romance Review

 

Book Synopsis

She wants roots. He collects boarding passes.

Travel journalist Knox Sheppherd is supposed to be sipping sangria in Spain. Instead, a forgotten passport renewal strands him in Iowa, covering the Midwest Rival Fest, where two neighboring towns are locked in a decades-old rivalry fueled by pumpkins, apples, and a mischievous goat named Karen.

As Harvest Glen's event planner, Mia Mullins thrives on turning chaos into magic. Between organizing the festival and defending her three-year Pumpkin Palooza winning streak, she has no time for distractions—especially not a charming reporter who's only passing through.

But between runaway livestock, festival disasters, carnival lights, and one increasingly inconvenient attraction, keeping things professional becomes harder by the day. As sparks fly and festival season heats up, Knox and Mia find themselves facing an impossible choice.

Mia is building a future in the place she loves. Knox is always chasing the next destination. With an expiration date looming over their romance, they'll have to decide whether love is worth rewriting the plans they thought they wanted.

Because sometimes the greatest adventure isn't the one that takes you somewhere new—it's the one that makes you want to stay.

Leaves and Longing is a sweet rom-com featuring a hero who falls first (and takes care of her), a small-town festival, opposites attract, and enough cozy fall vibes to fill a pumpkin patch—including campfires, carnival rides, stargazing, a pumpkin regatta, delicious festival food, and one unforgettable goat.

Leaves and Longing is part of the Rivals and Romance series, a collection of six interconnected standalone novels that can be read in any order.

Book Details

• ASIN: ‎ B0HFBCFK3D
• Publisher: ‎ Independently published
• Publication date: ‎ September 1, 2026
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 287 pages
• ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8192685495

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

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My Review

I absolutely loved Leaves and Longing by Amanda P. Jones! It is the perfect mixture of laugh-out-loud humor and sweet, captivating romance. As the first book in the Rivals and Romance multi-author series, it sets an incredibly fun bar for the rest of the collection.

The story follows Mia Mullins and Knox Sheppherd, two characters who couldn't be more different on paper. Knox is a city-boy travel journalist sent to cover the Midwest Rival Fest—a chaotic, decades-old rivalry between two neighboring towns fueled by pumpkins, apples, and a mischievous goat named Karen. This is where he meets Mia, Harvest Glen's dedicated event planner, who is determined to win the Pumpkin Palooza for the fourth year in a row.

Mia plans absolutely everything, from cozy campfires and stargazing to thrilling carnival rides and a wild pumpkin regatta. The descriptions of the delicious festival food at the Palooza genuinely made my mouth water! Watching Knox’s fast-paced city world collide with Mia's vibrant small-town life was easily my favorite part of the book. Their chemistry is fantastic, and their witty banter kept me smiling.

Of course, I can’t write a review without mentioning Karen the goat! Karen is the ultimate mischief-maker, and his crazy antics provided some of the absolute best, most hilarious moments in the book—especially when he decided to take off and play his own impromptu game of hide-and-seek while the entire town was frantically looking for him.

If you are looking for a heartwarming romance that will make you laugh out loud and completely swoon, I cannot recommend this book enough! I can't wait to read the rest of the series! This was the perfect fall read.

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****Meet Author Amanda P. Jones****

Amanda writes sweet romantic comedies and contemporary romance novels with love, laughter, and happily ever afters.

When not reading or writing (which is rare), Amanda loves to travel, camp, spend time with family and friends, and eat chocolate chip cookies—or any other excuse she can come up with to avoid doing housework. She lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children.

Stay up to date by joining her newsletter at https://www.amandapjones.com/newsletter.

Follow on social media:

Facebook: @authoramandapjones

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www.amandapjones.com

~*~*~*~*Purchase: Leaves and Longing ~*~*~*~*

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A Work in Development by K.A. Ross- A Clean RomCom Review

 

Book Synopsis

For a woman who has edited hundreds of romance novels, Nellie’s own happy ending feels out of reach. After the death of her first husband, Daniel has offered her a second chance at happiness and love. But just as Nellie begins to hope for a future with him, her in-laws arrive to celebrate her late husband’s memory. Bringing more confusion than comfort, the well-intentioned relatives test Nellie's determination to be brave. Problems escalate when an unexpected threat emerges to tear open deep wounds from Daniel’s past and jeopardize everything Nellie has built with him. Nellie never thought she’d find love again. Now that she has, she’ll do anything to protect it. With only a week to keep everything from spinning out of control, keeping her romance from becoming a rom-com cliché is the least of Nellie’s problems. Nellie must face the fears buried inside herself to save her and Daniel’s story—or risk the next plot twist breaking it apart.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Sweetwater Books
• Publication date: ‎ July 1, 2026
• Genre: Clean Rom Com
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 1462150543

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

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My Review

A Work in Development is a beautiful, heartfelt look at finding love again after loss. This time around, we get the story entirely from Nellie’s perspective, and she is an absolute joy to follow. As a professional book editor, she has a quirky habit of comparing her real life to classic romance novel tropes, adding a clever, lighthearted layer to an otherwise emotionally heavy story.

The emotional maturity between Nellie and Daniel is stunning. Both characters are navigating profound grief, with Nellie mourning her first husband, Luis, and Daniel grieving his sister, Elise. Instead of trying to magically "fix" one another, they simply act as each other's safe harbor.

The tension and stakes rise when Nellie’s well-intentioned former in-laws arrive for a memorial celebration, bringing confusion and testing her readiness to move forward. Combined with an unexpected threat from Daniel’s past, my heart went through the wringer. Thankfully, a wonderful, supportive group of friends and a sweet, earned ending made it completely worth it. Definitely read book one (A Work in Progress) first to get the most out of their deep history.

****Meet Author K.A. Ross****

I love stories so much I can’t just write in just one genre!

Find my fantasy works under “Kay Ross” and my romance under “K.A. Ross.”

When I’m not at work, I’m finding new stories, discussing old stories, or writing my own. If I’m ever not thinking about stories, I’m either trying not to be too invested in sports or climbing up a mountain so I can run down it. I may live in Utah, but I consider any open space with a view home.

To be the first to hear about upcoming releases, sign up for my newsletter on my website!

~*~*~*~*Purchase: A Work in Development~*~*~*~*

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Silent Strike (A Luke Steel Nvel #3) by Traci Hunter Abramson-Political Thriller Review

 Book Synopsis

In the heart of Washington, one deadly secret could topple the presidency and ignite a national crisis.

Captain Luke Steele knows the corridors of power can be as perilous as any battlefield. As a military aide to the president, he carries the nuclear codes and stands at the center of America’s most closely guarded secrets. But when whispers of betrayal swirl inside the White House, Luke is drawn into a web of political corruption and hidden agendas that threaten not just the presidency but the stability of the entire nation too.

FBI Agent Amberlyn Reiner never expected her late grandmother to leave behind more than keepsakes. But on Christmas Eve, Amberlyn receives an unmarked box containing her grandmother’s jewelry from Eastern Europe, coded documents, and obituaries linking to a string of suspicious deaths. As Amberlyn digs deeper, she uncovers whispers of Cold War poisons, vanished operatives, and secrets someone will kill to bury. What her grandmother knew connects directly to a network that didn’t die with the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Together Luke and Amberlyn must follow a trail of hidden alliances stretching from the highest offices in Washington to the quiet streets of Europe. With time running out and enemies embedded within their own government, the two are thrust into a deadly game, where one misstep could cost them their lives—and ignite an international crisis.

Book Details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2026
• Genre: Political Thriller
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639935215

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.*****  

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My Review

The perfect finale to an incredible trilogy!

Traci Hunter Abramson has done it again! I was totally hooked from page one until the very end of Silent Strike. Honestly, Abramson is one of my all-time favorite authors, and this third and final book in the Luke Steele series just proves why she is an absolute master of suspenseful political thrillers.

Once again, we follow military aide Luke Steele and FBI agent Amberlyn Reiner as they get dragged into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. It all starts with a mysterious package left by Amberlyn’s late grandmother. Inside are coded documents and obituaries linking a string of suspicious deaths. What looks like a personal family puzzle quickly spirals into a terrifying web of Cold War poisons, deep-state moles, and corruption reaching all the way into the White House.

One of my favorite things about this book is how authentic it feels. Since Abramson actually worked for the CIA, you can totally tell in her writing. The way she handles the inner workings of the CIA and the FBI is so realistic and smart; it makes the high stakes feel completely real.

The pacing is excellent, and getting to see the perspective of the villain added so much nail-biting tension. But as intense as the thriller side is, Abramson always delivers on the romance. The slow-burn, sweet connection between Luke and Amberlyn was the perfect balance to all the non-stop danger.

I am so sad to see this series end, but it was such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. If you love fast-paced political intrigue with a great romantic subplot, you need to pick this one up immediately. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year!

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

****Meet Author Traci Hunter Abramson****

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She is an eight-time Whitney Award winner and has written more than forty bestselling novels. For more information about Traci, click here: https://linktr.ee/traciabramson

~*~*~*~*Purchase Silent Strike ~*~*~*~*

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Paradise: A Forever After Fairytale by Michele Paige Holmes-YA Romantic Fantasy

 Book Synopsis

Her brother needs a miracle, and a distant island is in need of a heroine. Will Ceri's love be enough?

As the eldest of six, eighteen-year-old Ceri Everard has long been the responsible one, the daughter who works long hours in the cane fields with her father and cousins, and the one who helps care for her disabled little brother every night.

Despite tender care from Ceri and all members of the family, Caden is slipping away from them, his frail body that has more wrong than right about it, slowly giving up the fight. When an unexpected opportunity to help Caden arises, Ceri is faced with a terrible choice. In exchange for her brother's chance at life, she must travel to another island where the reclusive man she will be married to by proxy awaits.

His life and hers, as well as all of those living on Paradise, hang in the balance as Ceri races against time to break a century-old curse which may, in turn, break her heart.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mirror Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 30, 2026
• Genre: YA Romantic Fantasy
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 373 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1952611636

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

I've always been a girl who loves to read fairy tales. Michele Paige Holmes’s Paradise: A Forever After Fairy Tale has all the familiar things I adore—magic, supernatural events, curses, and a handsome hero, but it has even more. It balances a sweet, slow-burn romance with plenty of real danger, sacrifice, and love.

With light Beauty and the Beast themes woven throughout, the story centers on a high-stakes deal: Ceri agrees to marry a reclusive stranger by proxy to secure a medical miracle for her disabled little brother. Her journey takes her to a mysterious island bound by a century-old curse, and I was hooked from the very first page.

Ceri was so brave, loyal, and dedicated to her family that she became a favorite heroine of mine very easily. Aneirine was the perfect hero for her, and I deeply enjoyed watching him grow and change because of Ceri's patience, love, and acceptance. Paradise truly has a little bit of everything: adventure, emotion, and an incredible plot twist. It is completely no-spice, but it delivers a ton of sweet, swoon-worthy romance that will leave you smiling. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clean, magical story with a lot of heart.

****Meet Author Michele Paige Holmes****

Michele Paige Holmes is the author of eighteen published romance novels and five novellas in the Timeless Romance Anthologies.

She loves history and all things romantic, though the reality of her life is often less so, with piles of laundry to be folded, meals to be cooked, and dishes to be washed. She finds those things blessings too, or evidence of the blessings in her life—her husband, five, mostly grown children, and five charming grandchildren (four of whom reside in her home).

She is married to her high school sweetheart, a true Ironman who considers doing ultramarathons and triathlons fun. The only time Michele logs serious miles is at Disney theme parks, but she and her super-fit husband have been happily married for thirty-five years, in spite of her lack of coordination and lagging fitness levels.

While her husband is out running, biking, or swimming, Michele’s furry companion Sherlock Holmes—a Cavapoo strongly resembling a teddy bear—keeps her company and keeps her feet warm during the cold winter months in Utah.

In recent years Michele has enjoyed traveling to some of the locations she writes about. This summer she will be returning to Scotland to do research for upcoming Hearthfire Historical novels.

You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

~*~*~*~*Purchase Paradise ~*~*~*~*

HERE:

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