Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Title: Handle with Care

Author: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: pril 14, 2026

Three women walk into a post office. No, this isn't the beginning of a joke. It's the beginning of a hostage situation.

On an ordinary spring afternoon in a small-town post office, a domestic dispute spirals out of control. The husband pulls a gun and barricades himself inside with four hostages--his wife, a young woman searching for her purpose in this world, a midlife mom facing her only daughter's graduation and imminent departure, and an elderly woman hiding a secret about her life at home. Outside, even the negotiator is forced to put aside her own personal baggage in order to find a peaceful resolution to a volatile situation . . . using exclusively words.

Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. Through the course of the daylong siege, these strangers will forge unforeseen bonds and reveal things to each other they haven't even told those closest to them. And none of them will ever be the same.

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A hostage situation.

In Sunset Beach, North Carolina, three women enter the post office to mail their packages. Unknown to them, Nadine—the newest clerk—is running the office alone, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Tommy Harrell, is there trying to convince her to stay with him. When talking fails, he pulls a gun and takes them hostage.

Hope, who is new in town, is called in as a negotiator. She isn’t alone—retired FBI agent Bo is there for support.

From chapter to chapter, we learn what is happening with each of them. Sylvie Lawson is the eldest in the group, and mailing her package could mean a major change in her life. Blythe Howard isn’t sure getting married is the right decision, especially since her mother disapproves. Morrow King is dealing with her own problems, including a rebellious teenage daughter.

Handle with Care was a slow burn. My favorite character was Sylvie—she was smart and kept the group together.

FYI: The dog is not harmed in this novel.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

 

Title: Too Close to Home 

Author: Seraphina Nova Glass

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: April 14, 2026

Nothing in this idyllic community is quite what it seems…

Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top-notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they’re heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires.

But everything changes when Regan Hoffman’s car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together—something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband…alive.

When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community—and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.

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A captivating neighborhood thriller!

Too Close to Home stars three main female characters: Regan Hoffman, Sasha, and Andi.

Regan Hoffman is a widow. Her husband died recently, and she is still dealing with her grief while taking anti-anxiety medication for her panic attacks. At the annual Labor Day party thrown by the Cloverhill Lakes neighborhood, Regan’s car explodes when another neighbor offers to get ice from it, instantly killing him. The police think it was a prank gone wrong, but Regan feels she was the intended target of the bombing.

Andi is dealing with her ex-husband, Ray, and his new wife, Tia Hansley, who seems determined to torture her at every opportunity.

Sasha is new to the area and has become friends with Regan and Andi. She is worried about her son, who keeps lying to her. She fears he may have something to do with what is going on.

How are all these events connected to the three women? Who is behind them, and why?

Too Close to Home hooked me from the first chapter. The main characters were likable and relatable because of how flawed they were. I was rooting for them to survive. The novel was suspenseful and had the perfect amount of twists to make it a solid read.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Park Row via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Name Game by Beth O'Leary

Title: The Name Game

Author: Beth O'Leary

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: April 7, 2026

A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Charlie couldn’t be happier to take the job of farm shop manager on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer. She’s grieving, a little lost, and in desperate need of a new beginning.

Jones has come out of a difficult breakup and is looking forward to some peace away from the noise of his city life. Moving to Ormer couldn’t have come at a better time.

But when Charlie Jones and, ahem, Charlie Jones both turn up at Ormer’s one and only farm shop, claiming to have been offered the role of manager, everyone is baffled.

How could this have happened?

And just who is the real Charlie Jones?

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Can the real Charlie Jones please stand up?

Charlie Jones shows up at the Isle of Ormer to fill the position of local farm shop manager. To her surprise, a second Charlie Jones—this time a man—shows up for the same job. The store owner is confused as well. She sent the job opportunity to one of them, but isn’t sure which. In the end, she decides to keep both on a trial basis and will decide later who gets the position. However, they will both have to share the same living space.

Both Charlie Joneses have been through a lot. The female Charlie is done waiting to become a mother and is ready to do it on her own if necessary. The male Charlie goes by Jones to avoid further confusion. He is trying to stay sober after realizing alcohol had taken over his life.

As the reader, we learn all this and more because Jones writes emails addressed to Charlie Jones, while the female Charlie records her thoughts in her journal.

I would consider The Name Game a slow burner. The romance almost plays a secondary role.

What I loved most was how Ormer sounded like a wonderful place for people in need of a fresh start. The quirky town and its people made it truly special.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

About Our Deal by Stacey Lynn HafnerThe Abbotts Series#1

 

Title: About Our Deal 

Series: The Abbotts Series#1

Author: Stacey Lynn Hafner

Publisher: Rainmaker Publishing

Release Date: August 27, 2024

Welcome to the world of the Abbotts—where love is unexpected, family is everything, and sparks fly in the most deliciously complicated ways. 💖

Teagan Abbott may be the youngest in her powerful, wildly successful family, but she’s no one’s baby sister. She’s been prepping to take over the family empire her entire life, and she refuses to let anyone—or her reputation as the fun-loving Abbott—stand in her way. When whispers about her party-girl image start threatening her career, Teagan does what any savvy businesswoman would do—she strategizes a solution.

Enter Lincoln Thomas.

Linc finally has everything he’s ever wanted—his own restaurant, a solid reputation, and the promise of a thriving future. If only his personal life looked as good as his business. He’s tired of the pitying glances, the unsolicited dating advice, and the constant reminders that his ex-fiancée has moved on. He’s over her. Really.

When Teagan decides the two of them may be able to help each other out, will ‘Linc’ be able to resist her unique charms?

Their chemistry is off-the-charts, their fake relationship is feeling a little too real, and the meddling of their friends and family is only making things more complicated. When emotions get involved, will their “perfect arrangement” give them what they need? Or will they both end up getting burned?

Amazon

I started reading this book on the plane back home after listening to an excerpt by one of the narrators at Book Lover Con. He did a fantastic job, and the interaction between the two main characters piqued my interest.

Teagan comes from money and power. Her father is a U.S. senator, and Teagan is resilient, strong, and determined to prove to the board members that she can take over the company one day. However, some of them still think she is too immature because she doesn’t have a stable relationship.

Lincoln Thomas is determined to make his restaurant, Cielo, a success. He works long hours and has no time for dating, especially after his ex-girlfriend hooked up with his best friend. To make matters worse, his mother has asked him to cater their wedding after they lost their original caterer. Linc doesn’t want to do it, but he can’t say no to his mother. If only he had someone in his life who could help him get through it.

About Our Deal was engaging and entertaining. Fake dating at its best!

I liked both characters and how relatable they were. Even though they came from completely different worlds, they made sense together despite being so different.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

This Book Made Me Think of Youby Libby Page

 

Title: This Book Made Me Think of You

Author: Libby Page

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart...

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…

The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

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A year of books!

Tilly Nightingale is called by the owner of a local bookstore six months after her husband, Joe, died. Joe had arranged for her to receive a year of books. She will get a new book each month, specifically selected for her.

Alfie is the bookstore owner. He inherited the shop after his father passed away. Alfie feels he must keep the bookstore going—he can’t lose his father’s legacy.

Tilly and Alfie have both experienced loss, and when she comes in, Alfie wants to help her. At first, she is angry, but by the time February arrives, she is eagerly waiting for her next book.

Each book takes her to a new place or introduces her to something new to do or try. Joe has provided her with so many new experiences, including a visit to her in-laws in Connecticut.

As the weeks and then months progress, she and Alfie become close, but neither will admit their feelings. She tries to ignore them because she is still grieving Joe, and Alfie tries to ignore them because he knows she is grieving and probably doesn’t feel the same way about him.

A hopeful story with some very sad moments. Grief is different for everyone, and it can take a long time to heal. I thought Libby Page made a true and caring portrayal of grief.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. WardKingdoms of the Compass #1

 

Title: Crown of War and Shadow

Series: Kingdoms of the Compass #1

Author: J.R. Ward

Publisher: Tor Publishing Group|Bramble

Release Date: February 17, 2026

An outcast burdened with a curse and a mercenary who's out for himself collide in this star-crossed, slow-burn, high-stakes romantic fantasy

In the dead of night, passions rise and empires fall.

Welcome to Kingdoms of the Compass.

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world, stalking the night.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast, she’s spent her whole life within the walls of her small village, ostracized for her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and maybe find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen's crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though passion runs hot between them, enemies are around every corner, and danger and betrayal threaten at every turn.

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A fantasy novel by J.R. Ward

Sorrell is an orphan who is gifted with herbs and helps deliver babies with her abilities. The town knows what she does, but no one acknowledges it in the daylight. She has only one friend, whose health is declining. For the most part, she is an outcast who works at the local pub.

There are whispers that the Fulcrum is failing and demons are slipping into the mortal world, stalking the night and killing unsuspecting humans. If the Fulcrum fails completely, the demons will win.

Sorrell is told that she is the future. In order to preserve the Fulcrum, she must travel to the Badlands to ask for the Queen’s help. She is given a crown to take on her journey. However, Sorrell can’t do it alone. Bad things are waiting for her on the way to the Queen’s land. She enlists the help of a mercenary named Merc, who mistakes her for a prostitute and offers to help her in exchange for sleeping with him. Can she reach the Queen in time, and can she give her body to him? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out.

I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward, and I wanted to read The Crown of War and Shadow to immerse myself in a new world created by her. Sorrell is a determined young woman, and her character growth was well done. Merc came out of nowhere but was willing to help and protect her. The world-building was extensive and will help set up the next book in the series.

As a whole, I enjoyed this novel, but not as much as the BDB books.

Cliffhanger: Yes

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Publishing Group|Bramble via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter

 

Title: Murder at 30,000 Feet

Author: Susan Walter

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Under the cover of turbulence, a killer strikes. With nowhere to land and nowhere to hide, who will save the passengers from this nightmare at 30,000 feet?

It’s a ticket to paradise. Flight 868 has nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over a dozen tipsy passengers are off to a destination wedding. A team of high school baseball players is headed to a tournament. The plane is packed with people eager to escape their lives, and others who can’t wait to return to their beloved home.

But sweet anticipation turns to terror when a lightning strike short-circuits the avionics and plunges the plane into darkness. When the lights come back on, a passenger is found brutally murdered, with only a bewildered air marshal to solve the crime. He soon realizes that several passengers are harboring dark secrets, but the identity of the murderer eludes him. There’s only one The killer is on the plane.

Thousands of feet above the earth with thunderstorms closing in, the danger outside is as grave as the mounting threat within. Can the captain outrun the storm? Or will the murderer among them bring the plane down first?

Passion, betrayal, and murder collide in this high-stakes, locked-room mystery. A must-read for fans of T. J. Newman and Jeneva Rose.

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A trifecta with a side of murder!

Flight 868, nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, is about to be in trouble.

Among the passengers are a group of high school baseball players heading to a tournament, a wedding party traveling to a destination wedding, and a grieving mother searching for answers about what happened to her son. Who ran him over and left him to die on the road? Then, the plane is struck by lightning, short-circuiting the avionics and plunging the cabin into darkness. When the lights come back on, a man has been murdered in the bathroom.

Flight 868 also has an air marshal who is dealing with a very recent breakup with a flight attendant who was supposed to be part of the crew. At the last minute, the crew was pulled due to required rest. His head was not in the game, and now someone has been murdered on his watch. He has no clue who did it. He might lose his job, but he has to figure it out before the flight ends.

Murder at 30,000 Feet is full of suspense. There are so many suspects, and at first, we aren’t given the victim's identity, but it soon becomes clear who was murdered and why. Many secrets will be revealed with a very satisfying ending.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.