Romance and contemporary fiction book reviews, recommendations, and bookish musings.https://audreyryanwrites.com/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/psychopomp-circumstance-feels-like-a-good-fit-for-readers-who-want-something-dependable/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/psychopomp-circumstance-feels-like-a-good-fit-for-readers-who-want-something-dependable/This sounds like a thoughtful historical fiction pick for readers who want a clear recommendation without a sales pitch.Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/what-makes-psychopomp-circumstance-sound-worth-passing-along/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/what-makes-psychopomp-circumstance-sound-worth-passing-along/I can already see the kind of reader I would hand Psychopomp & Circumstance to, which is usually a good sign.Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-photographic-memory-feels-easy-to-recommend/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-photographic-memory-feels-easy-to-recommend/Books become easier to recommend when they sound specific about the experience they are offering, and this one does.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-psychopomp-circumstance-feels-easy-to-recommend/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-psychopomp-circumstance-feels-easy-to-recommend/Books become easier to recommend when they sound specific about the experience they are offering, and this one does.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/celestial-lights-feels-made-for-a-long-reflective-weekend/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/celestial-lights-feels-made-for-a-long-reflective-weekend/Some books arrive with a bigger mood than plot. When that mood is honest, I'm usually happy to follow it.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/ever-wonder-how-to-get-my-book-reviewed/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/ever-wonder-how-to-get-my-book-reviewed/So you've published your book. Its been edited and published, and now you're trying to figure out how to get to your potential readers. While starting your marketing campaign usually happens well before your book is finished, getting your first reviews can't begin until your book is done or in a final draft status. Many [...]Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/come-back-to-me-sounds-like-the-quiet-kind-of-suspense-i-finish-fast/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/come-back-to-me-sounds-like-the-quiet-kind-of-suspense-i-finish-fast/I do not always want a thriller that kicks down the door. Sometimes I want one that slips in, settles beside me, and refuses to leave.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/people-are-hungry-for-real-bookstores-judy-blume-on-why-us-indie-booksellers-are-growing/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/people-are-hungry-for-real-bookstores-judy-blume-on-why-us-indie-booksellers-are-growing/At 78, the multimillion-selling author has begun a new career, opening her own bookshop and joining a business sector thats flourishing again in the US She might be a beloved and bestselling author of classic childrens books from Forever to Blubber, but Judy Blume says she wakes up every day and I look to [...]Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-quiet-kind-of-novel-that-gets-under-your-skin/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-quiet-kind-of-novel-that-gets-under-your-skin/Not every memorable book arrives with a trumpet blast. Some of them work slowly, then suddenly you realize you’ve been carrying the story around for 3 days.Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/15-reading-nooks-perfect-for-when-you-need-to-escape-this-world/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/15-reading-nooks-perfect-for-when-you-need-to-escape-this-world/Although some people claim that they can read anywhere, anytime, we all know that a comfortable, well lit, soft spot is ideal. On a blanket in a park is one such perfect spot; on dry, spongy moss, under a tree, is another good location. But what happens if you're a city dweller (or not even!), [...]Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-hidden-risk-in-paid-book-reviews-is-not-the-price-its-the-shortcuts/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-hidden-risk-in-paid-book-reviews-is-not-the-price-its-the-shortcuts/Authors worry about cost, but the bigger risk is paying for a review service that lets lazy AI-assisted work slide through.Sun, 03 May 2026 21:40:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/a-novel-with-heart-is-still-the-easiest-sell/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/a-novel-with-heart-is-still-the-easiest-sell/Plot matters. Style matters. But if a novel has genuine heart, readers forgive a lot and remember even more.Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-i-still-love-a-clean-second-chance-story/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-i-still-love-a-clean-second-chance-story/Second-chance stories work because they let characters return to the same emotional ground with slightly better tools. That remains catnip to me.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-books-that-make-me-text-friends-mid-chapter/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-books-that-make-me-text-friends-mid-chapter/Not every book creates social energy. Some absolutely do. Those are the ones I start talking about before I'm even done reading them.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-holler-whispers-works-as-both-courtroom-drama-and-mystery/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/why-holler-whispers-works-as-both-courtroom-drama-and-mystery/Some books lean on plot, others on atmosphere. Holler Whispers manages to do both without losing its emotional center.Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/a-second-chance-by-asher-frend/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/a-second-chance-by-asher-frend/This is the book for the reader who's ever watched a friend disappear into a relationship and couldn't find the words to explain what was wrong. A Second Chance follows Mikaila and Chara, best friends whose bond starts to fracture when Asa enters the picture. He's not loud about it. He doesn't storm in. He [...]Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/old-tricks-new-treats-interview-part-1/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/old-tricks-new-treats-interview-part-1/Old Tricks, New Treats Interview Part 1Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:37:21 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/align-your-business-with-the-real-you-connect-with-yourself-create-what-matters-most-and-define-your-success-by-jennifer-musser/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/align-your-business-with-the-real-you-connect-with-yourself-create-what-matters-most-and-define-your-success-by-jennifer-musser/Ever wake up before sunrise, not from excitement, but from a churning mental checklist? Jennifer Musser gets it. In Align Your Business with the Real You, she speaks directly to those of us running on fumes while building our dreams. She doesn't offer empty platitudes—she shares lived experience, practical tools, and a radical notion: maybe [...]Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:44:10 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/intersections-short-stories-from-rideshare-passengers-by-andrew-spink/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/intersections-short-stories-from-rideshare-passengers-by-andrew-spink/Book Summary: Nobody lies to their Uber driver. The anonymity functions like a truth serum, putting everyone’s raw and unfiltered selves on full display. But it is in those rideshare confessionals - when human lives are intersecting without the usual pretense, that you discover the heights of human potential. And you hear some powerful stories. [...]Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:24:44 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/champagne-widows-by-rebecca-rosenberg/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/champagne-widows-by-rebecca-rosenberg/Summary: Sparkling Courage: Love, Loss, and the First Champagne Queen's Daring Legacy France, 1800s. Young widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot possesses an extraordinary gift: Le Nez, an exquisite sense of smell required to craft the world's finest champagne. Despite crippling grief and societal rules against women owning businesses, she inherits her late husband's struggling winery. Napoleon's Code [...]Sat, 14 Dec 2024 09:15:50 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/bones-of-the-apostle-by-john-amos/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/bones-of-the-apostle-by-john-amos/Story Summary: “Thomas, I’m bored. We need some excitement.” Back from their harrowing mission in the desert to recover a stolen statue of Aphrodite, detectives Flinders Petrie and Thomas Pettigrew have earned a reputation for success against all odds. Just as they are growing restless for another big case, they are tasked with finding a [...]Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:16:46 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-case-of-the-stolen-goddess-by-john-amos/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-case-of-the-stolen-goddess-by-john-amos/Story Summary: Flinders smiled. “Once more into the breach, my friend.” Now famous after their previous quest to find Cleopatra’s tomb, detectives Flinders Petrie and Thomas Pettigrew begin their next adventure in search of a stolen statue of Aphrodite. Their pursuit takes them from the bowels of the British Museum to the barren desert of [...]Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:45:29 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/prioritize-us-unlock-lasting-love-with-one-simple-proven-test-by-nick-brancato/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/prioritize-us-unlock-lasting-love-with-one-simple-proven-test-by-nick-brancato/Summary: What if the real reasons behind our arguments were hidden all along? The answer could change everything—starting today. Introducing Prioritize Us: Unlock Lasting Love with One Simple, Proven Test—a research-backed tool with the power to uncover what truly matters to you and your partner. In just 5-10 minutes, the test reveals your Total Difference [...]Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:20:45 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/thought-choice-power-charting-the-course-of-liberty-in-modern-society-by-plebeius/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/thought-choice-power-charting-the-course-of-liberty-in-modern-society-by-plebeius/Summary: Thought Choice Power: Charting the Course of Liberty in Modern Society by Plebeius is a thought-provoking exploration of governance, civic responsibility, and the critical need for principled thinking in today's complex sociopolitical landscape. In an era when superficial messaging and polarized rhetoric often dominate the public sphere, this book advocates for a return to [...]Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:38:35 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/apricot-marmalade-and-the-edmondson-transmittal-by-lon-orey/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/apricot-marmalade-and-the-edmondson-transmittal-by-lon-orey/Summary: The war was not going well. The surprisingly effective Tet Offensive in late January 1968 had humbled and embarrassed the South Vietnamese and their American allies. It had sent a powerful message to the folks back home that this Vietnam thing was not going to be over anytime soon. The half million troops that [...]Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:56:57 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-crush-of-wine-and-war-by-molly-fumia/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-crush-of-wine-and-war-by-molly-fumia/Summary: "Here is a book of exquisite honesty and profound depth... Along the way grief becomes a dance in the dark and suffering turns to love." -Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Book of Longings, review of Molly Fumia's Safe Passage Austria, 1938. Two Couples struggle with the terrifying prospect of opposing the Nazis. Sebastien [...]Sun, 08 Dec 2024 13:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/tangles-a-cold-war-love-story-and-mystery-by-by-kay-smith-blum/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/tangles-a-cold-war-love-story-and-mystery-by-by-kay-smith-blum/Summary: “In a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age…a beautifully written, important story…Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.” –Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series Oppenheimer was just the beginning. When a harpooned whale offers proof the [...]Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:00:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cosplay-the-marvel-way-a-guide-to-costuming-culture-and-crafting-basics/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cosplay-the-marvel-way-a-guide-to-costuming-culture-and-crafting-basics/Since the World Science Fiction Convention in New York City in 1939, when the first superhero costume was displayed and worn, cosplay has grown in participation and popularity, becoming more mainstream and accepting of all people who want to express themselves through unique costume choices and a sense of temporarily being someone else they hold [...]Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:46:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/universe-of-lost-messages-the-charismites-by-janet-stilson/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/universe-of-lost-messages-the-charismites-by-janet-stilson/Story SummaryWhat if your child has special powers and can get people to do almost anything? What happens if the child is abducted?Izzie and Tristan were never mere humans. They are Charismites, with almost god-like powers of magnetism. And they couldn’t be more different. Izzie is a reckless, playful megastar whose popularity far exceeds that [...]Fri, 29 Nov 2024 12:05:17 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/slurp/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/slurp/I love noodles, and I especially love soup noodles, so when I saw an opportunity to review Slurp by Dennis Yen, I had to try it. Slurp offers noodle lovers recipes that will elevate their noodles. I love the title of the cookbook because who doesn’t slurp noodles, right? I’m smitten with the cover art [...]Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:08:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/pivoting-as-a-way-of-life-stop-chasing-unicorns-and-product-market-fit/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/pivoting-as-a-way-of-life-stop-chasing-unicorns-and-product-market-fit/In the pursuit of building successful startups, entrepreneurs and founders often fixate on achieving the elusive product-market fit. However, Hanna's groundbreaking book, Pivoting as a Way of Life, shatters this notion, revealing it to be a myth that has misled many. By debunking this conventional wisdom, Hanna offers a refreshing and pragmatic approach to product [...]Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:25:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-start-of-all-things-good-a-complete-guide-to-building-your-business/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-start-of-all-things-good-a-complete-guide-to-building-your-business/“This is the most comprehensive entrepreneur-focused book on the market today. Whether you’re starting a new business or refreshing an established one, The Start of All Things Good has ideas that will spark creativity and ingenuity. From Strategic Positioning to Marketing and Branding to Raising Capital, Author Danielle Billetz-Reppert informs readers of every step they [...]Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:58:52 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-magicians-daughter-a-memoir/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-magicians-daughter-a-memoir/The Magician’s Daughter is a delightful coming of age memoir that is as tender as it is entertaining. Lee Grabel, an aging former professional magician, has decided to come out of retirement. After leaving the stage to raise their youngest daughter Katy, Lee and Helene Grabel settled into a picturesque and steady life, off the [...]Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:07:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/how-to-draw-kawaii-manga-characters/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/how-to-draw-kawaii-manga-characters/Calling all manga fans! In this cute and charming book, you’ll learn the essentials of how to draw adorable manga characters. The book includes instructions on how to draw basic features such as hair, expressions, and eyes. I like how colorful and expressive the character examples look and how easy and interactive the book is [...]Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:36:34 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/sophie-frankensteins-hound-a-graphic-novel-vol-2-sophie-1/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/sophie-frankensteins-hound-a-graphic-novel-vol-2-sophie-1/Meet Sophie, a dog who wants to live a life where everything is all about her. However, her owner has two evil pet cats and a baby named Doug. And now there’s a new surprise! Sophie’s owner is now adopting stray dogs into their house, and Sophie wants desperately to get rid of them. Will [...]Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:32:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/papas-butter-chicken-a-celebration-of-family-and-community/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/papas-butter-chicken-a-celebration-of-family-and-community/Sharing a meal not only nourishes the body, it also builds bonds. This story is unique in that it highlights sharing an everyday meal can also build family and community bonds (independent of a celebration). The protagonist helps her father make butter chicken. During the cooking process, her father reminisces how butter chicken brings back [...]Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:44:42 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/lion-dancers/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/lion-dancers/Wei used to have a dream and passion for lion dancing. Ever since his father passed away, all of his hopes are slipping away, especially his best friend Hung. Years pass, and Wei decides to join a new junior lion dance team Hung is also in, but Wei and Hung are still salty. Can the [...]Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:42:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-fall/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-fall/"The Fall by Brian Penn explores themes of identity, freedom, and resilience, set against a vividly depicted dystopian backdrop. With intricate character development and an immersive storyline, it draws readers into a wild journey filled with suspense and revelation. Penn's masterful storytelling and rich prose make this a compelling read for fans of complex, layered [...]Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:33:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/tilt-a-novel-on-intergenerational-trauma/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/tilt-a-novel-on-intergenerational-trauma/"Healing from trauma requires the resolve to face the tangled and tortuous roots of ancestral trauma. For Asian Americans and other racialized minorities, this requires the resolve to understand the harms caused by conformity and complicity with colonialism. Tilt is a valuable read for anyone working to overcome the cultural stigma of seeking help for [...]Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:00:18 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/rick-and-morty-presents-vol-6/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/rick-and-morty-presents-vol-6/Everyone's favorite nihilistic, alcoholic, mega-genius scientist and his grandson are back in Rick and Morty Presents Volume 6. This graphic novel features three new madcap adventures featuring Rick, Morty, and the rest of the family. For fans of the TV show, this graphic novel is just as vulgar, crass, and raunchy. Each of the episodes [...]Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:07:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/into-the-mist/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/into-the-mist/"Equal parts chilling, haunting, and wistful. Sharon Mikeworth writes a different style of ghost story. And just like her haunted house, one doesn’t know whether to be at ease or afraid. This is a story that is very original and unpredictable." —Eric Smith, Tulsa Book ReviewWed, 13 Nov 2024 16:15:44 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/kissing-toads/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/kissing-toads/“Funny, awkward, and ultimately realistic, Kissing Frogs is a memoir-like story that will have readers relating to it. As the main character, Annabelle, works her way through high school, college, and into adulthood, she kisses many frogs, but readers will wonder…will she ever find her prince? Entertaining, creative, and satisfying, Kissing Toads is a lovely [...]Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:50:56 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/hills-of-cotabato/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/hills-of-cotabato/An action-packed and intrigue-laden thriller, Marc Schiffman’s Hills of Cotabato offers a cerebral exploration of the burdens of duty, the limits of loyalty, and the socio-political machinations in a country facing both domestic and international threats. Against the backdrop of the tumultuous situation in the Philippines, Schiffman emphasizes the motivations of the people at the [...]Mon, 11 Nov 2024 21:59:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-one-week-writing-workshop-7-days-to-spark-boost-or-revive-your-novel-by-karin-adams/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/the-one-week-writing-workshop-7-days-to-spark-boost-or-revive-your-novel-by-karin-adams/About the book: You've always wanted to write a novel and have been nurturing a great idea. Perhaps you’ve made a pile of notes—even written several chapters. But as you sit down alone with the blank page or your next scene, nothing happens. Or if the writing does start to flow, it soon dries up. [...]Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:14:23 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cuttle/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cuttle/“An introverted cuttlefish scientist wonders where her life is going in Author Chelsea Britain’s Cuttle. Readers will love the animal facts strewn throughout the story that parallel the main character’s life and her thought process in every situation she encounters. Cuttle is entertaining, relatable, and at times, humorous.” —Kathryn Dare, San Francisco Book ReviewFri, 08 Nov 2024 15:06:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/red-rabbit/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/red-rabbit/Andrew King has the solemn and unenviable task of burying his daughter Olivia. His sorrow becomes anger once Olivia’s beau arrives and blames Olivia’s death on a rumored witch named Sadie Grace. Their shared anger turns toward thoughts of revenge and they send word of a bounty on Sadie’s life. Word spreads like wildfire and [...]Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:10:04 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/oil-water/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/oil-water/“Full of brilliant imagery and poetic prose, Oil & Water is intriguing and beautiful. It follows a young woman as she embarks on adventures across the globe, experiencing exotic creatures, rich cuisines, and unfamiliar customs, then settles into a family environment where tragedy strikes. Readers will love this sensational tale that weaves fiction into the [...]Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:02:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/minor-notes-volume-1/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/minor-notes-volume-1/This is an extraordinary book since it features the poetry of enslaved people dating back to 1837. The poem “The Slave’s Complaint” is resonant with the suffering which was endured by them. It is more extraordinary since the ability to read was, for the most part, proscribed. The poem is stark and direct. The later [...]Wed, 06 Nov 2024 01:32:23 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cake-lemonade-and-sprinkles/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/cake-lemonade-and-sprinkles/“Young readers and listeners will love this story about finding your true self and loving that self. With bright, colorful illustrations, Cake, Lemonade, and Sprinkles will be sure to spark the imaginations of little ones. Author Aishah Hight has created a sweet story that children of all ages will enjoy and be inspired by.” —Kathryn [...]Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:21:00 GMThttps://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/mean-low-water/https://audreyryanwrites.com/posts/mean-low-water/From the moment they meet, Ginny and LeeLee are all but destined to become best friends. It isn’t simply the connection felt by so many teenage girls; it is intense but essentially intangible. The two of them share the same gift: a preternatural sense for the future or the past, or at times, an ability [...]Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:29:00 GMT