All Bets Are Off by Estelle Maskame | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: All Bets Are Off by Estelle Maskame 

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Black & White Publishing 

Publication date: 13th August 2026

Blurb:

Three women. One bachelorette weekend. Zero chance of everything going to plan...

Adelaide Sinclair is weeks away from her dream wedding to the love of her life... or so everyone believes. Her bachelorette in Vegas is meant to be the ultimate send-off, until her fiancé crashes the party with his bachelor crew, including Connor, the first boy she ever loved... and the only one who knows the truth.

Hailey Clark would rather be anywhere else than a Las Vegas. When the email of a lifetime lands in her inbox - her shot at becoming a published author - she suddenly needs to balance her maid of honor duties with chasing her dreams. Easy enough... until she ends up handcuffed to the bride's charming younger brother, Theo, and her carefully laid plans go up in glittery smoke.

Evelyn Sinclair is finally twenty-one and ready to party, but she's also desperate for cash - and running out of time to get it. A little light theft seems like the perfect solution... until she tries to help herself to a Rolex from the wrist of a dangerously attractive stranger who insists on payback.

What happens in Vegas definitely won't stay there. By the end of the weekend, everything will change.

Review:

I absolutely loved this!

All Bets Are Off follows Adelaide six weeks before her wedding to Liam, as she heads to Las Vegas for her bachelorette party. Her best friend Hailey has planned the perfect itinerary, but things go quickly off-script when the bachelor party unexpectedly joins them, and Adelaide is faced with a surprise - her ex-boyfriend Connor. 

The story is told from the perspectives of Adelaide, Hailey and Adelaide's younger sister Evelyn, and all three are keeping secrets. Adelaide is hiding something about her relationship with Liam, Hailey is on the cusp of landing a publishing deal and Evelyn has a debt hanging over her head.

I loved each of their stories as well as the Las Vegas setting and chaos of the joint bach parties - it really made me feel like I was right there with them. I went into this expecting a light and fluffy romance so I was surprised with the more serious topics woven throughout. They were handled well but also be aware that there is mention of domestic violence.

Usually when a book has a big cast, I can find myself getting a little confused but that wasn't the case here. Every character felt so distinct and completely themselves, and I found myself flying through the pages because it is such an easy and enjoyable read.

This is the second book I have read and enjoyed by this author so she is very quickly becoming a new favourite of mine. 

Take The Floor by Leigh Suznovich | Book Review

[ad/gifted eARC - I received a eBook copy for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: Take The Floor by Leigh Suznovich 

My rating: 4/5

Publication date: 18th August 2026

Blurb:

Sophie Allard is one of the most passionate, accomplished ballroom dancers in the game, but she has yet to win the US Championship. Right on the cusp of getting her chance with her partner, disaster strikes. She’s now partnerless and adrift, but still dreams of claiming that title. Her haughty persona and wealthy upbringing hide a host of insecurities, and a soft heart that yearns to be properly loved. Never did she think she might find it in the arrogant Russian who has been a thorn in her side for years…

Leonid Antonov is the picture of smug arrogance after getting out of Russia and overcoming poverty. Ballroom dance is his outlet and refuge, and he is one of the best in the sport. When his longtime partner makes the difficult decision to retire, Sophie’s coach pitches him the idea of partnering with his longtime rival. They have been dogging each other on the competition circuit and trading barbs since they were teenagers. The idea of dancing with the pampered French princess who makes his blood race is not his favorite, but he doesn’t see any other way to keep competing.

With their eyes fixed on winning, they strive to put their animosity aside and make the partnership work. The constant proximity and close dancing start to bring both of their sky high walls down, ignite a fire between them, and help them find a beautiful partnership off of the floor as well as on it. Will they be able to both win the championship and each other’s hearts?

Review: 

Having read and loved Suznovich's previous three books, I was so excited for Take The Floor, especially as a massive Strictly Come Dancing fan. Do I know anything about ballroom or Latin dancing beyond what I've picked up from watching Strictly? Absolutely not, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this.

Russian dancer Leonid Antonov and French dancer Sophie Allard have been competing against each other on the same circuit since they were teenagers. Leo has always secretly had a thing for Sophie, but growing up in a poor family, he never thought he was good enough for her. To him, Sophie seemed completely out of his league, with her beautiful costumes and confidence.

After a decade of competing against each other, both of their dance partners are retiring for different reasons, Sophie's coach finds out that Leo is interested in partnering with Sophie and sets it up. Sophie is far from impressed, convinced Leo is cocky and arrogant, but the more time they spend together, the more she begins to realise that there is a fine line between love and hate. 

And maybe the two of them together have what it takes to become US Latin Champions? 

I absolutely adored this. You can tell Leigh knows her stuff when it comes to the dancing and competition aspects of this book, but Leo and Sophie's relationship was so beautifully developed too and I loved experiencing their relationship grow.

They both have their own complicated family issues, and I appreciated how they were handled and how Leo and Sophie supported one another.

There is even a little crossover of characters from another one of the author's books which I loved. I'm a sucker for a wee Easter egg! Another Suznovich book that I absolutely adored.

The Art Of Getting Hammered by Joanna Wallace | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: The Art Of Getting Hammered by Joanna Wallace 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Viper 

Publication date: 6th August 2026

Blurb:

What use is a part-time serial killer who doesn't want to kill people? Once the terror of rude and irritating people everywhere, now Claire has lost her murderous mojo. Not even the overly chatty woman in the supermarket or the man who stole her neighbour's dog can motivate her to get out the zip ties.

Then a lucky break and a new job in the local pub gives Claire the perfect target: someone is spiking drinks and causing mayhem. But as Claire closes in on the culprit, punters start dropping like flies - and for once she's not the one doing the killing. Is someone else murdering on her patch? Claire has questions. And she's not afraid to use her hammer to get answers...

Review:

This book is so much fun!

We first met serial killer Claire in You'd Look Better As A Ghost where she joined a grief group following her father's death. I remember loving that so much so I was excited to see what happened next with Claire. 

Although it's been a couple of years since I read the first book, I instantly found myself loving being back in Claire's world. Although you don't need to have read that one, I highly recommend it to get more of a feel for her character.

In The Art Of Getting Hammered, Claire seems to have lost her killing mojo. Her one rule is that she will only kill someone if they look like a ghost but that seems to be happening less and less.

She gets herself a job at the local pub, getting to observe the punters but when people start dying and it isn't her doing it, she worries that there is someone on her patch. 

Claire's inner monologue is my favourite thing about this book. I laughed so much and you can tell that Wallace has such a great sense of humour. It feels like a satirical thriller so while I'm giggling at some parts, I'm also trying to work out who is doing the murdering.

A fun, easy read that I think a lot of people will enjoy! 

Power Play by Chelsea Curto | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: Power Play by Chelsea Curto 

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Panmacmillan 

Publication date: 21st May 2026

Blurb:

Piper Mitchell needs one thing to go her way.

Divorced, feeling stuck in her professional life and terrified of reentering the world of dating, she's decided she's going to work on something she can control: learning how to be good in the bedroom.

Enter Liam Sullivan.

The star NHL goalie might not be a people person, but he's the perfect teacher. He knows what he's doing behind closed doors, and with a little convincing, he agrees to be Piper's guide.

Things between them are casual and easy. Something they can both benefit from. And when a road trip to Vegas as Piper and Liam waking up from a night they can't remember with matching wedding rings, they decide to figure out how much more fun they can have as husband and wife.

It's just for the hockey season. It doesn't mean anything.

But as the clock ticks down on their fake-marriage-with-benefits, can Piper and Liam make it work in the real world? Or will their relationship be a power play straight to disaster?

Review:

It would take one look at my any of my social media pagea to realise that I am a Chelsea Curto superfan. I remember loving this book when I first read it two years ago but this re-read felt like I was going in fresh and I fell in love with Liam Sullivan all over again.

When you read a Chelsea Curto book, you know you are going to get two things; a strong female character and a man who is down bad for his girl, this time it is Liam Sullivan, the DC Stars goalie and Piper Mitchell, the team's rinkside reporter.

As soon as you read the author's note at the beginning with regards to women in sport, you know this is going to be special. Yes, it is a romance book with plenty of spice (bedroom lessons in this case and Curto writes these VERY well), but the tackling of important topics are always brought to the forefront too. Women in what are seen as "men's spaces" is a big part of this one and it felt refreshing to read about a man calling out another man's behaviour even when the woman wasn't there. Isn't that something all men should be doing?

At the beginning we very quickly learn that Liam is a bit of a grump with Piper being upbeat and positive. She has however gone through a rough time with a divorce so she does have things she is hiding too. As time goes on you can feel the two change with each other in the most beautiful way. There is no 0-100 here. It is a really gorgeous natural progression with Liam really boosting her confidence and Piper bringing out something deep inside him that he didn't know he was missing. It is tender, it is emotional. I felt so many feelings!

Curto does characterisation like no other. I always feel like I know these people and it's enthralling. Not even just with Liam and Piper but the supporting characters too. If you read Face Off and loved Maverick Miller, just nudge him to the side because you aren't ready for Liam Sullivan.

Perfection with a little bow on top.

Thank you to Panmacmillan for having me on the tour! 

Small Town Smokeshow by Holly Renée | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an eBook copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Small Town Smokeshow by Holly Renée 

My rating: 4/5

Publication date: 12th May 2026

Blurb: 

Hunter Calloway is a small town smokeshow and the kind of man my father warned me about.

He’s got a reputation a mile wide, a smile that could burn through any girl’s good sense, and did I mention he’s also the man my sister once loved and left behind?

He strolls through town like he owns it, tips his hat with a promise in his eyes, and slides those calloused hands across my bakery counter like they haven’t been haunting my dreams for years. He’s six feet of pure temptation wrapped in worn Wranglers, and every time I’m near him, it’s like striking a match during a drought…

Dangerous, inevitable, and exactly what I shouldn’t want.

I try to convince myself I don’t notice the way his gaze lingers, or the way he says my name as if he’s tasting it. But all my good intentions crumble to dust when we find ourselves alone under a sky full of stars with nothing but whiskey and want between us.

And it changes everything.

We promise each other we’re just having fun, yet his fingertips brush across my skin when no one’s watching, and we pretend we don’t ache for each other in a room full of people who would never understand. Every kiss stays in the dark, every desire whispered like a secret, and every touch brands me with guilt.

I know better than to fall for a cowboy like him.

I know better than to want my sister’s past.

But when his eyes find mine, I forget every reason I’ve ever had to say no.

Every touch feels like a risk and every secret like a countdown. I’m lying to everyone, falling harder for a man who never promised me anything, and wondering how much longer I can pretend I don’t care whether I’m just another notch on his well-worn belt.

Because I’m in love with Hunter Calloway regardless of the cost.

Review:

I read Cowboy Casual, the first book in the Calloway Ranch series, back in October 2025, and absolutely adored it, so I'd been impatiently waiting for Hunter Calloway's book ever since. Hunter and Maggie were mentioned so much throughout that first book, so I was immediately intrigued to read more about them in depth.

Maggie runs the bakery in Willow Grove after moving there with her sister, Ella. In Small Town Smokeshow, we learn that Hunter previously dated Ella but Ella cheated on him and moved back home to Tennessee. Maggie has always had feelings for Hunter, which he absolutely reciprocates, but she believes that acting on those feelings would be crossing a line because of Hunter and Ella's history, despite how she treated him.

The tension between Hunter and Maggie is palpable and their relationship and concerns felt so real. We love a man who yearns and Hunter does exactly that. Everyone around him notices too, despite him thinking that he hides it well.

Alongside this sister's ex/forbidden romance storyline, Maggie's relationship with her family adds an emotional layer to the book. She is very much the black sheep and I did really feel for her.

I loved being back with these characters and in my review for Cowboy Casual, I mentioned how beautifully Ruby, Colt's daughter was woven into the story. She wasn't forgotten about and this continued on in Small Town Smokeshow, with some lovely scenes between Ruby and not only her uncle Hunter, but the rest of the gang too.

McCoy and Sutton to come? 👀