Bibliophile Amber's Book Reviews

Title: The Girls Of Good Fortune Author: Kristina McMorris Published: May 20,2025 Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance Pages: 415 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: A Gripping Tale of Survival, Sacrifice, and the Unbreakable Bond of a Mother’s Love The Girls of Good Fortune  is a powerful, heart-wrenching journey that will leave you breathless, furious, and deeply moved. Kristina McMorris delivers a masterclass in historical fiction—one that’s as tragic as it is triumphant. The story opens with a jolt: Celia wakes up in a dark tunnel in 1888, disguised as a man, disoriented, and horrified to realize she’s been sold into slave labor. But one thought cuts through the chaos—her daughter. She must find her. That fierce maternal instinct fuels a harrowing journey that spans continents, cultures, and unimaginable cruelty. Through flashbacks, we learn of Celia’s life as a young woman of mixed Chinese and white heritage in Oregon, a time and...

Title: No One Was Supposed To Die At This Wedding Author: Catherine Mack Published: May 13,2025 Publisher: Minotaur Books Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Pages: 352 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Murder, Movies, and Mayhem—This Wedding Has It All! My love for cozy mysteries strikes again, and Catherine Mack delivers another absolute gem in this delightful series! I adored the first book, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this next installment—and it did  not  disappoint. Eleanor’s debut novel is being turned into a movie, and while she’s thrilled, she’s also a bit uneasy about how much the script is being rewritten. Still, excitement is in the air—especially when her best friend Emma lands the lead role, opposite her teenage crush, Fred Winters. Sparks fly on set, and before long, Emma and Fred are engaged! The entire cast heads to dreamy Catalina Island for the wedding, but things quickly take a dark turn. Emma begins receiving omi...

Title: How To Seal Your Own Fate Author: Kristen Perrin Published: April 29,2025 Publisher: Dutton Books Genre: Cozy Mystery; Fiction. Thriller, Mystery, Murder Mystery Pages: 320 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: A Dual-Timeline Cozy Mystery Full of Secrets, Twists, and Charm! I’ve always had a soft spot for cozy mysteries, and Kristen Perrin’s  How to Seal Your Own Fate  is a delightful reminder of why I love the genre! This is the second book in the series, and it picks up shortly after the events of the first—seamlessly pulling readers back into the charming, secret-filled world of Castle Knoll. The story unfolds across two timelines. In the present, Annie is just beginning to settle into her new life when a mysterious fortune teller named Penny Lane reappears from her past. Penny hints at ominous secrets buried in Aunt Frances’s journals—secrets that could change everything Annie thought she knew. But before Annie can dig deeper, Penny is found murdered right outside Castle ...

Title: The Love Haters Author: Katherine Center Published: May 20,2025 Publisher: Macmillan Audio/ St. Martins Press Genre: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Summer, Chick Lit Pages: 320 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: A Heartfelt, Hilarious Journey of Love, Lies, and Finding Yourself Katie has sworn off love after a painful heartbreak—and she’s still carrying the emotional baggage. When her career hits a crossroads, she’s faced with two options: get fired by her intimidating new boss or accept a risky assignment to produce a feature on Tom “Hutch” Hutchenson, a beloved Coast Guard rescue swimmer in sunny Key West. Though she’s not exactly qualified, Katie takes the leap—anything to keep her job. But things get complicated fast when she discovers Hutch is the estranged brother of her boss, Cole. Caught in a web of half-truths and awkward encounters (including with Hutch’s eccentric Aunt Rue and his lovable Great Dane, George Bailey), Katie finds herself falling for Hutch… just...

Title: The Page Turner Author: Viola Shipman Published: April 8,2025 Publisher: Harlequin Audio Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Family Pages: 336 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: A Heartfelt, Uplifting Story About Family, Secrets, and Following Your Passion Emma has always felt like the odd one out in her prestigious publishing family. While her sister shines as a social media star and her parents uphold rigid standards of “literary excellence,” Emma quietly grieves the loss of her beloved grandmother—and secretly writes a romance novel inspired by the “fluffy” paperbacks tucked away in her grandmother’s cozy cottage. But when Emma stumbles upon a long-buried family secret that could shake the foundation of their publishing empire, she’s faced with an impossible choice: protect the legacy her parents built, or team up with the one person determined to bring it all down. I absolutely loved this story! It has a little bit of everything—family drama, romance, mystery, an...

Title: Parents Weekend Author: Alex Finlay Published: May 6,2025 Publisher: Minotaur Books/ St. Martins Press Genre: Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction Pages: 312 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Buckle Up—This Thriller Doesn’t Let Go! From the very first page,  Parent's Weekend  grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Five college students. Five very different families—from a high-powered political figure to a respected doctor—gather for what should be a joyful weekend at a California college. But when all five students mysteriously vanish before the welcome dinner, the parents’ concern quickly spirals into panic. At first, it seems like a typical college misstep—maybe a party gone late. But as the hours tick by and the investigation begins, it becomes chillingly clear: something far more sinister is at play. Enter FBI Agent Sarah, a financial crimes expert who’s just transferred to the area for family reasons. She’s used to chasing paper trails, n...