Audiobook Review: Dawn in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz

Dawn in Eclipse Bay
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Gail Shalan
Series: Eclipse Bay Trilogy (Book 2)
Publication: Tantor Media (July 25, 2023)
Length: 8 hours and 33 minutes

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz comes the second novel in a dramatic trilogy set in breathtaking Eclipse Bay, a town filled with rivalries as fierce and compelling as the rugged Oregon coast . . .

Nothing was ever simple between a Madison and a Harte. The feud that had divided their families still simmered. Now, only months after their siblings' wedding, Lilian Harte and Gabe Madison are at each other's throats.

Successful CEO Gabe had insisted on becoming a client of Lilian's matchmaking service. And after five disastrous dates, Lilian is at her wit's end. If she hadn't already decided to close her business and move home to Eclipse Bay, Gabe would have been the final straw. But when she finds Gabe at her door demanding she fulfill their business contract, the sparks between them suddenly turn personal. Once again, Eclipse Bay will witness a showdown—between a relentless Madison and an irresistible Harte . . .

My Thoughts: The second book in the Eclipse Bay trilogy stars Rafe Madison and Lilian Harte. Rafe has made himself into the successful CEO of a venture capitalist firm. Lilian runs a successful computer matchmaking business. 

After meeting again at their siblings' wedding, Rafe comes to Lilian to try to find a wife who meets his criteria just as Lilian is preparing to close her business and give being a full-time artist a try. Since Rafe has lied on most of the questionnaire Lilian had him complete, Lilian is not successful in finding him a match before her business closes.

He follows her to Eclipse Bay ostensibly to have Lilian find him his sixth contracted match. But sparks are flying between them and a romance grows. Lilian also seems to have attracted a stalker. 

Romance flourishes despite interfering grandfathers, old girlfriends, and political intrigue in this engaging romance. 

I bought this one December 3, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

The Book Witch
Author: Meg Shaffer
Publication: Ballantine Books (April 7, 2026)

Description: Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew.

Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story.

Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

My Thoughts: Rainy March is a Book Witch. It is her job to jump into books to protect the stories from the burners. Book witches have rules. Don't eat, drink or sleep in the fictional world. And don't fall in love with any of the characters. 

Rainy is having trouble with the last rule. She has fallen for the Duke of Chicago who is the main character in a series of mysteries filled with the hard-boiled detective and his cases. Duke is the man of her dreams, but when her boss finds out, she's forbidden from entering his world again. 

When her Pops disappears and a book that means the world to her is stolen from her safe at home, Rainy knows the only one who can help her solve is the case is the one man she has been forbidden to see - the Duke of Chicago.

Together the pair enters all sorts of books from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to classic Nancy Drew to try to find her missing grandfather and learn some of the secrets of her past. 

This is the perfect story for any reader who has fallen in love with a character from a book or fallen in love with a book series. It is filled with wonderful moments for all readers. The writing style is conversational and told by Rainy in the first person. The book is divided into genres from Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Nonfiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller and Science Fiction. 

This book will be going on my keeper shelf for frequent re-reading. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

State of the Stack (April 1, 2026)

This is my monthly post which details progress made on review books. I want to thank the authors and publishers who have contributed their books. 

Read This Month 

Dates indicate the date the review was/will be posted.

1. Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (March 17)
2. The Survivor by Andrew Reid (March 18)
3. A Deadly Inheritance by Kelley Armstrong (March 19)
4. The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst (March 24)
5. The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly (March 25)
6. Family Lies by Karen Rose (March 26)
7. The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss (March 31)
8. Blood Trail by Matt Query & Harrison Query (April 1)
9. The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer (April 2)
10. The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea by C. L. Miller (April 3)
11. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown (April 7)
12. Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn (April 8)
13. Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (April 14)
14. Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman (April 15)

DNF

1.  

Read Previously, Posted This Month 

Dates indicate when the review was posted.

1. Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey (March 3)
2. Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett (March 4)
3. A Lie for a Lie by Ren DeStefano (March 5)
4. The Pie and Mash Detective Agency by JD Brinkman (March 5)
5. You Did Nothing Wrong by C. G. Drews (March 10)
6. The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C. L. Miller (March 10)
7. Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips (March 11)
8. The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C. M. Waggoner (March 12)
9. Missing by E. A. Jackson (March 13)

New This Month 

Date indicates when the book will be released.

1. Griffin Speaker by Jan M. Flynn (May 5)
2. Dungeons and Danger by Elizabeth Penney (May 26)
3. Skyring Water by Beau L'Amour & Louis L'Amour (June 2)
4. Restless Bones by Gillian French (June 16)
5. Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (June 16)
6. Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (July 7)
7. Savvy Summer and the Po'boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (July 21)
8. Murder on Charity Lane by Jo Nichols (August 18)
9. The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (September 1)
10. I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas (September 15)
11. Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (October 13)

All TBR Review Books

April

• How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin (Dutton, April 28)
• Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Berkley, April 28)

May

• A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon (Dutton, May 5)
• I, Spy by L. M. Kemp (Minotaur, May 5)
• Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh (Berkley, May 5)

• Griffin Speaker by Jan M. Flynn (Disney Hyperion, May 5)
• The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher (St. Martin's, May 12)
• The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (Minotaur, May 12)

• An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong (Minotaur, May 19)
• Storm Warning by James Byrne (Minotaur, May 26)
• Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (Minotaur, May 26)

• The Final Target by Nora Roberts (St. Martin's, May 26)
• Dungeons and Danger by Elizabeth Penney (Minotaur, May 26)

June

• Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley (Minotaur, June 2)
• Skyring Water by Louis L'Amour & Beau L'Amour (Bantam, June 2)
• Beach Thriller by Jamie Day (St. Martin's, June 9)

• A Botanist's Guide to Tradition and Treachery by Kate Khavari (Crooked Lane, June 9)
• The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis (Atria, June 16)
• Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson (DelRey, June 16)

• Restless Bones by Gillian French (Minotaur, June 16)
• Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (Atria, June 16)
• A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher-Murray (Berkley, June 23)

• Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (Minotaur, June 23)
• A Bitter Cut by Anna Lee Huber (Berkley, June 23)
• Storm Tide by Paul Doiron (Minotaur, June 30)

• The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson (Minotaur, June 30)
• Enter the Nightmare by Jayne Castle (Berkley, June 30)

July

• Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur, July 7)
• The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (DelRey, July 7)
• Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur, July 7)

• Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (Minotaur, July 14)
• The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley (Atria, July 14)
• Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead (Minotaur, July 14)

• Death at King's Cross by Rosanne Limoncelli (Crooked Lane, July 21)
• Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Minotaur, July 21)
• Fossil Feud by Maggie North (Dell, July 28)

• Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard (Simon & Schuster, July 28)
• Pride Comes Before a Fall by Virginia Heath (St. Martin's Griffin, July 28)
• Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst (Bramble, July 28)

August

• Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan (Minotaur, August 11)
• For Services Rendered by Will Thomas (Minotaur, August 18)
• Murder on Charity Lane by Jo Nichols (Minotaur, August 18)

September

• The Oxford Guide to Scandal & Lies by Kate Westbury (Minotaur, September 1)
• I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas (St Martin's, September 9)

October

• Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (Atria, October 13)

ARC Review: Blood Trail by Matt Query & Harrison Query

Blood Trail
Author: Matt Query & Harrison Query
Publication: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (April 7, 2026)

Description: A poacher-turned-game-warden is on the hunt for a bloodthirsty cult in this unnerving thriller from the authors of the “artful chiller” (Lincoln Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Wilderness Reform.

Clark Rickert was once the most prolific big game poacher throughout the Rocky Mountain west but when he lost both his son and his wife, he turned away from hunting. Now a game warden working for the very law enforcement officers that once pursued him so aggressively, Clark is overwhelmingly successful at his job.

So, when there’s a string of disappearances in rural Montana, Clark is selected to join a task force on an operation targeting a mysterious, violent cult in the area. As he works to uncover the truth, Clark begins to be plagued by visions and starts to realize that there is a deeper purpose to his assignment and the cult might up to something far more terrifying than anyone could have guessed.

From two authors who “set themselves apart with sterling prose” (Publishers Weekly), Blood Trail is an eerie and suspenseful horror novel that will sink its teeth in you.

My Thoughts: Clark Rickert is a game warden in Montana. He was a former legendary poacher who switched to the side of the law. He's recruited for a federal task force because a number of people have gone missing in his area. An ancient evil has risen again, and it is up to Clark and the task force to defeat it. 

The leader of the task force knows what the ancient evil is but doesn't tell Clark. Clark finds himself plagued with visions that make him think he's losing his mind. He suddenly has knowledge of languages and memories that aren't his in his brain. 

Clark is a stoic, phlegmatic man. He doesn't have friends but is incredibly loyal to the people around him. It seems that he has been born to be the Sentinel destined to defeat the Tormentor on this round of a game that has been going on for centuries.

This story is part techno-thriller and part horror novel. I just about abandoned it after Chapter 2 which was filled with military acronyms and innuendo of all sorts. I stayed because I was curious about what was happening. I found the writing to be incredibly florid but gradually got used to it. 

Fans of horror or techno-thrillers will find something to enjoy here. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz

Eclipse Bay
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Gail Shalan
Series: Eclipse Bay (Book 1)
Publication: Tantor Media (June 13, 2023)
Length: 8 hours and 47 minutes

Description: FIRST IN THE STUNNING TRILOGY

Eclipse Bay has grown and flourished amongst the sharp cliffs and hidden coves of the rugged Oregon coast. But this small town is also filled with secrets as treacherous as the landscape and rivalries as fierce as an ocean storm.

Their grandfathers hated each other. Their fathers hated each other. But they don't hate each other. Not at all . . .

Hannah Harte remembers the long-ago night on the beach that revealed Rafe as more than just "that disreputable Madison boy." And Rafe remembers the heroic gesture that proved Hannah's fierce spirit was stronger than any feud—and saved him from near-certain imprisonment.

Now—reunited by a surprising inheritance after years of living their separate lives—Rafe and Hannah return to Eclipse Bay, and the hostilities that still divide, and bind, their families. And they are discovering something that is at once delightful and deeply disturbing . . .

My Thoughts: ECLIPSE BAY begins a romance trilogy set in coastal Oregon. The Harte and Madison families are bitter rivals. A business deal gone wrong in their grandfathers' time has built quite a feud by the time Hannah Harte meets Rafe Madison on the beach.  Both had been abandoned by their dates to long walks home. The two spend most of the night talking and getting to know one another. The next day, when Rafe's date is found dead, Hannah is the one who provides his alibi for the murder wrecking er own reputation along the way. 

The two go their separate ways after that. Hannah becomes a successful wedding planner and Rafe, whose past is more mysterious, becomes a chef. Their paths collide again when Hannah's great aunt leaves her mansion to both of them. 

Reunited in Eclipse Bay, both learn that the feelings they had for each other years earlier have not gone away. That doesn't mean that they don't have arguments about the fate of their inheritance. Both want to open an inn, and Rafe wants to add on a restaurant, but they don't want to work with each other.  And that long ago death is still haunting them especially since the victim's brother is sure that Rafe caused his sister's death. 

They decide to look into her death together to see if they can learn what really happened eight years earlier and begin to uncover a number of secrets that someone wants to remain buried. 

This was an engaging romance with a bit of suspense. I liked the way each of the main characters was developed. The banter between them was also entertaining. 

I bought this one December 3, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

The Escape Game
Author: Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss
Publication: G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (April 7, 2026)

Description: It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master; and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of all: who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

My Thoughts: This YA mystery tells the story of four teens who are chosen to take part in season five of The Escape Game where they need to pit their skills against other teams who are trying to solve the puzzles and escape first. 

Season four ended in tragedy when Sierra Angelos found her sister's body in a prop coffin at the finale. Since Sierra had been arguing with Alicia earlier, she's the prime suspect but there isn't evidence to arrest her. She's back to try to solve what she is certain was her sister's murder.

Beck has joined the cast. He's trans and has the goal of becoming a game master himself. He's created many escape rooms on his own. Carter has also joined the cast. She's a math wizard and an influencer who is big in her persona as Kick It Carter on the online community built around the show. In person, she's looking for friends who are like her and lacks the confidence of her online person. 

Finally, there is Adi. Adi has a broad base of knowledge and is a cryptographer. He's also the son of a has-been actress who is more than willing to use him to force her way back into show business. He'd like to know more about his absentee father who is one of the show's backers. 

As the four try to learn to be a team and solve the puzzles of the various escape rooms, they are also dealing with other clues that someone who calls themself the Real Game Master is leaving inside the puzzles that will guide them to Alicia's killer. 

The story is filled with intriguing puzzles, suspicious characters, and dangers for our heroes. This is the first book in a series. Sierra's mystery is solved giving her resolution. The other three main characters still have dangling threads left to unravel. 

I enjoyed this story where smart kids were looking for, and finding, their people and learning more about themselves along the way. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 30, 2026)

 It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

My, the year is going by fast! It is hard to believe that it is the end of March and Easter is next Sunday. We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground, and our temperatures are doing the roller coaster thing. After a high of 60 on Wednesday, we had a high of 25 on Friday. Saturday, we hit a high of 48. Right now (Noon on Sunday), the temperature is 34. This coming week looks like highs should be in the 30s. I'm eager for Spring to finally show up in my part of Minnesota but the forecast says snow again on Thursday.

Luckily, I have baseball to watch and books to read and listen to. I would really like to finish my April review copies before April 1. This would have worked better if I had known that one book on my stack had switched its release date from April 21 to May 5. Oh well! At least I have a start on my May releases and only two more Aprils to read by Thursday. 

This week was my annual wellness visit which went well. A couple more follow-up tests were scheduled but I don't have anything medical on the calendar for a couple of weeks. I did get my tenth Covid booster while I was at my doctor's office. This is the first one where I had any arm soreness, but it went away by the next day. I feel lucky that I have managed to never contract Covid and want to continue my streak. 

Baseball has been going well so far. My Braves are 2-0 even though last night's game was a nailbiter until the ninth inning when a Grand Slam saved the day. 

This week my reading calendar is filled with books from my own stack. I have a bunch of titles by Lisa Gardner from two of her series to read. I also have audiobooks from purchases made in December 2025 that I want to listen to. The audiobooks are by a favorite author. I know I read the print books years ago, but the audiobooks are new to me. I'll also be finishing a fantasy trilogy by Brigid Kemmerer. 

Read Last Week

• Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn (Review, April 14) -- 16th Chet and Bernie mystery told from Chet's viewpoint. He's a failed police K-9 with a unique viewpoint. My review will be posted on April 8.
• Thankless in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)
• The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown (Review, April 14) -- Dual timeline mystery from the viewpoint of Elizabeth Barton, the Holy Maid of Kent, and the modern medieval scholar who found a copy of Elizabeth's book which had been presumed destroyed in the time of Henry VIII. My review will be posted on April 7.

• Naked Came the Phoenix edited by Marcia Talley (Kindle, Mine since April 15, 2025) -- Serial mystery written by some female stars of the mystery-writing genre. My review will be posted on April 10.
• Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread) 
• Fire Must Burn by Allison Montclair (Kindle, Mine since January 16, 2026) -- 8th Sparks and Bainbridge historical mystery. My review will be posted on April 9.

• Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (Review, April 21) -- Excellent historical fantasy set in England just after World War I. My review will be posted on April 14.
• Festive in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread)
• Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman (Review, May 5) -- Contemporary mystery set in southern Minnesota about searching for a missing uncle. My review will be posted on April 15.

Currently

• Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer (Audiobook, Mine since February 18, 2026)
• How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin (Review, April 28)

Next Week

• Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner (Kindle, Mine since July 8, 2025)
• Love You More by Lisa Gardner (Kindle, Mine since March 2, 2026)
• Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook, Mine since December 3, 2025)

• Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Review, April 28)
• Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner (Kindle, Mine since October 1, 2025)
• Summer in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook, mine since December 3, 2025)

Reviews Posted

• Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts (Audiobook)
• Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews (Audiobook)
• The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst (Review copy)

• The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly (Review copy)
• Family Lies by Karen Rose (Review copy)
• Jules Cassidy, P.I. by Suzanne Brockmann (Mine)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (Review, July 7)
• Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (Review, October 13)

Bought:

What was your week like?