Contemporary – Page 4 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: The Mafia Nanny, Vol. 1

Title: The Mafia Nanny, Vol. 1
Author: SH00, Violet Matter, Rouusuu, Drawniels
Genre: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

For fans of romances with dashes of action and comedy, this hit WEBTOON comic with over 1.7 million subscribers follows Davina on her first assignment out of the Elite Nanny Academy: protect the young son of notorious mafia underboss, Gabriel Angelini.

Being an Elite Nanny is simple: protect the charge, obey the principle, and don’t get emotionally attached.

This is easier said than done when Davina’s first client is a dangerously compelling Venetian underboss who’s determined to get under her skin. What he wants from her, she can’t imagine, but Gabriel Angelini drags her back into the glittering world of organized crime she thought she’d left behind forever.

Davina might get answers about her past if she digs deep enough, but her challenges will be protecting Mikey from his father’s ambitions and keeping her heart from getting tangled up in their treacherous web.

This volume collects episodes 1–12 of the smash hit WEBTOON series The Mafia Nanny.

Review:

This graphic novel follows Davina, a nanny from the Elite Nanny Academy, on her first assignment to protect the son of a mafia boss. The young boy tried to outsmart her many times, so Davina had to keep on her toes. There were some hints to her backstory that led her to this kind of job, which I hope will be explored more in the next books.

The Mafia Nanny is a funny action graphic novel!

Thank you Wattpad Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent (off page) kidnapping, knife violence

Have you read The Mafia Nanny, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: A Corpse and a Cat (Cass Peake #4)

Title: A Corpse and a Cat (Cass Peake #4)
Author: Rena Leith
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 28, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What’s a ghost to do when she needs a little excitement? In Doris’ case, she hitches a ride inside her human roommate’s big black cat Thor. But she didn’t intend to find a dead body.

With her smarmy ex-husband in town trying to cozy up to her, romance with a local cop cooling, and a St. Patrick’s Day party to plan, Cass Peake already has her hands full.

But the loss of her most lucrative client yet and the near-loss of her ghost pal forces Cass to consider a shocking idea. Is there a killer among the DNA relatives vying for a lucrative conservatorship? And did she really see someone load a body-sized canvas bag into a car?

Review:

This book is an entertaining cozy mystery! Cass lives in a house with a ghost named Doris, who likes to inhabit Cass’s cat Thor so that she can leave the house. This is the fourth book in the series so it took a few pages to figure out what was going on with Doris. This book could be read as a stand-alone. Though this was a murder mystery with a lot of characters and suspects, it was quite funny at times.

A Corpse and a Cat is a fun cozy mystery!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, asthma attack, murder

Have you read A Corpse and a Cat? What did you think of it?

Review: No Good Deed

Title: No Good Deed
Author: C.D. Bennett
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: June 26, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

No Good Deed…goes unpunished.

Kiya James’ relocation to idyllic Riverton Colorado is disrupted when she discovers a critically wounded man lying in a field near her home. Little did she know that her selfless act to save the man’s life would thrust her into a world of corruption, greed, and danger. As the only witness to the initial attack, and shaken by an attempt on her own life, Kiya is offered refuge with the victim’s family. Together, they struggle to uncover the circumstances that would trigger an unknown assailant to unleash a string of deadly attacks in an otherwise quiet rural ranching community.
Jake McCleary’s world could have been destroyed with a single bullet if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of a stranger. Now, in a desperate attempt to protect her, and his entire family, Jake must fight to defend his home, livelihood, and the woman who is rapidly capturing his heart, against the vicious actions of a criminal that will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants. But will they find the answers they need in time, or will they lose everything to the conceit of a madman? And will the bond between his wounded brother and the woman that saved him prove to be too big of an obstacle for Jake to overcome in the pursuit for Kiya’s love?

Review:

This book was suspenseful and exciting. I loved how close the McCleary siblings were. They all worked together to run their ranch, and to solve the mystery of who shot Dylan. There were quite a few heart pounding twists that kept me wondering what would happen next. The ending was sweet and heartwarming!

No Good Deed is an exciting thriller!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: gun violence, knife violence, hospital scenes, blood, kidnapping, car accident

Have you read No Good Deed? What did you think of it?

Review: The Mystery at Love’s Manor

Title: The Mystery at Love’s Manor
Author: D.W. Thompson
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: December 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Emma Love never thought she’d return to her hometown after years away from her estranged family. But when her sister-in-law is kidnapped, Emma puts her life on hold to help an old flame, Deputy Sam Mattingley, solve the case and bring Gwen home. With a degree in Criminal Justice and part-time experience working at a detective agency, Emma’s skills are tested.
As the layers of secrecy are peeled back, Emma realizes the mystery shrouding Love’s Manor and her brother’s marriage is more intricate than anyone could have fathomed. Can she navigate the convoluted trail of clues and locate Gwen before it’s too late? And what of her long-suppressed feelings for Sam Mattingley…are they merely a product of nostalgia…or something more?

Review:

This story was a thrilling mystery, with lots of twists that kept me guessing. The characters were well developed, with enough backstory to understand their dynamics and relationships. I thought I had the story figured out, and I was close, but I was surprised at the reveal at the end. This was a great story!

Mystery at Love’s Manor is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: kidnapping, death, death of parents, drowning, car accident (off page), hospital scenes, adultery (off page)

Have you read The Mystery at Love’s Manor? What did you think of it?

Review: The Unexpected Heiress

Title: The Unexpected Heiress
Author: George Mallory
Genre: Contemporary, Adult Fiction
Publisher: GM Publications
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

She inherited a legacy of ambition, betrayal, longing and secrets.

In the shadow of Poisson Gold, a multi-billion-dollar gold mine conglomerate, a family’s legacy unravels in a compelling tale that dives deep into the human psyche.

At the helm of this empire stands the enigmatic Abe Silver, a concentration camp survivor whose past holds secrets as complex as his fortune. With his health failing, Abe’s last-minute will alters the course of history, leaving his daughter Ellie, a newly minted lawyer, to navigate a treacherous path to control the colossal riches.

As grieving Ellie grapples with the immense responsibility thrust upon her, she must confront not only the malignant opposition of her own family and the rigid glass ceiling, but also her deeply buried secret – her sexuality. Set against the backdrop of 2010, a time when LGBTQ+ acceptance was scarce, Ellie’s struggle to reconcile her personal truth with her public facade adds an extra layer of complexity to this riveting narrative.

Review:

This book is a suspenseful family drama about a wealthy mining family in Australia. There were some serious and intense scenes involving medical diagnoses and assaults. This tragic family saga proves that money can’t buy happiness, but it had an uplifting ending. If you like family dramas, this is the book for you!

The Unexpected Heiress is a tragic and intense family drama.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death of parent, death of grandparent, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, assault, hospital scenes

Have you read The Unexpected Heiress? What did you think of it?

Review: Janie’s Hope (Southport #3)

Title: Janie’s Hope (Southport #3)
Author: S.R. Fabrico
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: SRF Creations
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Award-Winning author of The Secrets We Conceal, Call Her Janie, and Keeping Janie.

Janie’s Hope is a powerful and heartwarming conclusion to the Southport Series, set in a charming small town where secrets run deep, and love can heal the deepest wounds. Janie, a strong neurodivergent heroine raised by a reclusive billionaire, is finally ready to step beyond her sheltered world and uncover the truths of her past. Following whispers of her late mother, she journeys to Southport, where her father’s warnings of hidden dangers only strengthen her resolve.

Her existence has been shaped by stories of her mother, Lizzie Levine, and the fleeting moments they shared in Southport. Eager to uncover her past, Janie is determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, even as her father’s warnings of danger loom large.

Enter Noah, the sweet and adorkable cinnamon roll with hidden abs and quiet confidence, who falls for Janie almost immediately, captivated by her fiery spirit. But hidden truths linger in the shadows, including Janie’s secret identity, complicating their growing connection.

In this emotional journey of self-discovery and love, Janie’s Hope will sweep you away into a world where second chances and found family collide, proving that sometimes, the strongest bonds are forged in the most unexpected ways.

Janie’s Hope will sweep you into an emotional journey of self-discovery, romance, and the unexpected strength of a found family. S.R. Fabrico’s storytelling captivates with suspense, passion, and unforgettable moments, making this finale a must-read for fans of heartfelt romance and compelling mysteries.

Review:

This book is the finale to the Southport series. I haven’t read the first two books, but this one can be read as a stand-alone. However, there were some complicated relationships that happened in the first two books, so it might be helpful to read them first. This was a thrilling read. It was fast paced and difficult to put down. Everything came together very well in the end so I think it’s a great ending for a series!

Janie’s Hope is a great thriller!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, parental death (off page), kidnapping (off page), gun violence, cancer

Other books in the series:

Call Her Janie (Southport #1)
Keeping Janie (Southport #2)

Have you read Janie’s Hope? What did you think of it?

Review: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (Inbound #1)

Title: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (Inkbound #1)
Author: Philippa Leathley
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Frenzy Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate and finding the courage to be truly yourself – perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The Swifts.

On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones–known to her friends as Metty–receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove.

Metty’s fate is to become a murderer.

Metty is swiftly hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, with only a miserable housekeeper (who’s terrified she’ll become Metty’s first victim) for company. But when Moral goes missing, his sister, Aunt Magnificent, arrives to sweep Metty off to the glittering city of New London. Metty is mesmerized by the magic and enchantment she discovers there. But when she starts to hear rumors of a mysterious and dangerous organization known as the Black Moths, she wonders if they might be connected to her father’s disappearance–and to her own fate. . . .

Review:

This was such a fun fantasy story! There was a distinct magical world, but it was similar and alongside our real world. I loved that kids found out what their “fate” or magic was through a tattoo on their hand. There were some exciting twists that I didn’t see coming. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book!

Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Frenzy Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo? What did you think of it?

Review: (S)Kin

Title: (S)Kin
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Poetry, Contemporary
Publisher: Versify
Source: BookSparks
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her groundbreaking contemporary fantasy debut—a novel in verse based on Caribbean folklore—about the power of inherited magic and the price we must pay to live the life we yearn for.

Fifteen-year-old Marisol is the daughter of a soucouyant. Every new moon, she sheds her skin like the many women before her, shifting into a fireball witch who must fly into the night and slowly sip from the lives of others to sustain her own. But Brooklyn is no place for fireball witches with all its bright lights, shut windows, and bolt-locked doors.… While Marisol hoped they would leave their old traditions behind when they emigrated from the islands, she knows this will never happen while she remains ensnared by the one person who keeps her chained to her magical past—her mother.

Seventeen-year-old Genevieve is the daughter of a college professor and a newly minted older half sister of twins. Her worsening skin condition and the babies’ constant wailing keep her up at night, when she stares at the dark sky with a deep longing to inhale it all. She hopes to quench the hunger that gnaws at her, one that seems to reach for some memory of her estranged mother. When a new nanny arrives to help with the twins, a family secret connecting her to Marisol is revealed, and Gen begins to find answers to questions she hasn’t even thought to ask.

But the girls soon discover that the very skin keeping their flames locked beneath the surface may be more explosive to the relationships around them than any ancient magic.

Review:

This is a beautiful novel in verse. It follows two girls: Marisol and Genevieve. They were connected through their shared power, where on every new moon, they shed their skin and fly like a comet with the ability to hurt someone who has harmed them. I read most of this book in one sitting. It was fast paced and so hard to put down. It addressed racism, bullying, and slavery in an intense and engaging plot.

(S)Kin is a beautiful story!

Thank you BookSparks for providing a copy of this book as part of the Winter Reading Challenge.

Content warnings: bullying, racism

Have you read (S)Kin? What did you think of it?

Review: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot

Title: Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot
Author: Isaac Rudansky
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where fiction is forbidden and truth is a matter of life and death, one young boy must write a story to save humanity . . .

When his father is abducted by a mysterious figure, twelve-year-old Georgie Summers is thrown into the adventure of a lifetime. Georgie’s journey takes him to Scatterplot, a hidden realm where Scribes record human memories to safeguard the truth. But when the evil Flint Eldritch threatens to corrupt those memories and plunge the world into chaos, Georgie must team up with an unlikely group of friends to stop him. As the journey grows increasingly dangerous, Georgie realizes that only he holds the key to defeating Eldritch and saving not just his father . . . but every mind on Earth.

Will Georgie be able to wield the power of the Aetherquill to save his father and protect everyone he loves, or will Eldritch rewrite history itself? In Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot, author Isaac Rudansky spins an exhilarating tale of strength, determination, and the power of friendship to lift you from the depths of loneliness and despair.

Review:

This book is a great middle grade fantasy! The world of the scribes and Scatterplot had magic that centered around reading and writing. I think kids who love reading will love this world. The ending was really shocking, so I hope there will be a sequel to clear things up!

There’s a special Crack the Code Challenge, where readers are invited to figure out the secret code hidden within the book. When readers find the clue to decipher the alphabet chart in the front of the book, they can crack the code and send in the message for a chance to win weekly prizes! This challenge is only available on the limited first print run of hardcovers.

Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot is a fun and fast-paced middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Isaac Rudansky and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death of parent, missing parent, memory loss, fire, violence

Have you read Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot? What did you think of it?

Review: The Reunion

Title: The Reunion
Author: Beth Reekles
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: W by Wattpad Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten years after graduating, the class of 2014 are back at Tisdale Comprehensive for the reunion, packed into a school gym full of familiar faces – and plenty of new secrets.MOST LIKELY TO END UP TOGETHER – Shaun and Steph were each other’s first love. Now, they’re settled and planning the perfect wedding – to other people. Could reconnecting spark a new romance?MOST LIKELY TO BECOME FAMOUS – Bryony was supposed to travel the world, rule the West End, have a dazzling career as a TV actress… Now, she’s a drama teacher who’s exaggerated her whole life on Instagram, and is desperate to save face.MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED – Hayden was told he’d achieve great things, like be on the cover of TIME, win a Nobel prize… or, the accolade his daughters just awarded World’s Best Dad. Is it too late for him to turn things around, and more importantly, does he even want to?MOST LIKELY TO KILL EACH OTHER – Ashleigh was an A* student, and Ryan the star of the school rugby team. After years of putting each other down, they left school each convinced they would have the better life. Now, that old rivalry finds them drawn back together in a new, intoxicating way – one they’re both determined to hide.With an evening of power cuts, fire alarms, sneaking off to explore classrooms in the dark, stolen kisses and heated fights – it’s like they never left at all.

Review:

This story follows 6 friends at their 10 year high school reunion. They were each voted as a “Most Likely To…” at the end of high school, but none of them fit the person who they have become. It’s hard to believe in the moment during high school that we won’t be the same person 10 years later. We think we’ll be that same teenager once we’re an adult, but we change a lot. There were some funny and unexpected moments in this story that made it a fun read!

The Reunion is a great story!

Thank you Wattpad Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Reunion? What did you think of it?