Jill's Book Blog

Review: Goodnight Canada

Title: Goodnight Canada
Author: Liana LaRocca
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board Book
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Say goodnight to Canada! Goodnight Canada is a charming board book that takes little readers on a cozy, cross-country journey from coast to coast. With gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this bedtime favorite introduces a fascinating fact about each province and territory–perfect for sparking curiosity while winding down for the night.Written and illustrated by a talented Canadian artist based in Ontario, this keepsake beautifully celebrates the beauty, culture, and spirit of Canada. From the rugged Rockies to the sparkling Atlantic, every page offers a loving “goodnight” to a different part of the Great White North.

Review:

This board book takes the reader across Canada to say goodnight to all the provinces and territories. The illustrations show an iconic location from that province or territory, such as a lighthouse in Prince Edward Island and an inukshuk in Nunavut. This book would make the perfect bedtime story!

Goodnight Canada is a beautiful board book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Goodnight Canada? What did you think of it?

Review: I Love Canada

Title: I Love Canada
Author: Liana La Rocca
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board Book
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

I Love Canada from the beloved Taffy Tales Love You Forever board book series is a joyful celebration of everything that makes Canada special–perfect for little hands and big hearts. This beautifully illustrated board book helps children learn their ABCs by spotting C’s and A’s on hockey jerseys, and practice counting with hockey pucks and lacrosse balls. Along the way, readers discover Canada’s breathtaking nature, kind and courteous people, and a culture that embraces differences with warmth and pride.Whether you live here, are visiting, or have just made Canada your home, I Love Canada is for everyone–just like Canada itself. With its playful learning moments and heartfelt message, this book is an ideal keepsake for families who want to share their love for the True North with the next generation.There’s no better time for this book than now, when Canadians everywhere are feeling an extra spark of pride in their country. Come join the celebration–because who wouldn’t want to say I love Canada?

Review:

This is a beautiful patriotic board book about Canada. It talks about the different animals that can be found from coast to coast throughout the country. The pictures are beautiful, and show the different landscapes of Canada.

I Love Canada is a board book that should be on every Canadian bookshelf!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read I Love Canada? What did you think of it?

Review: The Artificial Conspiracy

Title: The Artificial Conspiracy
Author: Jesse Muehlbauer
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Allaire Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

New Year’s Eve in Times Square—an elusive secret society starts the countdown clock on humanity.

365 days until the end of time…

The chilling prediction haunts Mirai McGarry, a young woman who dreams of being a renowned artist even as multiple sclerosis begins to ravage her health.

In the midst of the chaos, a powerful doomsday cult emerges as a safe haven for the masses. Their allure is undeniable, unnatural, and for Mirai, devastatingly personal. Her efforts to thwart them are futile until a mysterious messenger provides the first insights into a dark conspiracy.

When Mirai opens the eyes of a handsome cult member, inspiring him to break free, he joins her odyssey to seek out the one man prophesied to end the madness. With the world around her—and her own body—beginning to crumble, Mirai must confront the mastermind of a nightmare before the countdown is complete.

The Artificial Conspiracy is a philosophical thriller that explores a wide panorama of human nature and challenges the assumptions of our oldest why do we suffer?

Review:

This book is a thrilling dystopian. There were so many twists throughout the story that kept me guessing until the end. The story began with multiple subplots but they were intricately woven to be connected to the main plot. I highly recommend this thriller!

The Artificial Conspiracy is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com and Jesse Muehlbauer for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: cult, death, kidnapping, poisoning, multiple sclerosis, suicide

Have you read The Artificial Conspiracy? What did you think of it?

Review: Freaking Romance, Vol. 1

Title: Freaking Romance, Vol. 1
Author: Snailords
Genre: Graphic Novel, Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every relationship has its bumps. For this couple, it’s interstellar.

From the creator of Snailogy and Rescheduled comes a sexy supernatural story about being out on your own, finding your dream apartment and discovering that your new place is haunted by a handsome spectral stranger from another dimension. Sure, he can’t see you and you can’t touch him, but who said every relationship starts out perfectly?

Freaking Romance is for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me , This One Summer and Bloom .

This volume collects episodes 1–21 of the supernatural hit WEBTOON comic.

Review:

This is such a fun and original supernatural graphic novel! Zylith moved into a haunted apartment, but it turns out the “ghost” is actually pop star Zelan. They both live in the same apartment but in different worlds, so they can’t physically touch each other without making the other vanish. They took turns playing hard to get by pretending they couldn’t see the other, which was funny. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!

Freaking Romance is a fun graphic novel!

Content warnings: depression, abuse, sick parent

Other books in the series:

Freaking Romance, Vol. 2
Freaking Romance, Vol. 3

Have you read Freaking Romance, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: The Bali Bucket List

Title: The Bali Bucket List
Author: Ava Wilde
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Independent
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 21, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

After HR’s favorite good girl, Jasmine, gets dumped three months before her wedding, she escapes solo to Bali with a bucket list of everything she’s been too scared to try.

Caught between three irresistible men and a hostel crew of beautiful disasters, she starts writing her way through heartbreak, lust, and self-destruction—one filthy blog post at a time.

When her anonymous sex blog goes viral and threatens to expose her, Jasmine has no choice but to confront the woman she’s become. Because sometimes, finding yourself is the only way to find the love you’ve been searching for.

Review:

This is a very spicy romance about discovering your true self. Jasmine travels to Bali after an unexpected break up with her fiancé of eight years. She decides to document her wild sexual experiences in an online blog. However, there are some consequences to her actions and her posts online. This was probably the spiciest book I’ve ever read. Check the content warnings before reading.

The Bali Bucket List is a spicy romance!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book for a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: break up, BDSM, polyamory

Have you read The Bali Bucket List? What did you think of it?

Review: A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast) (Fairy Tales From the Underworld #1)

Title: A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast) (Fairy Tales From the Underworld #1)
Author: L.C. Moon
Genre: Romance
Publisher: BookBaby
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 10, 2025
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A traumance. A tragedy. A love story.

Fairy tales weren’t always about finding true love with Prince Charming. Once upon a time, they were dark stories about innocence lost, seeking through veiled attempts to make sense of life’s unfathomable hardships. Unfit parents turned to evil stepmothers, kindly neighbors became fairy godmothers, while alluring but dangerous men were presented under the guise of the Big Bad Wolf. Through their trials, the heroes were forever changed. For better or worse.

It is a tale as old as time. Good girl meets bad boy; the pure faces the corrupt. Loosely inspired by classic tropes, Fairy Tales From the Underworld breathes new life into age-old motifs, casting them against the backdrop of modern times. Beasts and monsters no longer lurk in shadows but now inhabit our protagonists, who are plagued by the ceaseless whispers of their inner demons.

A Bedtime Story is not a romance, but a raw erotic tale chronicling the twisted love affair between two profoundly broken souls: the child of the moon and the child of the underworld. Their paths were never meant to cross… And yet, by a twist of fate, Beauty meets the Beast, plunging into a world of lies, deceit and debauchery, where her only salvation lies in the hands of her captor.

As Part I of the Fairy Tales From the Underworld saga, this first installment delves deeply into the psyche of its characters, offering a poignant exploration of the relentless pull between torment and passion in the aftermath of trauma.

(Please note, this book contains graphic sexual content and deals with heavy subject matter, suitable for readers 18+.)

Review:

This story is a dark romance. It loosely followed the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but it had dark themes such as abuse and human trafficking. Kayne, the “beast,” didn’t have redeeming qualities like the Beast does in the usual fairytale. The ending deviated from the traditional ending as well. There were quite a few dark scenes, so check the content warnings before reading.

A Bedtime Story is a dark twist on Beauty and the Beast.

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: child abuse, human trafficking, murder, gun violence, rape, drug use, overdose

Have you read A Bedtime Story (Beauty Meets the Beast)? What did you think of it?

Review: Doom Breaker, Vol. 1 (Doom Breaker #1)

Title: Doom Breaker, Vol. 1 (Doom Breaker #1)
Author: Blue-Deep
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Zephyr is the last human fighting evil in a world abandoned by the gods. After a five-year war against humans and demons, Zephyr is slain by Tartarus, the Demon Lord. In the aftermath, much of humankind was either slaughtered or captured as hosts for demons. When all seems lost, Zephyr is abruptly reincarnated, much to the sinister amusement of the gods, to save humanity and avenge those he loves.

With his newfound second life, Zephyr is flung ten years into the past without his physical strength, starting at square one as a temple slave. Marked with a brand keeping him in servitude, he must navigate his new reality and regain his former powers. Some gods are still rooting for Zephyr’s success and offer him perks as he continues his quest, leading to the ultimate battle against the god of destruction, Tartarus, once more. Can Zephyr finally have his revenge and save the woman he loves, or is he doomed to repeat the past?

This volume collects episodes 1–10 of the hit WEBTOON comic.

Review:

This graphic novel is a thrilling start to the series. Zephyr was sent ten years into his past, as amusement for the gods. He knows what will happen in his life but he has to alter his past to be able to beat the god Tartarus in the future. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: violence, death, sword violence

Other books in the series:

Doom Breaker, Vol. 2 (Doom Breaker #2)

Have you read Doom Breaker, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: One Piece, Omnibus, Vol. 1

Title: One Piece, Omnibus, Vol. 1
Author: Eiichiro Oda
Genre: Manga
Publisher: Viz Media
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: December 1, 2009
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Get Ready to Set Sail!

As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He’ll never be able to swim again–a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the “One Piece,” said to be the greatest treasure in the world…

The treasure trove of high seas adventures just got bigger with this collection of the first three volumes of One Piece!

Review:

I decided to try this manga to see what all the hype was about and it didn’t disappoint! It was a cute pirate story with many laugh out loud moments! I’m so glad I finally read it. Now I’m excited to watch the tv show adaptations!

Have you read One Piece, Omnibus, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Free to Be Me

Title: Free to Be Me
Author: J.D. Webb
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Tawnya Davitakov is ordered to either convince the KGB’s US money launderer to begin work again or eliminate him. In her nine-year career, no one has ever been nice to her. Not anyone in Russia, Europe, or the Middle East. In her first assignment in the US, everyone is nice.

Weary from her dangerous and stressful work, she decides to quit and become an American. It seems easy. Not so much.

She teams with an ex-fighter pilot to confront a Spetsnaz assault team, then travels to Russia one final time as an assassin.

Review:

This is an intense spy thriller. Tawnya is a former Russian spy who is on the run in the United States. She’s been through a lot in her career and personal life, and she has had to look out for herself. There were a lot of traumatic things that happened to Tawnya throughout her life so check the content warnings before reading!

Free to Be Me is a short and fast paced thriller!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: stalking, death of parents, death of child (mentions), stabbing, bombs, surgery, sterilization

Have you read Free to Be Me? What did you think of it?

Review: Divided Heart

Title: Divided Heart
Author: K.M. Daughters
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 30, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cassidy Finnegan, a widow, returns to her hometown Redbird, Illinois after inheriting a book store from her mother. Ty Martin, a celebrated gallery artist and a member of the fantastical Sisters of the Legend Binder family, has moved to a home a straight shot from Cassidy’s across Redbird Lake.
Cass meets Ty at his book signing at her store the same day that she is visited by the ghost of her dead husband, Sawyer, whom she met at Cozy Nook Books, too. It was love at first sight with Sawyer…and maybe with Ty.
When Sawyer visits Cassidy, their perfect love is rekindled. When she is with Ty, all she wants is the new love blossoming between them.
Ty learns he is the unwitting third in Cassidy’s spectral love-triangle. He has no problem competing with flesh and blood men. But the heaven-perfected spirit of her loving husband? Nothing in Ty’s realm of experience prepares him for that contest.
Cassie is forced to choose in order to mend her divided heart.

Review:

This is a cute cozy romance! I love books about bookstores. A lot of this book took place in Cassidy’s bookstore, where she met Ty. This book is part of a series but it can be read as a stand-alone. There was a supernatural twist at the end of the story which I wasn’t expecting, but it tied everything together.

Divided Heart is a short and sweet cozy romance!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this for a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: death of spouse, death of parent, cancer

Have you read Divided Heart? What did you think of it?