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It’s a new month, which means I read some new books! My goal for 2026 is 36 books in a year, and so far, I’ve read 10! There are some of my typical romance reads, but there are also some unexpected thriller reads! If you’re curious to know what I read, a summary, and my honest opinion, this post is for you. I’ll also share my top pick of the month and what’s TBR for March!

Book List Overview (with links to purchase)

📖 It’s Not Her – Mary Kubica

  • Genre: Psychological Thriller
  • Why did I read this? It was one of the BOTM options that sounded pretty interesting, and since I had luck with Anatomy of an Alibi last month, I decided to try it out.
  • Synopsis: Courtney’s family vacation is ruined when she wakes up to find her brother and her sister-in-law murdered, her niece Reese missing, and hew nephew Wyatt asleep through it all. Who killed them? Where is Reese? And who can be trusted in this small Wisconsin town when everyone seems like a suspect…?
  • Tropes/themes: Small-town mystery, missing person/kidnapping, multiple POV, dual timelines, plot twist, everyone’s a suspect
  • My Thoughts: I could not put this book down! I was so invested in this mystery, and just when I thought I’d figured out who the murderer was, I started to suspect someone else. This book was a 5-star read to me…until I found out who the murderer was and their motive. This completely ruined the book for me, and honestly, made me mad I even read it. As soon as I finished, I put it in a box to take to the Salvation Army. Oh! There is one more surprise plot twist at the very end, but at that point, I didn’t even really care anymore.
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Maybe…the plot was great, I just didn’t like the ending. You may enjoy it though!

📖 Two Weeks to Love – Kay Shanee

  • Genre: Romance Novella
  • Why did I read this? It popped up as I was scrolling through my Kindle homepage, and it looked both short and interesting. At this point, I wanted to read a short, cute, Black romance for Valentine’s Day.
  • Synopsis: After relationship therapist Eva’s long-term relationship ends, she needs a break and a vacation! And her sister’s vacation home in the Dominican Republic is the perfect place! What she does not expect is for her brother-in-law’s best friend Solomon to be staying at the house as well. He’s an ex-NFL player, recently divorced, and undeniably attentive and attractive. With this set up, a lot can happen in two weeks.
  • Tropes/themes: Short story, Black romance, fast burn, dual POV, billionaire romance, SPICY!, book boyfriend material
  • My Thoughts: Although this love story was short, it was very well written and extremely sweet! After finishing it, I wanted a Solomon of my own! He was attentive, caring, loving, and doting, and he knew exactly what he wanted! Both of the characters were lovable and had interesting back stories, and this book was the perfect read to cure my romance sweet tooth.
  • Favorite Quote: “He looks at me as if I’m the only woman in the world. He talks to me as if he’s speaking to my soul. He listens to me as if my voice is feeding his spirit.”
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes! It’s such a cute, sweet love story that’ll have you daydreaming for days!

📖 Heat of the Moment – BriAnn Danae

  • Genre: Romance Novella
  • Why did I read this? It was Valentine’s Day, and I wanted another short, cute romance reads. I read another book by BriAnn Danae around Thanksgiving, so I knew her writing was exactly what I needed!
  • Synopsis: Sovanna is leaving the city and returning to her hometown for work, so her girls challenge her to a fun night out and truth or dare. When she is dared to have a one-night stand, she quickly picks Zahir out of the crowd. He is giving confident, grown, and sexy, and he doesn’t back down from the challenge. But when they find out their lives and families are more connected than they both realized, Zahir instantly wants more. Will Sovanna accept her fate with Zahir, or will her past and career goals make her run?
  • Tropes/themes: Short story, Black romance, SPICY!, he falls first
  • My Thoughts: This story was so spicy, but also very romantic and cute. Zahir was definitely the “if I want you, I’m coming to get you” type, and I was HERE FOR IT! My only complaint is that I wish it was longer. Because it was a short story, their love story was cut a little short, but it was still a great read!
  • Favorite Quote: “If a man wants you, he is going to come get you or send for you.”
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes! If you like cute, spicy, Black romance, you’ll love this one!

📖 Her First Mistake – Kendra Elliot

  • Genre: Romantic Suspense
  • Why did I read this? I was scrolling through Kindle, and it popped up as a free download!
  • Synopsis: Thirteen years ago, Noelle’s husband was murdered in their home, and she was left barely alive. The FBI never solved the case, and it went cold. All this time later, Noelle is an agent on the force, and the case is reopened. When new secrets emerge and dangerous things that to happen to Noelle and her family, it’s up to her to solve her own mystery and finally found out who killed her husband.
  • Tropes/themes: Everyone’s a suspect, plot twist, abduction/hostage, memory loss, romance, multiple timelines
  • My Thoughts: This book had so many twists and turns, that at one point, I felt like making a flow chart to find the suspect! I stayed up until midnight to read this book in 6 hours straight because I could not put it down, and this time, the ending did not disappoint! This is my first impression of Kendra Elliot, and I am thoroughly impressed!
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Yes! I loved solving this case as I read! The final plot twist was so unexpected!

📖 The Last Sister – Kendra Elliot

  • Genre: Romantic Suspense
  • Why did I read this? I enjoyed my last read by Kendra Elliot, and this one also sounded interesting!
  • Synopsis: Twenty years ago, Emily found her father’s body hanging in their backyard and her family’s house on fire. This tragedy tore her entire family apart. Now, she comes across a similar crime, bringing the FBI to her small Oregon town. When more blood is shed, it becomes a twisted, connected case, relating to small-town secrets that cover generations.
  • Tropes/themes: Everyone’s a suspect, small-town mystery, flashbacks, hate crime, lynching/racism TW, suicide TW
  • My Thoughts: Again, this was a book that I could not put down! I love the way Kendra Elliot captures the perspectives of so many characters, and I really felt like was living in this small town. I suspected so many people as I read, but in the end, the reveal was not as climactic as I would have liked.
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
  • Would I recommend it? Maybe…there are some heavy topics like the KKK, lynching, hate crimes, and suicide, but if you aren’t triggered by those, I recommend!

My Top Pick This Month Is…

Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot! I could not put this book down, and I still think about the plot and ending weeks later! For the second month in a row, a Thriller has taken the top spot. Will I go back to Romance in March? We shall see!

What’s TBR for March?

  • The First Death by Kendra Elliot
  • Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
  • What She Saw by Mary Burton
  • Take a Shot on Me by Leigh Carron

That concludes February’s reading wrap-up! What did you read this month? What are you looking forward to reading in March? Let me know, and don’t forget to share this post with any book lovers you know!

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