Not The Best Reading Month // March Wrap-Up
It wasn’t the best reading month this past March. Work and life has been busy, still tweaking the new layout. And I felt a little burn out from last months readathons.
Getting into the reviews…
Across The Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Small Town Romance and Found Family
Pages: 384
Spice: Moderate
Format: Paperback
Book Synopsis:
“Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove, the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth. She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.
Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend, silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.
The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.
Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark.”
Spoiler Free Review
I absolutely loved Across the Vanishing Sky and I can’t believe this was my first Catherine Cowles book, because she is now officially an autobuy author for me.
This story is the perfect mix of crime, small town romance, and found family. The kind that pulls you in straight away and doesn’t let go. I was instantly invested in Braedyn and her search for answers about her missing best friend, which adds such an emotional depth and quiet tension throughout.
When Brae arrives with her son, she never expects to cross paths with the Archer brothers, especially Dex. I loved how their relationship develops alongside the mystery, and the dual POV worked so well in making you feel connected to both characters.
What really stood out to me is how this sets up the wider series. Even though this is Brae and Dex’s story, we get to know the Archer family in a way that feels natural and not overwhelming. It builds so much anticipation for the rest of the books.
And the found family element? One of my favourite parts. It added so much warmth and heart to balance the suspense. Such an addictive, and at times, emotional read. I already can’t wait to continue the series. 5 Stars.
Spoiler Review
Click here to read
• The reveal of the kidnapper/killer wasn’t hugely surprising. I could definitely feel the setup and how the narrative was subtly steering you to suspect someone else. That said, it was still such a satisfying reveal, especially seeing it unfold from the character’s POV.
• The spice in this was so well done. I really appreciated that it wasn’t overdone just for the sake of it. Every scene felt connected to the relationship.
• I absolutely loved Owen. He is such a little firecracker and brought so much personality and light into the story. He honestly stole so many scenes for me.
• Yeti as a remains detection dog was such an interesting element. I liked how it was explained, enough detail to feel real and add depth to the story, but not so much that it became overwhelming. It just blended really naturally into the plot.
Darling Daffodils Farm by Brittanee Nicole
Genre: Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Forced Proximity and Found Family
Pages: 402
Spice: High level spice
Format: Paperback
Book Synopsis:
“When aspiring pastry chef, Tally Darling, returns home to her family’s daffodil farm, the last thing she expects to find is a hot – half-naked – farmhand living in her childhood bedroom and running her late daddy’s business.
Jesse Walker might be gorgeous but he’s also infuriatingly grumpy. Walker has no time for Tally and the feeling is mutual.
That is, until Tally hears him moan over one of her signature caramel honey cupcakes. And then discovers how good it tastes when they kiss.
As dewy April days turn into warm May evenings, Walker and Tally soon realise that there is a thin line between love and hate. But will their budding connection grow into something that lasts beyond one season?”
Spoiler Free Review
If you’ve been loving the rise of small-town romance series like Dream Harbor, then Darling Daffodils Farm is definitely one to pick up. These kinds of books have become such a comfort read for me. Familiar settings, cosy vibes, and tropes you know you’re going to enjoy.
In this story, we follow Tally, who returns to her hometown to help during the farm’s busiest season after losing her father. She’s not expecting to come face to face with Walker, the new boss running things. He’s very much grumpy to her sunshine, and yes… a cowboy who hates being called a cowboy (IYKYK).
Walker is determined to turn things around as the farm is struggling, while Tally just wants to help. But miscommunication between them leads to some chaotic and frustrating moments. Watching them eventually get on the same page and work together was really satisfying.
Alongside the romance, I loved Tally’s personal journey with her career and whether the life she thought she wanted is actually right for her. It added an extra layer to the story that made it feel more grounded.
The dialogue was such a standout for me. Even when miscommunication came into play, it felt purposeful and well-executed, and the banter between Tally and Walker made their dynamic really fun to read.
This first book also sets up the wider series so well, introducing characters you just know are going to have their own stories later on. 4 Stars.
Spoiler Review
Click here to read
• The spice from Walker… oh my gosh. That man 😮🔥 It was so well done and really added to their chemistry without taking over the story.
• That bloody tarp!! I was genuinely so frustrated reading this. Tally just wanted to help, and Walker not properly communicating why the tarp was still covering the bulbs drove me mad. It was such a clear turning point in the book, but I had serious second-hand hurt for Tally in that moment.
• I loved the Liberty Ladies and the town group chat. It added such a fun, cosy layer to the story. And Barb? Absolutely iconic. She is completely my kind of person. I would 100% visit her salon just for the gossip.
• Which leads to the book club… a group of women reading smutty books together? Honestly brilliant. Those scenes were so fun and added a nice bit of humour to balance everything else
• Penny was introduced so well, especially knowing the next book will be her story. She already feels like such a strong character, independent, a little guarded, and definitely someone I’m curious to learn more about.
How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Genre: Crime / Mystery
Tropes: Cold Case, Amatuer Sleuths and Small Town Secrets
Pages: 416
Spice: None
Format: Hardback & Audio (dual read)
Book Synopsis:
“FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE’D BE MURDERED. SHE WAS RIGHT.
In 1965, Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that one day she’d be murdered. Frances spent the next sixty years trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. Of course, no one took her seriously, until she was dead.
For Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She’d spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder.
When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances’ worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt’s last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances’ will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her millions.
Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?”
Spoiler Free Review
This was a re-read for me as a Pokethon gym prompt. Here is the spoiler free review I have posted before, as I feel the same:
This is a classic “whodunit” murder mystery, but one that has been going on for decades. A premise I have come across before, but never with such an amount of detail coming from the murder victim.
Kristen Perrin writes so well. So cleverly. There were a couple of chapters in particular that made me doubt who I thought had done it. Even though I was right!
I enjoyed how she explained Annie’s thought process as she gathered evidence or looked at what Frances had gathered. Was it a little predictable at times? Yes, but in that lovely, cosy way where there is an answer for each puzzle piece. I liked the personality diversity amongst the characters and thought the English countryside setting was perfect. 5 Stars.
Spoiler Review
Click here to read
• I was genuinely shocked by the reveal. I had my suspicions around his mum at points, but him? That completely caught me off guard. Looking back though, the link was always there, it’s just that the clues were so layered and spread out that they never fully pointed in one direction. It made the payoff feel really satisfying.
• Frances’ upbringing was actually quite difficult in a way that isn’t always obvious. Not physically or emotionally in the typical sense, but growing up with that looming fortune and trying to figure out who she was because of it… that was hard to read at times. I really felt for her, especially navigating those teenage to young adult years in such a small town with such a limited and complicated friendship circle.
• The stalker aspect of Frances’ story was genuinely creepy but also really interesting. That idea of someone trying to shape and guide your life to fit their narrative, while you’re just trying to create your own, added such an unsettling layer to the story.
• I also loved how everything tied back into control vs fate. Frances spends so much of her life reacting to what she’s been told will happen, while someone else is actively trying to make things happen. That contrast really stuck with me by the end.
March’s Reading Stats
As always, putting everything into TheStoryGraph App, I found…
I read 3 books.
A total of 1,164 pages.
100% of the books read were fiction.
Genre-wise we have romance, contemporary and mystery. Getting into my romance feels this past March.
My average rating for the month was 4.67. Higher than February’s rating. Love seeing an increase each month.
It says 100% were read in print which they were, but I did dual read How To Solve Your Own Murder with the audio book.
March’s Book Haul
Keeping my rules in mind, I hauled…
- The Family Friend by Claire DOuglas (Pre-order)
- Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
- The Witch and The Wolf by Lindsey Kelk (Pre-order)
- Across The Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles
- And Now, Back To You by B.K. Borison (Pre-order and special edition copy)
- The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (Pre-order)
- In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
4 books purchased outside the rules, and I broke the rules a little. Mainly as I picked up the special edition of And Now, Back To You. So, does it count?
And that was my March reading wrap-up. How much did you read and/or haul in March?
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As always, thanks for reading…
