Book Review: The Pemberley Picnic by Melanie Rachel

Author: Melanie Rachel

Title: The Pemberley Picnic - A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Genre: Historical Romance, What If, Novella

Format: ebook

Pages: 160

Published: July 16, 2026

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Fitzwilliam Darcy never expected Elizabeth Bennet to come to Pemberley—least of all after the proposal she so decisively refused. Yet here she is, seeing him not in a ballroom or a drawing room, but on his own ground, where he might be able to prove to her that he has changed.

But he has only days before she returns home.

So he does something entirely unlike himself: Darcy announces a picnic. There is only one difficulty. He has not planned a picnic.

Still, he is certain everything will go well. It must.

But Darcy soon discovers that even the simplest picnic can go astray—especially when the wind, the weather, and Miss Bingley all seem determined to keep him from the guest he most wishes to please. As old misunderstandings soften and new feelings bloom, Elizabeth and Darcy must decide whether pride, prejudice, and past mistakes can give way to something far sweeter.

Review:

I'm in a JA mood, I guess! 

Here we have a P&P variation. Darcy never expected to see Elizabeth again after she declined his proposal. Well...here she is....in his home.....this is his chance to show her he has changed. He decides that there will be a picnic on the grounds! What could go wrong? Everything. 

I'm going to be chill again and divide and conquer this review. It's been a long week. 

The Good

- LOVE a P&P and Austen variation. It's just so fuuuuun. 

- Awww loved seeing Darcy do something so out of character. 

- Fitzwilliam was a gem. So witty. So funny. 

- This was very sweet and adorable

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some phrases and words didn't seem to vibe with the time period and characters. It just didn't hit the ears (well...I did the ebook...would it be eyes?) right. 

Conclusion

I enjoyed this little gem. It was very sweet, and I liked this cute twist. Imagine if Darcy got an extra day with Lizzie. So very sweeeeet. 

4 stars. 

Book Review: The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

Author: Natalie Jenner

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Series: Jane Austen Society #1

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Published: May 26, 2020

Where I got It: My Shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

Review:

I love Jane Austen and a lot of her books, so I've been excited to check this out. 

It is just after WWII, and an unusual but like-minded group of people team up to protect Jane Austen's legacy. Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, but, sadly, it is a diminishing estate that needs work to preserve. 

I am feeling tired, so we'll divide and conquer this review (it's been a min since we used this format!):

The Good

- I liked our array of characters. They were different and interesting. 

- Loved how the author brought this time period and town alive. 

- Some nice banter between some of the characters

- Liked the splash of 'Persuasion'. Literally my fave of JA's works. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- Some areas seemed to drag on and on. I would catch my attention slipping sometimes. 

- It took me eons to finish this guy. I would walk away from it for a couple of days and forget about it. I would have to go back and reread the last page or two just to remember what had just happened. 

- Some spots were….I hate to use this word…..dull. 

Conclusion

Maybe I should try the audio version of this story. Richard Armitage does a rendition and I lovvvveeeeee his voice. So...yeah. Maybe I'll try this again. I wanted to love this, but didn't. It was just alright. Some good banter and interesting characters. But some areas? Dull. 

2 stars from me. 

Book Review: The Spider Silk Scarf by Ana Reyes

Author: Ana Reyes

Title: The Spider Silk Scarf

Genre: Fantasy, Short Story, Thriller, Horror

Format: ebook

Pages: 32

Expected publication September 1, 2026

Where I got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing things—from shoplifting nail polish as a young teenager to now, in her twenties, reaching higher than a receptionist’s salary allows. Her handyman fiancé, Ben, doesn’t ask questions when she shows up with a new necklace or cracks open a bottle of high-end cognac that they clearly can’t afford.

When Ben comes home from a repair job for a notoriously reclusive neighbor, he passes along rumors of an extraordinary object hidden away in her gloomy old house. A scarf, woven from the silk of black widow spiders. It’s priceless, not only because it’s completely unique, but also because, as legend has it, it took twelve weavers seven years to create. Only eleven survived.

As obsession takes hold, Nora finds herself breaking into her neighbor’s home. But what happens next defies explanation. One glimpse into the world of a witch could change Nora’s life forever—if she makes it out.

Review:

Weeeee Amazon first read! A friend and I both picked this to check out. How could you not? That title....that cover....that summary???? So enticing!

In this story, we follow Nora. Nora has always gotten a thrill from stealing. Ben, her future husband, never bats an eye when Nora shows up with things that are way out of their price range. After doing a job for a reclusive neighbor, he passes along a rumor of an extraordinary object in the neighbor's house. It's a priceless scarf, and Nora wants it. It's a scarf that is woven from the silk of black widow spiders. However, there is a legend attached to it....there were twelve weavers, but only eleven survived. After breaking into the neighbor's house to steal the scarf, Nora will come face-to-face with the unexplainable. 

Oh Nora....you have a problem. And if Ben doesn't know...he's dumb. All the signs are there. I guess love is blind? SMH. 

It's hard to feel for our main here, but I still enjoyed the story. There is a lesson mixed in with the story. Maybe multiple lessons, to be fair. 

This would be a lovely short to read during Halloween. Maybe I'll read it again in a couple of years! It has some spooky elements for sure. 

The ending was good. A nice twist. 

Overall, this was a quick read but a nice read. It was just enough. The characters are hard to feel bad for, but not all stories have characters that are likeable!

4 stars. 

Blodeuedd's Monday: Flawless by Elsie Silver

Series: Chestnut Springs (#1)

Format: 378 pages, Paperback

Published: August 29, 2023 by Bloom Books

Contemporary romance/own

Cowboy romance, hey I love it. But it also got me thinking, I have seen people lately complain about 3rd person, and this was 1st person and well I prefer 3rd, it makes me one step away. Which is good when it gets really down and dirty.

Rhett is a bullrider who gets in trouble as he says bad things about his sponsor. So he gets a babysitter named Summer, who is also the daughter of his PR agent. Don't get to close!

But ovbi they get really close. First they dislike each other, but then feelings grow and maybe this could work after all. Insert drama!

I enjoyed it. I will read more

The rules were simple: keep his hands off his agent's daughter and stay out of trouble. But now he's stuck with her. There's only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken.

Rhett Eaton is the face of professional bull riding. The golden boy. Or at least he was until it all blew up in his face after a public brawl. Now his agent says he has to clean up his image, and sticks Rhett with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as "full-time supervision."

But Rhett doesn't need a goddamn babysitter--especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can't stop running.

And he quickly learns that Summer Hamilton isn't just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn't run--she pulls him closer, even when she shouldn't.

She says this means nothing. Rhett says this means everything.

She says there are boundaries they shouldn't cross. That Rhett's reputation can't take any more hits...and neither can her damaged heart.

Rhett says he's going to steal it anyway.

Audiobook Review: A Tale of Faerie by Dina Gregory

Author: Dina Gregory

Narrator: Holli Dempsey

Title: A Tale of Faerie

Genre: Fiction, Short story, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook 

Published: May 22, 2020

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

When Jasmine moves to an old cottage in the countryside, nothing goes right. She itches at night, keeps losing small things or finds them in odd places. Only after an encounter with the famous neighbour do things magically improve for Jasmine.

This Devonshire story puts the fairy in fairytale.

Review:

Going through a few shorts since my attention span has been little to nothing the last couple of weeks. The cover of this little gem and the title caught my eye for sure. 

Here we follow little Jasmine, who is forced to move to an old cottage in the countryside with her family. She itches at night, keeps losing things, finds things in weird places, and she feels like she is being watched. After an encounter with her famous neighbor, maybe...just maybe things will improve. 

This was short and whimsical. Gotta love the fae.

I wish we had more interaction with the fantasy element of the story, but it was sweet. 

The narrator was lovely and fit. 

4 stars. Def a nice listen if you need something quick while you work outside or craft. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #34

Audiobook Review: The Sweet Spot by Lori Rader-Day

Author: Lori Rader-Day

Narrator: Janina Edwards

Title: The Sweet Spot

Genre: Fiction, Short story

Format: Audiobook 

Published: September 2, 2022

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

A weary Chicago shop owner catches yet another kid breaking into her bakeshop. The rumor has gone around her inner-city neighborhood that she's keeping cash in a sugar jar and, however unlikely, local kids keep trying to confirm it. With the latest miscreant, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Review:

Another random guy. I was digging around Audible, and I found this one. 

This short story catches a moment in time with a Chicago shop owner who catches yet another kid breaking into her bakeshop. There is a rumor going around that she is keeping a lot of cash in a sugar jar. 

This was super, duper short, but there was so much going on. 

I wanted more. I wanted to see what she does next. I think there is more story to tell. 

The narrator was lovely. 

But yes, it was a short capture of a moment where a woman has to make a choice. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #33

Book Review: The Score by Elle Kennedy

Author: Elle Kennedy

Title: The Score

Series: Off-Campus #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 361

Published: January 11, 2016

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

He knows how to score, on and off the ice

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she’s going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.

Review:

I'm loving this series. This quickly became available at my library even though I was slated for weeks. I was shocked when this popped up. Yayyyy.

Here we follow Allie and Dean. Graduation is around the corner, and Allie is in crisis mode. She doesn't know what she really wants to do, and now she is nursing a broken heart after she broke up with her boyfriend. It was for the best, but it still hurts. Having wild rebound sex wasn't on the agenda, but Dean is impossible to resist. Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, goals, and so on. One night with Allie was not nearly enough for him. 

Wheeeellllpppppppppppp. This was my favorite of the series so far. 

I loved it. 

Dean is swoon-worthy even though he was a little man-whore. 

Allie was darling. 

I loved seeing our friends so much. It was nice! Awwwwwwwwww. 

Sean is an ass. 

Things get sad. And then happy. 

I had zero issues. I loved this book. I can't wait for their season on the show. We got a taste of it but I want more. 

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #20

Audiobook Review: Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K Wilde

Author: Ellie K Wilde

Narrator: Teddy Hamilton & Carly Robins

Title: Only in Your Dreams

Series: Oakwood Bay #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Format: Audiobook 

Published: May 5, 2026

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

If he can prove he loved her then, and he loves her still, this time might be different.

Ten years after one of the most heartbreaking nights of her life, Melody Woods is back in her small hometown of Oakwood Bay, broke, jaded, and unceremoniously dumped by her big-city boyfriend. To top it all off, her twin brother, Parker, is pushing her to take his spot on a camping trip with the one guy she’s spent a decade avoiding.

For college football coach Zac Porter, his best friend’s twin sister, Melody, has always been off-limits. And after fumbling his chance ten years ago, a devastated Zac was sure he’d lost Melody for good. So, when Melody shows up at the campsite instead of Parker, Zac realizes that now is the time to prove to her that they were always meant to be, no matter how long it takes to make up for his teenage self’s mistake.

Reeling from the truth of her last relationship, Melody plans to stay in town just long enough to get back on her feet. Then, she’s gone again. Meanwhile, Zac is facing an uphill battle to coach his team to its first winning game in years, to show Melody how she deserves to be loved, and to keep Parker from ever finding out. Maybe then, being with her will be more than just a dream.

Review:

Randomly found this while looking for a football romance. Lo and behold, this is also a second chance. Win-win? Eh?

Here we follow Melody and Zac. There was always chemistry and something between these two, but after a heartbreaking and embarrassing night, they both have tried to move on. Ten years later, Melody is back in town after her big-city boyfriend broke up with her so he could be single on the guys' trip. Now she's crashing at her brother's and trying to pick up her life while avoiding Zac. Zac hasn't gotten over Melody, and now his is a chance to win the girl. 

I GUESS this is a second chance. They never became an official couple, but the love WAS there, and it ended badly. Idiot kids.

The reason, when fully revealed, ruined the story for me. I was enjoying this the whole time until the big "reveal". Really? And why wouldn't her brother or their friends tell her? No wonder why she fell into the arms of a monster....sighs. 

Besides that "reveal," I enjoyed the forced proximity. I don't blame her for keeping arms' length. He really had to work it. 

The narrators were great. Loved their voices. I may or may not be biased because I adore Teddy Hamilton.....eee.

But yes. I did enjoy this. I hated the reveal of why Zac vanished that night. Not a deal breaker, but I wanted to scream and shout and let it all out. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #32

- Reading Romance Challenge #19 (Second Chance)

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

Series: Belles of London (#2)

Format: 432 pages, Paperback

Published: October 11, 2022 by Berkley

Historical romance/own

Julia loves reading, she hates parties and gatherings. Her parents are hypochondriacs, and she does pretend to be ill at times so she does not have to attend balls.

Jasper is called the hero of Crimea, but at the same time people gossip about how sadistic he was and about his brood of bastards. Also he needs a rich wife since his estate needs repairs. And he has his eye on Julia.

Of course it will happen, and sure he wants her money but he is falling. And she really needs to get out of her house, her parents are horrible.

I liked it, they fit well together. At first I was a bit worried about those kids, I hate when a stepmum comes in and the kids are just mean beyond words. But it all works out.

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger. Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood. For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt. In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

Best of July

August!! Here we come!!

Here are our faves for July.

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Bunny by Mona Awad

"Best book goes to Bunny because I like weird lit."

Carole -  Platform Decay by Martha Wells

"Not the best month for books for me. But this one was so dang good! Last inning book for the win!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  Young Washington (2026)

"No 5 star movies this month, but I did really enjoy this one! Loved seeing George before he became a hero to this nation."

Blodeuedd - 72 Hours (2026)

"Movie of the month was 72 hours, it was fun and crazy."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Ghosts (s4) & The Mentalist (s6)

"I finally watched s4 of Ghosts, and s6 of The Mentalist.  Almost done now."

Carole - Versailles (s1 - 3)

"This needed a season 4, but I still enjoyed re-watching this after so many years."

Best Cover of the Month:

C's pick: "I don't know why, but I just love this cover!"

B's pick: "So pretty!"

Honorable Mention:

Blodeuedd - The Watchers by AM Shine

"A good horror that made me want more."

Carole - Murderbot Diaries short stories

"I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked all three!"

Movie Review: Enola Holmes 3 (2026)

Title: Enola Holmes 3

Length: 1h 45m

Released: 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Action/Adventure, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:

Detective Enola Holmes heads to Malta, where her aspirations merge in her most complex and dangerous case yet.

Trailer

REVIEW:

Number 3 babbbyyyy!

We are back with Enola and crew. This time they are in Malta, and Enola is about to wed. Gasp. But a kidnapping, murder, and many a mystery land on her shoulders to solve, so the wedding is postponed. 

Like the others, this was fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither should the viewer. There is humor and a LOT of fourth wall breaking. 

My biggest issue with the film was the lack of mystery. Yes, it is "there," sure, but the first like 5 mins for sure ruins the mystery. Sure, our fearless detective doesn't know, but we know. I did not like that one bit. Like, come on. 

It was fun to uncover the what and why. Enola was on a clock and 10 steps behind for so long. Plus...fixing what she broke was nice to see. I think he was being a little.....dramatic. But it is what it is. 

Oh! I did like the serious tones near the end. It was nice to keep this from being too campy. 

In the end, I had fun with this. The local was fun, the mission was okay, and there were some nice serious tones attached that helped deepen the story. Yes, yes, I laughed a few times at the funny moments.

3 stars from me. 

3-in-1 Short Story Review: Compulsory, Rapport, & Home by Martha Wells

Author: Martha Wells

Title: Compulsory

Series: The Murderbot Diaries #0.5

Genre: SciFi, Humor, Short Story

Format: ebook

Pages: 8

Published: December 17, 2018

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Murderbot—the sardonic, almost-homicidal, media-loving android created by Martha Wells—has proven to be one of the most popular characters in 21 st century science fiction. Everything that makes this protagonist (it would be wrong to call Murderbot a hero) beloved of fans is on display in Compulsory.

While trying to watch episode 44 of The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot is—again, what is it with humans?—distracted by something that is technically outside its purview. A miner is suddenly in danger following a pointless (to Murderbot’s way of thinking) argument, and the choice is to risk discovery and leap into action, which would require hitting the pause button during a very exciting part of SanctuaryMoon, or to follow orders and stay still.

This is a tougher choice than it seems. But then, when has Murderbot ever been faced with an easy choice?

Review:

I'm finally going back and reading the short stories. Not sure why I skipped them. Maybe because my library didn't have them? Perhaps, per maybe. 

But yes. For this guy, we are at the very beginning. Back to when it all started. 

Murderbot faces a tough decision... follow orders and do nothing, or do something. This decision will change his future forever.

Quick story but a big one. I liked it. It was weird going back, but it was nice seeing the difference of the Murderbot he has become vs when he was just following orders and just a bot. 

Def worth it. Honestly....I say wait to read this until after a couple of the books. The difference was fun to see. Love a good origin story. 

This could've been a hair longer methinks. I would've liked to see more of the origin. 

4 stars. 

Author: Martha Wells

Title: Rapport

Series: The Murderbot Diaries #2.5

Genre: SciFi, Humor, Short Story

Format: ebook

Pages: 34

Published: July 11, 2025

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Perihelion and its crew embark on a dangerous new mission at a corporate-controlled station in the throes of a hostile takeover...

Review:

This was an interesting one. I wasn't sure I really wanted to read this one, but I'm in it to win it with these shorts!

So we are with Perihelion and its crew. We get to see a whole new POV. We get further insight into the Corporates from Iris' perspective.

I was a little nervous because we are not in the mind of Murderbot. I was scared, but I was pleasantly surprised. I did enjoy this lil guy. 

Def read book 1 and book 2 before diving into this one. 

But yes, short and entertaining. I'm glad I didn't skip it. 

4 stars. Not the same without our main ;) 

Author: Martha Wells

Title: Home

Series: The Murderbot Diaries #4.5

Genre: SciFi, Humor, Short Story

Format: ebook

Pages: 19

Published: May 5, 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

This short story is told from the point of view of Dr. Mensah and follows the events in Exit Strategy.

The story picks up with Mensah returning to Preservation Station. While she deals with the bureaucratic and political aftermath, Murderbot is physically recovering and emotionally distancing itself — a typical defense mechanism for it.

Review:

Another short where we get to see from someone else's POV. Again...I nearly wanted to skip it but it didn't feel right. 

Here we follow Menash who is returning to the Preservation Station. While she is dealing with the aftermath, Murderbot is physically recovering and emotionally distancing....typical. 

I really enjoyed this one. I actually went back and re-read it. It was entertaining for sure! I like Mensah. 

You need to read the others before this one. There are some references and things you won't understand esp about Murderbot. 

This was my favorite of the shorts. I really liked it. 

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #19

Audiobook Review: Platform Decay by Martha Wells

Author: Martha Wells

Narrator: Kevin R. Free

Title: Platform Decay

Series: The Murderbot Diaries #8

Genre: SciFi, Humor, Novella

Format: Audiobook 

Published: May 5, 2026

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

Review:

Murderbot is King of the bots!!!!!

Here we go again! Murderbot has volunteered to run a rescue mission. However, there will be a lot of humans that Murderbot will need to spend time with including...human children. 

Awwwwww I forgot how much I loved Murderbot. He is so funny and grumpy. So adorable. 

I think I really needed this!!! Honestly, I've been in a bit of a slump in July. A couple of pretty good 4 stars reads, but mainly 3 and 2s. Not sure why, but I needed this one! Thank you, Murderbot, for being the hero I needed. 

So funny. So intense. So good. 

I did miss ART, but it was nice seeing poor Murderbot with all these humans. Murderbot is a grumpy angel. 

The narrator is perfection. Great voices for all, especially for our main! He is great. I def recommend the audio versions. Sure, the printed word is good, but there is something about this narrator that really just fits and helps the story. 

I may have to go back and read some of the shorts to keep me entertained until the next book releases. I hope we don't have to wait too long for it!!

5 stars from me. 

Def read the other books before this one. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #31

- Library Love #18