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Seducing the Scientist: A Perfect Sci-Fi Romance Blend

Ahead of each episode of our podcast, Speaking LITerally I like to read the latest book of the author we are interviewing. This time it was Hadley Grey, an indie, self-published author who originally wrote suspense romance but has recently delved into another sub-genre, sci-fi romance.

When it comes to sub-genres it is so difficult to get the balance just right – add just a bit of a love life into a sci-fi and it’s still just a science fiction, but add too much romance and not enough science it just becomes a romance. But, this author blended the two genres perfectly.

The Husband Wishlist: A Festive Romance Review

I first heard of Bridge Van der Eyk when she came onto our podcast as a guest back in July 2024. I read her first book, 10 Dates, as prep for the interview and loved it so much I preceded to read the 2^nd one straight after and finished that as well, all within one weekend. She then released 2 Loves Later which was a continuation story of Libby as she decides who to pick in this sweet romance.

Which brings us to now and The Husband Wishlist, her latest novel which was released at the end of 2025 and marketed as a standalone festive romance. I started reading this a little on the evening of the 30th December, and was finished by 1st January, 2 days!! That gives you a hint at where this review is going.

In Husband Wishlist we follow Jessie, a woman who hasn’t had the best luck in life when it comes to romance but has just recently quit her corporate job to pursue her dream career. After her last breakup 2 years ago, her and her identical twin sister, Anna got drunk and created a husband wish list, which is a list of things Jessie wants in her dream man (with a few funny things thrown in by the twin sister). It was a bit of fun, nothing particularly serious, with things like must have blonde hair, brown eyes, love custard doughnuts, smell like grapefruit.

How Bad Things Can Get: A Gripping Horror Review

Happy new year everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and new year, whatever you did. My new year was just a quiet night in with the husband, the dog and a takeaway. But for me, this was the perfect way to see out 2025.

Ok, so due to the shit show of 2025 for me, I was pretty terrible with my site and Instagram. This means I have a lot of Netgalley books I have read but not reviewed. So, for the first part of the year you will see a mixture of reviews from more recently read books alongside books I read in 2025.

So, to start things off, this is a book I read during the spooky season of 2025.

Having previously read From Below and Gallows Hill by the same author I was looking forward to reading her new novel, How Bad Things Can Get.

This novel is primarily set on Prosperity Island, an exclusive location owned by renowned online influencer, Eton. He has invited a randomly selected pool of guests, who entered a raffle, along with some VIPs to what should have been the party of the century.

Book Review – This One Life by Amanda Prowse

It’s been a while since i read an Amanda Prowse book. The last one was Women like Us, which was her memoirs, and so I couldn’t wait to dive back into her stories. Having already read Christmas for One, An Ordinary Life to name but a few I already had a good grasp of her writing, but this one gripped me, especially as it’s about how the main protagonist copes when her life is dramatically changed, which I can relate to given recent events.

Edith Madeleine, or Madeline to most people, grew up in a tower block with her mum and dad in the middle of a council estate in London. But she longs for a better life and is determined to make sure she doesn’t live her whole life like her parents. But, when a major life event occurs, she is knocked off course, and whether she wants it to or not, it drastically changes her life. For the better? For the worse? Only time can tell.

Book Review – I bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin by Katy Brent

I read How to Kill Men and Get Away with it by Katy Brent a few years ago, which was a fun, comical read. So when I read that Kitty Collins is back, I couldn’t wait to jump back in.

This time, we see Kitty getting ready to celebrate the big 3-0 with the love of her life, Charlie. She hasn’t murdered anyone for a considerable amount of time and feels like Charlie has helped her turn over a new leaf.

Suddenly she finds herself the target of a social media influencer by the name of Blaze Bundy, a man who doesn’t hide his hate for women and in fact shares his toxic ideologies with the world through his Instagram of just how women should be treated.

On top of this, her best friend, Tor, reveals she is dating the therapist she was working with to help her get over her traumatic experience abroad. It’s clear her therapist may be extorting her vulnerability, but Kitty doesn’t know what to do. With all these factors at play, can she stay on the right side of the law this time?

Book Review- Next Grave by Kendra Elliot

It’s been a while since I’ve read a crime thriller, so I was excited to be approved for Next Grave. Thanks to Netgalley for gifting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been a fan of police procedurals and crime thrillers ever since I read Patricia Cornwall’s Dr Scarpetta series as a teenager.

Before I started this, I realised this book is number 6 in a book series. So if you are interested in reading the whole lot, I would recommend starting from number 1. However, this can be read as a standalone, and I didn’t feel disadvantaged not having read her previous titles.

Book Review – Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh

Who is this person, you may ask. 2 books read and both reviewed. Well, I can’t promise to continue this way, but I do want to review more books this year, and this is a netgalley read I wanted to get to for a while. So thanks to Netgalley and Titan books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

One of the first things that grabbed me about Where the Dead Brides Gather is that it is a possession horror story but based on Nigerian folklore. I’ve not read any Nigerian folklore tales before, and I love reading folklore stories, so I was very excited to jump into this.

This story is about Bata, a 10 year old girl who is plagued by nightmares for as long as she can remember, until one day she is possessed and discovers that the spirits have a different plan for her. She is to become bride sentinel, protecting human brides from evil ghost Brides trying to ruin their day or worse, kill them. What follows is Bata’s journey to a realm called Ibaja-la, where she meets many good-hearted bride ghosts waiting for their time to experience their wedding day and be reincarnated. But across from here is the Wastelands, an island which holds the evil bride spirits who are waiting to take their revenge.

Book Review – Trailridge by Kevin Wolf

The first book i finished in 2025 just so happens to be our first guest on the Speaking LITerally Podcast for January, which is Kevin Wolf. Thanks to him for a gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Trailridge is the first in the Guy Hogan mystery series, and it certainly starts with a bang. Guy Hogan planned to spend his life in the mountains of Coloradp with his dog, his wife, and his fly rod. But his life takes a different direction when cancer takes his wife. 10 months later, Guy, trying to just live his life and doing what he loves, fishing discovers a dead body of a man in the river.

Book Review – A Journey Thrice Begun by Sean Bobby Kerr

Thanks to Sean for gifting me a copy of his debut novel in exchange for an honest review.

A journey thrice begun is an epic fantasy where the main protagonist, Everett Dwyer, has very simple wants in life, which includes marrying Isolde Fairweather. Each year on Charring night, any male gets to propose to their love in the town. It is a very public affair but is the only time you can request their hand in marriage. So this year, Everett decides it is his year to propose and settle down.

But then on Charring night everything changes starting with the sudden appearance of a sage in his backyard followed closely by the arrival of Tancred Roth, a wealthy young man who just so happens to have it out for Everett and usually shows it with his fists.

Book Review – The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain

Thanks to Netgalley for gifting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The slowest burn is about two characters. One, a young female, Ellie Wasserman, who is a ghost writer specialising in creating cookbooks. But she has her own ghosts as her husband died a few years prior, and she still lives on the same property as her in-laws.

Then we have her latest client, winner of the latest reality cooking comp, Kieran O’Neill, who has app the charm and humour but has trouble expressing what he wants to do with his cookbook.

This is a story of love, loss, and grief but is also a story of self-discovery for both sides.