“For Whom the Belle Tolls” by Jaysea Lynn

Title: For Whom the Belle Tolls
Author: Jaysea Lynn
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Year: 2024
Genre(s): romance, paranormal
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1

Why I read it: I watched Jaysea’s skits on Facebook

Summary: When Lily dies after a battle with cancer, she discovers what lies after death. She is given her own paradise and starts to befriend the denizens of the Afterlife, including deities. When she visits Hell, she finds a way to put her customer service experience to use – and gets a chance to say everything she couldn’t to entitled, rude and aggressive customers. Lily soon makes a name for herself and after befriending a young soul as well as a prince of Hell, she creates the life she always wanted on Earth.

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“I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom” by Danielle Kelly, Ian Wilson

Title: I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Author: Danielle Kelly, Ian Wilson
Publisher: Adams Media
Year: 2025
Genre(s): nonfiction
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1

Why I read it: I love Danielle’s content online and of course, I love Disney.

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“Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book” by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Disney Press
Year: 2017
Genre(s): young adult, fantasy, adventure
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2

Why I read it: Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie

Summary: After the Beast gives Belle the library as a gift, she discovers that even the books can be magic. One allows her to escape the castle and travel to places, see things and enjoy adventures she had only ever read about. But as she escapes more and more into the book, will she find danger in living in a fantasy or will it prove to be key to her liberation?

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“The Busybody Book Club” by Freya Sampson

Title: The Busybody Book Club
Author: Freya Sampson
Publisher: Berkley  
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): mystery
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Nova has recently gotten at the community center in the small English town where her fiancé grew up. While dealing with a boss who doesn’t really like her and an overbearing future mother-in-law who is essentially planning her wedding, Nova also runs the small book club at the community center. When money turns up missing and a book club member goes missing, the book club members take it on themselves to solve the mystery – and Nova soon learns if you can’t beat them, join them.

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“Rules for Ruin” by Mimi Matthews

Title: Rules for Ruin
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley Romance (Penguin Random House)   
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): historical romance
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1 of The Crinoline Academy

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Effie Flint is recalled from Paris by the headmistress of her former home and school, The Crinoline Academy. She is tasked with bringing down a powerful viscount who is poised to destroy legislation that could benefit women in the United Kingdom and beyond. Effie poses as the daughter of wealth and focuses on her task. And then she meets Gabriel Royce, a prosperous betting shop owner who needs the viscount to support legislation that will benefit the slums where Gabriel grew up. Are Effie and Gabriel destined to always be on opposite sides…or will they realize they are better as a team?

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“The Moorwitch” by Jessica Khoury

Title: The Moorwitch
Author: Jessica Khoury
Publisher: 47North
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): romantasy
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Amazon First Read pick

Summary: As a child, Rose Pryor makes a deal with a fae named Lachlan to escape a terrible home situation. She grows up practicing magic in a version of Georgian England where it is prevalent. Her talent lies in Weaving – using needle and thread to craft her spells. But as she approaches her eighteenth birthday, her magic grows weaker. Lachlan returns to get Rose to uphold her end of the deal, sending her to Scotland to find a way back into the world of the fae before he and his followers die in a world that is becoming more steel than wood. Rose befriends Conrad North and his sister and realizes how dangerous Lachlan really is. Will she give him what he wants or will she sacrifice her magic to protect her new friends?

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“The Thanksgiving Hookup” by J. Sterling

Title: The Thanksgiving Hookup
Author: J. Sterling   
Publisher: J. Sterling
Year: 2023    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Kinda.

Why I read it: Wanted a nice holiday read.

Summary: Skye’s plans for Thanksgiving are ruined when a snowstorm grounds all flights. She and the rest of her flight crew manage to get hotel rooms as accommodations start to dwindle but it means she will have to spend the holiday with the airline’s resident playboy, River. But with the close proximity make her see him in a new light or will she join his list of broken hearts?

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