Category: New To Me Author

I Haunt It That Way by Isabelle Popp

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Women's FictionLeave a comment

I Haunt It That WayI Haunt It That Way by Isabelle Popp

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: August 25, 2026

For years Thora Williamson has worked for best-selling author Bryony Brooks as her personal assistant and in the end as her nurse/companion. To her surprise, Bryony left her an outrageous inheritance, and in doing so, gave Thora the means to follow her own dreams, whatever they may be. Thora starts by divorcing her husband Cody Briscoe and setting out to visit her cousin Mackenzie “Mack” who is living in the Adirondacks with her wife Jade and struggling to open a B&B. She plans on surprising Mack with the money she needs to renovate the property, she also plans on buying Juniper, the family’s summer retreat, since her Uncle George passed on three years ago and the property is to be auctioned off by the town to cover the back taxes. She is looking forward to some time spent reflecting on the past and deciding how to incorporate those memories into a children’s book she wants to write. She is just settling in when she gets her first visitor, Lee Halliday, her ex-husband’s best friend and the bane of her existence.

Thora harbors a lot of anger against Lee, she blames him for her uncle’s death, because Lee partly renovated Juniper, enabling George to stay alone in the home year-round. Sadly, George was a recluse and passed away alone but wasn’t found for quite some time. Thora lays that directly on Lee, so she is furious when he shows up without warning. But Lee had no idea that George passed away and is genuinely heartbroken. Thora wants to kick him out but knows that George cared for Lee and knows he needs closure, so she agrees to let him stay for a few days. She is even more annoyed that she finds him attractive and doesn’t want to like him. But when things start happening in the house, she secretly admits to herself that she is glad he is there.

This book was not what I was expecting, I thought it was going to be a paranormal rom-com with a enemies-to-lovers trope, but there was nothing even remotely “rom-com” about this book. Thora is one of the angriest heroines I have ever read, and for the life of me, I couldn’t find a way to justify her anger – I understood some of it, but I couldn’t understand why she held onto it so tightly and kept regurgitating it. The book is filled with snarky banter, spicy love scenes, a heroine filled with rage at life in general, a heart of gold hero, some interesting secondary characters, a spooky house filled with memories and some paranormal activity, and ending with a horrifying twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Overall, once I accepted that it wasn’t a rom-com and just enjoyed it as a sort-of-fantasy read with spicy love scenes and a heaping helping of feminine rage – I actually liked it. If you are looking for an emotional read with a bit of supernatural and some spice – you should give this book a try.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

 

The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

On By TracyIn First Person Narrative, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Dark in Her Veins (Divine Villains, 1)The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Divine Villains #1

Release Date: August 25, 2026

Talin Keller is a hired sinner whose role in Valestadt places her between survival, violence, and loyalty to the Prophet who employs her. She carries the physical consequences of the sins she commits through Bloodrot, which makes her position both dangerous and unstable. Gabriel, the city’s revered Prophet, uses religious authority and public devotion to maintain power while keeping his own hands clean. Slade, also known as the Warden, serves as a darker opposing force whose connection to Gabriel complicates Talin’s mission. The characters operate in a morally corrupt world where self-preservation, manipulation, and hidden motives shape their relationships and decisions.

The plot follows Talin as she navigates a city where sin leaves a visible and deadly mark on the body, creating a system where the powerful can hire others to absorb the cost of their wrongdoing. Her work for Gabriel leads her toward Slade, a figure tied to rumors, danger, and the possibility of freedom from both Gabriel’s control and the worsening Bloodrot. As Talin moves between the brothers, the story develops through shifting alliances, revelations about her past, and a larger conspiracy connected to Valestadt’s religious and political structure. The narrative blends dark fantasy, violence, corruption, and supernatural consequences while building toward an unresolved ending meant to continue the story.

Overall, this book had an interesting concept, especially with the idea that sin could physically deteriorate the body, but it did not fully work for me. I did not like the first-person POV which made the story feel harder to follow and less cohesive. I also found the cliffhanger ending frustrating because so much felt unresolved in the final pages. The romance was another major issue for me because it came across as more of a niche / fetish-driven dynamic than a traditional romance, which made it difficult for me to connect with the relationship. So, while the premise had potential, and I am sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book, it was not for me, I felt the characters, pacing, and romantic development kept me from becoming fully invested and left me with no desire to read the next book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *