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Death to Valentine's Day
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Expected 20 Jan 26What’s worse than Valentine’s Day after a brutal breakup? Being trapped in a snowstorm with your ex’s brother and maybe a murderer. A witty and chillingly romantic short story by #1 Amazon bestselling author Catherine Cowles.
After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.
Catherine Cowles’s Death to Valentine’s Day is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
After her boyfriend’s betrayal, the last thing Maia St. James wants is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And when her friends force her out for a Death to Valentine’s Day masquerade ball at a mountain lodge, the last thing she expects is to kiss a masked stranger, especially when he ends up being her ex’s older brother. But that’s the least of her problems. When a guest is found murdered, the party becomes a mystery. And Maia must unmask a killer before her second chance at romance is cut short.
Catherine Cowles’s Death to Valentine’s Day is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 20, 2026
12 people are currently reading
1640 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cowles
54 books27.8k followersWriter of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐
I really enjoyed it!!
A Catherine Cowles classic, just in a short form. We got a love story that was years in the making, a murder, some suspense and some incredibly adorable moments!!
Maia spots her ex-boyfriend during a Valentine's Day masquerade party, her ex that cheated on her, so she asked the man in the hallway with her to kiss her.. That man turns out to be her ex's older brother Decker, a man that has always been there for her. A shocking murder and a snowstorm that has them trapped, has her evaluating everything.. Is her chance at happiness closer than she thought?
I loved Maia and Decker! They were great together and always there for one another. That scene the morning after was so cute!! It truly showed how much they supported each other throughout the years, it made their connection so much more believable. And an one bed trope will forever have me in a chokehold!!
I hated Jackson, he was such a douche, but Booker was a true friend!!
I loved the setting and even though it was short, we still got everything, just on a much tighter timeline. It was a little rushed, but I still think it was done very well considering the restraints. I felt pulled into the story immediately.
I actually did guess the killer, maybe I am getting better at guessing it (wishful thinking..).
I absolutely loved the epilogue, the rest of the collection felt a little unfinished, so I'm incredibly happy we got to see them both down the line, it made the story even better.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
I really enjoyed it!!
A Catherine Cowles classic, just in a short form. We got a love story that was years in the making, a murder, some suspense and some incredibly adorable moments!!
Maia spots her ex-boyfriend during a Valentine's Day masquerade party, her ex that cheated on her, so she asked the man in the hallway with her to kiss her.. That man turns out to be her ex's older brother Decker, a man that has always been there for her. A shocking murder and a snowstorm that has them trapped, has her evaluating everything.. Is her chance at happiness closer than she thought?
I loved Maia and Decker! They were great together and always there for one another. That scene the morning after was so cute!! It truly showed how much they supported each other throughout the years, it made their connection so much more believable. And an one bed trope will forever have me in a chokehold!!
I hated Jackson, he was such a douche, but Booker was a true friend!!
I loved the setting and even though it was short, we still got everything, just on a much tighter timeline. It was a little rushed, but I still think it was done very well considering the restraints. I felt pulled into the story immediately.
I actually did guess the killer, maybe I am getting better at guessing it (wishful thinking..).
I absolutely loved the epilogue, the rest of the collection felt a little unfinished, so I'm incredibly happy we got to see them both down the line, it made the story even better.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with an ARC.*
January 9, 2026
Hands down one of the best novellas I’ve ever read.
A Valentine’s Day masquerade ball, an unexpected murder, and being snowed in?
Yes 👏🏼 yes 👏🏼 YES 👏🏼
Catherine has a way of grabbing your attention instantly and holding it in a death grip (no pun intended 🤣). From the first page, I was completely locked in.
The moment I realized this had the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope, I squealed and took my seat in the front row to watch the chaos unfold 🤭🤪
Romance ✔️
Spice ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Plot twists? (Obviously—it’s Catherine 🤪) ✔️✔️
And the audiobook? Absolutely phenomenal. Connor Crais can read me a bedtime story anytime 🤭🥵
Do yourself a favor and immediately run—don’t walk—to read or listen to this gem 💎
Tropes:
💖 One Bed
🔪 He Falls First
💖 Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother 🤭
🔪 Snowed In
💖 Murder Mystery
🔪 It’s Always Been You
A Valentine’s Day masquerade ball, an unexpected murder, and being snowed in?
Yes 👏🏼 yes 👏🏼 YES 👏🏼
Catherine has a way of grabbing your attention instantly and holding it in a death grip (no pun intended 🤣). From the first page, I was completely locked in.
The moment I realized this had the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope, I squealed and took my seat in the front row to watch the chaos unfold 🤭🤪
Romance ✔️
Spice ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Plot twists? (Obviously—it’s Catherine 🤪) ✔️✔️
And the audiobook? Absolutely phenomenal. Connor Crais can read me a bedtime story anytime 🤭🥵
Do yourself a favor and immediately run—don’t walk—to read or listen to this gem 💎
Tropes:
💖 One Bed
🔪 He Falls First
💖 Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother 🤭
🔪 Snowed In
💖 Murder Mystery
🔪 It’s Always Been You
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating 3.75 ⭐️
This was such a short, suspenseful, sweet and swoony romance! It has he falls first which is one of my favorite tropes ever so I had such a fun time reading. He also recognizes her immediately in a masquerade ball, beneath her mask!!! I love Decker with all my heart!
Even if this was definitely my favorite, I can't rate it higher because the whole "bad guy" part just didn't make sense for me.
Actual rating 3.75 ⭐️
This was such a short, suspenseful, sweet and swoony romance! It has he falls first which is one of my favorite tropes ever so I had such a fun time reading. He also recognizes her immediately in a masquerade ball, beneath her mask!!! I love Decker with all my heart!
Even if this was definitely my favorite, I can't rate it higher because the whole "bad guy" part just didn't make sense for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐
Why am I not surprised that Catherine is able to slay a novella. This one was so good, definitely my favorite of this series. The story, the romance and the suspense were perfect. Once more, she got me with the culprit!!!
Why am I not surprised that Catherine is able to slay a novella. This one was so good, definitely my favorite of this series. The story, the romance and the suspense were perfect. Once more, she got me with the culprit!!!
January 9, 2026
Hands down one of the best novellas I’ve ever read.
A Valentine’s Day masquerade ball, an unexpected murder, and being snowed in?
Yes 👏🏼 yes 👏🏼 YES 👏🏼
Catherine has a way of grabbing your attention instantly and holding it in a death grip (no pun intended 🤣). From the first page, I was completely locked in.
The moment I realized this had the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope, I squealed and took my seat in the front row to watch the chaos unfold 🤭🤪
Romance ✔️
Spice ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Plot twists? (Obviously—it’s Catherine 🤪) ✔️✔️
And the audiobook? Absolutely phenomenal. Connor Crais can read me a bedtime story anytime 🤭🥵
Do yourself a favor and immediately run—don’t walk—to read or listen to this gem 💎
Tropes:
💖 One Bed
🔪 He Falls First
💖 Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother 🤭
🔪 Snowed In
💖 Murder Mystery
🔪 It’s Always Been You
A Valentine’s Day masquerade ball, an unexpected murder, and being snowed in?
Yes 👏🏼 yes 👏🏼 YES 👏🏼
Catherine has a way of grabbing your attention instantly and holding it in a death grip (no pun intended 🤣). From the first page, I was completely locked in.
The moment I realized this had the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope, I squealed and took my seat in the front row to watch the chaos unfold 🤭🤪
Romance ✔️
Spice ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Plot twists? (Obviously—it’s Catherine 🤪) ✔️✔️
And the audiobook? Absolutely phenomenal. Connor Crais can read me a bedtime story anytime 🤭🥵
Do yourself a favor and immediately run—don’t walk—to read or listen to this gem 💎
Tropes:
💖 One Bed
🔪 He Falls First
💖 Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother 🤭
🔪 Snowed In
💖 Murder Mystery
🔪 It’s Always Been You
January 10, 2026
A snowed-in murder mystery at a masquerade ball?! Say less!
I figured, “It’s a novella. Surely I can figure out the villain.” … Reader, I didn’t even come close! The plot twist left me forgetting I had food cooking on the stove!
It’s such a quick read that there’s no real suspense, but the murder mystery did keep me guessing until the very reveal. The characters are so lovely, and I wish we had a full-length novel about them, as well as the side characters!
Also, EX-BOYFRIEND’S BROTHER?! 😏
Catherine Cowles always writes highly engaging and entertaining romantic suspense—and this one is no different.
❤️🔥 ex-boyfriend’s brother
🥰 he falls first
🔎 murder mystery
⛓️💥 forced proximity
❄️ snowed in
🎭 masquerade ball
🛏️ one bed
💘 it’s always been you
I received an ALC for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I figured, “It’s a novella. Surely I can figure out the villain.” … Reader, I didn’t even come close! The plot twist left me forgetting I had food cooking on the stove!
It’s such a quick read that there’s no real suspense, but the murder mystery did keep me guessing until the very reveal. The characters are so lovely, and I wish we had a full-length novel about them, as well as the side characters!
Also, EX-BOYFRIEND’S BROTHER?! 😏
Catherine Cowles always writes highly engaging and entertaining romantic suspense—and this one is no different.
❤️🔥 ex-boyfriend’s brother
🥰 he falls first
🔎 murder mystery
⛓️💥 forced proximity
❄️ snowed in
🎭 masquerade ball
🛏️ one bed
💘 it’s always been you
I received an ALC for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FOLLOW ME
Instagram • Pagebound • Cozy Chapters Book Club • Substack • Fable • StoryGraph • Romantasy Romantics Book Club
January 8, 2026
This novella takes place on Valentine’s Day. What starts out as a harmless masquerade ball at a mountain lodge quickly turns into a full blown mystery when someone turns up unalived. On top of that Maia finds herself snowed in with her ex boyfriend and his older brother.
A fun and romantic short story to put you in the valentines mood. Decker was down bad for Maia for as long as he can remember but she was always off limits. Their connection was undeniable and once they accidentally kissed there was no stopping the sparks from flying.
This is more of a rom com than the traditional romantic suspense we get from Catherine but I think it worked great in the shorter format. As usual I was shocked by the twisty ending when the culprit was revealed.
Thank you Catherine and team for the ALC. The audiobook was perfect. I’m always blown away by Connor Crais’s performances and Erin Mallon did a great job as well. Highly recommend!
Murder Mystery
Ex’s Brother
Snowed In
It’s Always Been You
One Bed
“I couldn’t tell her that the only thing missing from my life was her.”
“As if they saw me in a way no one else did. All the beautiful parts and the messy ones.”
A fun and romantic short story to put you in the valentines mood. Decker was down bad for Maia for as long as he can remember but she was always off limits. Their connection was undeniable and once they accidentally kissed there was no stopping the sparks from flying.
This is more of a rom com than the traditional romantic suspense we get from Catherine but I think it worked great in the shorter format. As usual I was shocked by the twisty ending when the culprit was revealed.
Thank you Catherine and team for the ALC. The audiobook was perfect. I’m always blown away by Connor Crais’s performances and Erin Mallon did a great job as well. Highly recommend!
Murder Mystery
Ex’s Brother
Snowed In
It’s Always Been You
One Bed
“I couldn’t tell her that the only thing missing from my life was her.”
“As if they saw me in a way no one else did. All the beautiful parts and the messy ones.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Maia attends a masquerade ball with some of her friends on a Valentine's Day and gets stuck there with her ex who is a jerk, her ex's brother that's always cared about her and a murder happens that they're trying to solve.
This one didn't really work for me at all. I understand it's a novella so plot points need to happen faster but it felt like it was doing way too much in a limited amount of pages and it made a lot of the story beats come off as cheesy.
I couldn't have predicted who the killer was if I tried, but that's because there wasn't anything foreshadowing it and when I did find out it was out of nowhere and extremely corny.
I also didn't particularly find the connection between Decker and Maia believable. Like I understood he was there for her but we didn't see much of that on page. They kissed, talked a bit, banged and that was that. A little recollection in the background of the past, but I wasn't buying it.
Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.
This one didn't really work for me at all. I understand it's a novella so plot points need to happen faster but it felt like it was doing way too much in a limited amount of pages and it made a lot of the story beats come off as cheesy.
I couldn't have predicted who the killer was if I tried, but that's because there wasn't anything foreshadowing it and when I did find out it was out of nowhere and extremely corny.
I also didn't particularly find the connection between Decker and Maia believable. Like I understood he was there for her but we didn't see much of that on page. They kissed, talked a bit, banged and that was that. A little recollection in the background of the past, but I wasn't buying it.
Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.
January 11, 2026
Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles ALC Review
A novella that has it all 😍👏🏻
This book not only has a good plot, but it also has suspense, spice and an MMC that is down bad and has been for years… YEARS!
This audio was such a great time and the narrators were incredible and brought the story to life. What a fun and heart pumping second chance Valentines novella.
“I always found understanding in her quiet.”
“What if I want to be reckless?”
“I think I’ve always loved you.”
Thank you so much Catherine and team for the ALC!
A novella that has it all 😍👏🏻
This book not only has a good plot, but it also has suspense, spice and an MMC that is down bad and has been for years… YEARS!
This audio was such a great time and the narrators were incredible and brought the story to life. What a fun and heart pumping second chance Valentines novella.
“I always found understanding in her quiet.”
“What if I want to be reckless?”
“I think I’ve always loved you.”
Thank you so much Catherine and team for the ALC!
January 10, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this novella. It's by far been my favorite I have read from this ARC series. It was fun, mysterious, and sexy all at the same time. I loved the chemistry between Maia and Deck, and loved both their characters. It was fun that the author wrapped in a murder. I knew when they described the murder victim as having long red hair that it was someone thinking they killed Maia. However, I was shocked when it ended up being her best friend Violet. I loved that that threw me off because I almost always guess who it is. My only complaint is that her name was Violet because that is my daughter's name. Lol. This was my first book by this author. I really enjoyed her work, and will definitely be reading more from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
A ex’s brother romance I can get behind
January 8, 2026
CATHERINE 👏🏼COWLES 👏🏼NEVER 👏🏼MISSES 👏🏼
This novella is perfect for the romance lover looking for a quick read who likes a tad bit of muder mystery sprinkled in. Snowed- in at a fancy mansion party with her ex's older brother and possibly with a murderer?!?! I ATE IT UP!!!!
It felt like watching a Knifes Out murder mystery. It was everything we have come to expect from the queen of st*bby romances! Its sexy, romantic, and twisty with and ending I did NOT see coming! I need this as a movie ASAP PLEASE!!
Maia and Decks story takes place in just over 24 hours but even with how quick of a read this is Catherine did an amazing job of making sure we got to know these characters and became just as invested in them and their story as if this book was 350 pages and at no point did this story feel rushed. It was the perfect storyline to be a novella!
Decker freaking West the MAN YOU ARE!!! I fell in love with both Deck and Maia in such a short time I couldve spent 1000 more pages with them! One of the things I love most about Catherine's writing is that she always gives us a cast of side characters to love and this group is no exception! (This is me begging on my knees for more Erik and Booker PLEASE 🤭🙂↕️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀���)
The audio as always was FANTASTIC!!! Erin Mallon and Connor Crais make an amazing duo! This is a duet audio and they absolutely brought these characters to life! When Connor Crais growled I almost crashed my car, but it wouldve been worth it 😮💨
I can definitely see this book be one of my top audiobooks of 2026 and I will definitely be re-listening to it the next time I am in a slump because I know it will rescue me!
Thank you so much to Catherine and team for the Netgalley ALC in exchange for an honest review 🩷
* snowed- in
* ex's older brother
* it's always been you
* he fell years ago
* murder mystery
* forced proximity
* one bed
* protective mmc
This novella is perfect for the romance lover looking for a quick read who likes a tad bit of muder mystery sprinkled in. Snowed- in at a fancy mansion party with her ex's older brother and possibly with a murderer?!?! I ATE IT UP!!!!
It felt like watching a Knifes Out murder mystery. It was everything we have come to expect from the queen of st*bby romances! Its sexy, romantic, and twisty with and ending I did NOT see coming! I need this as a movie ASAP PLEASE!!
Maia and Decks story takes place in just over 24 hours but even with how quick of a read this is Catherine did an amazing job of making sure we got to know these characters and became just as invested in them and their story as if this book was 350 pages and at no point did this story feel rushed. It was the perfect storyline to be a novella!
Decker freaking West the MAN YOU ARE!!! I fell in love with both Deck and Maia in such a short time I couldve spent 1000 more pages with them! One of the things I love most about Catherine's writing is that she always gives us a cast of side characters to love and this group is no exception! (This is me begging on my knees for more Erik and Booker PLEASE 🤭🙂↕️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀���)
The audio as always was FANTASTIC!!! Erin Mallon and Connor Crais make an amazing duo! This is a duet audio and they absolutely brought these characters to life! When Connor Crais growled I almost crashed my car, but it wouldve been worth it 😮💨
I can definitely see this book be one of my top audiobooks of 2026 and I will definitely be re-listening to it the next time I am in a slump because I know it will rescue me!
Thank you so much to Catherine and team for the Netgalley ALC in exchange for an honest review 🩷
* snowed- in
* ex's older brother
* it's always been you
* he fell years ago
* murder mystery
* forced proximity
* one bed
* protective mmc
January 6, 2026
Okay I had the best time with this one!! 😍
This was short, sweet, spicy and stabby - perfect for Catherine fans! Do I wish it was longer? Of course, but only because I fell in love with all the characters! The short story was perfect, and even though it was a quick read, you could still feel all of Decker’s years of pining 🫠
Decker was literal perfection and if this was a full novel, I fear he might have taken over as one of my favourite of Catherine’s MMCs! 🤭 His love for Maia was so tender and sacrificial. You could see the invisible string throughout all their memories and I just love a down bad man 🫠
I was so proud of myself for figuring out the bad guy! 🥳 It was the perfect amount of suspense for a short story, and I loved how it all weaved in together.
Thank you Team Catherine for the ALC! I highly recommend doing this one on audio as Connor Crais and Erin Mallon absolutely killed it (pardon the pun) as Decker and Maia!
This was short, sweet, spicy and stabby - perfect for Catherine fans! Do I wish it was longer? Of course, but only because I fell in love with all the characters! The short story was perfect, and even though it was a quick read, you could still feel all of Decker’s years of pining 🫠
Decker was literal perfection and if this was a full novel, I fear he might have taken over as one of my favourite of Catherine’s MMCs! 🤭 His love for Maia was so tender and sacrificial. You could see the invisible string throughout all their memories and I just love a down bad man 🫠
I was so proud of myself for figuring out the bad guy! 🥳 It was the perfect amount of suspense for a short story, and I loved how it all weaved in together.
Thank you Team Catherine for the ALC! I highly recommend doing this one on audio as Connor Crais and Erin Mallon absolutely killed it (pardon the pun) as Decker and Maia!
January 17, 2026
ALC Review : Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles || Releasing 1.20.26
This was such a fun novella. It had a little bit of everything and was such a quick read.
It has all the Catherine Cowles fun we’ve come to know and love. Spice, banter, and a little murder.
Decker has been hopelessly in love with his younger brother’s ex-gf for over 10 years. When Maia spots her idiot of an ex at a masquerade party, she grabs the nearest man to kiss. And that man just happens to be Decker and soon after, craziness ensues.
This was a delicious little brother’s ex-gf novella with some murder and a whole lotta swoon.
Erin Mallon was wonderful as always and Connor Crais can do no wronggg. I will listen to him any damn day of the week.
Thank you NetGalley and Catherine for the early listen.
This was such a fun novella. It had a little bit of everything and was such a quick read.
It has all the Catherine Cowles fun we’ve come to know and love. Spice, banter, and a little murder.
Decker has been hopelessly in love with his younger brother’s ex-gf for over 10 years. When Maia spots her idiot of an ex at a masquerade party, she grabs the nearest man to kiss. And that man just happens to be Decker and soon after, craziness ensues.
This was a delicious little brother’s ex-gf novella with some murder and a whole lotta swoon.
Erin Mallon was wonderful as always and Connor Crais can do no wronggg. I will listen to him any damn day of the week.
Thank you NetGalley and Catherine for the early listen.
January 14, 2026
Second chance
Exs brother
Forced proximity
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Connor Crais & Erin Mallon
Perfection in narration!
Such a fun short listen. I found this to be easy and that it flows well.
It’s giving murder mystery dinner vibes with spice. For a quick read it packs a punch.
Maia gets convinced to attend a “I hate Valentine’s Day” party by her two best friends. Hate Valentine’s Day since her ex ruined it for her a year prior. She never expected to run into her ex or his brother at the party. Things get a little crazy and suddenly there is a mystery on their hands.
I really enjoyed this fun and short story. Definitely recommend it.
Exs brother
Forced proximity
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Connor Crais & Erin Mallon
Perfection in narration!
Such a fun short listen. I found this to be easy and that it flows well.
It’s giving murder mystery dinner vibes with spice. For a quick read it packs a punch.
Maia gets convinced to attend a “I hate Valentine’s Day” party by her two best friends. Hate Valentine’s Day since her ex ruined it for her a year prior. She never expected to run into her ex or his brother at the party. Things get a little crazy and suddenly there is a mystery on their hands.
I really enjoyed this fun and short story. Definitely recommend it.
January 12, 2026
Title: Death to Valentine’s Day
Author: Catherine Cowles
Series: The Improbable Meet-Cute
What to expect:
*Ex’s brother
*Forced proximity
*Valentine novella
Catherine Cowles is the queen of combining romance with murder! Excellent novella that combines a second chance romance with some forced proximity drama!
Safety:
No real OW/OM drama, no third act breakup.
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Maia (FMC) & Decker (MMC)
Author: Catherine Cowles
Series: The Improbable Meet-Cute
What to expect:
*Ex’s brother
*Forced proximity
*Valentine novella
Catherine Cowles is the queen of combining romance with murder! Excellent novella that combines a second chance romance with some forced proximity drama!
Safety:
No real OW/OM drama, no third act breakup.
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV’s: Maia (FMC) & Decker (MMC)
January 15, 2026
I was provided an ARC audio of this novella in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
This novella shocked me! The villain twist had me actually going back through my head to see if there had been any clues. It was a novella so it was very fast paced but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Catherine has solidified herself as one of my top authors recently and I would recommend her to anyone.
Side note: whoever was voicing Dek, your voice is 🔥
This novella shocked me! The villain twist had me actually going back through my head to see if there had been any clues. It was a novella so it was very fast paced but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Catherine has solidified herself as one of my top authors recently and I would recommend her to anyone.
Side note: whoever was voicing Dek, your voice is 🔥
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is classic Catherine Cowles. It's got the suspense, the bamboozling twists and heart warming romance with a little bit of spice. This is a bite sized romance that still makes you feel like you got a full book. The characters are well written and relatable. Loved the narrators style as well.
January 11, 2026
It’s fine, could have skipped this one and wouldn’t have noticed 😅
Read
January 18, 2026This was a no for me. It pains me to say it, since I am a die hard Catherine Cowles fan.
January 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Catherine Cowles for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was wondering how things could get murdery and twisty in so few pages - Catherine did a great job fitting so much into this short story.
Unrequited love, it’s always been you. Ex boyfriend’s brother.
I was wondering how things could get murdery and twisty in so few pages - Catherine did a great job fitting so much into this short story.
Unrequited love, it’s always been you. Ex boyfriend’s brother.
Read
January 10, 2026And I still didn’t guess the killer
January 7, 2026
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances is a series compiled of six romantic novellas written by some of the genres most notable authors. Each love story distinctively stands out on their own with ease whilst staying true to the same cohesive narrative, guaranteeing that there’s something for every reader of the Romance genre to binge and enjoy.
❤️🔥 Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles (4 stars):
As an avid fan and devout reader of all things Catherine Cowles, Death to Valentine’s Day was yet another strong release that delivered on the swoon-worthy romance paired with the anxiety-spiking high stakes that this author is known for. I will admit that I was a little concerned initially with this story being a novella as somebody who is familiar with the method and approach that Cowles takes to her storytelling. However I was immediately put at ease with the inclusion of the ‘ex boyfriend’s older brother’ inclusion which introduced a seamless and believable connection that I felt like I could grasp with my own two hands. The chemistry between Maia and Decker was undeniable from that very first kiss and I’m truly impressed at how intense their connection reflected through the pages. I am yet again put to shame with my inability to accurately guess the identity of the villain prior to its reveal, but ultimately it’s the not knowing that makes part of the reading experience for me. Catherine Cowles is a tried and true author of mine which is further proven through this fast-paced and unputdownable novella.
💌 Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren (5 stars):
Accidentally Yours was a joyous experience from beginning to end that left me feeling giddy and wanting to kick my feet like a teenager. The magnetic connection and undeniable chemistry between Veronica and Jude felt explosive and instantaneous. I would’ve gladly read a full-length novel surrounding these two fun and witty characters that find themselves realising that sometimes fate intervenes and that their perfect match was existing within the same living quarters. This sweet novella was the perfect story to kickstart this series of original stories, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else awaits from the rest of the authors.
⏳ Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young (5 stars):
Time Will Tell was a beautifully crafted tale that divulged into the themes of grief and loss with apparent love and care. The way that Georgia and Callum connected through their loss and the way their bond was forged by the discovery of a secret love story that deserved to shine in the light decades prior made for a compelling (and ultimately bittersweet) story. The way that the characters manage to balance their grief with banter-filled dynamic left me grinning from one chapter to the next, and I absolutely loved getting to witness the strong bonds that both families share with one another. I adored every aspect of this journey as I once again find myself wishing that I could’ve experienced this concept as a full-length novel, whilst at the same time feeling nothing but satisfaction and joy in how this sweet novella concludes.
🎭 Second Act Romance by Julie Soto (2 stars):
Sadly I didn’t connect with Second Act Romance as deeply as the first two stories despite the electric connection that is shared between the two main characters. For a short romance novella there seemed to be very little emphasis on the romance and more so on the explanation surrounding how a theatre production works and all of the necessary jargon for reader understanding. This would’ve been fine (and more fun to learn about) had the book been longer with more wiggle room in the word count… but ultimately I feel like I was missing opportunity to focus more on the characters as a budding couple as opposed to the build-up towards their current professional lives. I was in awe at the clear passion and enthusiasm that the author imbued into story surrounding the production, but in this circumstance it was unfortunately wasted on me with what I was expecting from the story as a whole. The magnetic final act was what pulled the entire story together for me as both Bex and ‘C.J’ save the production and finally get their chance at the romance that they missed out on eight years prior.
🪽 A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci (5 stars):
A Play for Love is easily my favourite novella within the series thus far as it has delivered on everything that I had been looking for from beginning to end. This was a giddy, feel-good story that felt both earnest and honest in its exploration between two people that missed their chance at love, and whom therefore made sure to take full advantage when their second chance opportunity arose. The witty dialogue and cheesy actions from side-characters left me grinning throughout the entirety of the story to the point that I probably looked insane. The sparks that ignited between Rory and Oliver was undeniable with their keenness to not waste another moment making me want swoon like a cartoon character with hearts in my eyes. Their chemistry felt limitless and their story played out in my mind like a movie.
🪦 Valentine’s Slay by Navessa Allen (4 stars):
Valentine’s Slay was a fast and thrilling read that had me questioning the direction of the plot (in the best way) until the truth was swiftly unveiled. The opening of the story was an unforgettable introduction that I will be scarce to forget for a very long time with its ability to make me question whether I should be laughing or feeling concerned in response to the circumstances being presented. The connection between both main characters felt effortless from the very beginning and I adored the way that Noah strived to be the best support system for Emma after her harrowing and traumatic experience. The fact that he immediately stepped up and proved to be the perfect partner and her equal whilst expecting nothing in return was wonderful to see, and it doesn’t hurt that he’d been quietly yearning for her on the side since they were in high school. This was my first read by Navessa Allen and it will most definitely not be my last. Maybe it’s finally time that I find out about the hype surrounding Light’s Out after loving Valentine’s Slay.
❤️🔥 Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles (4 stars):
As an avid fan and devout reader of all things Catherine Cowles, Death to Valentine’s Day was yet another strong release that delivered on the swoon-worthy romance paired with the anxiety-spiking high stakes that this author is known for. I will admit that I was a little concerned initially with this story being a novella as somebody who is familiar with the method and approach that Cowles takes to her storytelling. However I was immediately put at ease with the inclusion of the ‘ex boyfriend’s older brother’ inclusion which introduced a seamless and believable connection that I felt like I could grasp with my own two hands. The chemistry between Maia and Decker was undeniable from that very first kiss and I’m truly impressed at how intense their connection reflected through the pages. I am yet again put to shame with my inability to accurately guess the identity of the villain prior to its reveal, but ultimately it’s the not knowing that makes part of the reading experience for me. Catherine Cowles is a tried and true author of mine which is further proven through this fast-paced and unputdownable novella.
💌 Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren (5 stars):
Accidentally Yours was a joyous experience from beginning to end that left me feeling giddy and wanting to kick my feet like a teenager. The magnetic connection and undeniable chemistry between Veronica and Jude felt explosive and instantaneous. I would’ve gladly read a full-length novel surrounding these two fun and witty characters that find themselves realising that sometimes fate intervenes and that their perfect match was existing within the same living quarters. This sweet novella was the perfect story to kickstart this series of original stories, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else awaits from the rest of the authors.
⏳ Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young (5 stars):
Time Will Tell was a beautifully crafted tale that divulged into the themes of grief and loss with apparent love and care. The way that Georgia and Callum connected through their loss and the way their bond was forged by the discovery of a secret love story that deserved to shine in the light decades prior made for a compelling (and ultimately bittersweet) story. The way that the characters manage to balance their grief with banter-filled dynamic left me grinning from one chapter to the next, and I absolutely loved getting to witness the strong bonds that both families share with one another. I adored every aspect of this journey as I once again find myself wishing that I could’ve experienced this concept as a full-length novel, whilst at the same time feeling nothing but satisfaction and joy in how this sweet novella concludes.
🎭 Second Act Romance by Julie Soto (2 stars):
Sadly I didn’t connect with Second Act Romance as deeply as the first two stories despite the electric connection that is shared between the two main characters. For a short romance novella there seemed to be very little emphasis on the romance and more so on the explanation surrounding how a theatre production works and all of the necessary jargon for reader understanding. This would’ve been fine (and more fun to learn about) had the book been longer with more wiggle room in the word count… but ultimately I feel like I was missing opportunity to focus more on the characters as a budding couple as opposed to the build-up towards their current professional lives. I was in awe at the clear passion and enthusiasm that the author imbued into story surrounding the production, but in this circumstance it was unfortunately wasted on me with what I was expecting from the story as a whole. The magnetic final act was what pulled the entire story together for me as both Bex and ‘C.J’ save the production and finally get their chance at the romance that they missed out on eight years prior.
🪽 A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci (5 stars):
A Play for Love is easily my favourite novella within the series thus far as it has delivered on everything that I had been looking for from beginning to end. This was a giddy, feel-good story that felt both earnest and honest in its exploration between two people that missed their chance at love, and whom therefore made sure to take full advantage when their second chance opportunity arose. The witty dialogue and cheesy actions from side-characters left me grinning throughout the entirety of the story to the point that I probably looked insane. The sparks that ignited between Rory and Oliver was undeniable with their keenness to not waste another moment making me want swoon like a cartoon character with hearts in my eyes. Their chemistry felt limitless and their story played out in my mind like a movie.
🪦 Valentine’s Slay by Navessa Allen (4 stars):
Valentine’s Slay was a fast and thrilling read that had me questioning the direction of the plot (in the best way) until the truth was swiftly unveiled. The opening of the story was an unforgettable introduction that I will be scarce to forget for a very long time with its ability to make me question whether I should be laughing or feeling concerned in response to the circumstances being presented. The connection between both main characters felt effortless from the very beginning and I adored the way that Noah strived to be the best support system for Emma after her harrowing and traumatic experience. The fact that he immediately stepped up and proved to be the perfect partner and her equal whilst expecting nothing in return was wonderful to see, and it doesn’t hurt that he’d been quietly yearning for her on the side since they were in high school. This was my first read by Navessa Allen and it will most definitely not be my last. Maybe it’s finally time that I find out about the hype surrounding Light’s Out after loving Valentine’s Slay.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances Collection from Amazon’s Original Stories is a must read novella series centered around Valentine’s Day, star crossed lovers and hopeless romantics.
Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles 2/5 stars
I really loved the author’s writing style so I will be checking out her other novels. I’ve always have a knack for the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope. Decker’s character was fleshed out. Maia’s story was in some ways was understood but in others there were some holes in her words and actions. The setting was a little unsettling for me as well as the “bad guy” twist at the end did not make sense. There was nothing foreshadowing to suggest that the killer was who they were. I think this story’s concept would have done better as a full length novel than a novella.
Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren 4/5 stars
Accidentally Yours was my favorite novella of the bunch. Having a nickname for your attractive neighbor in your apartment complex whom you’ve had fleeting interactions with but never knew his real name you already had a crush on! This was very well written and the pacing was spot on. Veronica bartering for a new computer and desk chair being a non-negotiable was hilarious. The witty banter was entertaining and I could have read 100 more pages before and after of these characters. I highly recommend checking out this novella.
Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young 3/5 stars
This novella felt like a whole string of very unlikely events in a row but was altogether a wholesome ride. What are the odds you connect across the globe and fall in love with a man who happens to be your grandmother’s ex-girlfriend secret relationships grandson? I always love the email communication back and forth, the structuring is super fun visually!
Second Act Romance by Julie Soto 4/5 stars
Julie Soto gave me what A Play for Love didn’t. I was right there in Bex’s dream state thinking about how handsome Colby J. Turner was and their onstage chemistry. The shrimp tacos food poisoning was funny and also growing up in theater myself and the author everything felt authentic “The show must go on!” No matter what. I’ve never seen Oklahoma! but perhaps now I should!
A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci 2/5 stars
This one unfortunately didn’t really work for me. I can grasp there was a spark in a set-up kiss from a college drama class, but then the situational circumstances seemed too out of reach. You referenced this boy as “Hot Guy”, is a little cringey for me. I didn’t think the characters were cute or funny. I wished I cared, but this one I just didn’t care.
Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen 4/5 stars
This was my second Navessa Allen title and my preferences mesh very well with her writing style. You’re immediately hooked in to Noah’s perspective and sheer horror to learn an old crush of his whom he was currently finishing burying 6 feet under was buried alive! His care for her was honest and wholesome from the beginning. The bedroom scenes are very explicit which is Navessa’s bread and butter but the pacing is frankly completely believable to me. I enjoyed Noah’s POV and the cute epilogue chapter in Emma’s POV.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARCs of this collection in exchange for my honest review. The covers are so cute and all are a quick, fun read around the holiday for any romance reader!
#TheImprobableMeetCuteSecondChancescollection #NetGalley
Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles 2/5 stars
I really loved the author’s writing style so I will be checking out her other novels. I’ve always have a knack for the ex-boyfriend’s brother trope. Decker’s character was fleshed out. Maia’s story was in some ways was understood but in others there were some holes in her words and actions. The setting was a little unsettling for me as well as the “bad guy” twist at the end did not make sense. There was nothing foreshadowing to suggest that the killer was who they were. I think this story’s concept would have done better as a full length novel than a novella.
Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren 4/5 stars
Accidentally Yours was my favorite novella of the bunch. Having a nickname for your attractive neighbor in your apartment complex whom you’ve had fleeting interactions with but never knew his real name you already had a crush on! This was very well written and the pacing was spot on. Veronica bartering for a new computer and desk chair being a non-negotiable was hilarious. The witty banter was entertaining and I could have read 100 more pages before and after of these characters. I highly recommend checking out this novella.
Time Will Tell by Hannah Bonam-Young 3/5 stars
This novella felt like a whole string of very unlikely events in a row but was altogether a wholesome ride. What are the odds you connect across the globe and fall in love with a man who happens to be your grandmother’s ex-girlfriend secret relationships grandson? I always love the email communication back and forth, the structuring is super fun visually!
Second Act Romance by Julie Soto 4/5 stars
Julie Soto gave me what A Play for Love didn’t. I was right there in Bex’s dream state thinking about how handsome Colby J. Turner was and their onstage chemistry. The shrimp tacos food poisoning was funny and also growing up in theater myself and the author everything felt authentic “The show must go on!” No matter what. I’ve never seen Oklahoma! but perhaps now I should!
A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci 2/5 stars
This one unfortunately didn’t really work for me. I can grasp there was a spark in a set-up kiss from a college drama class, but then the situational circumstances seemed too out of reach. You referenced this boy as “Hot Guy”, is a little cringey for me. I didn’t think the characters were cute or funny. I wished I cared, but this one I just didn’t care.
Valentine's Slay by Navessa Allen 4/5 stars
This was my second Navessa Allen title and my preferences mesh very well with her writing style. You’re immediately hooked in to Noah’s perspective and sheer horror to learn an old crush of his whom he was currently finishing burying 6 feet under was buried alive! His care for her was honest and wholesome from the beginning. The bedroom scenes are very explicit which is Navessa’s bread and butter but the pacing is frankly completely believable to me. I enjoyed Noah’s POV and the cute epilogue chapter in Emma’s POV.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARCs of this collection in exchange for my honest review. The covers are so cute and all are a quick, fun read around the holiday for any romance reader!
#TheImprobableMeetCuteSecondChancescollection #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this entire collection as an ARC!
Ok, I loved this!! Ex boyfriend’s brother who had been in love with her for years, one bed, MURDER and finally a real spicy scene instead of just kisses and talks of things happening, like the other novellas in this series have had. (Which didn’t make me like them any less, but this was refreshing for this collection to finally have some spice).
I am a SUCKER for romance murder mysteries, like my two favorite things mashed together. I did not read the description before reading this, so going in blind made it better for me personally.
Maia’s ex boyfriend Jackson’s older brother Decker had been in love with Maia since they were young. He made the mistake of telling his selfish brother his feelings so Jackson swept in, asking Maia out before Deck could. That lead to a decade long relationship between Maia and Jackson that ended with her catching him cheating on her on Valentine’s Day. with her cousin (“ride me stallion”, I freaking died at that, so cringe but also hilarious!)
Maia’s best friends take her to an Anti Valentine’s Day party a year after her break up, at a wealthy donors house (they work in wildlife conservation) Decker and Jackson end up being there too. The night gets a little crazy until Maia finds a dead body…someone who happens to be a red head like her. Then it gets really crazy from there. The party guests are locked in this house up in the mountains of Colorado after an avalanche from a snow storm, With a killer.
When I found out who the killer was at the twist at the end, I didn’t see it coming and it really surprised me!! I liked the twist because then the red head getting murdered made more sense!
The book was fast paced, but made sense to me and everything came together. If it had been a little longer I think it could have focused more on the past with Deck and Maia, more on the relationships of Maias two best friends Violet and Erik. Some foreshadowing could have also been written in more, again if it was longer. But I can’t bring myself to knock off stars for that because I think the author did a great job with what she did write and had to work with for this collection!
Ok, I loved this!! Ex boyfriend’s brother who had been in love with her for years, one bed, MURDER and finally a real spicy scene instead of just kisses and talks of things happening, like the other novellas in this series have had. (Which didn’t make me like them any less, but this was refreshing for this collection to finally have some spice).
I am a SUCKER for romance murder mysteries, like my two favorite things mashed together. I did not read the description before reading this, so going in blind made it better for me personally.
Maia’s ex boyfriend Jackson’s older brother Decker had been in love with Maia since they were young. He made the mistake of telling his selfish brother his feelings so Jackson swept in, asking Maia out before Deck could. That lead to a decade long relationship between Maia and Jackson that ended with her catching him cheating on her on Valentine’s Day. with her cousin (“ride me stallion”, I freaking died at that, so cringe but also hilarious!)
Maia’s best friends take her to an Anti Valentine’s Day party a year after her break up, at a wealthy donors house (they work in wildlife conservation) Decker and Jackson end up being there too. The night gets a little crazy until Maia finds a dead body…someone who happens to be a red head like her. Then it gets really crazy from there. The party guests are locked in this house up in the mountains of Colorado after an avalanche from a snow storm, With a killer.
When I found out who the killer was at the twist at the end, I didn’t see it coming and it really surprised me!! I liked the twist because then the red head getting murdered made more sense!
The book was fast paced, but made sense to me and everything came together. If it had been a little longer I think it could have focused more on the past with Deck and Maia, more on the relationships of Maias two best friends Violet and Erik. Some foreshadowing could have also been written in more, again if it was longer. But I can’t bring myself to knock off stars for that because I think the author did a great job with what she did write and had to work with for this collection!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
💝 Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances is pure Valentine’s Day love. Six short romances, six wildly different vibes, all rooted in fate, timing, and love getting a do-over.
📧 @christinalauren kicks things off with a laugh-out-loud modern meet-cute featuring a wrong Zoom call, flirty emails, and the realization that the perfect match might be closer than expected.
🇬🇧 @authorhannahby delivers a tender, time-spanning romance where a hidden love from the 1950s reshapes the present, proving some connections are simply meant to find their way back.
🎭 @juliesotowrites turns up the heat with theater-kid chemistry, sharp banter, and a swoony showmance as former costars reunite for a Valentine’s Day production, and a long-overdue second chance.
💘 @authortrilinapucci brings playful chaos and big rom-com energy, from a long-ago Romeo and Juliet kiss to an unforgettable reunion involving Cupid wings, gold shorts, and sizzling chemistry.
❄️ @catherinecowlesauthor blends romance and suspense in a snowy, closed-circle mystery where a masquerade ball, a murder, and falling for your ex’s brother raise the stakes fast.
🪦 @navessa.allen goes gloriously dark and steamy with a scream-from-the-grave meet-cute, a hot gravedigger, and a second-chance romance that’s equal parts unhinged, hilarious, and hot.
This is the perfect short story collection for readers who love fate, Valentine’sDay, and romance that refuses to stay buried. These stories release January 20. Thanks @netgalley for the ALCs.
CW: murder, death, blood, homophobia, death of a grandparent (discussed), emesis, medical content
📧 @christinalauren kicks things off with a laugh-out-loud modern meet-cute featuring a wrong Zoom call, flirty emails, and the realization that the perfect match might be closer than expected.
🇬🇧 @authorhannahby delivers a tender, time-spanning romance where a hidden love from the 1950s reshapes the present, proving some connections are simply meant to find their way back.
🎭 @juliesotowrites turns up the heat with theater-kid chemistry, sharp banter, and a swoony showmance as former costars reunite for a Valentine’s Day production, and a long-overdue second chance.
💘 @authortrilinapucci brings playful chaos and big rom-com energy, from a long-ago Romeo and Juliet kiss to an unforgettable reunion involving Cupid wings, gold shorts, and sizzling chemistry.
❄️ @catherinecowlesauthor blends romance and suspense in a snowy, closed-circle mystery where a masquerade ball, a murder, and falling for your ex’s brother raise the stakes fast.
🪦 @navessa.allen goes gloriously dark and steamy with a scream-from-the-grave meet-cute, a hot gravedigger, and a second-chance romance that’s equal parts unhinged, hilarious, and hot.
This is the perfect short story collection for readers who love fate, Valentine’sDay, and romance that refuses to stay buried. These stories release January 20. Thanks @netgalley for the ALCs.
CW: murder, death, blood, homophobia, death of a grandparent (discussed), emesis, medical content
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Accidentally Yours — Christina Lauren
I liked this one! Fern’s Zoom mishap was hilarious, and seeing her neighborly crush show up was so sweet. The duo can’t do wrong — they were perfect together. The story was fun, charming, and even though it was short, it made me smile the whole time.
Time Will Tell — Hannah Bonam‑Young
This was my favorite. They wrote emails and fell in love, discovering new things about each other before they even met up. I loved watching their connection grow slowly, learning about each other piece by piece. I was so excited for when they would finally meet in person.
Second Act Romance — Julie Soto
I adored this one! The theater setting was so sweet, and I felt like I was backstage with them, watching all the sparks fly. I was on the edge the most, cheering for them the whole time. The story was funny, heartwarming, and full of little moments that made me smile constantly.
A Play for Love — Trilina Pucci
I really liked this one. The college production and brunch setup felt cozy and charming. Watching the characters slowly realize their feelings was fun and romantic. The story made me feel warm and happy while reading.
Death to Valentine’s Day — Catherine Cowles
This one was elegant. The story mixed mystery and romance in a way I liked. I enjoyed following the events and seeing how the characters interacted throughout the story.
Valentine’s Slay — Navessa Allen
This was nice. I liked the playful suspense, and there were moments that made me smile. The story was fun, and the characters kept me engaged from start to finish.
I liked this one! Fern’s Zoom mishap was hilarious, and seeing her neighborly crush show up was so sweet. The duo can’t do wrong — they were perfect together. The story was fun, charming, and even though it was short, it made me smile the whole time.
Time Will Tell — Hannah Bonam‑Young
This was my favorite. They wrote emails and fell in love, discovering new things about each other before they even met up. I loved watching their connection grow slowly, learning about each other piece by piece. I was so excited for when they would finally meet in person.
Second Act Romance — Julie Soto
I adored this one! The theater setting was so sweet, and I felt like I was backstage with them, watching all the sparks fly. I was on the edge the most, cheering for them the whole time. The story was funny, heartwarming, and full of little moments that made me smile constantly.
A Play for Love — Trilina Pucci
I really liked this one. The college production and brunch setup felt cozy and charming. Watching the characters slowly realize their feelings was fun and romantic. The story made me feel warm and happy while reading.
Death to Valentine’s Day — Catherine Cowles
This one was elegant. The story mixed mystery and romance in a way I liked. I enjoyed following the events and seeing how the characters interacted throughout the story.
Valentine’s Slay — Navessa Allen
This was nice. I liked the playful suspense, and there were moments that made me smile. The story was fun, and the characters kept me engaged from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Get ready for all the fun, murdery shenanigans we've come to love from Catherine because this one is packed full of twists, surprises, and major whodunit energy found at a masked masquerade ball!
💔 Ex's Brother
🩷 Snowed In
🔪 Murder Mystery
💔 He Falls First
🩷 It's Always Been You
🔪 Only One Bed
Maia is not a fan of Valentine's Day thanks to her d-bag of an ex, Jackson. So, the last thing she wants is a night out, but her best friends convince her to get off the couch and attend a masked masquerade ball. Where, unbeknownst to her, Jackson will be there along with his brother, Decker, oh and a murderer!
Deck is the opposite of his brother. He's thoughtful, generous, and has loved Maia for as long as he can remember. So, of course he tracks her almost immediately after getting to the ball. And imagine his surprise when Maia just so happens to stumble into him! As these two start to get closer, an unexpected murder throws everything into chaos & pretty soon Maia & Deck along with the rest of the guests are trying to figure out who's behind it.
No surprise here that I completely devoured this one! I've learned not to even try to guess the suspect & just enjoy the wild ride that only Catherine can weave throughout the pages! She always delivers. Narrated by the incredible Erin Mallon & Connor Crais, Death to Valentine's Day is exactly the perfect mix of murder and romance (everything you could want for this holiday ;)
Also, hearing Connor say, "𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘦." Yeah, absolutely melting!
Thank you so much to Team Catherine Cowles for the ALC!
💔 Ex's Brother
🩷 Snowed In
🔪 Murder Mystery
💔 He Falls First
🩷 It's Always Been You
🔪 Only One Bed
Maia is not a fan of Valentine's Day thanks to her d-bag of an ex, Jackson. So, the last thing she wants is a night out, but her best friends convince her to get off the couch and attend a masked masquerade ball. Where, unbeknownst to her, Jackson will be there along with his brother, Decker, oh and a murderer!
Deck is the opposite of his brother. He's thoughtful, generous, and has loved Maia for as long as he can remember. So, of course he tracks her almost immediately after getting to the ball. And imagine his surprise when Maia just so happens to stumble into him! As these two start to get closer, an unexpected murder throws everything into chaos & pretty soon Maia & Deck along with the rest of the guests are trying to figure out who's behind it.
No surprise here that I completely devoured this one! I've learned not to even try to guess the suspect & just enjoy the wild ride that only Catherine can weave throughout the pages! She always delivers. Narrated by the incredible Erin Mallon & Connor Crais, Death to Valentine's Day is exactly the perfect mix of murder and romance (everything you could want for this holiday ;)
Also, hearing Connor say, "𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘦." Yeah, absolutely melting!
Thank you so much to Team Catherine Cowles for the ALC!
January 7, 2026
📖 Death to Valentine’s Day by Catherine Cowles
🎧 Narrated by Erin Mallon & Connor Crais
“Note to self: don’t kiss your ex’s brother.”
This novella delivered on absolutely everything I love about a great Catherine Cowles story!
Mystery & Suspense? ✔️
Handsome Down BAD MMC? ✔️
Spice So Hot You’ll Need Sunnies? ✔️🥵
A Plot Twist You Will NOT See Coming?! ✔️🤯
“Will you let me see you, Birdie? All of you?”
For this to be such a short story everything came together so well and the pacing was perfect! I freaking ADORED Maia & Decker! The way they were always there for each other was so unbelievably sweet.
“What if I want to be reckless?”
“Then let’s be reckless.”
The setting for this story was really fun! Think Clue, but you are snowed in during a masquerade ball with both your cheating ex and his hot older brother! 😮💨🫠❤️🔥
“Birdie, it’s nothing but an honor to worship every part of your body, and you better believe I’ll be making a study of it.”
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Maia & Decker but I’m always keeping my fingers crossed that they pop up in a future book!
The duet narration by Erin Mallon & Connor Crais was amazing! This combo of narrators literally never fails! If you love a great murder mystery story I highly recommend downloading this one!
Tropes:
💋 Ex’s Older Brother
🤭 Years of Pining
❤️🔥 He Falls First
🫶🏼 “It’s Always Been You.”
🎭 Masquerade
🔪 Murder Mystery
🧩 Clue But w/ The Hot Brother
🎧 Narrated by Erin Mallon & Connor Crais
“Note to self: don’t kiss your ex’s brother.”
This novella delivered on absolutely everything I love about a great Catherine Cowles story!
Mystery & Suspense? ✔️
Handsome Down BAD MMC? ✔️
Spice So Hot You’ll Need Sunnies? ✔️🥵
A Plot Twist You Will NOT See Coming?! ✔️🤯
“Will you let me see you, Birdie? All of you?”
For this to be such a short story everything came together so well and the pacing was perfect! I freaking ADORED Maia & Decker! The way they were always there for each other was so unbelievably sweet.
“What if I want to be reckless?”
“Then let’s be reckless.”
The setting for this story was really fun! Think Clue, but you are snowed in during a masquerade ball with both your cheating ex and his hot older brother! 😮💨🫠❤️🔥
“Birdie, it’s nothing but an honor to worship every part of your body, and you better believe I’ll be making a study of it.”
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Maia & Decker but I’m always keeping my fingers crossed that they pop up in a future book!
The duet narration by Erin Mallon & Connor Crais was amazing! This combo of narrators literally never fails! If you love a great murder mystery story I highly recommend downloading this one!
Tropes:
💋 Ex’s Older Brother
🤭 Years of Pining
❤️🔥 He Falls First
🫶🏼 “It’s Always Been You.”
🎭 Masquerade
🔪 Murder Mystery
🧩 Clue But w/ The Hot Brother
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5-3⭐️ This pains me to say, as a fan of Catherine Cowles’ work, but her typical, more formulaic romantic suspense just didn't work in this shorter format. As a fan of these seasonal Amazon anthologies, I went into this novella assuming CC would try something very different, using both the new format and publisher as a catalyst for change. And in fact, the beginning had me completely hooked with the inclusion of the forbidden love/ex’s brother trope. However, I was disappointed to find out that not only was that not the case, but that it was very similar to many of her previous books.
While I appreciate her storytelling, 100 pages was simply not enough to do all that her books typically do, including the intro of setting and characters, some sort of threat (usually a murderer), and a love story in the face of said threat. This shorter length with so much in it led to underdeveloped characters, a disjointed plot line, and steamy scenes that just didn’t appeal given the lack of tension buildup. That said, it does pack quite a bit into this shorter story and I am sure there are readers this will appeal to.
🎧 I normally enjoy both narrators who helmed the audiobook version of this one, but something about their voices and the story didn't mesh well for me. I do wonder if I might have enjoyed this one more in print, particularly the spicier scenes.
Read if you enjoy:
-romantic suspense
-unrequited love
-ex's brother/forbidden romance
-spicy scenes
Thank you Brilliance Audio for the advanced audiobook.
While I appreciate her storytelling, 100 pages was simply not enough to do all that her books typically do, including the intro of setting and characters, some sort of threat (usually a murderer), and a love story in the face of said threat. This shorter length with so much in it led to underdeveloped characters, a disjointed plot line, and steamy scenes that just didn’t appeal given the lack of tension buildup. That said, it does pack quite a bit into this shorter story and I am sure there are readers this will appeal to.
🎧 I normally enjoy both narrators who helmed the audiobook version of this one, but something about their voices and the story didn't mesh well for me. I do wonder if I might have enjoyed this one more in print, particularly the spicier scenes.
Read if you enjoy:
-romantic suspense
-unrequited love
-ex's brother/forbidden romance
-spicy scenes
Thank you Brilliance Audio for the advanced audiobook.
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