No Apology Book Reviews - authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers

Interview with Kathleen Donnelly (National Forest K-9 series, Colorado K-9 Rescue)

January 23, 2026

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Chasing Justice, Hunting the Truth, and Killer Secrets are the first books by Kathleen Donnelly of the National Forest K-9 Series. She is an author that should be put on everybody’s radar. Having been a handler for a private narcotics K-9 detection company, she is able to use her experiences to craft realistic stories in these novels. Each of the three books explains more of former Marine Maya Thompson’s and Deputy Sheriff Josh Colte’s …

Interview with Lisa Childs (The Cowboy’s Claim, Christmas Security, The Unknown Colton)

January 16, 2026

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Cowboy’s Claim has lawyer Maci Bluff trying to win a lawsuit for the Lemmon Brothers, Blake, Brett, and Levi. They were ranch hands for Frank (the owner) who has died and left them the ranch. But his birth daughter, Trish, and Maci’s best friend, are contesting the will. Maci has feelings for Blake but is trying to set them aside because she does not want a conflict of interest. Christmas Security has biophysics …

Review Roundup Winter 2025-2026 – Part 1

January 12, 2026

A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Winter 2025-2026. Beware of spoilers! Title: 100 Days of Sunlight Author: Abbie Emmons Series: Tessa and Weston #1 This author has a “writing how-to” YouTube channel that I’ve watched a few times, and when I learned she’s published a book with an interesting premise and it was available at my library, I wanted to check it out and see if Emmons can walk the walk or just talk the talk. DNF 19%. …

You Can Scream by Rebecca Zanetti

January 12, 2026

Title: You Can Scream Author: Rebecca Zanetti Series: Laurel Snow #5 Much thanks to Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read the first couple books in this series and greatly enjoyed them, but One Cursed Rose was so awful it completely turned me off Zanetti for a couple years. I wish I’d continued this series where I left off instead of skipping to Book 5, because while …

Interview with Tess Cacciatore (Yumi’s Universe)

January 9, 2026

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Yumi’s Universe was born from the imagination of Tess Cacciatore, an award-winning writer, director and global peace advocate. After decades of empowering youth across continents, Tess envisioned a world where children could learn values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. The emphasis is to inspire children everywhere to grow with kindness, imagination, and peace through magical stories, music, and art from around the world. People can go to her website and explore Yumi’s Universe. (www.YumisUniverse.com) …

Interview with Katie Bernet (Beth Is Dead)

January 9, 2026

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet takes the Little Women story by Louisa May Alcott and turns it on its head. Readers who loved this timely classic will be intrigued how Bernet takes Beth’s death and turns it into a murder mystery, puts the characters in the modern day, and has many twists with many people of interest. Although it is listed as a YA book, adult readers will also find it enjoyable, gripping, …

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

January 6, 2026

Title: Great Big Beautiful Life Author: Emily Henry Series: n/a I could have been okay with the unbalanced narrative. But I hated the climax and resolution. I went into this book so arrogant, thinking I knew exactly how it would unfold. Alice and Hayden would “audition” for the first half, their attraction sparking as they slowly got to know one another as friendly rivals; the midway point would be a twist where instead of choosing one or the other, Margaret …

Interview with Catherine Bybee (Maybe One Day)

January 8, 2026January 2, 2026

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Maybe One Day by Catherine Bybee is a home run like all her other books. Every time a reader picks up a Bybee book they take a heartfelt journey with the characters. Mari D’Angelo’s life is complete. Her children are all married. Two grandbabies fill her days, with two more on the way, and her thriving family restaurant is running on autopilot. She is an adoring Italian mother and grandmother who absolutely lives for …

Interview with C. M. Ewan (Strangers in the Car)

December 26, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Strangers in the Car by C. M. Ewan will take readers on a roller coaster ride. The plot has Abi Foster and her boyfriend Ben Simmons driving home, having cut their weekend vacation in Cornwall short due to a crisis at Ben’s law firm. They are arguing about cutting the weekend short when Abi misses a turn in the foggy country roads. They spot a stranded family with a young baby whose car has …

Interview with Melinda Curtis (The Christmas Cowboy)

December 19, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Christmas Cowboy by Melinda Curtis is a delightful holiday read. There are some heavier subjects that are heartfelt and emotionally riveting. But the humor is a welcome relief, coming mostly from a five-year-old boy. Lily Smith has come to Clementine to act as a nanny for her newborn niece and five-year-old nephew, Ford. But there is another reason she is there. She has spent her whole life wondering why her father ignored her …