New Book Review: Trust No One by James Rollins

 

James Rollins delivers another tour de Force with his latest stand alone thriller steeped with history, science and a mystery that will leave you breathless.

My Rating for Trust No One by James Rollins: 4 Stars

Release Date: February 24th, 2026

Contemporary Mystery, Technothriller

Publisher: William Marrow

Available at Amazon US

Knowledge is power until it hits too close to home for five students who go on the run with a mystery to figure out while staying one step ahead from an ancient organization determined to own a centuries old book that will tear apart the fabric of what is humankind. What the Comte de Saint-Germain has written down may just change the fabric of humankind.

My Review of Trust No One:

TRUST NO ONE is James Rollins' latest & delightful stand alone title of 2026 that will leave you on the edge of your seat till the very end of the book. This is one of my ultimate favorite author as he is a master at blending history with science fiction and a contemporary setting that will suck the reader in and not let go until the last page is read. With each book of this author, I am drawn more and more into his storytelling that leaves me speechless after ach book I read. With a fast paced storyline, TRUST NO ONE introduces the reader to five students accused of murdering their professor and having to go on the run trying to stay ahead of an organization that is determined to get a centuries old book that was written by the mysterious 18th century Comte de Saint-Germain. The author is a masterful storyteller and one I highly recommend if you enjoy Douglas Preston & Clive Cussler books. Mr. Rollins will keep you up way past your bedtime with TRUST NO ONE and I for one loved every minute of the book.

We meet Sharyn Karr, an american studying at the University of Exeter and when her professor thrusts a book at her, declaring she mustn't trust anyone, she is thrust into a mystery filled with dangerous and deadly adviratry and more a mystery that spans centuries. She along with four other students of the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism go on the run trying to find allies even as their enemies come close to them repeatedly. I got to admit, the five MC's are different and took me awhile to warm up to them. I did like how the author delivers different personalities and made me worry for them as they raced across Europe trying to stay ahead of this dangerous cabal. I liked how multidimensional the characters were and the shocking last chapter had me on the edge of my seat. The story flowed smoothly after a slow start and introduction of the main characters. I liked how the author uses the settings as a perfect backdrop tot he fast paced storyline so the reader felt like they were there as well while reading TRUST NO ONE. The twists alone in the story had me breathless as they came out of nowhere and had me gasping.

If you enjoy any of James Rollins books before this one, then you will enjoy TRUST NO ONE. He delivers a wild and fraught filled ride with this latest book that I couldn't wait to see who this shadow organization was while learning more about this mysterious Comte de Saint-Germain as well. TRUST NO ONE is a pulse pounding ride from start to finish and I highly recommend this as well as his other books (Sigma series 1000%) for a wild ride that will take you to places you might never been to before.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement. I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

Book Review: Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis

Return to Wildstone as three siblings find that life as they know it is a work in progress and will deliver more than they anticipate if they can just trust themselves to grab it with both hands.

My Rating for Almost Just Friends: 4 Stars and a Series Recommendations

Find Almost Just Friends at Amazon

Piper Manning is ready to move onto her next chapter of her life. Her two younger siblings are grown and on their own. She is as tough as she can be but with freedom looming on the horizon, she is determined to finish fixing up the lake house she inherited from her grandparents and move onto the next chapter of her life. What she didn’t anticipate is both siblings coming back to Wildstone and complications arise when tall, dark and handsome smacks into Piper when a big storm approaches Wildstone. Now Piper must deal with siblings, secrets and more as she tries to deal with emotions, she doesn’t want to feel but can’t help. But as the secrets everyone is keeping from Piper come out, Piper finds herself adrift and angry at the ones she loves as she tries to navigate the way her life has become. Can she find a way to make peace with her siblings, find it in her heart to let herself love Camden Hayes and see her dreams come true?

ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is the next installment in the wonderful heartfelt Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis. The books in the series can be read as a stand alone as each book involves different characters set in Wildstone. I highly enjoyed ALMOST JUST FRIENDS and fell in love with Piper, Winnie and Gavin a lot. Siblings who are fractured and two who have secrets that will rock Piper’s world more than she ever imagined. The characters are what gives the stories in the Wildstone series such depth. They are intriguing, wonderfully well written and totally relatable in all ways. I especially enjoyed Winnie as she insisted, she can be a handywoman at the lake house and watches youtube videos to figure out things. Gavin was fun as well as he learned to make amends for past hurts when he spies a first love that he hurt deeply. All three siblings are as different as pie but together are equally compelling. I loved every one of them immensely. Add in some quirky and wonderful secondary characters and man, you got a wild ride from start to finish.

ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is a fun and enjoyable story set in the Wildstone series, and I love how smoothly this book went as I was reading it. It was full of entertaining characters, relatable items from everyday life such as addiction, pregnancy and more that happen each day to everyone in some shape and form. Ms. Shalvis does a remarkable job in keeping the story flowing smoothly and I couldn’t keep this book down. It’s a perfect winter read that will keep the reader entertained till the very end. I highly recommend this book as well as the series in general if you are looking for a series set in a small town filled with quirky and entertaining people and a setting that will take your breath away. I can’t wait to see where the author goes next for the Wildstone series in general and hope we won’t have to wait long for the next installment.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Book Review: Jill Shalvis' The Lemon Sisters

Welcome back to Wildstone as two sisters find their way back to one another and themselves.

My Rating for The Lemon Sisters: 3.5 Stars

Find The Lemon Sisters at Amazon

Brooke Lemon was always been as free spirited as her sister, Mindy, was the responsible and perfect one. But when Mindy knocks on Brooke’s door, what Brooke sees isn’t the perfect and put together sister she has always known but a woman in the throes of a breakdown with three kids in toe. When Brooke agrees to trade places for a few days with Mindy so she can pick up the pieces and figure out how to get back to the person she once was, Brooke finds herself with three kids and on her way to Wildstone, the small town she called home once. But once there, she finds that the man she once loved and if she is honest with herself, still loves, is still there, handsome as ever. But as the Lemon sisters figure out the way back to themselves can they find the peace they are searching for even as the love they long for is right there in front of them?

THE LEMON SISTERS is a great addition to Jill Shalvis’s Wildstone series. I loved Brooke and Mindy Lemon and Mindy’s kids are a hoot. What really intrigued me was both Mindy and Brooke finding out that they need changes int heir lives but had no idea on how to even start the process of looking for those said changes. Brooke is dealing with an on the job accident and Mindy is, so self-contained it’s a wonder she hasn’t combusted before now. I love all the characters in this series and each book is one where you can read as a stand alone and don’t necessarily have to read past books to understand some things. But I highly recommend the first books as well since they are just as fun and compelling as THE LEMON SISTERS.

Meet Brooke and Mindy Lemon. Sisters who are broken even as they pretend nothing is wrong. Mindy can’t take it anymore and shows up on Brooke’s doorstep with her three kids in toe to beg for some relief for a few days. Brooke is trying to deal with her issues but keeps pretending all is well. When she agrees to help Mindy, what Brooke finds is more than the peace she craves but something that will show her the way back to herself again. I love Mindy and Brooke. They are complete opposite. Brooke is the wild child, free spirited one of the sisters and Mindy is very self-contained and controlling to a degree. I loved how the author conveys each sisters’ personalities and within the story and keeps the reader rooting for both sisters to find their own version of peace and love. The characters are well written, wonderfully relatable and the scenery within THE LEMON SISTERS makes me want to visit Wildstone one of these days if its real. Add in some wonderful secondary characters that deliver some fun scenes and three kids that are downright adorable, well you got all the right notes for this reader to fall in love with the book and this series.

THE LEMON SISTERS is more about two sisters finding their way again, as an individual and as sisters but also about second chances, friendship, love, family and more. The author does an amazing job in keeping the reader glued to the pages of the book as you read the twists and turns of Brooke and Mindy’s journey as well as meet some of the residents of Wildstone. The story flows so smoothly, I never looked up to see what time it was nor make dinner till I read that very last page. THE LEMON SISTERS is a sweet and wonderful story that will tug on your heartstrings and keep you glued to the pages of the book till the very end. I can’t wait to see where the author goes next in this little town.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement