Happy Publication Day – 26 September 2023

The Wedding Shake-Up By JJ Knight

A destination wedding on La Jarra Island for Tillie James’s sister has its drawbacks: hair-wrecking ocean spray and pincher crabs. And its perks: sexy, hotheaded beachfront bartender Gabe Landers, who brings out the competitive streak in fellow drinkslinger Tillie. When the rivals get together for a cocktail-making challenge, the blend is pure bliss, leaving them shaken and stirred.

The spirited blue-eyed tourist from Georgia makes Gabe’s head spin faster than his signature drink, the mermaid sunrise. But he’s determined not to obsess—out-of-towner love stories never last. Tillie agrees. They’ll just enjoy each other for now and make a clean break. No strings. No attachments. No chance. But when Tillie’s kiss goodbye comes with an invitation for Gabe to visit Atlanta, he can’t resist. As fate has it, it’s home to a heartbreaking piece of his own past.

As Tillie and Gabe face new challenges, destiny could tear them apart…or turn an intoxicating romance on the rocks into more than they ever expected.

Snowball Unwrapped By Kristen McKanagh

Take two humans destined for love (even if they don’t know it), add one adorably mischievous cat with a penchant for playing cupid, and throw in a gorgeous mountainside B&B decked out for the holidays…it’s Snowball’s recipe for the purrrfect Weber Haus Christmas!

Jocelyn Becker would do anything for her twin sister. Unfortunately, “anything” this time means taking Ilse’s place as host of tv’s Home & Hearth and filming five Christmas-themed episodes at the Victorian inn and shops of Weber Haus. Somehow, Jocelyn will have to convince the world—and her co-host, Ben—that she is Ilse, who can craft, cook, bake, sing, and skate. Jocelyn, however, cannot.

Snowball, the inn’s official greeter, is also having double trouble. The show has its own feline star, a Snowball-lookalike named Angel who’s more of a devil in disguise. Meanwhile, Snowball has noticed enough sparks between Ben and Jocelyn to light up a Christmas tree. But thanks to Jocelyn’s deception and Angel’s antics, this is going to be Snowball’s most challenging match yet.Still, the holidays are made for mistletoe kisses, crackling fires, cozy evenings, and of course, sweet Snowball shenanigans . . .

The Sound Of Sleighbells By Janet Dailey

After her divorce, Ruth McCoy is eager to trade her children’s painful memories for new holiday traditions. But Ruth has a whole new set of distractions when fate brings the man she once loved together with the son he never knew he had…

Life has thrown Judd Rankin some tough turns, and he’s startled by the feelings he still has for Ruth. Though the successful rancher knows better than to chase old dreams, he doesn’t mind lending the struggling single mom a hand. And when Judd sees Ruth’s teenaged son’s interest in his custom saddle business, he’s happy to let the boy help him build the harness for Branding Iron’s Christmas sleigh. Besides, the kid reminds Judd of the young man he once was. A man who believed anything was possible…

Powerless to deny the growing bond between her son and Judd, Ruth knows it’s only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. But will the revelation shatter the tender feelings between her and Judd—or turn out to be her family’s greatest gift?

Book Review – The Renegade By Kimberly Kincaid

He’s a younger man. An ex-Marine with a traumatic past. And he wants only one thing.

Her.

The last thing Jo Rossi expects when she goes to Remington for a make-or-break audition is to end up meeting an ex-Marine who’s more than half a decade younger than her and hotter than a freaking supernova.

And wait. Is he flirting with her?

The one and only time Jo has ever acted on impulse, she ended up with a surprise baby and a career she had to put on hold for six years. She needs to play it safe. Smart. And she definitely needs to not have a wild, impulsive, no-strings-attached fling so far from home.

Except Sawyer Knox is definitely flirting with her. And the more she gets to know him, the harder it is to resist…

Sawyer learned the hard way how short life can be. So when he sees Jo at the end of his bar, with her sassy smile and her mile-long legs, hell yes he flirts with her. He just didn’t mean to have a scorching-hot fling with her. Or to spend so much time with her after that.

He definitely didn’t mean to fall for her so fast or so hard.

Sawyer wants her. He wants it all. But Jo has to decide—can she risk her heart and go from fling to forever?

Published Date: 7 April 2023

My Review

Jo Rossi is in the city, on the brink of what could be a major turning point in her career. An audition for a starring role in a new series has presented itself, and while she cherishes her role as a mother, her passion for her profession has been notably absent. Sawyer Knox is no stranger to taking bold risks and understands the implications of returning home. Despite being younger than Jo, he’s drawn to her, wanting to aid in boosting her confidence for her upcoming audition. Jo initially harbors doubts, but as she becomes familiar with Sawyer, her emotions start to stir, yet she’s hesitant due to past experiences where taking a risk led to a pause in her dreams. As Sawyer gradually dismantles her barriers, Jo is confronted with a choice that has the potential to change her life irrevocably.

This narrative is steeped in themes of love and risk-taking that push boundaries, and explores the true meaning of love, friendship, and family.

My Rating