Monthly Archives: December 2023

Book Review – Summer At Forget Me Not Cottage By Helen Rolfe

Welcome back to Little Woodville.
Visit old friends and new in this super, summer escapist read. Morgan Rosewood finds herself at a crossroads in her life after returning home to Forget-Me-Not Cottage to care for her ailing mother. She and boyfriend Ronan, had plans, big plans, but all these hopes and dreams are put on hold when Morgan’s mum suddenly dies.
Morgan’s emotions are in turmoil but she sets about the task of clearing the house and running her late mother’s vintage market stall.
Nate Greene has his own reasons for staying away from Little Woodville. Nate needs to reconcile his past and tackle the long overdue task of decluttering the place he once loved – his abandoned wood workshop, filled to the brim with his creations. He secures a stall at the local market to showcase his wares and it isn’t long before the workshop reignites the passion he once shared with a special person.
Thrown together Morgan and Nate have their own personal battles to overcome.
Can the beautiful little Cotswold village teach two lost souls what matters,
and more importantly, will it give them each something they didn’t come here for? Love…

Published Date: 26 June 2023

My Review

After her mother’s passing, Morgan returns to her family cottage in Little Woodville, aptly named “Forget Me Not,” to sort through her belongings, even though they had a strained relationship. As she and her sister Tegan sift through their mother’s items, which include those she sold at the local market, Morgan contemplates staying at the cottage permanently. However, her engagement to Ronan in Scotland complicates matters. During this time, she encounters Nate, who’s visiting his father Trevor in the village. As they get acquainted, sparks fly, but Morgan’s commitment to her fiancé poses a dilemma. She’s faced with tough choices about her future.

A touching tale of recognizing life’s true treasures. The way the community supports Morgan and Nate, guiding them to clarity, is heartwarming. The market scenes and gatherings at Sebastian’s stood out notably. This poignant read takes us through an unhurried romantic journey between the pair, marked by both melancholic and joyful memories. The story’s additional characters enrich the narrative, their unwavering kindness resonating not only with Morgan and Nate but with the reader as well.

My Rating

Review Card – Summer At Forget Me Not Cottage By Helen Rolfe

Welcome back to Little Woodville.
Visit old friends and new in this super, summer escapist read. Morgan Rosewood finds herself at a crossroads in her life after returning home to Forget-Me-Not Cottage to care for her ailing mother. She and boyfriend Ronan, had plans, big plans, but all these hopes and dreams are put on hold when Morgan’s mum suddenly dies.
Morgan’s emotions are in turmoil but she sets about the task of clearing the house and running her late mother’s vintage market stall.
Nate Greene has his own reasons for staying away from Little Woodville. Nate needs to reconcile his past and tackle the long overdue task of decluttering the place he once loved – his abandoned wood workshop, filled to the brim with his creations. He secures a stall at the local market to showcase his wares and it isn’t long before the workshop reignites the passion he once shared with a special person.
Thrown together Morgan and Nate have their own personal battles to overcome.
Can the beautiful little Cotswold village teach two lost souls what matters,
and more importantly, will it give them each something they didn’t come here for? Love…

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – Summer At The Chateau By Annabel French

A newly single woman. A tall, dark and handsome stranger. A chateau that keeps bringing them together. What could go wrong?

When Lizzie Summers is jilted at the altar, she’s left completely heartbroken. But then she receives news that she has inherited a beautiful chateau in Provence, and it seems like the perfect escape.

Upon arrival, she discovers she is now the proud owner of . . . a crumbling ruin. A decrepit chateau – with nothing but dust and a goat for company.

Intending to head straight back to the airport, Lizzie instead gets caught in a freakish summer storm and finds herself trudging through a vineyard for help. Bedraggled and furious, she enlists the help of her nearest neighbour, the enchanting Luc. Perhaps she should stay and mend the chateau – and her broken heart – after all…?

Published Date: 8 June 2023

My Review

Lizzie Summers, a magazine writer, is devastated after being left at the altar. She finds a temporary escape when she inherits a chateau in Provence, recalling childhood summers where she imagined being a princess. Initially, she intends to sell it quickly and return to London. However, the deteriorating state of the chateau demands repairs before selling. A storm pushes her to seek shelter with the neighboring vineyard manager, Luc, a grumpy figure. Realizing she needs Luc’s assistance to restore the chateau, their shared journey throughout the summer not only rebuilds the property but also heals Lizzie’s broken heart.

This delightful summer read exudes warmth from its vibrant characters and vivid descriptions of Provence’s sun and heat. I felt as if I could smell the lavender surrounding the Chateau, taste its delectable cuisine, relish the wine, and let all my worries melt away.

My Rating

Review Card – Summer At The Chateau By Annabel French

A newly single woman. A tall, dark and handsome stranger. A chateau that keeps bringing them together. What could go wrong?

When Lizzie Summers is jilted at the altar, she’s left completely heartbroken. But then she receives news that she has inherited a beautiful chateau in Provence, and it seems like the perfect escape.

Upon arrival, she discovers she is now the proud owner of . . . a crumbling ruin. A decrepit chateau – with nothing but dust and a goat for company.

Intending to head straight back to the airport, Lizzie instead gets caught in a freakish summer storm and finds herself trudging through a vineyard for help. Bedraggled and furious, she enlists the help of her nearest neighbour, the enchanting Luc. Perhaps she should stay and mend the chateau – and her broken heart – after all…?

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – The Sheikh’s Defiant Girlfriend By Leslie North

A forbidden romance blossoms beneath the burning desert sun…

Sheikh Amir Botros, a notorious womanizer, may finally have met his match in the form of Soraya, his best friend’s sister.

Soraya is fascinating, beautiful, and fiercely intelligent… She constantly pushes Amir away, rejects him in public and refuses to return his calls. And despite his best efforts, he can’t even make her smile. She never lets her guard down around him, no matter how hard he tries…

Soraya can’t believe how arrogant and obnoxious Amir Botros can be… He’s always showing up to her university or the restaurant where she works uninvited. He won’t leave her alone and he won’t take no for an answer. Forcing her to ask herself… Why is she so attracted to a man she knows she should despise?

But when he kisses her, something inside her melts. She knows she can’t resist him. But what happens when forces beyond both their control conspire to tear them a part?

Published Date: 1 June 2023

My Review

In the second book of the Botros Brothers series, Sheikh Amir Botros finds himself falling for Soraya, his best friend Malik’s sister, whom he’s known his whole life. Despite Amir’s notorious playboy reputation, he’s recently begun seeing Soraya differently, wanting her to reciprocate his feelings. However, Soraya, trying to be independent by working and studying, is wary of his intentions given past childhood pranks. She’s exhausted from her endeavors and, while she once had feelings for Amir during her teens, she’s irritated by his uninvited and frequent appearances. Amir’s attempts to woo her, including surprise outings, further alienate her. Close friends recognize Amir’s sincerity, but unless he truly listens to Soraya’s desires and needs, their relationship is doomed. A significant event at Tariq and Sara’s wedding strains their budding relationship even further. While this story revolves around Amir and Soraya, readers also get glimpses into Tariq and Sara’s continued narrative, adding a familial touch.

My Rating

Happy Publication Day – 26 December 2023

Claimed By The Crown Prince By Abby Green

Marooned in Malaysia…
with a forbidden princess!

Fleeing an arranged marriage to a king is easy for Princess Laia—remaining hidden is harder! When his brother, Crown Prince Dax, tracks her down, she strands them on a private island. But Laia isn’t prepared for the overwhelming attraction she feels, especially once she realizes Dax protects his heart as fiercely as she does…

Legendary playboy Dax has always remained loyal to the Crown. Until the alluring Laia’s fiery temperament and kindness tests his duty. And with ten days alone in paradise, it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid temptation…

Fling With The Reclusive Billionaire By Susan Meier

She was just meant to be writing a billionaire’s autobiography…notfalling for the handsome workaholic and his adorable son! Find out more in Susan Meier’s latest story for Harlequin Romance…

An opportunity to heal…together?

Arriving on reclusive billionaire Grant Laningham’s private island, Lola’s hired to write the memoir of the allegedly grumpy workaholic. Yet Grant is nothing like she expects. The “genius with a hot temper” is charming—and good-looking! Their attraction is undeniable, but a fling with her boss is dangerous to her already-shattered heart. Especially as Grant’s recently discovered he has a son! Losing her family devastated Lola—dare she take a chance on another?

Hill Country Home By Kit Hawthorne

Will her deepest secret…

Destroy her chance at happiness?

It’s hard to keep a secret in Limestone Springs, Texas, especially when you work for a trustworthy, unshakable man like Tito Mendoza. But Jenna Hamlin is determined to hide her child’s past no matter the temptation. So when an unwelcome visitor reveals the truth and Jenna needs help to keep her daughter safe, can she finally let down her guard to trust—and love—again?

Surgeon Prince’s Fake Fiancée By Karin Blaine

In the first story in Karin Baine’s Royal Docs duet, a cardiac surgeon is in for a shock when her royal rival asks her to be his fake fiancée!

Engaged…just for the cameras!

Prince Raed Ayad finds himself uncharacteristically begging brilliant rival cardiac surgeon Soraya for two favors. First, save his father—the king’s—life. Second, to keep the hungry press at bay, pretend to be his fiancée! Soraya agrees…after all she’s been through, she doesn’t want a real relationship anyway. But more dangerous than being caught in their lie, is starting to believe it themselves…

Miami Marriage Pact By Nadine Gonzalez & Overnight Inheritance By Rachel Bailey

Miami Marriage Pact by Nadine Gonzalez Love has nothing to do with this proposal… Film producer Gigi Garcia needs her inheritance to save her company, but it requires a husband—fast! All she has to do is convince rising Miami chef Myles Paris to marry her. Surprised by addictive passion, Gigi and Myles face off against professional rivals, erupting scandal and an enemy’s revenge. And now an unexpected secret could take their short-term marriage merger off the table…


Overnight Inheritance by USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Bailey A fortune isn’t the only thing she inherited… Mae Dunstan just inherited billions, along with a seductive business rival. CEO and single dad Sebastian Newport wants to buy Mae out. But when the boardroom leads to the bedroom, their passionate affair reignites a long-standing feud between their families. Amid divided loyalties and open questions, will Mae risk more than the bottom line for a future with Sebastian?

A Temporary Texas Arrangement By Cathy Gilles

Sometimes unexpected circumstances

Become the best of dreams come true.

When widower Noah Lockhart offers veterinarian Tess Gardner a place to live until her reno is complete, she accepts. Tess falls hard for Noah, his three adorable daughters, their pregnant pet miniature donkey and life at the Welcome Ranch. Noah has sworn off love forever, yet Tess has him rethinking that vow—and considering another! Until a past trauma revisits, and Noah and Tess find themselves rethinking everything…

Watchers Of The Night By Charlene Parris

Looking for clues

They found each other

Haunted by the tragedies in her past, forensic investigator Cynthia Cornwall risks everything to keep Detective Adam Solberg informed about the explosion that led to his father’s death. Open, attentive and undeniably gorgeous, Adam seems too good to be true. But Cynthia will have to trust him if they’re both going to survive this case. And she’ll have to decide if the connection they’ve forged is real enough to last.

Review Card- The Sheikh’s Defiant Girlfriend By Leslie North

A forbidden romance blossoms beneath the burning desert sun…

Sheikh Amir Botros, a notorious womanizer, may finally have met his match in the form of Soraya, his best friend’s sister.

Soraya is fascinating, beautiful, and fiercely intelligent… She constantly pushes Amir away, rejects him in public and refuses to return his calls. And despite his best efforts, he can’t even make her smile. She never lets her guard down around him, no matter how hard he tries…

Soraya can’t believe how arrogant and obnoxious Amir Botros can be… He’s always showing up to her university or the restaurant where she works uninvited. He won’t leave her alone and he won’t take no for an answer. Forcing her to ask herself… Why is she so attracted to a man she knows she should despise?

But when he kisses her, something inside her melts. She knows she can’t resist him. But what happens when forces beyond both their control conspire to tear them a part?

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – It Had To Be You By Tracy Solheim

It’s hard to keep a big secret in a small town . . .

When Paige Hollister discovers her “Mr. Right” already has a “Mrs. Right,” she swears off men forever. Even more humiliating, she suddenly finds herself labeled the other woman and out of the teaching job she loves. So Paige does what every unemployed single woman staring thirty in the face does: She hightails it to the beach. Bad luck like hers is hard to outrun, however. Her getaway is stalled when her car breaks down in a small-town chock full of meddling, nosy residents. The worst of them being the local sheriff—none other than her estranged father.

Finally on top of the golf world, Tanner Gillette is poised to show everyone he’s not just an entitled playboy coasting through tournaments on his pedigree. That is until his life is turned upside down by a little girl who shows up on his doorstep with a birth certificate inexplicably bearing his name. Complicating matters more, the kid isn’t talking. When the stress of caring for a child whose mother is AWOL gives Tanner a bad case of the yips, he’s forced to enlist help from the one person in town who can’t wait to leave.

Sticking around Chances Inlet and her father’s shiny new, über-successful family isn’t on Paige’s to-do list. Especially when she’d prefer to keep her embarrassing incident under wraps. Yet she can’t walk away from the troubled little girl. Or the sexy Australian golfer who just might make her want to take a chance on trusting her heart again.

Published Date: 5 June 2023

My Review

When Paige Hollister discovers she’s the unwitting “other woman” to a married “Mr. Right,” she decides to leave her teaching job and start anew in the town where her father, the local sheriff, resides. Abandoned by her father in her youth, Paige grapples with her place in his new family. Upon her arrival, Paige is faced with Whitney, a young girl left on Tanner Gillette’s doorstep. Tanner, a golf champion determined to prove he’s changed, is unsure about finding Whitney’s mother. As they collaborate to care for Whitney, Tanner and Paige must address their growing feelings and navigate challenges that threaten their relationship.

Paige and Tanner, both carrying emotional scars but possessing kind hearts, find themselves challenged by the irresistible Whitney. The gradual unfolding of their vulnerabilities and the warmth of Chances Inlet, with its charming residents, lovable children, and pets, contribute to the story. Paige’s newfound “adopted family” adds an extra layer of connection once she allows them into her life. As if that wasn’t delightful enough, there are also cameo appearances from Summer and Luke, characters from the author’s beloved book “Double Dog Dare.” The narrative is skillfully written, effortlessly flowing, and so engaging that I couldn’t resist reading it in one sitting.

My Rating

Review Card – It Had To Be You By Tracy Solheim

It’s hard to keep a big secret in a small town . . .

When Paige Hollister discovers her “Mr. Right” already has a “Mrs. Right,” she swears off men forever. Even more humiliating, she suddenly finds herself labeled the other woman and out of the teaching job she loves. So Paige does what every unemployed single woman staring thirty in the face does: She hightails it to the beach. Bad luck like hers is hard to outrun, however. Her getaway is stalled when her car breaks down in a small-town chock full of meddling, nosy residents. The worst of them being the local sheriff—none other than her estranged father.

Finally on top of the golf world, Tanner Gillette is poised to show everyone he’s not just an entitled playboy coasting through tournaments on his pedigree. That is until his life is turned upside down by a little girl who shows up on his doorstep with a birth certificate inexplicably bearing his name. Complicating matters more, the kid isn’t talking. When the stress of caring for a child whose mother is AWOL gives Tanner a bad case of the yips, he’s forced to enlist help from the one person in town who can’t wait to leave.

Sticking around Chances Inlet and her father’s shiny new, über-successful family isn’t on Paige’s to-do list. Especially when she’d prefer to keep her embarrassing incident under wraps. Yet she can’t walk away from the troubled little girl. Or the sexy Australian golfer who just might make her want to take a chance on trusting her heart again.

About The Author

Link To Purchase

Book Review – The Recipe For Happiness By Jane Lovering

When Seren’s brother Andrew signs her up to Yorkshire Dating, only for them to recommend that she ‘gets a life’ before they find her a match, Seren has to admit that they may have a point.   

She loves her job cooking at an elder day centre and her little flat, but it’s fair to say her life is a little short of hobbies and friends. Since she was young Seren has felt safer close to home, but now she’s a thirty-something divorcee, it’s time for a change. 

Change arrives in the shape of alarmingly clever collie Kez, who Seren offers to take in ‘temporarily’, and kind but mysterious new colleague Ned. But as Ned and Kez tempt Seren out of her shell, it means facing her fears. And when Andrew finally reveals the secrets of their childhood, Seren’s need for safety suddenly makes sense.

A problem shared is a problem halved, and with friends by her side, Seren might be able to get a life that she loves at last.

Published Date: 9 June 2023

My Review

Seren is content in her routine life, overseeing a senior care center and living in an apartment just above it. Despite her satisfaction, her newly-wedded brother, Andrew, believes she’s missing out on life. He nudges her into unfamiliar territories, from online dating to playing Dungeons & Dragons, and even persuading her to aid in dog training. Through interactions with Ned, a new employee, and Kez, a dog she’s hesitantly looking after, Seren gradually steps out of her bubble. Her discomfort makes her reflect on her past and what might have held her back.

The story is a heartwarming journey of hope, promoting messages of acceptance and inclusivity. It features a diverse set of characters, each with their unique challenges, transcending age, gender, and background. Having grown up under her brother’s care after their parents’ passing, Seren has always kept herself guarded. Yet, with Ned’s support, who has battles of his own, and Kez’s unwavering loyalty, they find healing, rekindling a zest for life and love. Their story unfolds within a vibrant community, emphasizing the healing power of companionship and second chances at happiness.

My Rating