Review Card & Book Review – The Old Girls’ Chateau Escape By Kate Galley

Two old friends. One unexpected adventure!

When, at the age of 71, Gina Knight’s husband of four decades left her unexpectedly, she thought her life over. Until she met Dorothy Reed – a woman so full of the joie de vivre you’d think she was 21, not nearly 90. Gina would do anything for Dorothy. So when Dorothy suggests she take on the role of companion for one of Dorothy’s old friends, Gina sees no reason to say no.

Meredith Harper is a successful writer, living in Provence, and needs help looking after her husband, whose health is deteriorating. But when Gina arrives at the grand chateau, it becomes clear that Dorothy has not given Gina the full story. Because Meredith is also writing her memoirs, and Dorothy wants to know the contents before anyone else. So much so, she’s sent Gina to spy.

But what secrets is Meredith keeping? And will Gina be able to find out the truth before her cover’s blown?

About The Author

My Review

This heartwarming and humorous story by Kate Galley centers around Gina, a vibrant woman in her seventies, who takes on a short-term role as a companion for Meredith, a novelist recovering from an injury, and her husband in the South of France. The arrangement arises through Dorothy, Gina’s mischievous older friend, who has a personal interest in uncovering secrets tied to Meredith’s mysterious memoir.

As Gina helps type up Meredith’s memoir, she navigates the couple’s challenges, uncovers small mysteries, and proves herself indispensable with her warmth and problem-solving skills. Alongside Gina’s story, Dorothy brings her own brand of chaos and comedic meddling to the mix. The book alternates between perspectives, adding depth and humor while immersing readers in the idyllic French setting.

With its focus on strong, older women, light romance, and witty storytelling, this novel offers charm, heart, and a touch of mystery. It works well as a standalone but is even more enjoyable if read alongside its predecessor.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 12 July 2025

The Village Cafe In The Loire By Gillian Harvey

High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge.

But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder.

What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past.

Becky’s path to success is all planned out. But the Loire has a magic she might not be able to resist…

Review Card & Book Review – The Valentine Box by Toni Blake

It started with a box for collecting heart wishes…

Among the constants in Taylor Mulvaney’s life are the heart-shaped box made by her father, the mysterious hearts she sometimes sees, and her longtime crush on Luke Montgomery. The valentine box has a way of connecting her and Luke time and again – and even after Luke breaks her heart before leaving their hometown of Sweetwater, Kentucky for good, she never gets completely over him.

The box brings them back together when they least expect it.

Fifteen years later, Taylor still sees hearts. And now she even makes them, baking heart-shaped treats at the Sweetheart Bake Shop. After a rough start in life, she’s found her way. Until, that is, Luke comes home for his father’s funeral, bringing a deluge of old feelings flooding back. Before she knows it, a note dropped in her still-beloved valentine box has Taylor swept up in helping him save his family’s horse farm – and trying not to fall back in love with the guy who once left her shattered.

How will it end?

Could Luke really want Taylor the way she’s always wanted him? Can she trust in the future to turn out better than the past? The valentine box is still working its magic to draw them together all these years later, but can Taylor set her fears aside long enough to believe in a second chance at love?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartfelt second-chance romance rooted in nostalgia, small-town charm, and the enduring power of love. At its center is Taylor Mulvaney—a baker, a believer in signs, and a woman who’s never quite stopped loving her childhood crush, Luke Montgomery.

For Taylor, life has always revolved around love in its many forms: the heart-shaped box her father made, the mysterious hearts she sees everywhere, and the one boy she could never forget. When Luke returns to Sweetwater, Kentucky, after fifteen years away—brought home by the death of his father—Taylor is thrust back into old emotions, unresolved heartache, and the possibility of something new blooming from the past.

The story shines in its emotional depth and gentle pacing. Taylor is a relatable, warm heroine who has weathered pain but held onto hope. Luke, meanwhile, is a man burdened by regret and loss, slowly realizing the value of what he left behind. Their reconnection is tender and layered, filled with vulnerability, healing, and a touch of destiny—thanks to the symbolic and sentimental valentine box that quietly guides their journey. The “magic” of the valentine box offers just enough whimsy to keep the romance feeling timeless and slightly enchanted without stepping into fantasy.

The Valentine Box is a touching, slow-burn romance with small-town sweetness and an emotional core. 

My Rating

Link To Purchase