Monthly Archives: July 2025

Happy Publication Day – 17 July 2025

When We Were Young By Elaine Hastings

Spring, 1994. Will, a talented busker, falls for Emily, a quirky art student. By 1997, Will is playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, and Emily is unveiling her first gallery show. They spend a whirlwind summer touring with Will’s band, caught up in their love for their art and each other.

But within two years, Will is dead.

Spring, 2016. Emily remains single. Her art is long forgotten. Now, life revolves around her 16-year-old daughter, Liv. But when Emily accidentally reveals she once knew Will, Liv is stunned. How could her ordinary, predictable mother have known someone like Will Bailey?

And why does Emily blame herself for his death?

Interweaving dual timelines, When We Were Young explores what it means to have loved and lost, and reminds you that the ones you love can set you free.

Summer Escapes On The Scottish Isle By Lilac Mills

Will she give everything up for love?

Freya Sinclair has it all. An exciting life in London, a successful career as a ceramicist and a handsome boyfriend. But when she receives a call that her father is in hospital, she drops everything to support his recovery in Skye.

On the island, Freya finds new inspiration – Coorie Castle’s craft centre is firing her creativity and she’s glad to be back with her dad again. Being so close to her schoolgirl crush, Mackenzie Burns, is an added bonus. The two share an instant connection and Freya misses London less and less.

But Freya has a boyfriend at home and now a dazzling job offer in New York. She must figure out what she truly wants, before anyone gets hurt.

Meet Me At Sunset By Carol Kirkwood

Lies, seduction and secrets await under a Spanish sun…

When Camille Fontaine arrives on the sun-drenched island of Majorca, she’s running from a shattered love affair. But even amongst the palm trees and the golden sands, she can’t forget her past.

Surrounded by the glamorous and the guilty, Camille isn’t the only one with secrets to hide.

Review Card & Book Review – Love’s Home Run By Judith Keim

Love isn’t a game… or is it?

Melissa Hendrickson is tired of being a good sport, one of the guys. She wants to find love and settle down in Lilac Lake with the man of her dreams. She thinks she’s found the man, but he doesn’t know she exists. After she runs into Ross Roberts, her next door neighbor and former professional baseball player, during a charity softball game, he requires her help. She’s more than eager to make amends for causing him to have knee surgery. Then, a fire destroys her family restaurant and her job as chef there. She’s forced to think about a lot of changes in her life, including finding the right man for her.

About The Author

My Review

In Love’s Home Run by Judith Keim, chef Melissa Hendrickson reevaluates her life after years of dedication to her family’s seafood restaurant in Lilac Lake. Hoping for romance, she sets her sights on the new town dentist but turns to her longtime neighbor and friend, Ross Roberts, for advice. A former pro baseball player recovering from an injury, Ross and Melissa grow closer after she accidentally worsens his knee condition during a charity game. As they support each other through personal and family hardships—including a devastating fire at Melissa’s restaurant—their friendship deepens into something more. Faced with major life changes, Melissa must decide between chasing an old dream or embracing a new future with Ross.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 16 July 2025

Dating Dr Love By Rachel Dove

Diagnosis: career chaos…

Doctor Chloe Henry is a no-nonsense surgeon gunning for a promotion. All that stands in her way is her smug colleague, Doctor Johnathan Carson, who’s beloved by the board for his charm and for simply being a man. When a one-week medical conference promises her a chance to shine, Chloe packs her power suits and determination, ready to crush it—or at least avoid strangling Carson.

Take once a day…

Enter Logan Broderick, aka Doctor Dante Love, TV’s hottest (and most medically inaccurate) neurosurgeon-slash-plastic-surgeon. After yet another scandal involving booze, starlets, and bad decisions, Logan’s sent to the same hotel to lay low. But things go awry when Logan and Chloe literally crash into each other—half-naked—in her bathroom. Cue viral chaos.

Prescription: Romance!

To save face, Logan proposes they fake-date. She’s the real doctor to his fake one; he’s the PR boost she didn’t want. But as bickering turns to banter and sparks fly, Chloe wonders: can Dante Love save her?

Review Card & Book Review – Her Cowboy Cupid By Sasha Summers

More than friends?

Maybe by Valentine’s Day!

Shy Kitty Crawley never got over her crush on former bronc champ Tyson Ellis. She’s always been his pal and “my buddy’s shy little sis” and that’s just dandy. Mostly. But now that Tyson’s temporarily the guardian of two little girls—and in way over his cowboy hat—they’re finding more ways to bond. Suddenly Kitty’s cowboy crush is in danger of growing into something else. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no escaping Cupid…or the bronc rider she’s falling for.

About The Author

My Review

Kitty has long admired Tyson, her brother’s friend, but never expected anything to come of it. When cowboy RJ asks her out, she considers giving romance a chance, though her heart isn’t truly in it. Meanwhile, Tyson is busy caring for his nieces, often crossing paths with Kitty. As Valentine’s Day approaches, a group of meddling little girls, family, and a festive rodeo push Kitty and Tyson closer together. Sweet and heartwarming, this story beautifully captures love, family, and the joys of unexpected romance.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- The One Before The One By Emma Cooper

When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she’s found a way to love again.

Until the morning of her wedding, when Liv steps through a doorway, and finds herself, somehow, back at the flat she shared with Kit: seven years earlier, six days before he left. Now, Liv has a chance to live those six days over, and change everything. If she gets this right, she can find out why Kit leaves and stop him.

But can she save him? And if she does, how will she choose, between the man she loved then, and the one she loves now?

About The Author

My Review

The story follows Olivia, who is about to marry her dependable fiancé James when she’s suddenly thrust seven years into the past — to the day her former love, Kit, disappeared without explanation. Armed with the painful clarity of hindsight, Olivia is given a second chance to unravel the truth and confront the unresolved love that never left her heart.

Olivia’s emotional journey is compelling and relatable, especially as she’s torn between two versions of her life: one rooted in safety and the other in unresolved passion. The novel’s time-travel element is handled with subtlety, serving as a tool for self-discovery rather than gimmickry.

Kit is a romantic yet tragic figure, and his mysterious vanishing adds layers of tension and intrigue. Meanwhile, James, kind and steady, represents everything Olivia thought she wanted—making her dilemma all the more painful and real. Cooper doesn’t offer easy answers but rather explores the messy, beautiful complexity of human connection.

Emotionally charged, occasionally funny, and often heart-wrenching, The One Before the One is a beautifully written tale about the choices that shape us and the loves that define us.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 15 July 2025

The Reluctant Flirt By Jennifer Probst

Just one night…

After discovering her husband’s affair, Sierra Lourde flees to New York City for a little damage control—and a lot of wine. A tipsy night in a bar with a charming stranger seems like the perfect way to forget her troubles. No names, no promises, just one night to escape reality and regain her confidence. The next morning, mortified by her vulnerability, she flees without looking back. But who needs closure, right?

But one night changes everything…

Sierra has reinvented herself as the proud owner of Flirt, a trendy boutique in the Outer Banks. Life is good—until Kane Masterson, the man she left behind, walks back into town. And of course, he’s now the developer whose big new project threatens to bulldoze her beloved shop. Kane needs this deal to save his career (and his brother), but Sierra’s not about to let him demolish her hard-won success.

With sparks flying, sarcastic jabs turning into lingering looks, and a family wedding forcing them into close quarters, Sierra and Kane find themselves tangled in a battle of wills—and hearts. But now he has to choose: reclaim his career or risk everything for a second chance with the one woman he can’t forget.

Wes And Addie Had Their Chance By Bethany Turner

Wes left Addie at the altar two decades ago . . . and that was supposed to be the end of the story.

When her life crashes and burns in a flurry of secrets and redacted information, Addie Atwater-Elwyn hightails it home to the tiny mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado–back to living with her dad, back to working a low-paying job, back to a life of disappointments. Growing up, nobody expected their local girl to become a high-ranking CIA analyst, married to a gorgeous CIA operative. But that was Addie’s life until she lost . . . well, everything.

Now she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her broken life with a little help from old friends. But there’s one old friend she knows her life is better without–Wesley Hobbes, her childhood sweetheart who left her standing at the altar when they were eighteen years old. Truth be told, Addie would be perfectly content never seeing Wes’s stupid face ever again–which makes it very inconvenient that he’s now a beloved senator and presidential frontrunner, his face everywhere she looks. But that has nothing to do with Addie personally. He might make history, but in her book, he is history.

So, when the unwelcome Wes appears back in their hometown, no one rolls out the red carpet–not Addie and not an entire town that was forced to pick sides (and unanimously chose Addie) decades ago. Senator Hobbes certainly won’t win the popular vote in Adelaide Springs.

Wes, meanwhile, is sitting on a few secrets of his own, including the political scoop of the decade: he’d seriously rather gouge his eyes out than spend another minute in politics, much less ever go anywhere near the White House. Addie knows there has to be more to the story, and her curiosity is clouding her judgment. You can take the girl out of the CIA, but it’s not so easy to shake the CIA out of the girl. Of course, it’s not just curiosity (and the acknowledgement that his face isn’t so stupid after all) that’s been reawakened inside her. But after more than two decades, it’s too late. Wes and Addie already had their chance. Right?

The Paradise Petition By Carolyn Brown

Daisy Lindberg and Lily Boyle traded a colorful past for a fresh start as seamstresses in Autrie, Texas, and their aim to spark a women’s rights movement is raising eyebrows among the town’s dumbfounded men. But among the ladies? Tired of being treated like possessions, they have two words: Amen, sister!

Beulah, a sassy shop owner as formidable as a cannon shot, is on board. So is Alma, a timid preacher’s wife who hit her breaking point. Before long, a courageous female posse has a liberating petition of demands. Surprisingly, they also have an empathetic ear in sheep rancher Matt Maguire, who’s as keen on women’s independence as he is on Lily.

As Daisy and Lily make waves in the small town, their secrets threaten to come out. But they haven’t traveled this far to let their past define them. In fact, with love and the forging of new lives on the line, they’ve never felt more defiant.

Review Card & Book Review- One Last Night By Lauren Ford

He’s her work nemesis. They’re fake dating. What’s the worst that could happen?

Agnes has run her family’s restaurant, The Shark Biscuit, for the last six years, ever since her father’s health took a turn and she had to step in to keep the doors open. Now she’s crippled with guilt because it’s her fault it’s closing. One more night and she’s free.

After years of squaring off against the infuriating, gruff and arrogant head chef Harrison, she can’t wait to see the back of him. But when her ex-boyfriend brings his entire family in for dinner, hoping to win her back, she begs Harrison for help – pretend to be her boyfriend until her ex leaves.

What she hadn’t planned for was the storm of the century trapping everyone in the restaurant. As the hours pass, Agnes realises Harrison knows her better as a fake boyfriend than her real one ever did. If only they weren’t carrying secrets that could tear each other’s worlds apart…

About The Author

My Review

One Last Night follows Agnes as she closes her family’s restaurant, The Shark Biscuit, after years of struggle. Tensions rise between Agnes and her grumpy head chef, Harrison, who has always been a source of irritation. When her ex-boyfriend appears uninvited, Agnes enlists Harrison to act as her fake boyfriend. A sudden storm traps everyone in the restaurant, forcing unresolved emotions and hidden truths to surface. Over one transformative night, Agnes and Harrison move from bickering to understanding, realizing there’s more to their relationship than they thought. Filled with heartfelt moments, relatable struggles, and a strong found-family dynamic, this romance showcases how a single evening can change lives.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – A Protector For Her Baby By April Arrington

For one little boy,

he’ll change his whole life…

From the moment Mallory Kent arrives at his farm, pregnant and seeking shelter, Liam Williams vows to help her. Mallory’s fleeing an abusive ex-husband and needs to start over. Caring for Liam’s elderly mother, who has dementia, gives Mallory stability—for now. Soon Liam can’t picture life without Mallory or little Oliver. But Mallory struggles to trust any man, especially now she has a son to keep safe. Can Liam show her the family they’re building is worth risking her heart?

About The Author

My Review

This is a touching romance about healing, trust, and second chances. Mallory, pregnant and escaping an abusive marriage, finds refuge at a women’s shelter. She accepts a job from Liam, a kind rancher caring for his mother with dementia, who offers her a safe haven on his farm. As Mallory adjusts to her new life and prepares for her baby, Oliver, she begins to feel drawn to Liam, though she struggles to trust after her traumatic past.

Liam, too, is unsure if his feelings for Mallory stem from love or his desire for companionship after years of putting others first. Together, they navigate their vulnerabilities and learn to open their hearts.

The story sensitively explores themes of domestic abuse recovery, caregiving, and community support. With its relatable characters, emotional depth, and uplifting message, this heartfelt tale beautifully highlights the power of love and resilience.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- A Forever Home At Honey Bee Croft By Jessica Redland

New friends, new life, new love…
Single dad, Joel Grainger, is devoted to his little girl, Imogen, doing all he can to be a key part of her life. But with Imogen’s mum being ever more difficult and Joel’s job suddenly in doubt, he’s worried that everything is about to change. Joel has given everything to Imogen, and he doesn’t regret it, but maybe he’s lost himself along the way…
Since her dad’s heart-breaking dementia diagnosis, Poppy Wells has been struggling and desperately needs a break. An opportunity to stay in gorgeous Whisperwood Farmhouse nestled in the Yorkshire Wolds and a stone’s throw away from Bumblebee Barn couldn’t be more perfect. Finally able to breathe, Poppy begins to see a new life ahead, a place where she can heal her broken heart and be part of something special. But can she ever leave her beloved dad to get the happiness she craves?
When Poppy and Joel meet there’s an instant connection. But with both of them at a crossroads, a future together seems impossible. Can they find the strength to overcome their challenges to secure their forever home together?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming conclusion to the Bumblebee Barn series, focusing on the love story of Poppy and Joel. Joel, a kind and persistent romantic, is finally at the center of the narrative as he sets his sights on Poppy, a woman grappling with the emotional challenges of her father’s dementia. Their relationship begins with a charming meet-cute and evolves into a deep connection, as they support each other through personal struggles.

Poppy’s story offers a heartfelt and relatable depiction of dealing with dementia in the family. Redland addresses this difficult topic with sensitivity, portraying the guilt, heartbreak, and exhaustion of caregiving while offering comfort and hope. The beekeeping aspect adds a unique layer, symbolizing Poppy’s bond with her father and her journey to healing.

The book ties up loose ends from the series beautifully, incorporating weddings and nods to characters from Redland’s beloved Hedgehog Hollow series. With a perfect balance of romance, emotional depth, and charm, this final installment is a touching celebration of resilience, love, and the importance of finding home—in every sense of the word.

My Rating

Link To Purchase