What’s the recipe for success? For single mom Karina Mistry, it’s the head-chef position she’s chased for years. But her boss has one more hoop for her to jump through. The new head chef will be chosen…via a reality cooking-show competition! Four weeks, eight meals, two competitors and everything on the line. Losing this job would be crushing. But losing to Chef Aneel Rawal, the man from her past she’s never forgiven? That’s not an option. It’s time for Karina to sharpen her knives, turn up the heat…and watch the tension simmer!
In If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Karina Mistry is a talented single mom vying for her dream head chef job—only to find out the final decision will come through a reality cooking competition. Her unexpected rival? Aneel Rawal, the man who broke her heart seven years ago. As tensions rise in the kitchen, so do old feelings, especially as Aneel bonds with Karina’s young son, Veer.
This book blends emotional depth, cultural richness, and slow-burn romance in this heartfelt story about second chances, family love, and following your dreams. With familiar faces from her Once Upon a Wedding series and a standalone plot, this story is warm, tender, and deeply satisfying.
Now her children have moved out, Edie has begun to feel lonely in the home she shares with her husband. She hopes returning to Crete, where she and Ralph spent their honeymoon, will help heal the growing rift between them.
And when Edie stumbles upon the website for the Villa Ariadne, with its breathtaking views and peaceful surroundings, it feels like the perfect place to spend a week together, along with their closest friends Mac and Hannah. But then, Edie invites a fifth guest: her feisty, independent colleague Jessica, with unexpected consequences.
It’s clear from the moment they arrive that the villa is special, and under the golden Greek sun, Edie hopes to rekindle the relationship she’s felt slipping away from her. But when conflict arises between two of her fellow guests, will Edie be prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?
This book swept me away with its vivid setting and emotionally resonant storytelling. What begins as a hopeful escape to rekindle a fading marriage slowly unfolds into a profound journey of self-discovery, friendship, and the pivotal choices that define midlife.
Edie is a relatable and quietly courageous protagonist. Her decision to return to Crete—the place of her honeymoon—is steeped in longing: for reconnection, clarity, and a spark she fears has dimmed. The Villa Ariadne, with its dreamy views and tranquil charm, serves as both sanctuary and crucible, revealing truths that have long simmered beneath the surface.When Edie invites her bold and unpredictable colleague Jessica to join them, the trip takes an unexpected turn. Tensions simmer, long-held secrets unravel, and the emotional stakes rise. The group’s interactions are layered and authentic, adding a depth that elevates this beyond a typical sun-drenched holiday read.
More than a story of sunshine and sea, this novel is a moving reflection on letting go of illusions and choosing the life that truly fulfills you.
As snow falls over Micklewick Bay, Lark Harker is preparing for the busy festive season at her vintage clothing boutique, creating enchanting window displays of sequinned dresses and crafting handmade Christmas decorations from shimmering silk ribbon.
But her festive preparations are put on hold when Nate Wilkinson arrives at her cottage door. The owner of a local upcycling business, Nate asks for her help clearing out the long-abandoned Crayke’s Cottage – a place locals whisper is cursed and haunted by its smuggling past.
Deep within the cottage’s shadowy rooms, Lark discovers two mysterious leather suitcases. The first reveals a treasure trove of 1940s clothes that sparkle with wartime romance and mystery. But the second holds a darker collection: smuggling artefacts, cryptic coded messages and a rusty iron key that gets Lark’s mind racing.
As Lark consults the town’s museum curator to unlock the suitcases’ secrets, she finds herself torn between growing feelings for her dear friend Nate and her inexplicable intuition that warns her away from love. When the rusty key leads to a shocking discovery in the cottage, Lark must trust her instincts and overcome her fears to finally find the greatest treasure of all…
Rosie Waterman has one dream: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?
When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.
Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?
This is a charming, feel-good rom-com that delivers exactly what many readers need—a joyful escape. In this lighthearted novel, Courtney Walsh introduces Rosie, a struggling actress whose dreams of Broadway have fizzled. With nothing left, she returns to her small hometown, ashamed and hiding her failures from her successful friends.
When a mysterious job offer lands in her inbox, Rosie jumps at the chance without reading the fine print. What follows is a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, unexpected surprises, and the kind of personal growth that only comes when life veers wildly off script.
Rosie is relatable in her vulnerability and self-doubt, yet her journey is full of warmth, humor, and hope. The story is refreshingly clean, uplifting, and threaded with themes of second chances and the power of believing in yourself—even when life doesn’t go as planned.
Tess Hughes thought she’d traded in small-town gossip for the bright lights of Los Angeles. But when her estranged uncle leaves her a gift shop in Danville Falls, she’s forced back to the town she couldn’t wait to escape, and into the heart of everything she left behind.
Moving home at forty-five isn’t exactly a dream come true. Sharing her old bedroom with memories of her teenage years is hard enough, and running into Will Sampson makes it harder still. The boy who once overlooked her is now a divorced contractor with a steady business, a quick smile, and an undeniable pull she never expected.
When Tess hires Will to renovate her shop, their working relationship sparks into something neither of them can ignore. Late-night talks turn into stolen kisses, and soon Tess begins to wonder if home might be more than a place she left behind. But Will has no plans to leave Danville Falls, and Tess still believes her life is waiting in California.
As family tensions rise, an old rivalry stirs up trouble, and her new business comes under threat, Tess must choose between the future she always imagined and the love that could change everything.
Meet Celia. Life hasn’t worked out quite how she’d planned.
Since her son left for university, Celia has felt stuck at home – battling with her husband Geoff over control of the thermostat, and without the merest glint of a social life. Her only joy comes from the plants she nurtures in her makeshift plant hospital in their Glasgow flat.
Then three unexpected things happen:
She catches Geoff in bed with a secretary from his sausage factory (no pun intended).
Her high-flying best friend Amanda arrives on her doorstep without warning (but with a very large suitcase).
A tall handsome French teacher asks her to tend his daughter’s cactus back to health.
🪴
Suddenly, Celia finds her life in freefall, but she makes a decision: she won’t let this be the end of her. She’ll bring herself back to life, just like the plants she works her magic on. But just how do you change the habits of a lifetime?
Celia’s life in Glasgow is quiet and predictable—until she discovers her husband Geoff in bed with his secretary. Suddenly single and unsure of her future, Celia is forced out of her routine and into a journey of rediscovery. With the unexpected arrival of her glamorous best friend Amanda, and a chance meeting with a charming French teacher (thanks to a cactus emergency), her world begins to open up again.
This heartwarming and humorous story follows Celia as she slowly rebuilds her confidence, embraces new experiences, and learns to find joy, friendship, and even love in unexpected places. It’s a relatable, midlife coming-of-age tale about letting go of the past, stepping out of autopilot, and learning that it’s never too late to start again.
When Rose’s best friend Luna calls her to tell her she’s getting married to her holiday fling Marco in Italy, alarm bells, not wedding bells, start ringing. Before she can say arrivederci, Rose is booking her flights, packing her suitcase, and putting one objective at the top of her to-do list: save her friend and stop the wedding.
As she boards the plane, a devastatingly handsome guy makes a beeline for her. He just happens to be Ben Pearson, Marco’s best man, and he’s also an infuriating charmer, who has his sights set on making sure the wedding goes ahead. The two soon find themselves speeding through Italian backstreets towards Bellemilia, and their attraction to each other accelerates even faster than the drivers weaving their way along the cobbled streets. But Rose will not be distracted by delicately handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, or by the tinkling of ice in a glass of Aperol Spritz. And she definitely won’t be distracted by the very handsome Ben…
Falling for Ben is not on Rose’s list, but will the sun on her skin and the gentle breeze caressing the lemon trees give her the encouragement she needs to take a chance on the unknown? Or will a disaster en route to the altar push them further apart?
With their best friends about to tie the knot, can Rose and Ben put their rivalry aside? Or will Rose discover there is happiness for both her friend and herself, if they follow their hearts?
The story follows Rose, a pragmatic woman with firm beliefs about love and relationships—shaped largely by her parents’ failed marriage. When her best friend Luna plans a whirlwind wedding in Italy, Rose rushes in, determined to stop it. But her plans are quickly challenged by Ben, the best man who’s equally determined to make sure the wedding goes ahead.
The chemistry between Rose and Ben sparks instantly, driven by witty banter and opposing goals. Ben is undeniably charming and easy to root for—sweet, grounded, and emotionally open. Rose, however, may be more polarizing. Her judgmental attitude and emotional baggage make her harder to connect with early on, and a key miscommunication late in the story breaks the momentum for some readers. While she experiences growth, it may not be enough to fully redeem the romantic pairing for those who found them mismatched.
The secondary characters add much-needed charm and levity—Aurora and Coco in particular steal scenes with their vibrant energy. Luna and Marco’s relationship, however, feels underexplored, and giving them more focus might have deepened the emotional core of the story.
Though the romance may not fully land for everyone, the Italian setting is beautifully drawn. The scenic adventures along the villages and coastline provide a lovely sense of escape. The writing is breezy and accessible, making this an enjoyable, quick read.
“You don’t have to follow other people’s rules all the time.”
“And you don’t have to break them all the time either.”
Joanie
People assume Joanie’s a nepo baby, but they have no idea how hard she’s worked to get back on the pitch after injury.
She just wants to play football. The last thing she needs is to film an ad in Menorca with Kieran Earnshaw, the men’s team bad boy.
Kieran is gorgeous, though—and he seems different with her. Maybe it’s time this good girl finally experimented with her wild side…?
Kieran
Joanie’s dad is on the board. He’s warned Kieran off his daughter, but wants him to watch out for her on their trip. He can get Kieran on the England squad, his lifelong dream, so he’ll have to play by the rules—just this once.
Quiet Joanie likes to stay in the background. But Kieran’s realized anyone overlooking this woman is making a mistake. She’s the total package, beautiful inside and out.
He knows what he wants on and off the pitch—and he always plays to win. He’s risking everything, but sometimes opposites attract. And together, he reckons they could rewrite the whole rulebook…
Anyone But You By Olivia Spring
They say opposites attract… right?
Ex-rock star Jake used to have it all. But a fall from grace has left him with a career in tatters. Trying to salvage his reputation, his agent suggests a trip to sunny California’s brand new five-star Love Hotel. The plan is to instigate a fake whirlwind social media romance to reignite his star power. Simple. Except, Jake barely knows how to use a hashtag. And he’s definitely not looking for love.
Looking for a second chance at finding true love, Halle has categorically sworn off musicians and social media after a painful break-up. So, when matched with notorious bad boy Jake, they’re a dating disaster waiting to happen, right?
Jake’s here for the clicks. Halle is craving a connection. ¬ Except the Love Hotel’s matchmaking team are the experts for a reason. And after two weeks of forced proximity in paradise, Halle and Jake discover that the pairing which at first seemed so wrong starts to feel so right…
Alicia Stone has always lived up to her name: unbreakable. As the daughter of a general and a Special Forces consultant with black belts in three martial arts, she’s fought her way to the top in a world where respect is never freely given. No one questions her strength or dares to call her Alicia—except Colonel Robert Maxmillian.
As head of the elite Biological Response Team, Max is no stranger to pressure, but his toughest mission yet lies in northern Iraq, where a deadly virus—or weapon—threatens to wipe out entire villages. With Alicia by his side to protect him, he’s ready to face the unknown. But what starts as a mission of survival quickly becomes personal as the undeniable attraction between them grows.
Alicia knows Max would be the perfect no-strings fling, but he’s not interested in settling for less than everything. Their passion ignites even as the stakes rise. When their investigation leads them closer to the source of the virus, they uncover a dangerous enemy willing to sacrifice anything to keep their secrets buried.
With lives on the line and their own hearts in the balance, Alicia and Max must trust each other to survive. Can they take down a ruthless scientist before time runs out—or will their mission end in betrayal and heartbreak?
In the third book of the Biological Response Team series, Sergeant Alicia Stone is assigned to protect Colonel Robert Maximilian, a brilliant but emotionally guarded scientist leading the U.S. Army’s biological threat unit. Alicia, a tough and capable soldier, isn’t afraid to challenge Max, and their sharp banter slowly builds into a believable, slow-burn romance.
As they work to stop a dangerous bioterrorist, the story blends high-stakes action with emotional depth. Real-world biological threats, a clever overarching plot, and Max’s gradually revealed past add tension and empathy throughout. The novel is fast-paced, character-driven, and concludes the series with a perfect mix of suspense, romance, and realism.
After leaving her childhood village heartbroken,chef Ruby hasn’t been home in years. But could a chance trip down memory lane be the secret ingredient for a magical holiday season?
Ruby hasn’t been back home since she made the heart-wrenching decision to leave her childhood sweetheart, Nathan, for a career in London. But when she’s invited to judge the charity gingerbread competition, she decides it’s time. And it seems there’s Christmas mischief at work. Because Nathan is joining her as a gingerbread judge.
But it’s clear he would rather she’d stayed away, from his icy silence when they are alone, to the snarky comments and his accusing glare as they prepare for the event with other members of the community. And all Ruby wants to do is get back to London.
Then bad weather leaves her snowed in the village until after Christmas, with nowhere to stay. And things go from bad to worse when she slips on the ice… And falls straight into the arms of Nathan.
The pain of her injured ankle is nothing when, her heart aflutter, Nathan surprises her. As he scoops her up and sweeps her off to the hospital, it seems like the frost between them is finally thawing. But could the magic of Christmas mean a second chance is possible? Or is it too little too late?
My Sanctuary 