Monthly Archives: January 2026

Review Card & Book Review – Snowy Surprises In The Highlands By Lisa Hobman

Magic happens when you least expect it…

Bella Douglas is living her dream life on the Isle of Skye but misses her friends at Drumblair Castle. She has the love of her life by her side, Granny Isla just up the road and has landed a big job to renovate the interior of a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client. What could possibly go wrong?

When Bella’s new client sends their son to project manage the hotel renovation, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Ex-model Carlton Somers has set his sights on Bella and doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. But her relationship with Harris is rock solid; nothing can break that foundation … can it?

Meanwhile Granny Isla’s ‘friendship’ with her neighbour Tam Guthrie is going from strength to strength but when drama hits Pabay View Residential Home Bella’s life is quickly sent into a tailspin.
What will it take to get her life back on track?
And can she ever find time to focus on her own happiness and future?

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming festive read that captures both the magic of the season and the enduring appeal of the Scottish Highlands. Hobman’s talent for creating warm, relatable characters shines once again in this story of love, resilience, and community spirit.

At the heart of the novel is Bella Douglas, whose idyllic life on the Isle of Skye is tested when a charismatic ex-model arrives, threatening to unsettle her happiness. Hobman handles the conflict with a deft touch, ensuring the tension never overshadows the uplifting, cosy tone that defines the book. The Isle of Skye setting is painted vividly, its snow-dusted beauty providing the perfect stage for a tale that blends romance with gentle drama.

A particular highlight is the subplot featuring Granny Isla and Tam Guthrie, which demonstrates that love and companionship can be rediscovered at any age. Their storyline at Pabay View Residential Home adds both humor and poignancy. Overall, it is a delightful seasonal escape, full of warmth, charm, and heartfelt moments.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- The Boy Next Door By Sian O’Gorman

You’ve only got one life, so make sure you LOVE it!

Journalist Claudia Kelly loves her work at one of Dublin’s best magazines but when she is tasked with editing Irish Man, she’s unsure she’s up to the big job.

But when her former childhood neighbour, the handsome artist Johnny Hogan returns home, he and Claudia immediately resume their old friendship and he encourages her to take the role.

With an impending hostile boardroom takeover, Claudia is forced to pick a side whilst navigating her mother’s new romance and her sister Fiona’s earth-shattering secret. With a dysfunctional team to manage and new skills to learn, she has to draw on an unknown inner strength.

But why is the mysterious Brian O’Brien, a former friend of her late father, back in their life? And why has the company’s chairman so much faith in her? Can Claudia finally open a new page on a happier life for them all?

About The Author

My Review

The Boy Next Door is a heartwarming story about taking chances, embracing change, and finding strength when life throws unexpected challenges your way.

Claudia Kelly loves her job at a Dublin magazine, but when she’s suddenly asked to edit Irish Man, she isn’t sure she’s ready for such a big role. Support arrives from an unexpected source—her childhood neighbour, Johnny Hogan, now a successful artist back home. Their renewed friendship, with the possibility of something more, gives Claudia the encouragement she needs.

As she navigates an impending boardroom takeover, a difficult team, and her own doubts, Claudia also faces upheaval in her personal life: her mother’s new romance, her sister Fiona’s shocking secret, and the return of Brian O’Brien, a man mysteriously linked to her late father. With so much at stake, Claudia must discover her inner resilience and decide what—and who—she really wants.

Though the story takes a little time to build, Sian O’Gorman weaves together family, friendship, work, and gentle romance into an uplifting, relatable read about stepping out of your comfort zone and seizing new opportunities.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon.

Happy Publication Day – 29 February 2026

We Never Have Sex Any More By Julia Jones

Lottie and Theo have it all – except it.

Lottie and Theo are definitely happily married: deeply in love, beautiful house, two adorable puppies… except that after seven years together, the only action they’re having in the bedroom is Netflix marathons. Why has every night become ‘not tonight’?

Frustrated in more ways than one, Lottie drunkenly calls in to her favourite podcast (The Cliterati) to let off some steam. But her anonymous rant goes viral, with thousands of women replying with tales of their own long-term relationships going limp and floppy.

Now everyone is trying to unmask the ‘horny wife’, the podcast agency make Lottie an offer which could change her life. The only problem is… Lottie still hasn’t told Theo about her confession. How on earth can Lottie admit to her husband that they could be famous – for being sexless?

Review Card & Book Review- Time for You By Elizabeth Davis

Daphne Griffin is a first-year Minnesota resident in emergency medicine when she rides her bike into a man who appears out of thin air. Physically, he’s fine. Confused? Very. He claims he’s Henry MacDonald, from Edinburgh, Scotland, 1885.

The closer Daphne gets to Henry, the more probable the impossible notion of a time traveler looks. The how and why are vitally important to Henry, who needs to return home before his widowed mother and two sisters lose the family business. In the meantime, he’s adjusting to the marvels of twenty-first-century life and his feelings for the irresistible Daphne. As for her? She’s never met a man so charming, or one who makes her so deliriously happy.

It has the makings of a perfect romance, if not for the century and a half separating his time from hers. Time is running out to get Henry back home—and for him to decide once and for all where his heart belongs.

About The Author

My Review

Time for You is a delightful blend of romance, medical drama, and time-travel intrigue. This installment focuses on Daphne, a hardworking ER resident, whose life changes the night Henry mysteriously arrives in her emergency room. Though he has no injuries, Henry claims he is from late nineteenth-century Scotland—a revelation that sets Daphne and her friends on a quest to help him return home, possibly during the next solstice.

What makes this story shine is the relationship between Daphne and Henry. As Daphne struggles with the pressures of hospital life and figuring out her future in medicine, Henry offers steady, thoughtful support. Their romance develops slowly and tenderly, making their connection feel genuine and earned. At the same time, Henry’s “fish out of water” experiences in the modern world bring moments of levity, from his awe at twenty-first century innovations to his attempts at fitting into Daphne’s world.

Elizabeth Davis has crafted a charming, heartfelt story that balances humor, emotion, and hope. Perfect for fans of time-travel romance, supportive heroes, and love that transcends centuries.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- Mending Hearts At The Cornish Country Hospital By Jo Bartlett

fresh start…

For A&E nurse Eden Grainger, Port Kara offers more than just a safe haven. It’s a chance to break free from her ex Jesse and start a new life. Her focus now is solely on her four-year-old son, Teddie, whose autism means he sees the world in his own unique way.

A guarded heart…

Pathologist Drew Redford prefers to keep himself to himself in the busy hospital. Shaped by family loss and navigating life with high-functioning autism, he finds comfort in certainty. But when Eden and Teddie enter his world, an unexpected connection forms, especially through his gentle interactions with little Teddie.

A kindred connection…

Despite a growing fondness, both Eden and Drew are cautious. Eden is wary of repeating old mistakes, and Drew struggles with letting people in. But Teddie continues to bring them together and Eden thinks this could be the start of something really special. But when Jesse returns, Eden is thrown into turmoil and makes a mistake that could cost her everything.

About The Author

My Review

Eden Grainger returns to Port Kara with her young son, Teddie, determined to build a safer, happier life after leaving a damaging relationship. As she begins her new role as an A&E nurse, she also faces the challenge of mending her fractured relationship with her mother. Teddie, who is on the autism spectrum, is the heart of Eden’s world, and his presence makes this story especially moving.

At St Piran’s Hospital, Eden meets Drew Redford, a pathologist who thrives on routine and order. Drew, who has high-functioning autism, forms a quick and natural bond with Teddie, creating the foundation for a slow-burn romance with Eden. Their journey is filled with vulnerability, healing, and quiet hope.

With a vivid Cornish setting, familiar supporting characters, and Bartlett’s trademark warmth, this book balances heartbreak and uplift beautifully. Sensitive, romantic, and full of heart, it’s a perfect read for fans of medical romance and second chances.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 28 January 2026

The Girl With Nowhere To Go By Louise Guy

In your own darkest hour, would you help a child in need?

When a teenage girl with haunted eyes enters Bec’s world, she stirs something in Bec she thought she’d buried long ago.

Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Bec is barely keeping her life together. But there’s something about Skye, motherless, wary and alone, that reaches into the shadows of Bec’s past. Twenty years ago, she was that lost girl, grieving her twin brother and cut off from her parents after one terrible night. Now, with the threat of those same parents re-entering her life, Bec makes an impulsive decision: she offers Skye food, shelter and the promise of help.

When Bec’s search for help brings Anna into their world, the connection feels almost fated. Anna has demons of her own. A past she’s fought to bury and a brother’s name she’s desperate to clear.

Both women believe they know what’s best for Skye. But as past and present collide, each will be forced to face truths they thought they’d left behind.

Review Card & Book Review – Christmas For The Village Midwife By Tilly Tennant

Snow crunches underfoot, lights twinkle on the lakes, and in the little village of Thimblebury, midwife Zoe is hoping for more than one Christmas miracle…

Christmas has crept up on village midwife, Zoe Padbury. The little village of Thimblebury is having a baby boom and suddenly there’s only a week to go. She had visions of magic moments beneath the mistletoe with her new boyfriend, Alex, but with all the babies being born and her grumpy new boss at the surgery, their first Christmas together isn’t quite going to plan.

Still, Zoe feels happier and more in love than ever before, and when her old friend, Georgia, moves to the village, it feels like the icing on her Christmas cake. Georgia’s own baby is due at any minute, and Zoe is determined to give her the love and attention she gives all her expectant mums. But when she pays Georgia a home visit, she can’t shake the feeling that she is hiding something…

Zoe is determined to find out what’s wrong, even though Alex thinks she shouldn’t interfere. Zoe needs to put her old friend first, but Alex’s behaviour is reminding her that there is still so much she doesn’t know about him… As long-held secrets unravel, will Zoe and Alex be able to keep their own festive magic alive?

About The Author

My Review

Zoe Padbury, the ever-dedicated village midwife, is thriving both in her work and in her relationship with Alex. Their romance is tender and believable, though Alex’s daughter, Billie, adds a poignant thread as she struggles with grief and a complicated pregnancy. Zoe’s old school friend Georgia arriving in the village, along with Georgia’s sister—the new GP—adds freshness and new dynamics to the community, while Lavender’s attempt to adjust to Fliss’s absence after her retirement is moving and relatable.

Tennant excels at writing communities that feel like family. From supportive neighbors to even the grouchiest villagers, every character plays their part in weaving a story full of heart. The Christmas setting is a delight: snowy walks, church services, and festive preparations all brimming with warmth and nostalgia.

Both heartwarming and tear-tugging, Christmas for the Village Midwife is a charming read that will leave readers smiling and feeling wrapped up in holiday cheer.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 27 January 2026

Stalked In The Mountains By Danica Winters

She’s sworn she’ll never return home…

Until she needs a hideout.

NActress Scarlett Leafletter’s former agent is stalking her. Concealing her identity, she and her assistant hide out at her estranged family’s resort ranch. The new guest annoys cowboy Miles Miller, despite his powerful attraction to her. Scarlett’s also drawn to Miles, but both are wary of trusting one another. As they navigate their conflicted feelings, Scarlett’s past catches up to her, endangering those around her. Then Scarlett’s assistant and Miles’s brother disappear. And Scarlett must reveal everything. Now, trusting each other is the only way to save those they love.

Falling For The Rodeo Cowgirl By Cari Lynn Webb

Honoring a family vow…

He never expected love

When veterinarian Hank Hopson returns to Three Springs, Texas, with his five-year-old son, he’s determined to honor his wife’s last wish to heal family wounds. Taking a job at the local animal hospital, he’s paired with Gwen Bayer, the spitfire cowgirl working as his vet tech. She plans to get back on the rodeo circuit once her horse’s injury heals, and he’s headed for the city. But as their friendship deepens, it becomes impossible to deny their growing connection. How will they decide between the lives they’ve worked for—and the love that could change everything?

Buried Lies By Kathleen Donnelly

When the man she loves is framed for murder, Maya Thompson and her K-9 will follow every trail to track the real killer down, in the fourth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series.

U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson and her K-9, Juniper, are both ready for a break. Ever since moving to Colorado, it’s been one investigation after another. Murder, arson, kidnapping…they’ve handled it all. Now that her boyfriend, Undersheriff Josh Colton, is coming home, Maya is looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Until she and Juniper find the body of a woman in a pile of forest debris meant to burn, that is. Then Maya’s just looking forward to having Josh’s help in solving the crime.

But when the victim turns out to be Josh’s volatile ex-fiancée, and all signs point to Josh as the main suspect, Maya and Juniper must dig into Josh’s past to uncover the truth…before the killer, fixated on revenge, finds them.

A Texas– Sized Fake Out By Michelle Dunaway

In a high-stakes game of fake it…

Will they make it?

Wyatt Larrabee thought adopting twin boys and moving back home to Legacy Canyon, Texas, would be tough. Turns out, fending off unwanted attention from women after a TV interview about his adorable new sons is even tougher. And now a random blind date? Between daddy duty, ranch chores and his job, love is not in the cards for Wyatt.

Pediatrician Madi Brennan agrees to another date to appease her matchmaking grandmother before Madi must eventually return to Boston. But when she meets Wyatt, a plan forms: pretend to date to discourage nosy meddlers. Spending time together to keep up appearances, Wyatt and Madi realize their attraction is very real. With two hearts at stake, will love call their bluff with a full house?

Falling For The Fake Lumberjack By Sara Ney

With rugged good looks and muscles for days, Harris Bennett stops traffic no matter what he’s wearing—flannel shirt or football jersey. So when management sends him to Star Lake, Washington, for a team-building retreat, it’s no wonder a local mistakes him for a lumberjack. And Harris leans right into the misunderstanding. Because that “local” looks amazing in yoga pants.

Lucy LeBrandt is a yoga instructor with trust issues: She doesn’t have time for men. But she’s definitely drawn to the hot, goofy lumberjack who seems to know nothing about, well, lumberjacking. He’s only in town for a week. Maybe she can squeeze him in between classes…

Harris has no idea what to do with an axe, and Lucy has no idea what to do about Harris. But they both know exactly what to do when they’re alone together. Can they split the difference between them, or is their romance just one stroke away from “TIIIIIMBER!”?

Witness Protector By Jude Bayton

She’s seen too much.

And a chance reunion is her only hope for survival.

Witness to a murder. No passport to go home. Mia Jones never expected to run into Jack Brannon in the middle of nowhere. Their affair years ago left her heartbroken, but now Jack is her only hope. The Law Enforcement Park Ranger thinks his eyes are playing tricks on him when he spots Mia at a local diner. He’s even more surprised when he learns she’s in hiding—and why. Determined to keep her safe and bring a killer to justice, Jack takes the woman he never forgot on a road trip in search of answers…and the ultimate retribution.

Maid For The Italian By Cathy Williams

She’s cleaning his house…

and cleaning up his reputation!

When maid Georgie finds herself homeless, she seeks refuge in the luxury chalet that she cleans. But its owner, tycoon Alessandro Barbieri, unexpectedly returns, and Georgie is wholly unprepared for her reaction to him…

Alessandro is in Whistler to secure custody of his beloved daughter. His image must be purer than the driven snow outside! Finding an unknown woman in his home is unacceptable, no matter their instant attraction. The only solution? Pretend they’re in love! They just need to remember the clock will strike midnight on their fake relationship…

Bridesmaid’s Fast-Track Fling By Elle Brown

The billionaire is driving her wild!

In Monte Carlo for her best friend’s wedding, Olivia finds the city buzzing with anticipation for the weekend’s championship F1 race. Not that Liv has a clue about racing! Besides, she’s consumed by thoughts of the enigmatic yet gorgeous Greek she’s just met. There’s something magnetic in Nikos’s gaze that has Liv uncharacteristically putting their romance in the fast lane. But is this true love or only a pit stop? She’d better figure it out quick! Once her bridesmaid duties are fulfilled, Liv is returning home…

Nurse’s Night Before Valentine’s By Louisa Heaton

There’s no cure for Cupid!

For locum nurse Cass, a temporary contract on a Scottish island is a breath of fresh air. After suffering a terrible loss, she’s lived on the go, never allowing anyone close. Except the warm welcome from her new boss, single dad GP Lachie, has her wondering if she can finally put down roots… Sharing patients leads to sharing heartaches late into the night, when their spark threatens to turn into a blaze! As Valentine’s approaches, will Cass find a home where her heart is?

Chasing The Ring By Lauren Rowe

Iris Benedetto’s wedding day just went viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.

After a heated blowout with her lying, cheating fiancé at the altar, Iris storms off on a solo honeymoon—loudly announcing that she’s finally going to find out what good sex is all about. Rebranding from small-town preschool teacher to #Horny Runaway Bride was not the plan, but the insanely hot stranger who ends up double-booked in her bungalow on the island of Kauai is an opportunity even devastated Iris can’t ignore.

It’s not often NFL quarterback Roman Maguire meets someone who doesn’t recognize him. Even rarer to have that someone barge in while he’s taking a shower and quickly make him an irresistible offer. Roman is in Hawaii to secure the deal that could finally land him a Super Bowl ring—and closer proximity to his son. A sexy fling in paradise is a perfect way to spend a week with a surprise roommate . . .

Except . . . suddenly a week doesn’t seem nearly enough. And once the truth about Roman’s identity, Iris’s internet infamy, and all kinds of loyalty-testing secrets are revealed, will they both be willing to step into the real-life spotlight together?

Review Card & Book Review – Behind Enemy Bylines By Kathleen Fuller

Little Rock, Arkansas, 1995: Jade Smith’s life has never been entirely stable. Bouncing back and forth between her mother and foster care, she learned that the only person she can really trust is herself. So when she starts to fall for newsroom reporter Sebastian Hudson, her defenses go up. When she gets a job offer from a company in Atlanta, Georgia, she immediately takes it, leaving Sebastian behind. He might have claimed to love her, but she knows no one sticks around for long.

Clementine, Arkansas, 2005: Ten years after his heartbreak, Sebastian is back in his tiny hometown running the local paper and writing his slice-of-life column. The numbers in the accounting book are telling a story he’s not ready to read, but he’s refused to entertain any buy-out offers from big conglomerates, even as other small presses are being grabbed up, and in some cases, put out of business. He’s determined not to let anything happen to the Clementine Times.

In Atlanta, Jade is eager for the promotion that will finally provide the security she’s always craved. There’s only one hitch–her boss wants her to convince a small-town newspaper owner to sell his paper to their company. No big deal, right? Then she learns the owner is none other than Sebastian Hudson. Now it’s a very big deal.

Reunited for the first time since their awful break-up, Sebastian and Jade dig in their heels, refusing to see each other’s side. But the small town of Clementine won’t let them stay at odds with each other for long. Between a springtime hoedown, a dangerous apartment fire, Sebastian’s slightly meddling younger sister, and the surprise appearance of Jade’s younger brother, Sebastian and Jade end up discussing everything but business. They also rekindle past feelings.

But when one of them makes an unforgivable decision, can they find their way back to each other? Or is this second chance the very last one?

About The Author

My Review

The book kicks off in 1995 when Jade Smith leaves her job at a Little Rock newspaper—and her boyfriend, Sebastian Hudson—for a better-paying position in Atlanta. Her dream is to adopt her younger foster brother, but fast forward ten years and things haven’t gone quite as planned. When her boss sends her back to Arkansas to convince the owner of a small-town paper to sell, she’s shocked to find it’s Sebastian. Their reunion is tense, emotional, and full of sparks.

Adding even more charm is Kalista, a spoiled L.A. teen stuck in Clementine for the summer. Watching her adjust to farm life and newspaper delivery had me smiling.

This story has all the things I love in a small-town romance—second chances, meddling neighbors, and just the right mix of humor and heart. Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting story about love, forgiveness, and finding where you belong. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

My Rating

Link To Purchase