January 2026 – Page 2

Review Card & Book Review- Ruthless Love By Laura Carter

I’ve always walked the straight and narrow, following the rules, kept my head down and my record clean.

Then Gregory Ryans, billionaire CEO, walked into my office – suit immaculate, smile lethal, morals grey.

It was only supposed to be business, but one brush of his wicked lips against my skin changed everything.

There’s something about him I can’t resist. Something dark. Addictive. And completely dangerous.

I’ll do anything he asks, even help destroy the enemies from his past.

But when tragedy strikes, it threatens to destroy everything we’ve built.

They say love is powerful. But I realise too late – I’ve already fallen.

About The Author

My Review

Scarlett Heath is a brilliant mergers and acquisitions lawyer, fighting to prove herself in a male-dominated firm while caring for her sick father at home. The last thing she needs is distraction—but she finds herself captivated by billionaire Gregory Ryans, the enigmatic CEO of Eclectic Technologies. Gregory is powerful, ruthless, and determined to have her both professionally and personally. He assigns Scarlett to handle his planned takeover of Sea People International, but the deal raises troubling ethical questions that test her integrity.

Scarlett can’t resist Gregory’s intensity, though his mysterious past and thirst for revenge pull her into dangerous territory. Their attraction grows through witty banter, stolen moments, and undeniable chemistry, but Gregory’s secrets and obsession with control threaten everything. Just as Scarlett begins to trust him, shocking revelations shatter her certainty. With tragedy looming and loyalties torn, their future hangs in the balance—ending on a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Meet Me At Sunset By Carol Kirkwood

Lies, seduction and secrets await under a Spanish sun…

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

Surrounded by the glamorous and the guilty, Camille discovers she isn’t the only one with secrets to hide. As the sun sets on their island paradise, can Camille and her fellow sunseekers escape their pasts and find happiness — or will their secrets destroy everything?

About The Author

My Review

This is a glamorous, escapist novel that blends love, betrayal, and ambition with just the right touch of intrigue. Camille, once caught between two men at college, built a successful fashion empire with her husband Andre, only to lose him in a tragic car accident. Their son Lucas, who survived the crash with a lasting scar, forges his own path as a talented chef in Mallorca, where childhood summers with his grandmother left deep roots.

As Lucas reconnects with his old friend Paulo, navigates his relationship with his girlfriend Elle, and crosses paths with a colorful cast of characters—including aspiring actress Stephanie, the glamorous Catherine, and others tied to his family’s past—secrets, rivalries, and shifting loyalties come to light. Meanwhile, Camille and Nicolas (her first love and Andre’s old friend) continue to play pivotal roles in the unfolding drama.

Fast-paced and filled with romance, suspense, and vividly drawn settings, it is as much about family ties and second chances as it is about love and ambition. With its mix of glitz, emotional tension, and a lively ensemble cast, this is a page-turner perfect for readers who enjoy stories of passion, betrayal, and resilience set against a glamorous international backdrop.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Kobo

Review Card & Book Review- The CEO I Hate By Leslie North

The Hating Game meets a much hotter Morning Glory—if the grumpy media exec was her brother’s best friend, and this time they actually kissed.

Liam Lockhart is my brother’s best friend, a decade older, and the kind of mistake I swore I’d never make twice. Two years ago, we kissed—hard, hot, unforgettable—until he shoved me away like I was a mistake he couldn’t afford. Message received. So I did what any heartbroken writer would do: I turned him into the villain of my webcomic. Broody, smug, infuriating—and totally based on Liam. I thought I was subtle. I wasn’t.

Now, thanks to a twist of fate (and my brother’s injury), Liam’s offering me the job of a lifetime: head writer on a hit show for his streaming platform.The catch? Working with him every day—while he pretends he hasn’t bonded with the stray mutt now following him everywhere—and trying not to strangle (or kiss) each other. I should say no. I should remember how it felt when he ghosted me. But this is my dream job. And staying professional is the plan. Right up until his lips crash into mine again. We can keep it casual. We can keep it quiet. As long as my brother never finds out.

As long as we don’t catch feelings. As long as I don’t do something truly stupid—like falling for my brother’s best friend. Kissing Liam the first time was a mistake. Doing it again? A disaster waiting to happen.

About The Author

My Review

CEO I Hate is a fun, fiery enemies-to-lovers romance that blends family drama, workplace tension, and heartfelt emotion. Struggling writer Mia Collins has spent years chasing her dream, despite her parents pushing her to give it up. When a chance encounter at a coffee shop reunites her with Liam Lockhart—her brother’s best friend and a billionaire CEO who once kissed then rejected her—sparks immediately fly. Soon, Mia lands a writing job at his TV studio, forcing them into close-quarters collaboration where banter, attraction, and jealousy run high. But Liam is torn between his loyalty to her protective brother and his undeniable feelings for Mia. With family complications, career challenges, and a stray dog thrown into the mix, this is a witty, heartfelt romance about learning to prioritize love and trust while balancing ambition and responsibility.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Snowflakes Over Starr’s Fall By Kate Hewitt

As the stars twinkle and the snow drifts over the town… someone’s about to find the magic she didn’t even know she’d been missing…

Jenna has lived in Starr’s Fall for most of her life, and has run the general store for over ten years. Secretly she might dream of love and romance, but she’s happy as she is. Really.

That is, until Starr’s Fall’s newest resident—ex-New Yorker, millionaire investment banker—Jack Wexler breezes into Jenna’s store, seemingly furious they don’t stock smoked salmon. Jenna is as amused as she is annoyed. Who is this ridiculous guy, and doesn’t he realize he’s not in Manhattan anymore?

Jack meanwhile can’t believe he lost it in public. But ever since being forced to leave his high-flying career to focus on his health, he’s not been himself. What’s more, the last person he’d expected to be attracted to is the shrew of a storekeeper he’s just encountered… which he might have called Jenna, in a moment of temper…

Neither of Jenna or Jack’s ideal of romance includes these sorts of furious sparks flying. But when they’re both roped in to organizing the town’s Winter Wonderland parade, they’re forced to work together. And as Christmas approaches – will two opposites merely attract? Or, in magical Starr’s Fall, could they fall in love for keeps?

About The Author

My Review

Jenna, the tough-as-nails owner of the local mercantile, has been holding Starr’s Fall together while carrying the weight of heartbreak and family struggles. Enter Jack Wexler, a polished ex-New Yorker with a recent heart scare, who breezes into her store demanding smoked salmon and manages to annoy her instantly. Their frosty clash sets the stage for an enemies-to-maybe-something-more arc, especially once the town ropes them into organizing the Winter Wonderland parade together.

The romance here is a slow simmer—more snark and cautious sidestepping than fiery passion. At times, the angst lingers longer than necessary, and the repeated full-name mentions of “Jack Wexler” had me feeling like I’d wandered into a courtroom drama. Still, their push-and-pull has a tender edge, especially as real-life challenges—Jack’s forced retirement and his mother’s Alzheimer’s, Jenna’s financial strain and family ties—add depth beneath the festive fluff.

Where the novel shines is in its setting. Starr’s Fall itself feels like a character: warm, bustling, and snow-dusted with holiday magic. Familiar faces from previous books enrich the story, making it feel less like a standalone romance and more like returning home for Christmas with old friends.

Overall it is a cozy, small-town holiday romance that leans heavily into its Hallmark-esque charm, complete with snowy parades, second chances, and enough stubborn banter to keep things lively.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 3 January 2025

What Happened That Summer By Laura Pearson

You think you know what happened that day… But what if you’re wrong?

Everyone who was around in the 1990s remembers where they were when they heard that AJ Silver had died. In the summer of ’96, there was no avoiding the story that America’s biggest teen pop sensation had plunged to his death on a rollercoaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England.

Now, 27 years have passed, and – even if you’re too young to recall the event – you’ve probably heard AJ Silver’s songs topping the charts again. So what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing everyone who was there that fateful day: workers, friends, family… the people who gained from his death, and the people who lost everything.

But you’re going to want to pay attention. Because I’ve found out a secret. One you’re all going to want to know… Perhaps it wasn’t such an accident after all?

Review Card & Book Review- Dangerous Affair By Sandra Owens

Protecting her is his mission.

Failure is unacceptable.

World-traveling photojournalist Quinn Sullivan is stopped in her tracks when a kidnapper holds her captive in a mountain cabin. Could it be related to the damning evidence she has about a company’s illegal tactics that are harming a town? To her rescue comes former marine ranger Liam O’Rourke. His assignment as a bodyguard keeps him close to Quinn, protecting her from ongoing threats. Much to his frustration, Quinn does flings, not relationships; she believes men can’t handle her career. But the shared danger of exposing a conspiracy may change their romantic boundaries.

About The Author

My Review

This installment follows Liam O’Rourke, a former Marine Ranger, whose world is shaken when his estranged father—who disowned him years ago—recommends him to help locate a missing woman. That woman is Quinn Sullivan, a fearless and compassionate photojournalist known for capturing the plight of children around the world. When Liam rescues her, sparks fly immediately, but Quinn insists she only wants a brief affair—her independence and convictions are too important to risk in a long-term relationship.

But danger still surrounds Quinn. Someone is desperate to recover an item in her possession—something that could destroy his empire and his reputation—and will stop at nothing to silence her. As Liam protects Quinn, their attraction deepens into something neither expected, challenging them both to confront old wounds, fears, and the possibility of love.

Fast-paced, romantic, and deeply engaging, Dangerous Affair is a compelling standalone that also enriches the larger Phoenix Three series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- A Hero’s Return By Carrie Nichols

He knows how to be brave on a battlefield

Now he has to be brave with his heart

Years of military service taught decorated veteran Braden Sullivan how to be strong. It didn’t teach him how to be vulnerable. Back in his Oregon hometown, with a job as a helicopter pilot and a two-family home to renovate, he’s not at all prepared for his heart to take flight after meeting his tenant, Cassie Donovan. The widowed single mom is beautiful, charming…and terrified of loving another pilot after losing her husband in a crash. Overcoming her fears and his own uncertainties will take courage—but isn’t that what a hero soldier is for?

About The Author

My Review

Braden Sullivan, a highly decorated former Army helicopter pilot, has returned to his hometown of Sandy Shores after leaving the military to care for his ailing sister. Now flying for the fire department, he’s trying to build a new life while carrying the weight of his past. Cassie Donovan, a widowed single mother, knows all too well the pain of loss—her husband, also a pilot, died tragically in an accident. After years of grieving, she moves to Sandy Shores with encouragement from her sister, hoping for a fresh start for herself and her daughter.

When Braden and Cassie cross paths, neither expects the spark that forms between them. As they navigate grief, trust issues, and the fears that come from loving again, they slowly discover that happiness—and love—might still be within reach. The presence of Cassie’s sweet, wise-beyond-her-years daughter and the charming pets add extra warmth and lightheartedness to the story.

It is a tale of second chances, healing, and the unexpected ways love can bring two broken hearts together. With well-developed characters, an engaging plot, and a perfect blend of tenderness and hope, A Hero’s Return is a touching romance that reminds readers it’s never too late to embrace love and new beginnings.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 2 January 2025

Where The Dawn Finds Us By Kate Hewitt

After years of survival and devastating loss, the promise of a new settlement in North Dakota feels like salvation. A chance for my children to reclaim some semblance of normalcy, studying and making friends again, and for me to find new purpose, reporting on this strange new world we’re living in for a newspaper. I’m even forming new friendships as I grow closer to Jack Norman, the settlement’s deputy leader.

But I can’t help feeling haunted by what—and who—we left behind. I desperately miss my eldest daughter, Mattie, who chose to stay in Canada, forging her own future in the community I left behind. I tell myself she’s safe there. But as I learn more about the world I belong to, I begin to understand the disturbing truth of how it has been formed—and I am terrified that Mattie might be in their sights.

I’ve already lost too much to this broken world—I won’t lose my daughter too.

Review Card & Book Review – The Rancher’s Prayer By Donna Gartshore

To earn the love he’s always wanted,
He must let go of his past…

Luke Duffy is desperate to save his family’s ranch. Especially after decisions made by his late father land their horse therapy business in trouble. But help comes in the unlikely form of guest Arabella Lark. As a PR expert, Bella has plans that could make the ranch thrive, but Luke’s rocky past makes him hesitant to rely on her. The single mom also has a lot on her plate: her job is on the line, and her daughter struggles with anxiety. Will they find the strength to face their challenges and create a new beginning together?

About The Author

My Review

Luke Duffy is burdened by the weight of his late father’s mistakes and the looming collapse of the family ranch and their horse therapy program. With so much on the line, he’s reluctant to trust anyone, least of all an outsider with big ideas. But Arabella Lark, a visiting public relations expert, isn’t just anyone. A devoted single mother, she’s determined to help Luke save the ranch while also helping her anxious daughter find peace.

As Arabella and Luke work side by side, their connection grows, but both must confront their fears—Luke’s mistrust and Arabella’s guarded heart—before they can truly embrace the love blossoming between them. The Christian themes are seamlessly woven into the story, offering encouragement, hope, and a reminder of faith’s power to heal.

Overall, The Rancher’s Prayer is a heartfelt, faith-filled romance that blends family struggles, personal healing, and the promise of new beginnings. Donna Gartshore has crafted a clean, uplifting story with characters you can’t help but root for. Clean, easy to read, and filled with warmth, The Rancher’s Prayer is a beautiful story of resilience, trust, and second chances.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 1 January 2026

Thirty Flirty and Forever Alone By Christine Riccio

When your name literally means “forever alone,” it takes a lot of positive self-talk to stay optimistic in the hellscape that is dating. But on the cusp of thirty, Rikki Romona is determined to find her person.

Columnist, therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur—Rikki is an overachiever who thrives on schedules. She can absolutely handle two weddings in two days, and lock down someone to drag along as a plus-one.

And yet, spoiler: She doesn’t.

Rikki finds herself flying hopelessly solo at a themed wedding in New Jersey. A lonely Rapunzel waiting for her Flynn.

Enter Reed Tyler: writer, podcast producer, wannabe actor. Surprisingly single with startling blue eyes, he seems perfect. The catch? He lives kind of far away, so dating him would be a bit of a hike. Like an intense, all-the-way-across-the-country hike.

After one unforgettable night together, Rikki’s sure this is the end. But as she braces herself for heartache, the universe, it seems, has other plans…