January 2026 – Page 7

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…

Review Card & Book Review- Their First Dance By Laurie Batzel

Could their first dance…

Last a lifetime?

Fanny Cunningham is only in small-town Crystal Hill to help her aging dance teacher. She has no time for local handyman Lawson Carl, who tried—and failed—to charm her ten years ago. But when she needs a partner for an instructional dance video, he’s her only option. Teaching Law to dance is more fun than she imagined. And she may end up with bruised toes, but she feels strangely safe in his burly arms. Could the man who stumbled into her studio be her perfect partner on and off the dance floor?

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming, small-town romance brimming with humor, heart, and just the right touch of nostalgia. Fanny Cunningham never intended to stay in Crystal Hill beyond helping her aging dance teacher. She certainly didn’t expect to run into Lawson Carl—the local handyman who once tried, and spectacularly failed, to win her over ten years ago. But when she needs a partner for a dance instructional video, Lawson becomes her only option. What begins as a reluctant arrangement soon turns into something tender, funny, and unexpectedly intimate.

Lawson, with his rugged charm and easygoing nature, proves to be more than just a willing dance partner. As Fanny teaches him the steps, she finds herself opening up in ways she never imagined. Their banter is witty, their chemistry undeniable, and even their missteps on the dance floor become moments of connection. The townsfolk, ever meddling and matchmaking, only add to the story’s warmth and humor.

Overall, , this is a story about trust, second chances, and discovering that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. Sweet, funny, and deeply heartfelt, it is a romance that dances straight into your heart.

My Rating