February 2026 – Page 3

Happy Publication Day – 19 February 2026

Healing Hearts At The Forever Cottage By Jill Steeples

The winds of change are sweeping through the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping.

After a tumultuous few months, Tess Alexander is ready to welcome her first guests to The Garden Retreat, a beautiful lodge in the grounds of Hollyhocks Cottage.

With her daughter Hannah home from her travels in Australia and her mother, Marjorie, acting out of character, Tess has to juggle many demands on her attention. Even her flourishing relationship with dashing Rob Templeton is put to the test when he faces an emotional dilemma from his past and Barney, her beloved beagle, has her at her wits end.

Tess can weather most storms with the unbridling support of her close friends Dilly, Gina and Suzy but when a passing remark in the local pub causes her to question one of those friendships, she wonders who can she really trust?

Can Tess overcome the obstacles in her path to find the happy ending she truly deserves?

How To Resist Your Boss By Leslie North

From the moment I bumped into Drew Ashford I knew one thing: I’d rather lick a subway pole than deal with him again.

Sure, he’s sexy as hell—in a hot movie-villain kind of way. Too bad he’s also obnoxious, arrogant, and worst of all, a dog hater.

Not my problem…if he didn’t own the hotel where the biggest wedding of my career is taking place.

Landing the wedding of a mega-famous reality star couple could make my career. All I need is everything to run smoothly: no scandals, no drama, no Drew.

But when a very compromising, very viral video catches him with the bride, Drew decides to drag me into his mess. Announcing—to millions of the couple’s rabid fans—that we’re engaged!

Spoiler: we are not.

Now to protect the wedding (and our own reputations), Drew convinces me to play along. The ring? Fake. The backstory? Fabricated. The chemistry?

…Unfortunately, very real.

And somewhere between the forced smiles and infuriatingly hot kisses, I start to wonder… what if I hate him a little less than I should?

Review Card & Book Review – A Winter Of Sweet Secrets By Heidi McCahan

What will it take to save her family’s candy company…and end a decades-long feud?

For generations, the Evergreen Candy Company has been a beloved small-town Alaskan tradition run by Jovi Wright’s family—until now. With her grandparents no longer at the helm, Jovi’s parents are considering selling it. When her sister calls with the news, Jovi hops on a plane back home to help rescue the family business. Her plan: launch Grammie’s salted caramel chews as a new product. But with Grammie’s memory fading and the recipe missing, Jovi has her work cut out for her.
Still reeling from being jilted by her fiancé, Jovi welcomes the distraction of trying to re-create the recipe from scratch. The distraction she’s not so sure about is single dad Burke Solomon. The disillusioned author and his adorable little girl have moved in to his late aunt’s cabin just down the road from her grandparents’ home, where she’s staying. And the discovery that their families have been feuding since before either of them were born is too irresistible to ignore.
With a looming deadline and the stresses of single parenthood, the last thing Burke needs is a bright-eyed optimist like Jovi next door. But he finds himself asking for her help adjusting to life in Evergreen more than he’d like to admit. And untangling the history of what happened to the friendship between his late aunt and Jovi’s Grammie provides an antidote to his writer’s block. But when Burke unearths several shocking family secrets, will revealing them settle the feud or bring everything he and Jovi have been working toward crashing down around them?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming small-town holiday romance that blends family, community, and second chances with a touch of mystery. For generations, the Evergreen Candy Company has been at the heart of Jovi Wright’s family, but with her grandparents aging and her parents considering selling, Jovi rushes home to help. Her plan: relaunch Grammie’s famous salted caramel chews. The problem? Grammie’s memory is fading, and the treasured recipe is nowhere to be found.

Enter Burke Solomon, a widowed author struggling with writer’s block and single father to the utterly endearing Darby Jane. Moving into his late aunt’s cabin places him right next door to Jovi—and right into the middle of a decades-old feud between their families. Their reluctant partnership soon turns into something much deeper, with Burke’s guarded heart slowly opening under Jovi’s optimism and determination.

McCahan delivers cozy festive vibes—snowy Alaska, twinkle lights, candy shops, and heartfelt family moments—while weaving in themes of forgiveness, resilience, and love. Sweet, uplifting, and brimming with holiday charm, this story is a perfect seasonal read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- The Accidental Rewrite By Milly Johnson

What if it was possible to start over again? To leave everything behind, forget all that went before, and live the life you’d always dreamed of?

Polly Potter is losing the plot of her life. At work, her jerk of a boss is making her days unbearable. At home, she’s trapped in an unappreciated relationship with a man-child of a partner. She’s left completely drained by always putting others first. Amid this chaos, Polly finds solace in one place: the pages of her novel, where she shapes the world of the fearless and triumphant Sabrina Anderson, a character who embodies everything Polly wishes she could be. And thus a plan is born: Polly Potter is going to stop writing the life she wants and start living it.

Just as she makes her move–quitting her job, leaving her partner, and embarking on a road trip to start over–fate turns everything upside down. A wild turn of events leaves her far from home along the Yorkshire coast, in the hospital, waking up from a concussion, believing her name is Sabrina Anderson. She doesn’t know where she’s come from, but she feels she could heal in that seaside town, with the fresh air, seagulls, and a few kind strangers who take her into their lives. And into the heart of their joyful, boisterous Italian family restaurant–run by Teddy, the warmhearted son of her new landlady. When the restaurant is threatened, she knows she has the skills to help–and as her memory slowly returns, she must choose between Sabrina’s life or Polly’s. With her identity in question, Polly wonders: what if this new life could truly be hers? What if she could rewrite her story with a happier ending?

About The Author

My Review

This is another heartwarming, witty, and uplifting tale from Milly Johnson, brimming with her trademark warmth and humor. At its heart is Polly Potter, a woman stuck in a stagnant relationship with Chris, whose affections have strayed and whose indifference has chipped away at her confidence. Professionally, things aren’t much better—after the death of her mentor, Polly’s new boss shamelessly steals her ideas, leaving her desperate for an outlet.

That outlet arrives in the form of a creative writing class, where Polly creates Sabrina—a bold, confident, and feisty version of herself who embodies everything she wishes she could be. But life takes an unexpected twist when Polly suddenly becomes Sabrina, with no memory of her past life, landing in a seaside town where she is taken in by the generous Marielle. What follows is a charming, layered exploration of identity, reinvention, and second chances.

Packed with colorful characters, quirky humor (the local paper’s hilarious typos are a delight), and emotional depth, this novel is both entertaining and empowering. Milly Johnson once again delivers a story that feels like a warm hug with a dash of mischief.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 18 February 2026

Breaking His Boundaries By VH Nicolson

Elijah: she’s an obsession I can’t control.

I thrive on order. Precision. Control. Organising Hart Law’s staff event this year is a disruption I do not need. Especially if it means working closely with Sapphire Feelgood. Event organiser and sunshine in human form. She’s bright, bubbly, and allergic to the word no. We clash instantly—her enthusiasm grates, her ideas overwhelm, and her smile… distracts far more than it should.

I don’t do chaos. Or temptation. But Sapphire is both and she knows just how to push my polished buttons and dismantle my boundaries…Sapphire: I want to know every part of him.

Eli Hart may be beautiful, but he’s also the grumpiest man I’ve ever met. He challenges everything—my ideas, my optimism, my patience. But somewhere between the tension and the teasing, I start seeing the real man beneath the perfect suits, but I know he’s still hiding secrets. He pushes me away. I push right back. It becomes our game. Every moment together sparks hotter than the last.

And the more he tries to hold the line, the more I want to be the one who finally makes him cross it…

Review Card & Book Review- Tracing Her Stolen Identity By Katie Mettner

Hunting the enemy who erased her identity

plunges them into a fight for their lives

Skylar Sullivan no longer exists. The obliteration of her identity is only the first step in a diabolical plan to frame the artist for crimes she couldn’t have physically committed from her wheelchair. Turning to the one person she can trust brings back memories of a night fourteen years ago when Sky lost the boy she loved. Reece Palmer failed Sky once. When he vows to protect her with his life in a way he couldn’t in the past, the cybersecurity expert must take down a mortal threat before a cold-blooded avenger makes Sky disappear forever.

About The Author

My Review

This is a compelling blend of romantic suspense, emotional depth, and personal resilience. Skylar, an artist whose life changed forever after a cheerleading accident left her in a wheelchair, has spent fourteen years building a new normal. Returning home from a retreat, she discovers her identity has been stolen and erased, plunging her into danger. With threats looming and nowhere else to turn, she seeks help from Reece Palmer, her childhood best friend and the one man she’s always trusted.

Mettner crafts Reece as a hero worth swooning over—steadfast, respectful, and deeply admiring of Skylar not despite her circumstances, but because of who she is. Their romance simmers with both chemistry and tenderness, placing emphasis on emotional connection rather than just physical attraction. The suspense plot is tightly woven with twists that keep the reader guessing, while the themes of forgiveness, self-acceptance, and renewal lend heartfelt resonance.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 17 February 2026

The Summer Of Lost And Found By Toni Blake

Recovering from cancer, Cincinnati news anchor Jessica Fox has no choice but to take a summer leave. Her boss’s proposal: for Jessica to take it easy and recharge at his late grandmother Mabel’s cottage in the Kentucky mountains.

The town of Lost and Found lives up to its name. Resistant at first, Jessica grows to appreciate the slower pace, the spectacular sunsets, the affable locals, and even Matt Cordray, the laid-back, too-friendly police chief next door. Most engaging of all is Mabel, who left behind a treasure map that leads Jessica to a collection of lost items—mementos and love letters—people have mailed to the town over the years. Jessica needs something to help pass the time, and she finds it in reuniting these precious things with the distant strangers who lost them.

Lost and in flux herself, Jessica has no idea just how connected to life this town will make her feel again or, by summer’s end, how transformative a season it will be.

Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall By Kate Hewitt

As the weather warms up, everyone in Starr’s Fall has one thing on their minds… ice cream. And Zoe Wilkinson is the person to help them out. Running the town’s only ice cream shop—The Latest Scoop—she should be the most popular person in town, at least every day that the sun’s shining.

But, in spite of growing up in Starr’s Fall, Zoe has reached the age of twenty-eight without letting anyone deeply into her life. Her wild teenage years seem to be all anyone remembers, perhaps not helped by her spiky pink hair, and sometimes even spikier attitude.

That is, until fourteen-year-old Sophie comes into her store, and tries to steal something. Zoe calls her out, only to attract the ire of Sophie’s furious father, Dan Bryant –a surprisingly sexy middle-aged dad who Zoe would probably develop a huge crush on, if he wasn’t busy defending his daughter.

When she gets home to realise Sophie and Dan are in fact also her new neighbors, she knows she has to make nice. Besides, she can’t help but see a bit of her own teenage tearaway self in sulky Sophie.

But, as the summer sun blazes overhead, will letting a lost teenage girl and a man who gives her butterflies into her life be enough to warm up Zoe’s frozen, frightened heart?

Review Card & Book Review- Cinderella’s Fling With The Billionaire By Rachael Stewart

FOR ONE NIGHT OR FOREVER?

Single mom Maria has fought to reclaim her world from her controlling ex. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until billionaire widower Tim walks into her bar, igniting a passion she thought she’d buried. A brief fling was meant to be enough, until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited on a luxury superyacht. Working as a stewardess, Maria is mortified to be serving the man she shared a bed with. Worse still, their attraction is stronger than ever…

About The Author

My Review

This is a sweeping, emotional romance that takes the beloved Cinderella trope and gives it fresh warmth, depth, and glamour. Maria, a single mother who has worked hard to build a safe, independent life for herself and her daughter, Fae, has no plans to let another man into her heart. That changes the night she meets Tim, a widower still carrying the weight of grief while being gently nudged by his daughter and best friend to look toward the future. What begins as a passionate one-night encounter soon takes an unexpected turn when Maria accepts a temporary job aboard a luxury yacht—only to discover Tim is part of the crew’s world.

Stewart masterfully contrasts Maria and Tim’s different backgrounds while showing the undeniable spark that binds them. The chemistry between them is fiery yet tender, their vulnerabilities make them relatable, and the Australian superyacht setting adds pure escapist delight. With themes of second chances, healing, and the courage to embrace love again, this story is both heartfelt and uplifting.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- Filthy Rich Temptation By Rachael Stewart

Theo

Making my first billion? Easy. Surviving Sadie — and her three-year-old — moving in? Pure torture. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the one girl I should never touch. Especially after that reckless kiss seven years ago…the kiss that ruined everything.

Now she’s here, under my roof, in every corner of my thoughts. Vulnerable. Off-limits. And so beautiful it hurts. I promised myself I’d protect her, keep my distance. But every laugh, every accidental touch, makes it harder to remember why I ever said no.

Sadie

I ran to Theo for safety, but the moment I walked through his door, I knew I wasn’t just in danger from my ex—I was in danger of falling again. He thinks he’s protecting me, keeping his distance. But every smouldering look says otherwise.

And every night, I wonder: what if I kissed him again? He thinks he’s just helping. But he doesn’t see how he’s rewiring my heart—how my daughter already adores him. I’m supposed to be surviving, not falling. But I know what I want…him. His hands. His mouth. His body. Even if it’s the one thing he swore I couldn’t have…

About The Author

My Review

This is a captivating, emotionally layered romance that balances tenderness, passion, and resilience with remarkable ease. The novel follows Sadie, a young mother fleeing an abusive relationship, who reluctantly accepts refuge with her sister’s best friend, Theo. What her sister doesn’t know is that Sadie and Theo once shared a fleeting but unforgettable kiss, creating an undercurrent of unresolved attraction.

Stewart handles the sensitive subject of abuse with care, ensuring it shapes Sadie’s journey without overwhelming the story. Instead, the focus remains on her strength, her determination to rebuild her life, and the unconditional love she shares with her daughter, Lottie. Theo emerges as the perfect counterpart—protective, patient, and quietly devoted—his growing bond with Lottie is particularly touching.

The romance itself is both hotly charged and refreshingly authentic. Rather than leaning on tired tropes or contrived misunderstandings, the conflicts feel organic, arising from the characters’ emotional wounds and vulnerabilities. This makes their eventual connection all the more rewarding.

Heartfelt, compelling, and surprisingly hopeful, this book is a testament to Rachael Stewart’s ability to write romance that resonates on both an emotional and deeply human level.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

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Happy Publication Day – 16 February 2026

The Heat Of The Moment By Camilla Isley

When a slow-burn attraction finally catches fire…

Four years after losing her husband in the line of duty, ER nurse Lily Finnigan has one goal: raise her daughter and keep her heart safely locked away. Romance—even a simple fling—isn’t on the agenda. Until Josh Collins walks into her emergency room.

Gorgeous, charming, and infuriatingly kind, he is everything Lily doesn’t want—but can’t seem to stay away from. When her apartment floods, her new helpful neighbor turns out to be the sexy firefighter she’s been dreaming of. Now he’s everywhere—offering help, stealing smiles, and slowly breaking down her walls.

Lily insists they can only be friends. She swore she would never fall for another firefighter. But the more time she spends with Josh, the more impossible that promise becomes. And when Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. The moment he walks back through her door battered and bruised but safe, Lily’s instinct is to run from her past and her future… But Josh won’t let her go that easily.

Escape To Seahaven Bay By Nicola May

Seahaven Bay has always been a place where the sparkling tides bring laughter, love and a lot of fun. But when Rita Jory’s beloved husband Archie dies in a tragic accident, she’s left alone on their failing Cornish farm with nothing but her grieving heart, a mountain of debt and some very badly behaved goats. Faced with selling the home she loves or finding a way to make it pay, Rita has a moment of desperate inspiration. She decides to transform her beloved Seahaven Farm into a place where broken souls can heal by the sea.

With help from her sharp-tongued mother-in-law, loyal best friend, daughter and new friends, the rundown farm soon blossoms into a haven of healing, creativity and community. Rita dares to believe her future might still shimmer with possibility – and even admits her growing attraction to Jago, the gorgeous neighbouring farmer with whom the Jorys had a decades-long feud.

But just as Rita begins to find peace, long-buried secrets about Archie’s past begin to surface, forcing her to question everything she believed about the life they built together.

Rita must discover the truth and decide if she’s ready to open her heart again – to love, to hope, and to the possibility that even after loss, life can still be full of surprises.

Review Card & Book Review – All The Things We Never Knew By Sophie Ranald

A marriage built on secrets. A family torn apart. A love that could heal them all.

When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family.

As Gray lies dying in their Damask Square home, Anna meets Laurel – the nurse who stole her husband’s heart. Despite her rage, Anna finds herself sharing Gray’s final days with this other woman, both desperate to ease his suffering while drowning in their own grief.

But hidden in their loft, Anna discovers traces of a stranger – a boy who was a gifted pianist, who had a different life before he became her husband. As she struggles to hold herself together for her teenage children, Anna realises everything she believed about Gray was built on carefully constructed lies.

Can two women who loved the same man find a way to heal – and help each other discover who Gray really was?

About The Author

My Review

This is a deeply moving and emotionally layered novel that explores marriage, betrayal, forgiveness, and self-discovery with remarkable sensitivity. From the very beginning, I was drawn into Anna’s world as she faces the devastating fallout of her husband Gray’s infidelity, while also uncovering the pain and secrets that shaped him. What makes this story so compelling is the balanced perspective—it doesn’t just follow Anna, but also gives us insight into Gray and Laurel, the nurse who falls for him. Each viewpoint feels authentic, making it hard not to sympathize with all sides of this tangled, heartbreaking situation.

Ranald handles heavy themes with nuance, never resorting to clichés or easy resolutions. Instead, she paints a portrait of flawed, multidimensional people navigating love, grief, mistakes, and redemption. The characters grow in believable ways, with moments of anger, guilt, compassion, and eventual healing. The ending ties these journeys together beautifully, offering hope and renewal without diminishing the struggles that came before.

Powerful, heartfelt, and courageous in tackling tough topics, this book left me reflective and inspired.

My Rating