Happy Publication Day – 12 May 2026

The Last Page By Katie Holt

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated. 

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them. 

You Can Tell Me By Melinda Leigh

On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.

Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling word: Run.

It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?

June Baby By Shannon Garvey

At seventeen, Ruth lost her mother to cancer, and her father, unable to handle his grieving daughter, shipped her off to Block Island with nothing but a name scribbled on the back of a receipt: Diana Beckett. Diana, a renowned photographer, took Ruth in for the summer, and Block Island became Ruth’s refuge, a place of beauty and creativity, a place where she could nurture her dreams of being a writer, a place where she could fall in love for the first time—with Diana’s nephew, Charlie. 

Now, at twenty-seven, Ruth has spent the last ten summers living and working among the lucky few who get to vacation in this wealthy beach town, and the rest of the year just scraping by, yearning to return to the place where she feels safe and unburdened. But then Ruth’s world is upended by tragedy again. Desperate for an anchor, she reaches for the person she’s been pining for since she met him—Charlie—who has his own startling revelation to share. And when another surprise comes in the form of a box left to Ruth by Diana, its contents raise questions about just how well she knew the two women who raised her. Torn between what to believe about her past, and what her future might hold, Ruth is faced with another choice: does she dare to rewrite her story entirely?

All The Truth In My Lies By Elisabet Benavent

Six best friends on a bachelorette road trip. One RV packed with secrets.

Blanca’s September wedding is the perfect excuse for one last adventure, so Coco, Loren, and Aroa rent a camper and plot a week of sun splashed beaches, campsite dinners, and dancing till closing time. MarĂ­n and Gus jump onboard at the last minute. It should be idyllic—if only the truth weren’t riding shotgun.

Coco and MarĂ­n are the kind of roommates who make life look easy. Too bad Coco is in love with him. To keep it hidden, she pretends she’s still hung up on her ex, Gus… who seems to be writing love poems to someone he won’t name. MarĂ­n and Aroa’s breakup? Messier than anyone admits. Blanca should be glowing for her fiancĂ©, yet she’s miles away. And Loren—poor Loren—knows more than he should and can’t tell a soul.

What starts as a carefree farewell becomes a pressure cooker of almost confessions and half truths. As the miles roll by, the stories they’ve told about themselves start to crack, and each of them has to choose what to protect: the friend group they’ve always been—or the person they might finally be brave enough to become.

Where Happy Begins By Maxine Morrey

When Emmeline Buchanan grows weary of her city career, she decides to make a huge change by taking a job as a gardener at the gorgeous stately home, Ashington House. Sure, she may have told a little white lie about having a horticultural degree, but this is her summer to embrace happiness.

Welcomed with open arms by the lady of the house, Emmy is looking forward to a season of flowers and sunshine. So she is flabbergasted when Lady Penelope, desperate to save face with a nightmare neighbour, announces that her son, Edward, the Lord of the Manor no less, and Emmeline are engaged.

Desperate to keep her job, Emmy agrees to keep up the pretence, but as the summer days draw longer and she spends more time with Edward, she realises she may have made a big mistake. Because under the veneer of a slightly awkward country gent is hidden a devastatingly handsome and heart-achingly kind man. How is Emmy meant to walk away when the summer draws to an end…

Review Card & Book Review – Seaside Dreams On The Scottish Isle By Lilac Mills

Can Coorie Castle Crafts survive under new management, or is this the end of their community?

Giselle Ellis loves nothing better than to make gorgeous pictures out of the sea glass that she finds on the shores of the wild and beautiful Duncoorie loch. Living in a cute little cottage with a studio in the castle’s craft centre and a close-knit community of crafting friends, she’s living her best life.

Then tragedy strikes and the castle has a new owner someone she once had a brief but passionate fling with many years ago

Rocco Moore isn’t the man Gisele remembers. When he threatens the craft centre’s very existence, she knows she has a fight on her hand. But as they reconnect once more and she begins to fall in love with him, Giselle realises she risks more than losing her livelihood. She risks losing her heart.

About The Author

My Review

This is a wonderfully atmospheric second-chance romance that blends gentle heat with a dreamy sense of place. Ten years after a fleeting, unforgettable encounter in Venice, London businessman Rocco unexpectedly reunites with artsy Isle of Skye native Giselle at a funeral. Their lives couldn’t be more different, and I loved that Rocco’s polished, all-business persona fails to impress Giselle—forcing him to genuinely earn her time and trust.

The romance unfolds slowly, shaped by distance, past choices, and the reality of living in two very different worlds. What truly elevates this story, though, is the vivid setting. Skye is not merely a backdrop; it’s woven beautifully into the narrative. From Portree’s harbour and mouth-watering fish and chips to hikes across the Quiraing and the island’s rich prehistoric and Highland history, the descriptions are immersive without ever feeling heavy.

The pacing is smooth, the writing engaging, and the supporting cast adds depth—particularly Rocco’s bossy mother Beverly and the sharp, vixenish Claire. Overall, this is a heartfelt, escapist read that celebrates love, community, and the magic of reconnecting where it matters most.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- Game Over By Bella North

His football days might be over. But the game is just beginning…

Forced out of the game by a career-ending injury, Dylan Sullivan is busy drowning his sorrows in the local bar. Slumped a few stools down, Izzy Brooks knocks back another bourbon. Her grandpa is selling the horses she loves, meaning she’s out of a job—and a home.

The next morning, Dylan wakes groggily to the sound of horses’ hooves—with zero memory of the night before. Unlucky for him, there’s a tougher-than-nails, sexy-as-hell ranch hand with a scowl the size of Texas to fill him in… Last night, Dylan bought eighteen horses to fill his family’s empty ranch. Izzy’s horses.

Izzy’s future relies on Dylan becoming the rancher he never planned to be. As she puts him through his paces, competitive sparks—and something even more sizzling—fly. And stolen moments amongst the haystacks start to feel like a new beginning for both of them.

But when Dylan gets a chance to rejoin the world of football, the hope in Izzy’s heart flatlines. Will he prove every misgiving she had about him true? Or will he realize the path he never expected to walk is the one leading to the happy ending he was looking for?

About The Author

My Review

Dylan, once defined by stadium lights and success, must confront who he is without football. His emotional journey—grappling with loss, identity, and purpose—was one of the strongest aspects of the story. Izzy, fiercely independent and fighting to protect her ranch after losing the horses she loves, is a force of nature. Her strength is admirable, though at times her sharp edges veer into frustrating territory, especially when Dylan is genuinely trying to heal and rebuild.

The enemies-to-lovers dynamic delivers plenty of banter and slow-burn tension, capturing that irresistible “we shouldn’t, but we can’t help it” energy. Their chemistry develops gradually, making the payoff feel earned once both characters finally lower their defenses.

Set against a rugged ranch backdrop, Game Over blends grit, emotion, and heat. While Izzy made it harder for me to fully connect, the strong premise, Dylan’s growth, and a satisfying ending make this a worthwhile read for fans of slow-burn, opposites-clash romances.

My Rating

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Happy Publication Day – 11 May 2026

The Broken Hearts Beach Club By Jenny Hale

After heartbreak hits in three very different ways, Emily Jacobs and her friends Sienna and Blair take up Sienna’s offer to escape to her client’s luxurious beach house for sun, sand, and girl talk. But paradise comes with a twist: in his absence, the owner of the house forgot to reschedule his staff, leaving his brooding and impossibly tight-lipped personal chef, Patrick Owens, in charge of dinner for them. Every. Single. Night.

Emily can’t help but be intrigued by the chef with his guarded eyes and irresistible culinary skills. Certainly, they should know something about the person serving them food every night. As she tries to break through his tough exterior, his limited small talk creates deeper questions, just as a massive storm blows in, threatening their peaceful getaway.

Between laughter, late-night conversations, and undeniable chemistry, Emily realizes life’s storms reveal more than the weather’s.

Review Card & Book Review- Magic Uncorked By Annabel Chase

A magical secret is about to shake things up for the ladies of Lake Cloverleaf… 

For Libbie Stark, Friday night cocktail club is a lifeline. Whatever her problems, whether her stubborn boss, unruly teens or deadbeat boyfriend, time with the women of Lake Cloverleaf always feels like a tonic. 

But when tragedy strikes on the Fourth of July, Libbie discovers a magical secret. Witches are real. Only they aren’t born – they’re created. When a witch dies, her powers pass from one generation to the next. And a local witch has chosen to pass her powers onto the ladies of the cocktail club. 

With the help of a magical recipe book, Libbie must harness her new powers and use them to shake up the comfortable life she settled for. As Libbie learns to finally live on her own terms, sparks fly with handsome local lawyer Ethan Townsend, and she discovers it’s never too late to restore a little magic to your life…

About The Author

My Review

This is a delightful, feel-good surprise and a wonderfully engaging start to The Midlife Magic Cocktail Club series. Blending paranormal charm with heartfelt women’s fiction, this novel celebrates friendship, second chances, and the magic of reinvention at midlife.

When sharp-tongued, much-loved Inga Paulsen dies, she leaves behind an unexpected legacy for her Friday night cocktail club friends—Libbie, Rebecca, Kate, and Julie. Along with four cats comes a touch of magic that nudges each woman toward transformation. This first installment focuses on Libbie Stark, whose life is unraveling thanks to a deceitful boyfriend and stalled dreams. Embracing Inga’s gift awakens new strength, creativity, and confidence, leading her toward independence, self-worth, and a sweet, quietly unfolding romance with the charming and open-minded lawyer, Ethan Townsend.

Chase balances relatable struggles with whimsical magic, clever humor, and uplifting moments that make this story shine. Warm, empowering, and brimming with positivity, Magic Uncorked is a joyful reminder of the power of women supporting women—and the magic that can bloom when they do.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Grumpily Ever After By Teagan Hunter

Wedding planner Odette Chambers has a knack for ruining every ceremony she touches. But her latest gig could be a curse breaker. The bride is her best friend, Izzy, and the venue is a local cidery with the Pacific Northwest mountains as a beautiful backdrop. The cidery’s only rotten apple is its owner, former NHL player Noah Stevens—Izzy’s older brother and a recently divorced, fully committed grump who doesn’t believe in happy endings.

But Noah can’t say no to his hopeful little sister. His decision sends Odette barreling into his life, and she insists on making picture-perfect renovations to his cidery. She’s demanding, irritatingly optimistic, and quite possibly the prettiest woman he’s ever seen. Noah is turning Odette’s head, too, but if she wants a wedding to finally go off without a hitch, he’s a handsome distraction she can’t afford. Right?

As Noah risks a second chance at love, Odette’s luck might change as well. For better or for worse.

About The Author

My Review

Former NHL player Noah Stevens prefers his quiet life running a cidery—until his sister Izzy persuades him to transform an old barn into a wedding venue. Enter Odette Chambers: Izzy’s best friend, a talented wedding planner, and a woman convinced she’s cursed in love.

Forced to work closely together, sparks inevitably fly. Odette has harbored a long-standing crush on Noah, while Noah has sworn off romance after a painful divorce. Their banter is sharp, their attraction undeniable, and watching their guarded hearts slowly soften is immensely satisfying. The slow-burn romance allows their connection to feel genuine, built through shared work, vulnerability, and moments of unexpected tenderness.

Hunter balances humor, emotional depth, and just the right amount of angst, keeping the story engaging without overwhelming the romance. The secondary characters add warmth and fun, while the themes of healing and second chances resonate deeply. With strong character growth, witty dialogue, and a swoony payoff, Grumpily Ever After is a charming, feel-good read that romance fans will happily savor.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- My Big Greek Island Ex-Scape By Sandy Barker

Ally Novak is perfectly happy being single – in fact, her career depends on it. 

As the Divorced Diva – blogger, brand ambassador and businesswoman extraordinaire – she’s spun three failed marriages into gold, building a brand that celebrates single life.

So when her wealthy ex-husband Julian invites her to front his new wellness retreat, Ally jets off to his exclusive Greek island, certain it’ll be just another glamorous gig.

What she doesn’t expect is to find another ex on the island – the one who got away, and the only one she can’t forget.

Is fate handing her a second chance at love, or is it simply a case of too many exes in paradise?

About The Author

My Review

This is a sparkling romantic comedy packed with sun, secrets and sizzling chemistry.

Three-times-divorced Ally runs the hugely successful brand Divorced Diva, so when her most recent ex-husband Julian invites her to his exclusive wellness retreat on a private Greek island for a PR project, she’s intrigued. Travelling in luxury, Ally arrives to discover an ultra-wealthy paradise — and the unwelcome surprise of her first ex-husband, Tommy, already there.

As always, Sandy Barker delivers charm, humour and heart in abundance. The island setting is pure escapism and the resort so lavish you can’t help but dream of being pampered there, even while knowing you’d feel completely out of place. Alongside the simmering romance between Ally and Tommy, a gentle thread of mystery adds extra depth and intrigue to the plot.

There are some deliciously spicy moments — not for everyone, but they fit the story naturally rather than feeling tacked on. With warmth, wit and emotional undercurrents, this is a perfect poolside read or a winter warmer that brings Greek sunshine straight to your sofa.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Italian Village In The Hills By Victoria Springfield

Stella has spent decades trying to forget the heartbreak that made her flee the Italian village of her childhood. But when her new fiancĂ© surprises her with a trip back to Liguria for her upcoming birthday, she is forced to confront the past, her first love and a tragic family rift.

Amy is mourning her beloved grandpa and curious to know more about the old coin necklace and mysterious postcard that he left her. Following his trail to the Italian Riviera, a chance meeting leads Amy to Stella’s village in the hills and to secrets that have lain buried since the war.

Against a backdrop of cobbled medieval streets, sunlit piazzas and rustic olive groves, both Stella and Amy make surprising discoveries about their families – and themselves.

By facing up to the past and opening their hearts, can Stella and Amy find happiness in the Italian village in the hills?

About The Author

My Review

This is a beautifully layered story of self-discovery, family secrets and second chances, set in the breathtaking Ligurian village of Leto.

The novel follows two women on very different journeys. Sixty-year-old Stella returns to her childhood home while visiting Italy with her new fiancé, only to find herself running her uncle’s shop after he suffers a fall. Meanwhile, twenty-something Anna arrives in Leto seeking answers about her grandfather’s mysterious wartime past, prompted by a postcard found among his belongings.

Despite the age gap, both women are immediately likeable and relatable, and their stories intertwine in satisfying and often surprising ways. The village itself feels alive — Springfield’s vivid descriptions of sun-soaked streets, close-knit locals and mouth-watering Italian food make it impossible not to wish you were there.

The exploration of Leto’s fascist history and its lingering effects adds emotional depth and quiet tension, showing how the past continues to shape the present. With romance, mystery and heartwarming resolution, this is a captivating escape for lovers of historical fiction and Italian settings.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- The Sweet Life CafĂ© By Helen Rolfe

When sisters Addie and Susanna receive invitations to a memorial for their Aunt Gayle, they’re heartbroken to learn the woman who raised them has passed away. But arriving on Anchor Island, they’re met with the shock of their lives: Gayle is alive and well, busily preparing her own ‘Celebration of Life’ at her beloved pudding bar, The Sweet Life CafĂ©.

Agreeing to stay for the event, the sisters begin sorting through their late father’s belongings, reopening wounds they thought long buried, and forcing them to reflect on their lives since leaving the island. Addie is struggling as a single mother, torn between love for her son and doubts about the life she can give him. Susanna’s marriage is crumbling, and being back on the island only reminds her why she couldn’t wait to escape.

But as Gayle prepares gooey brownies, steaming lattes and delicious cakes for her customers, and for her big event, she is hiding secrets of her own – including one that could change everything the sisters thought they knew about their family…

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, emotionally layered story about family, forgiveness, and second chances. Rolfe draws readers in with a compelling premise built on missed conversations, buried truths, and the quiet damage caused when people stop truly listening to one another.

After the death of their father, sisters Addie and Susanna were sent to live with their unfamiliar Aunt Gayle on Anchor Island — a move that shaped their lives in ways they never fully understood. Years later, an invitation to Aunt Gayle’s funeral brings them back, only to discover she is very much alive. Her “living funeral,” planned so she could reunite with them before it was too late, sets the stage for reflection, healing, and long-overdue honesty.

As the sisters explore the island and uncover long-hidden secrets in their father’s belongings, memories resurface and perspectives shift. The novel gently explores how time, distance, and silence can fracture relationships, and how courage and compassion can slowly mend them.

With heartfelt twists, tender moments, and meaningful choices, this is a touching reminder that it’s never too late to choose connection — and to reshape the future.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – A Yorkshire Affair By Julie Houston

🏠 Jess Allen has always played it safe. 🏠

She married her high school sweetheart, stayed in her hometown and lives right next door to her mum Lisa and younger sister Sorrel. But with a new job on the horizon and her family no longer living a stone’s throw away, she’s going to have to get used to her comfortable life shifting into something new.

Jess finds the idea of being a part of the White House – the village’s new and stylish restaurant – incredibly daunting, but she knows she is more than capable. And with her role at the care home uncertain, this would give her the chance to finally pursue her passion for cooking.

But as her professional life soars, her romantic life is thrown into turmoil. Having welcomed back into her life her no-good ex, she’s quickly questioning her decision – especially as new faces in Beddingfield begin to catch her eye.

As the familiar rhythms of life shift and long-held routines are upended, she starts to see that sometimes change is no bad thing at all. And someone who encourages her to take a risk – even if it’s the last person she ever expected – might be just the thing she needed.

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, charming and heartfelt novel brimming with northern spirit and gentle humour. It’s the kind of story that feels like a cosy chat over tea — comforting, sincere and quietly uplifting.

Jess Allen is an instantly relatable heroine. Having spent her life playing safe — marrying young, staying close to family, and living a predictable routine — she’s suddenly forced to face change when her job at the local care home becomes uncertain. An unexpected opportunity at the stylish new White House restaurant nudges her towards the dream she’s long buried: cooking. Watching Jess step out of her comfort zone is both touching and inspiring.

Houston beautifully captures small-town life: the pull of family, familiar routines, and the fear that comes with new beginnings. Add in the return of an unreliable ex and the possibility of new love, and the story becomes rich with emotional depth, humour and heart.
this is a delightful reminder that sometimes life’s biggest changes lead to the happiest chapters.

My Rating

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