Review Card & Book Review – His Fourth Of July Blessing By Lee Tobin McClain

Becoming a guardian
won’t be his only challenge this summer…

Organizing his hometown’s Fourth of July celebration was not part of combat veteran Emilio Mancini’s plan for the summer. But as he and his nieces settle into the family guesthouse of his childhood friend Kitty MacIntyre, he can’t turn down her request. As the single mom helps him figure out how to be a parent to the girls, Kitty’s unaware that the fireworks display she has her heart set on could trigger Emilio’s PTSD. But as their connection deepens and the event draws near, Kitty discovers the truth. Together, they must create a new kind of celebration for the town—one that just might spark something brighter than fireworks…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Emilio Mancini, a retired combat veteran unexpectedly raising his two nieces, and Kitty MacIntyre, his longtime friend determined to give their small Pennsylvania town a memorable Fourth of July celebration. Returning home for the summer, Emilio agrees to help Kitty in exchange for a place to stay, but when their fireworks plans collapse, the community must come together to create something even more meaningful.

Lee Tobin McClain crafts a heartfelt Christian romance that beautifully blends faith, healing, and friendship. The story thoughtfully addresses military issues, particularly PTSD, with compassion and authenticity. Emilio’s efforts to balance guardianship and personal struggles are portrayed with honesty, while Kitty’s desire to honor her country despite painful experiences adds emotional depth.

The family dynamics between Emilio and his nieces are especially touching, capturing the challenges and love involved in their new reality. The romance develops naturally from a strong friendship, making their journey believable and uplifting. Filled with community spirit, hope, and second chances, this is a warm and inspiring addition to the Holiday Haven series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 20 October 2026

Once Upon A Lie By Max Monroe

Valentina Cordone doesn’t need a prince—she’s got a thriving bagel-and-book shop in Nashville, game nights with her quirky crew, and a perfectly good life. But when her attractive new neighbor shows up with effortless charm and an award-winning smile, she starts to reconsider.

Detective Shane Maddox went undercover to surveil a mob boss’s daughter. What he didn’t expect? That she’d be a lovable ray of sunshine, nothing like the crime princess he imagined. He planned to get close but walk away untouched. Instead, he’s falling hard…and realizing she’s in more danger than she knows.

Torn between duty and desire, Shane keeps his identity secret while protecting Valentina from her family’s criminal empire. As the truth explodes, he must prove his love is real while keeping her alive—no small feat when she won’t take his calls.

Even though the prince is a liar, he can’t risk losing his princess.

Sometimes fairy tales don’t start with once upon a time. They start with once upon a lie.

Love, Lies, And Too Many Guys By Erica Lucke Dean

Twenty-year-old Kennedy Beaman is a virgin, and she’s fine with that…most of the time. But her mother, who is full of regrets after a bad marriage, won’t stop pushing her to “experience life” while she can. So Kennedy and her best friend, Nicole, make a list of guys who get her heart racing. It’s all fun and games until the list goes missing.

When Kennedy’s “get laid” list goes viral, she’d rather own the campus-wide spectacle than be a victim. Nicole convinces her to turn her humiliation into a reality show–style competition—the last man standing will be her first after the spring formal. An online feminist magazine ups the ante by offering Kennedy a scholarship in exchange for her story.

But as she weathers one bad date after another, Kennedy finds herself drawn to Jordan Keller, a sullen, faux-hawked Mr. Wrong who didn’t even make the list. Can she figure out what she really wants in life before the final round? Otherwise, she may lose something she’ll miss more than her virginity—her heart.

Bound By Desire By Bri Blackwood

Power is his game. Survival is hers. Desire is their weakness.

In my world, timing is everything. Strike too late, and companies bleed millions. Strike too soon, and you lose the deal. When it came to him, I hesitated. I should have killed him when I had the chance. Instead, I ran. I almost made it out—almost believed I could disappear for good. But men like him don’t lose. They hunt. They track. And they always collect what’s theirs.

Now I’m trapped in his multi-million dollar penthouse, high above the city, with a man who watches me like I’m already owned. Every glance is a promise. Every touch, a test of control. He thinks he’s breaking me. I let him think it. Because playing along is the only way to stay alive… even as the tension between us turns sharp, addictive, impossible to ignore.

He doesn’t know I’m still fighting. He doesn’t know I’m waiting. And when the moment comes, I won’t run again. This time, I’ll bring him to his knees.

Review Card & Book Review- One Bed Between Rivals By Joss Wood

Two rivals, one bed, no turning back!

Taught strict self-reliance from a young age, travel writer Thea revels in the luxurious solitude of reviewing private resorts. Until an assignment in the idyllic Seychelles is clouded by the appearance of Farrell, the college nemesis who still heats her blood… The billionaire hotelier may always get what he wants, but he won’t have Thea! Only factor in a tropical storm, Farrell’s gale-force charisma and one bed between them, and her resolution is in danger of being swept away…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about Thea, an idealistic travel blogger, and Farrell, the charismatic heir to a hotel empire, whose unexpected reunion in the Seychelles rekindles a spark neither anticipated. Once worlds apart at university, they are brought together again as Farrell works to undo the environmental damage and corruption left behind by his father’s business practices.

When a tropical storm strands them together and forces them to share a bungalow—and one bed—the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore. Yet their growing relationship is tested when long-buried scandals surrounding Farrell’s family threaten to explode into the public eye.

Joss Wood delivers a fast-paced romance filled with tropical settings, simmering attraction, and emotional tension. The dual point of view adds depth, allowing readers to understand both Thea’s cautious optimism and Farrell’s determination to redeem his family legacy. While the novel’s shorter length means some backstory and character development could have been explored further, the story remains engaging and entertaining, blending romance, redemption, and second chances into a satisfying escape.

My Rating

Link To Purchase