October 2026 – Page 7

Review Card & Book Review – Brighter Than Before By Courtney Walsh

After a painfully public discovery shatters her marriage, along with her picture-perfect, country club life, Claire finds herself suddenly single and faced with a blank page for a future. On that page she writes a simple list that reads like equal parts dare and daydream–Move to a new city. Make a real friend. Get a job I love–and she vows to accomplish every single one.

Before she can talk herself out of it, she takes a step of faith, puts her old life in the rearview mirror, and leases an apartment in Chicago, the city that has always had her heart. This one step sends Claire on a journey of self-discovery, giving her the courage to conquer her fears, one checklist item at a time, and showing her that life can be a whole lot brighter than she imagined.

She rediscovers a love for baking, stumbles into new friendships, and even allows her daughter, Minnie, to create a dating profile and choose her dates for her. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is Miles, the charming, off-limits neighbor whose kindness makes it hard to remember why he’s off-limits at all.

Between late-night journaling, disastrous first dates, great big lessons and priceless small victories, Claire learns to quiet the voice telling her she wasn’t enough and listens to the one that asks the harder question . . .

What do I really want?

As old expectations loosen their grip, Claire discovers that belonging isn’t a place you’re invited to–it’s a life you build one brave choice at a time. And the sweetest things often show up when you finally get out of your own way.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about rebuilding a life after heartbreak, discovering unexpected joy, and learning that sometimes the end of one chapter is the beginning of something brighter than you ever imagined.

This is a heartfelt, uplifting novel that blends humor, romance, and personal growth into an unforgettable story. After more than twenty years of marriage, Claire Karadec finds herself facing a painful divorce and the daunting task of starting over at forty-six. Leaving behind the country club lifestyle she helped build, she moves to Chicago determined to create a new future for herself.

Claire is a wonderfully relatable heroine whose fears, hopes, and insecurities feel authentic. Watching her step outside her comfort zone, pursue new dreams, and navigate a series of hilarious first dates makes for an engaging and often laugh-out-loud reading experience. The supporting cast shines just as brightly, creating a beautiful found-family dynamic filled with encouragement, friendship, and genuine connection.

The romance is tender, hopeful, and deeply satisfying, making it impossible not to root for the characters. With its charming rom-com energy, emotional depth, and inspiring message about resilience, this novel is both entertaining and meaningful. The heartwarming epilogue provides the perfect finishing touch to a story that celebrates courage, second chances, and becoming the best version of yourself.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Beneath Still Waters By Linny Mack.

Emery Caldwell needs a change.

After seven years teaching marine biology, having grant after grant denied, and growing tired of her mediocre relationship, she’s burnt out. When a sabbatical offers the chance to reset, Emery heads south to the quiet fishing village of Tidehaven, South Carolina, hoping to gather research for a new journal article—and maybe find the direction her life desperately needs.

Reid Morgan has fought hard for peace.

After leaving the Navy SEALs behind, he’s built a quiet life working at the Driftwood Marina, where the days are predictable, and the past feels farther away. The last thing he wants is trouble, or the curious, determined scientist who stirs up things better left buried.

But when Emery witnesses something she shouldn’t in the fog-thick marshes, suddenly both of their lives are in danger. As a deadly threat stalks Emery, Reid steps in to protect her—but getting close means letting her break down all the barriers he’s worked so hard to build.

As danger grows, so does their unexpected connection. But facing the truth—and each other—may be the biggest risk of all.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about a marine biologist who arrives in a quiet fishing town to study sea turtles, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous mystery filled with hidden secrets, unexpected romance, and life-threatening discoveries.

This is an engaging romantic suspense novel that perfectly balances intrigue, danger, and heartfelt romance. Emery is an easy heroine to root for… intelligent, passionate about her work, and eager to escape the classroom to pursue hands-on research. What begins as a dream assignment quickly spirals into something far more dangerous when she uncovers clues that place her directly in harm’s way.

The chemistry between Emery and Reid, a protective former Navy SEAL, is immediate and captivating. Their grumpy-sunshine dynamic adds warmth and humor to the suspense-filled storyline, while the small-town setting creates an atmospheric backdrop packed with drama, secrets, and unexpected twists.

The mystery is compelling from the opening chapters, steadily building tension as the plot unfolds. Drug conspiracies, shocking discoveries, and a memorable final reveal keep the pages turning. The first-person narration helps readers connect deeply with the characters’ emotions and experiences.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Happy Publication Day – 2 October 2026

Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay By Eliza J Scott

A wintry treat brimming with snowflakes, secrets and second chances!

When her beloved Aunt Colleen passes away, settling her affairs means doing the one thing Hannah Merryweather has spent years avoiding: returning to Micklewick Bay, the seaside town she fled years ago and has never quite found the courage to face again.

Coming home means facing the past too. Polly, her stepmother, and Darryl, her stepbrother, still loom large over the life she once knew, and the home she lost is never far from her thoughts.

Then, on her very first day back, she nearly collides with the one man she never expected to see again: Lachie, the kilted, green-eyed Scotsman who stole her heart last spring. His unexpected arrival in Micklewick Bay is the last complication Hannah needs – especially as feelings she thought she’d locked away start to resurface.

As Hannah slowly uncovers just how far her aunt’s plans for her future stretch – including one life-changing surprise waiting at the end of the pier – can she find the courage to claim the life, and the love, Aunt Colleen always believed she deserved?

Review Card & Book Review – The Love Of Another Life By Emma Cooper

When Alice receives a mysterious letter from 1985, she’s determined to find the man who wrote it… But could chasing a miracle cost her the future?

A letter arrives at Alice’s new house, interrupting her fresh start. It’s addressed to her, but written by a man she’s never met. And yet Michael understands her – her grief, her fears, even her dreams.

As more letters follow, Alice becomes convinced that she and Michael are connected somehow – that they are meant to meet. Or perhaps, in some impossible way, they already have.

But there’s one complication: Michael isn’t just a stranger – he’s writing from four decades in the past. And as Alice searches for a man who may no longer be waiting, she must decide whether love can truly defy time – or whether she’s risking the chance at happiness right in front of her.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about love, fate, and connection across time, as two versions of Alice and a struggling artist named Michael become linked through a mysterious letter and a dual timeline narrative. In the 1980s, Michael is an out-of-work aspiring artist who sacrifices his dreams to support his family, meeting Alice one night outside a club where an unexpected emotional bond forms. In the present day, another Alice rebuilds her life after heartbreak, discovering a letter from Michael addressed to an Alice that may or may not be her. As she reads his words and sees uncanny similarities between herself and his drawings, she begins to wonder if their lives are mysteriously connected across time. The story is tender and emotional, highlighting sacrifice, resilience, friendship, and the quiet pain of choices made for love and survival. It is a beautifully written dual timeline romance that captures the atmosphere of the 1980s and the longing for second chances in both timelines. Ideal for readers who enjoy bittersweet love stories, nostalgic settings, and emotionally layered narratives that stay with you.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Out Of This World By Frances Mensah Williams

A message from the past. A chance for a new beginning ✉️✨

Angie Ansah is standing at a crossroads. Her marriage has changed, her heart feels uncertain, and for the first time in years, she is beginning to ask what she truly wants…

Then a message appears.

From an old school crush she never quite forgot.

As long-buried feelings resurface, Angie is caught between her loyalty to her husband, love for her teenage daughter, and the intoxicating possibility of something more.

What happens when the life you built no longer fits?

Who are you when everything changes?

Is it ever too late to choose yourself?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about a mother navigating the unimaginable grief of losing her son while questioning the life she thought was secure. Angie Ansah is left devastated after Zach’s death, and as she struggles to cope, an unexpected message from an old school crush reawakens feelings she believed were long buried. What follows is an emotional journey of loss, self-discovery, and difficult choices.

Frances Mensah Williams handles the subject of grief with remarkable sensitivity and authenticity. Each character experiences loss in their own way, creating a realistic portrayal of how tragedy can both divide and reshape a family. Angie’s pain is palpable, and her internal conflict between loyalty, love, and personal happiness adds depth to her story.

The pacing is perfectly balanced, allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional weight of each moment while remaining invested in Angie’s future. The novel explores not only bereavement but also identity, marriage, motherhood, and the courage required to embrace change when life takes an unexpected turn.

Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and ultimately hopeful, this is a moving story about finding strength after loss and discovering that life can still hold possibilities when everything seems broken.

My Rating