Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Protected Hearts By Cissy Mecca

The Rules of the Bachelor Pact: Never date the neighbour…

Beck

It’s probably a bad idea to fall for the one woman I was never supposed to touch. Mae O’Malley. . . my childhood best friend and the reason for Rule #1 of the Bachelor Pact: no dating the girl next door.

Following the rules has never been hard. Until Mae walks back into my life, fresh off a broken engagement and looking like a complication I want to make. She’s sexy, smart, and more off-limits than ever. But I’ve never been one to give up easily, especially not when it comes to the only woman I’ve ever loved.

Mae

Coming home with my heart still broken from Paris wasn’t part of the plan. But being surrounded by family, and Beck makes it easier. Or so I thought.

Because now he’s looking at me like I’m something more than a friend, and suddenly I’m feeling things I never thought I would again. Butterflies. Hope. Beck’s made it clear he’s not the settling-down type, and I’ve been burned before. So why can’t I protect my heart from the one person who’s always had it?

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that beautifully captures the fear and excitement of taking a lifelong friendship to the next level. Beck and Mae have been inseparable since childhood, their bond rooted in shared memories and unspoken feelings. Beck, the humble bartender at O’Malley’s, has always felt unworthy of Mae, the talented pastry chef whose dreams once took her to France. When Mae returns home heartbroken after her fiancé’s betrayal, she’s unsure where her life—and her heart—belong.

As they reconnect, their easy banter and undeniable chemistry make it impossible for their friends not to notice what’s brewing beneath the surface. Cissy Mecca writes with warmth and humor, balancing heartfelt emotion with witty, sarcastic exchanges that make the friendships feel real and alive. Beck’s quiet devotion and Mae’s vulnerability create a deeply relatable love story about risk, healing, and realizing that sometimes the person you’ve always loved has been beside you all along. Charming, heartfelt, and full of small-town charm—this is a must-read for contemporary romance fans.

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Review Card & Book Review- Single Dad Dilemma By Karla Sorensen

You’d think it was the perfect setup: living next door to the grumpy single dad who needs my help with his troublemaking kids—just until football season is over. Swoony stuff, right?

You know who’s not swooning? Me.

I’m as grumpy as he is, and I’m fairly certain that for NFL Coach Barrett King, it was hate at first sight. It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over because 1) the feeling is mutual, and 2) I’m not a people person. Just me and my dog, Larry, moving around when the mood strikes, is what I prefer.

Except I start getting attached. First to the kids. Then to their father. I don’t know why. He’s overbearing. His attempts at flirting are just growls and glares. But if I ever see that man smile…well, I might tear all his clothes off.

I don’t do forever. And Barrett—serious, thoughtful, sexier than he has any right to be—doesn’t do short term. We’re headed straight for disaster.

But if we’re willing to take a risk, maybe this story won’t end in heartbreak. Maybe what started as the perfect setup for two imperfect people just might end in love.

About The Author

My Review

This is a tender, slow-burn romance that balances humour, heart, and healing with effortless charm. Barrett, a disciplined NFL coach and single dad, has his life running like clockwork—until Lily, his free-spirited neighbour, unexpectedly becomes the one person who can keep up with his spirited kids and quietly transform his world.

The dynamic between Lily and Barrett’s children is delightful—genuine, funny, and full of heart—and it’s through them that Barrett’s guarded heart begins to thaw. Sorensen masterfully builds tension between the leads, crafting a slow-burn connection that feels both believable and deeply satisfying. Their chemistry simmers under layers of emotional baggage, vulnerability, and quiet moments that speak louder than words.

While the ending feels a touch rushed, the emotional journey more than makes up for it. Sorensen excels at portraying the beauty of found family and the courage it takes to open your heart again. Single Dad Dilemma is charming, heartfelt, and profoundly moving—a story that celebrates love in its most unexpected, healing form.

My Rating

Review Card & Book Review – The Truth About You And Me By Emma Cooper

When two strangers find themselves locked in a cinema overnight, it could be the start of a perfect meet cute… but as Maggie is about to discover, real life is so much more complicated than fiction…

Every Friday, Maggie attends the last showing at her local indie cinema. Then one night, bookseller Jack goes to the same screening. These two strangers are about to fall in love – there’s just one complication: Jack knows nothing about Maggie. Maggie knows everything about Jack.

Over a series of Fridays, Maggie and Jack get to know each other, but the closer they grow, the bigger the secrets that could tear them in two. Because Maggie has a unique gift: with just the lightest touch, she knows exactly what someone is thinking. That’s how she knows how Jack’s picture-perfect life has fallen apart. And that she isn’t the total stranger he thinks she is.

Will she risk everything to tell him the truth – or is true love something that only happens in the movies?

About The Author

My Review

This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich story about love, loss, and second chances. It begins with an irresistible setup—Maggie and Jack, two strangers trapped in a cinema during a power cut, whose unexpected night together sparks a friendship that slowly turns into something deeper. Emma Cooper captures their growing connection with tenderness and authenticity, balancing humour and heartbreak in perfect measure.

Maggie is a wonderfully complex heroine, guarded yet yearning for the kind of love she’s only ever watched unfold on screen. Jack, meanwhile, is mysterious but deeply endearing, and the layers of his story unfold with poignant suspense. The touches of magical realism add depth and a sense of wonder without overwhelming the emotional core.

While the romance is heartfelt and compelling, it’s Maggie’s friendship with Riz that delivers the book’s most moving moments—raw, honest, and beautifully human. Cooper’s storytelling is cinematic and deeply affecting, making this novel a truly unforgettable read about love in all its forms.

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Review Card & Book Review- The Enforcer By Zara Cox

Underboss, enforcer, executioner

I’m the Enforcer—the last face you see when there’s no one left to hear you scream. I finally know who killed my mother, and I’m ready to burn the world to the ground. But as I move to strike, she’s already there. Sofiya Mancinelli. Assassin. Enemy. Two steps ahead. And when she puts a gun to my head, all I can think is – she was sent to kill me, but how the hell do I survive long enough to make her mine?

Assassin, seductress, enemy

I’m the Assassin. My job is simple: stop Rafaele Salvatore from taking revenge. But I’ve always had a thing for scorching-hot psychos—and the brutal, dirty-talking Enforcer is the most compelling I’ve ever met. Instead of ending him, I agree to a thirty-day truce. He doesn’t know I plan to make him fall for me. Hard. Even if it means he forgets everything he’s bled for.

About The Author

My Review

This is a dark, seductive Mafia romance that blends vengeance, passion, and psychological tension. Rafaelle and Sofiya, heirs of rival families, are bound by blood, betrayal, and a shared thirst for justice. When Sofiya stops Rafaelle from killing her brother and becomes his captive, their twisted dynamic evolves into a compelling partnership as they hunt down the man responsible for both their families’ suffering.

Cox paints Rafaelle as a charmingly unhinged antihero—magnetic, dangerous, and impossible to look away from. Sofiya, however, feels underdeveloped. Though introduced as a trained assassin, her inner conflict and skills are often told rather than shown, leaving readers wanting more from her transformation and agency.

The chemistry between the leads burns bright in the early chapters, but the pacing dips in the middle before surging toward a high-stakes finale. A stronger fusion of romance and action could have delivered a more explosive payoff. Still, The Forces remains an addictive, emotionally charged read for fans of morally grey love stories set in the violent underworld.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Fireworks At Pennycress Inn By Sarah Hope

🍂 Sparks are flying in more ways than one…

After years of juggling teaching with volunteering, Polly is finally ready for a change. When she lands her dream job at Meadowfield Nature Reserve – with the promise of a promotion in three months’ time – she trades in the stress of the classroom for the beautiful autumn days of the Cotswolds countryside.

Pennycress Inn is the perfect base for her fresh start: charming, cosy and filled with friendly faces. But everything changes when Zac, her attractive but infuriating ex-colleague, arrives. He’s here to take up a post at the reserve too – and is also staying at the inn! Worse still, the promotion Polly was counting on is suddenly up for grabs – and Zac’s her biggest rival.

With three months to prove herself, Polly must navigate village life, unexpected emotions and a career-defining challenge. As tension simmers and fireworks fly, will Meadowfield become the place she truly finds where she belongs – or will she be forced to walk away from everything she’s dreamed of?

About The Author

My Review

This is the literary equivalent of a cozy autumn evening—warm, comforting, and joyfully romantic. Returning to the much-loved world of Pennycress Inn, Hope delivers another uplifting tale filled with charm, wit, and heartfelt emotion. This time, the spotlight falls on Polly, who is determined to make a fresh start at the idyllic Meadowfield Nature Reserve. But her plans for a peaceful new chapter are thrown into disarray when Zac, her infuriatingly handsome former colleague, reappears, reigniting old rivalries—and new sparks.

What follows is a delightful blend of small-town community spirit, professional ambition, and simmering romantic tension. Hope captures the beauty of the Cotswolds with vivid, sensory detail, wrapping readers in a world of crisp leaves, bonfires, and heartfelt moments. Polly and Zac’s chemistry crackles, their banter sharp and endearing, building toward a feel-good finale that’s as satisfying as a mug of spiced cider.

Charming, funny, and brimming with heart, Fireworks at Pennycress Inn is a perfectly cozy escape for anyone who loves second chances, small-town warmth, and romance that glows brighter than autumn fireworks.

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Review Card & Book Review- Breaking His Rules By VH Nicolson

Paige: One night. One stranger. One mistake I can’t forget…

Max Hart is the last man on earth I’d ever want. We’re usually fighting it out on opposing sides of the courtroom, not diving headfirst into an illicit affair. I didn’t realize it was him when I let my inhibitions drop. Dating in the dark was meant to be anonymous, a thrill, and a way to escape my life for one night. But I didn’t expect to be drawn to the devil. Just one taste of Max Hart, and I’m in trouble. Because Max isn’t just my rival; he’s the one person who can destroy everything I’ve been hiding, yet I can’t seem to stay away.

Max: I will break all my rules…for her

I take pride in my bachelor status. I have four rules: no commitments, no relationships, no mentioning forever, and definitely no Paige Bradshaw. She’s brilliant, irritating, and always gets under my skin, but I love our fiery battles in the boardroom. Then one night, everything changes. The mystery woman who blew my mind? It was her. Now I can’t get Paige out of my head. I should know better. Resist temptation. Stay professional. But she has me wanting to burn all my rules to ashes and risk everything to learn more about the woman behind the mask.

About The Author

My Review

This book delivers a passionate and witty enemies-to-lovers romance brimming with emotional depth and scorching chemistry. Paige Bradshaw, a brilliant and disciplined divorce lawyer, finds her ordered life turned upside down after a steamy encounter with a masked stranger—who turns out to be her professional rival, Max Hart. What begins as fierce competition quickly spirals into a dangerously intoxicating relationship that challenges both their careers and their hearts.

Nicolson crafts Paige as a relatable heroine—ambitious, meticulous, and juggling the complex realities of career, motherhood, and self-worth. Max, charming and self-assured yet quietly vulnerable, is equally compelling, and their push-pull dynamic crackles with irresistible tension. Their connection feels raw and believable, layered with humour, tenderness, and high-stakes attraction.

Packed with clever banter, steamy moments, and heartfelt emotion, Breaking His Rules goes beyond a simple rivals-to-lovers tale. It’s about vulnerability, trust, and the courage to break boundaries—for love, for family, and for oneself. A spicy, fast-paced romance that’s as heartwarming as it is addictive.

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Review Card & Book Review- Never Too Late By Maxine Morrey

Every moment of your life is a second chance…

Kitty Collins was once a confident, carefree fashion history student living her best life in Paris. But then Tomas Laurent broke her heart and she retreated back to England.

A year later, Kitty’s a married stay-at-home mum and those big hopes and dreams have been replaced by nappy changes, school runs and dinner parties for her husband’s Academia colleagues.

Now fifty and recently divorced, Kitty is empowered to embrace single life and finally makes plans with Sasha, her daughter, to return to the city that stole her heart to move forward with her life.

But when a chance encounter awakens feelings she’d forgotten she had Kitty begins to wonder whether the ghosts of Paris should be left in the past.

With the help of old friends and new friends, can Kitty discover the woman she’s supposed to be and fall in love with the City of Light once more?

About The Author

My Review

This is a touching, uplifting tale about reinvention, resilience, and the courage to start over at any age. After her marriage ends, fifty-year-old Kitty feels adrift, unsure of what comes next. A spontaneous trip to India sparks something within her—renewed curiosity, confidence, and a sense of possibility. From there, she finds herself drawn back to Paris, a city tied to bittersweet memories and a love she once vowed to forget.

Morrey writes with warmth and emotional authenticity, allowing readers to journey with Kitty as she rediscovers who she is beyond the labels of wife and mother. The story is rich with vivid settings, from the sensory wonder of India to the romantic charm of Paris, making it as much a travel experience as a journey of self-renewal.

Filled with gentle humor, poignant reflections, and hope, this novel celebrates second chances and the beauty of midlife transformations. Perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt, mature romances that remind us it’s never too late to chase joy—or to fall in love again.

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Review Card & Book Review- The Secret Mistletoe Promise By Cressida McLaughlin

Is a new beginning waiting for her this Christmas?

When Imogen leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes to her grandmother’s cottage by the sea, the only thing she wants to do is disappear.

But in a village curious about their new arrival, Imogen finds hiding out harder than expected, especially with the charming local baker Dexter around to distract her.

As secrets unravel and the festive season draws near, Imogen wonders if she’s been running from the wrong things all along.

Will the runaway bride find her happy ever after under the mistletoe?

About The Author

My Review

This is a heartwarming, feel-good festive romance filled with charm, community spirit, and self-discovery. When Imogen flees her wedding and seeks refuge with her gran in the idyllic coastal village of Mistingham, she’s hoping for space to heal—but instead finds herself swept into the warmth and bustle of small-town life.

Set against twinkling lights and seaside charm, this second installment in The Secret Bookshop series captures the magic of fresh starts and the comfort of community. McLaughlin’s writing sparkles with gentle humor and emotional honesty as Imogen learns to rediscover herself, her passions, and what love truly means. Returning readers will enjoy catching up with familiar faces, while newcomers can easily enjoy it as a standalone.

Imogen is a relatable heroine—flawed, brave, and easy to root for—and the supporting cast adds a lovely dose of festive cheer. With its cozy setting, uplifting message, and a sprinkle of holiday magic, The Secret Mistletoe Promise is the perfect escapist read to curl up with by the fire this Christmas.

My Rating

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