Category Archives: Book Review

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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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

Link To Purchase

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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 fiancé 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 Café 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 Café.

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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Review Card & Book Review – A Fling With The ER Doc By Sue MacKay

Clocking off with the doc!

When tragedy struck and Nikki’s husband left her, the ER doc’s life fell apart at the seams. Then handsome new doctor Shaun arrives in town… Nikki can’t help but tentatively put herself back out there. And, oh, do Shaun’s mind-blowing kisses make her feel alive again! Though Nikki isn’t the only one of them running from a painful past, it’s getting harder to keep their emotions under lock and key… Dare Nikki take the leap of faith, from no-strings to forever?

About The Author

My Review

This book delivers an emotionally engaging medical romance that explores healing, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to start again. The story centres on Nikki, an ER doctor whose life has quietly unravelled, leaving her wary of relationships and firmly uninterested in returning to the dating scene. That is, until the arrival of the new doctor, Shaun, whose presence challenges everything she thought she wanted.

From their first interactions, Nikki and Shaun share an undeniable connection, but both carry unresolved issues from their pasts that shape how they approach change and commitment. Nikki tends to retreat inward, guarding her heart, while Shaun pushes himself to confront his emotions head-on. This contrast creates a satisfying emotional tension that keeps their relationship grounded and believable.

What makes their story especially compelling is the way their growing chemistry steadily pushes them toward honesty and risk. The romance feels earned, not rushed, as both characters must decide whether to protect themselves or fight for the possibility of lasting happiness.

Warm, sincere, and emotionally layered, this novel is a touching reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is give love another chance.

My Rating

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Review Book & Book Review- Hot Nights With The Paramedic By Carol Marinelli

The hottest mistake of her life?

Obstetrician Monica Hamilton loves her job, yet with every tiny baby she delivers, she longs for her own even more. When she’s poised to explore single motherhood, it’s terrible timing to notice sexy Argentinean paramedic Luke Arias. All he can promise is no strings and scorching hot nights. He’s already had to bring up his orphaned siblings—children are 100 percent off his agenda. Usually cautious Monica is powerless to resist Luke’s charisma…but will their temporary fling break her heart or unlock everything she’s ever wanted?

About The Author

My Review

Monica, a 35-year-old consultant obstetrician, and Luke, a 32-year-old paramedic, share instant, combustible chemistry. Their differences drive the emotional conflict: Monica longs for children and stability, while Luke avoids commitment and doesn’t want a family. Both are professionals who’ve learned to suppress their emotions to survive in high-pressure careers — a coping mechanism that complicates romance when they agree to keep things “just for fun.”

The novel shines in its blend of intense, moving medical moments and deeply personal struggles. A patient’s death hits Luke harder than anything before, triggering a chain of misunderstandings that threaten their fragile bond.

Though the title promises heat, the focus is firmly on character growth, emotional realism, and hard-won love. Sympathetic leads, thoughtful conflict, and heartfelt storytelling make this a rewarding read. is an engaging, emotionally rich medical romance that weaves seamlessly alongside CM’s earlier novel Nurse’s Nine-Month Surprise.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review- The Last Dinner At Wisteria House By Sue Roberts

On a peaceful avenue stands the once-grand Wisteria House. Now it’s split into apartments, occupied by strangers who rarely say hello. Could one last dinner party bring it to life again?

Ninety-year-old Alice has one last wish: to fill her new home with light and laughter, just like when her husband was alive. So she sets out her favourite plates, opens an old recipe book, and sends invitations to the neighbours she’s certain need friendship just as much as she does…


Declan hasn’t believed he deserves to follow his dreams since he tragically lost his sister.

Jess has been working herself to the bone to provide for her little daughter and has no time for joy in her own life.

Mark, a widower, has been isolated in his grief for so long.

Over a shared meal, Alice reminds each of them that sharing stories keeps those we love alive, and that time is our most precious gift. As they hug goodbye, everyone feels lighter than they have in years. Little do they know Alice has her own secret reason for gathering them together…

The next morning the tenants receive terrible news. Is their first dinner party destined to be the last? With Wisteria House under threat, can they come together to save the one place that has only just started to feel like home? Or will they lose their little community just when they need it most?

About The Author

My Review

This is a quietly beautiful novel that radiates warmth, hope, and gentle emotional depth. Subtle rather than showy, it’s the kind of story that slowly wraps itself around you and lingers long after the final page.

At its heart is Alice, a ninety-year-old woman whose simple wish to host one last home-cooked meal becomes a powerful act of connection. Inviting her neighbours into the fading grandeur of Wisteria House, Alice creates a space where loneliness softens and stories are finally shared. Around her table gather Declan, Jess, and Mark, each carrying their own burdens — grief, exhaustion, guilt, and dreams long put aside.

As food is shared and conversations deepen, the characters begin to rediscover the comfort of being truly seen and understood. Their tentative bonds feel organic and deeply moving. Adding emotional tension is the looming threat to Wisteria House itself, raising the stakes just as a sense of belonging begins to bloom.

Sue Roberts’ writing is gentle, sincere, and beautifully restrained. The novel never overreaches, allowing its emotional moments to land naturally. Ultimately, this is a cozy, heartfelt story about found family, second chances, and the transformative power of kindness.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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