Review Card & Book Review – A Fresh Start At Polkerran Point By Cass Grafton

They’ve both been burned by love before, but will they take a second chance?

A year on from the demise of an unhappy marriage, Kate Stretton grabs the opportunity to move to the other end of the country and start afresh in Cornwall with her teenage daughter, Mollie. Unused to the slower pace of life, Kate leaps at the chance to take on Polkerran Point’s ailing annual arts and music festival.

Soon, though, she locks horns with local Rick Devonshire, the main sponsor for the festival. Rick’s marriage has fallen apart in spectacular fashion, and the last thing he needs is Kate pushing to go against the festival’s traditions.

Between unhelpful locals, taunting messages from her ex and trying to be present for her daughter, Kate’s life is rapidly spiralling out of her control. It will take the whole village to make the festival a success, but with her determination and growing friendship with Rick, she might just do it… 

About The Author

My Review

Cass Grafton’s latest visit to Polkerran is a warm, uplifting tale of new beginnings, family, and the power of community.

Kate, reeling from the end of her marriage, takes on an events role at The Point Hotel. Though the job is less demanding than her past career, it offers her a chance to heal, spend time with her old friend Anna, and settle into village life with her teenage daughter, Mollie. When Kate impulsively agrees to organise the village festival, she finds herself at the centre of both chaos and camaraderie.

Her path soon crosses with Rick “Dev” Devonshire, a single father with a troubled young son and his own raw wounds from the past. Their slow-burn romance, filled with obstacles and heartache, is tenderly drawn and deeply engaging. Supporting characters—whether the wise Mollie, vulnerable Theo, or Dev’s memorable grandfather Ryther—add richness and depth.

Brimming with Cornish charm, quirky villagers, and emotional honesty, A Fresh Start at Polkerran Point is a delightful, heartfelt story that celebrates resilience, second chances, and the joy of finding love and belonging.

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Review Card & Book Review- Still The Greek’s Wife By Emmy Grayson

What his wife wants:
A night with her husband!

Tessa. My marriage to Greek billionaire Rafael Drakos wasn’t the whirlwind union I desperately wanted it to be. Discovering that opened my eyes to how sheltered my existence really is. I’ll no longer deny myself the love and passion I deserve—so I want a divorce…

Rafe. My convenient bride can’t have what she wants…yet. Not until we’ve been wed a year and I can inherit my birthright. Still, I don’t expect what innocent Tessa requests in return: a wedding night. Or the wildfire of raw need it unleashes in me!

About The Author

My Review

This is a witty romance featuring Tessa and Rafe, whose arranged marriage forces them to confront past traumas and unexpected feelings. Tessa, a resilient woman who overcame partial paralysis and now designs accessible home solutions, agrees to extend her marriage with Rafe—a billionaire burdened by his abusive dead father’s strange stipulations—when he appears in Paris to convince her. With the condition that he becomes her first lover, Rafe reluctantly calculates the pros and cons before their passionate escape to Greece. As they share tender, awkward, and transformative moments, Rafe is forced to confront his inability to love, while Tessa learns that deep affection can blossom even from a marriage of convenience. The book blends humor, cultural charm, and heartfelt emotion to show that sometimes the most unconventional unions lead to true, lasting happiness.

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Review Card & Book Review- Happy Ever After At The Second Chances Sweet Shop By Hannah Lynn

Love is in the air…

After difficult times, Holly is finally adjusting to her new normal. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s created a beautiful home, and an unexpected offer may mean fantastic opportunities for her sweet shop, Just One More.

But her sense of calm is shattered when best friend Giles drops a bombshell – a proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly barely knows and who isn’t right for Giles at all.

For Giles’s sake, she tries to make peace with Sienna, throwing herself into wedding planning. But as everyone else cheers on the ‘happy’ couple, Holly’s left questioning whether her doubts are about them – or about something in her own heart…

About The Author

My Review

Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn is a charming, cozy romance that delights with its blend of heartfelt second chances and sugary whimsy. Set against the backdrop of a quaint small-town sweet shop, the novel finds its magic not only in confections but also in the possibility of new beginnings and unexpected love.

The story follows Holly, who, after Evan’s death, has settled into a new norm—one marked by resilient acceptance and the occasional eye roll at her good friend Giles as he dates a string of women who never quite measure up. That is, until Giles suddenly proposes to his latest girlfriend, a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, clearly the wrong match for him. Holly’s reaction—a mix of genuine concern, lingering jealousy, and disbelief—adds a delicious twist to the story, which make me to question why she feels so conflicted when it seems that Giles should be the one learning the true meaning of love.

This book is crisp, engaging prose breathes life into the sweet shop and its colorful cast of characters. Familiar faces and quirky interactions—like Holly’s exasperated amusement at Giles’s dating escapades—create an atmosphere that is both light-hearted and emotionally resonant. The book is a fun, quick read that revels in the charm of everyday life, reminding us that sometimes the sweetest moments come wrapped in the complexities of friendship, loss, and love rediscovered.

Overall, it is an uplifting celebration of love, resilience, and fresh starts—a delightful treat for anyone in need of a little extra sweetness in life.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Teacher’s Match By Kristi Hong

A new career. A new school.
And a very inconvenient new crush.

Joanna Lin is determined to avoid her mother’s matchmaking. With a new career as an art teacher at a Mandarin immersion school, Joanna refuses to let anything or anyone distract her. Especially her charming new colleague Jack Sun. His kindness and passion for teaching—not to mention those dimples!—are practically irresistible. But anything beyond friendship is impossible, especially when Jack’s moving to Taiwan at the end of the school year. But as spring—and the school’s Dragon Boat Festival—draws closer, love might send all of their careful plans tumbling overboard.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sweet, clean romance that delivers a refreshing take on workplace love and cultural nuance. The story follows Joanna Lin, who’s just embarked on a new career as an art teacher at a Mandarin immersion school. Determined to steer clear of her mother’s well-meaning matchmaking efforts, Joanna is focused on her professional goals—until she meets Jack Sun, the charming new fifth-grade teacher whose warmth, kindness, and irresistible dimples quickly unsettle her carefully drawn boundaries. What makes this novel stand out is its gentle, slow-burn romance, perfectly balanced with the pressures of a new job and the looming reality that Jack is destined to return to Taiwan at the end of the school year.

While the initial premise might seem familiar, its engaging dialogue and the relatable internal conflicts of both Joanna and Jack elevate the story. Their evolving connection is portrayed with sensitivity, capturing the bittersweet tension of pursuing a relationship when time is short and circumstances are uncertain. Ultimately, this is an uplifting, heartwarming romance that reminds us that sometimes the most inconvenient crushes can lead to the most transformative experiences.

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Review Card & Book Review- Together Again At The Cornish Country Hospital By Jo Bartlett

A lost love…

A&E Nurse Amy Spencer lives a very ordinary life in Port Kara. She loves her job at the hospital and has a great group of friends, but there is something or someone missing from her life. Amy’s tried dating but no one ever compares with the one boy that got away – Lijah Byrne.

A surprise arrival…

Lijah’s life since he left Port Kara has been what dreams are made of. But lately Lijah has started to feel hollow – the fame and celebrity he once craved now makes him feel trapped. The only place he’s ever felt safe is Port Kara… so maybe it’s time to go back home?

A reunion written in the stars.

When Amy bumps into Lijah again, she only sees the boy she once loved with all her heart. But their lives are so different now. Amy knows a rekindling of their past love will end in heartbreak, but she can’t give up her second chance to be with the man she loves.

About The Author

My Review

In this fifth installment, A&E nurse Amy Spencer, a compassionate and likable heroine, finds her life upended when Lijah Byrne—the one who got away—returns to Port Kara. Once a promising musician whose star once shone brightly, Lijah now grapples with the hollowness of fame and a longing to reconnect with his roots. Their rekindled connection is layered with bittersweet nostalgia, as both characters struggle to reconcile past love with their very different present lives.

Set against the evocative backdrop of a charming Cornish town and its bustling hospital, the narrative seamlessly blends the drama of everyday medical emergencies with the personal challenges of love, loss, and self-discovery. I appreciate the warmth and authenticity of the characters, whose relationships—whether among friends or within family—feel genuine and deeply human. While some may find the romance storyline familiar, I love its uplifting humor, emotional depth, and a sense of community that makes Port Kara feel like home.

This book delivers both comfort and catharsis, making it a delightful read whether you’re returning to the series or joining it for the first time.

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Review Card & Book Review – My Daughter’s Silence By Caroline Finnerty

When Charlotte Daly wins a scholarship to the prestigious St Thomas’s school, her mother Ali – who has struggled to bring Charlotte up as a single mum – is so proud. She hopes this opportunity will mean a better life for her clever, brilliant daughter.

Ali worries, however, that Charlotte is having a hard time fitting in with her new, wealthy peers. So when Charlotte is invited to a sixteenth birthday party by popular boy Ollie, Ali pushes her to go, hopeful that she’ll finally make some friends.

Just before midnight, Charlotte calls Ali to come pick her up from the party. She’s shaking and silent: it’s obvious something has happened but she won’t say what.

It’s only the next day, when Ali is at work, that she learns a teenage boy has been seriously injured. Then the police turn up at their house, wanting to question Charlotte about the events of that night. People are pointing the blame at Charlotte, saying the injured boy was last seen talking to her, before he was found unconscious in the pool.

As the investigation deepens, Ali finds that everyone has their own agenda and people will stop at nothing to protect their children – especially wealthy people. Only Charlotte knows the truth about what happened that night. Can Ali get her to tell the truth before it’s too late?

About The Author

My Review

The story follows Ali, a devoted single mother who has worked hard to provide for her daughter, Charlotte. When Charlotte earns a scholarship to the prestigious St Thomas’s school—a place filled with wealthy and privileged students—Ali is proud, hopeful, but also wary. She wants Charlotte to have every opportunity in life, but she’s keenly aware of the social divide and the pressures her daughter may face in this new environment.

Tensions rise when Charlotte attends a party with her new classmates, and shortly afterward, a teenage boy is found seriously injured. As the police begin to investigate, Charlotte becomes entangled in the incident, but she remains silent about what happened that night. Her silence is agonizing for Ali, who is desperate to know the truth but torn between pushing her daughter to speak and respecting her emotional boundaries.

What follows is a deeply affecting story that dives into questions of trust, loyalty, and how far a parent is willing to go to shield their child. Ali finds herself confronting not only the frightening possibility that her daughter may be hiding something serious but also the intimidating power wielded by the families of Charlotte’s wealthy peers—people who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their own. The novel touches on class divisions, the influence of privilege, and the challenges of single motherhood. It’s as much a character-driven family drama as it is a tense, morally complex psychological suspense. This is a compelling, emotionally charged novel that explores the fierce love of a mother and the moral complexities that arise when protecting a child comes at a high cost.

With heartfelt prose, realistic dialogue, and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, this is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally layered stories with high stakes, moral dilemmas, and powerful themes of love, protection, and truth.

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Review Card & Book Review- Under A Riviera Moon By Helen McGinn

When a heartsick Maggie is sent on an errand by her mother to Cannes, she is keen to get it over with as quickly as possible.

She has been tasked with collecting a treasured box of photos from her late grandmother Elizabeth’s best friend, the impossibly glamorous Allegra Morgon who is desperate to tell Maggie all about the year she and Elizabeth spent in Paris. The sixties were in full swing, the air hummed with jazz, artists and students made the streets their own, and the City of Love was weaving its magic. And against this backdrop, two people were beginning a love story that would last a lifetime – but be over too soon.

As Maggie hears more about Allegra’s life, first in Paris, then New York, and finally on the Riviera, she is captivated and inspired. Was life always leading Maggie to this moment, this beautiful place so she could finally learn to stop living in the past? Because if she can, then another love story for the ages might just be within her reach… ❤️

About The Author

My Review

Under a Riviera Moon by Helen McGinn is a beautifully written dual-timeline novel that weaves together the lives of two women—Maggie in the present day and Allegra in the past. Maggie, a divorcée living in the UK, finds herself at a crossroads. Her life hasn’t turned out quite the way she imagined, and she’s feeling somewhat adrift. When her mother asks her to travel to Cannes to collect a box of her late grandmother’s belongings, she expects a quick and simple trip. However, this journey leads to unexpected discoveries that begin to shift her perspective and open her heart to new possibilities.

The second timeline introduces Allegra, who now lives in Cannes but recounts her younger days as a student in 1960s Paris and her later adventures in New York. Allegra’s story is rich with emotion, passion, and the pursuit of dreams, painting a picture of a young woman navigating love, ambition, and heartbreak in two of the world’s most iconic cities.

As Maggie learns more about Allegra and her grandmother’s past, a deep connection forms, bridging generations and revealing how the choices of the past can shape the present. The novel tenderly explores themes of love and loss, the power of second chances, acceptance of the past, and the importance of friendship that transcends time. With heartfelt emotion and beautifully drawn characters, this is a compelling and uplifting story of personal growth, healing, and the magic of unexpected connections.

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Review Card & Book Review – Bold Moves By Emma Barry

Working with your ex isn’t that bad an idea—not with artistic integrity on the line. Jaime Croft is determined to prove his directorial range, and Scarlett Arbuthnot’s biography is the perfect project. He once thought Scarlett was his perfect match too, but it’s been seventeen years. Surely he’s over it by now.

Or maybe not.

Scarlett is a grand master taking the chess world by storm. If she can handle that pressure, she can handle Jaime Croft. Even if that means working together in close quarters…and constant reminders of how she broke his heart. She didn’t do it without reason, but if he knew the details, he would despise her even more.

As Jaime and Scarlett pore over her memoir, they unlock their own memories, and old feelings rise to the surface. But giving in means abandoning the walls they’ve built to protect themselves, and that’s a move neither one seems ready to make.

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Scarlett, a competitive chess player, and Jaime, a filmmaker, who reunite after 17 years when Scarlett’s autobiography is adapted into a series. Despite their undeniable chemistry, their reunion is complicated by unresolved issues from their past, and Scarlett’s prickly, arrogant demeanor. While the story promotes female empowerment and the challenges Scarlett faces in a male-dominated field, her character’s “not-like-other-girls” attitude and emotional dysfunction make it hard to connect with her. Jaime, too, struggles with his role as the emotional caretaker in their dynamic. The relationship feels exhausting, with both characters repeatedly clashing without significant growth or resolution. Though well-written and engaging, with memorable supporting characters and witty moments, the novel’s emotional turbulence may be a turnoff for readers seeking growth and compromise in a second-chance romance.

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Review Card & Book Review – Love To Hate You By Marina Adair

Summer Russo believes in destiny and true love . . . which is why she sank her life savings into reviving a nearly bankrupt indie bookstore. But just as she starts to get the hang of the business, a big-box shop moves in next door.

Wes Kingston is the cut-throat CEO of the bookstore chain, and he doesn’t believe in love—or failure. He runs his business the way he runs his life, alone. And he isn’t going to let a fiery femme fatale change that (even if she’s gorgeous).

At least Summer has her family’s annual vacation to look forward to. But when she arrives at the beachside cabin, she realizes her sister has brought along not only her boyfriend but a second guest—his brother, who just happens to be the same surly-but-infuriatingly-sexy bookstore mogul.

Neither Summer nor Kingston will go down without a fight. But when one thing leads to another and fighting turns to foreplay, both find themselves stuck in a battle for the block—and for their hearts.

About The Author

My Review

This is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that blends humor, heart, and emotional growth. The story follows Summer, a fiercely independent bookstore owner, and Wes, a polished British businessman whose chain store threatens her livelihood. Their initial interactions are full of witty tension and clashes, as both try to protect what matters most to them.

Things take a turn when they’re unexpectedly forced together at a family gathering, leading to meaningful conversations and surprising emotional connection. As they begin to see past their assumptions, mutual respect and attraction grow. Summer’s loyalty to her family and deep connection to the bookstore make her a compelling character, while Wes’s hidden vulnerability and devotion to his brother give him unexpected depth.

The story is filled with warmth, funny family dynamics, and believable emotional development. With themes of vulnerability, second chances, and understanding, Love to Hate You is a satisfying, feel-good romance about learning to open your heart to love—even when it starts with conflict.

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Review Card & Book Review- The Summer Of You And Me By Denise Hunter

Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers after all.

About The Author

My Review

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a heartfelt, well-paced romance with short chapters that make for a quick, engaging read. The central love story is clean, emotional, and thoughtfully developed, with characters whose struggles feel authentic and relatable.

A standout is young Zoey, written with charm and age-appropriate dialogue—something often difficult to capture well. She adds warmth and heart to the story.

While most of the characters are strong, Will’s storyline feels less believable. The mystery around his lineage unfolds late and in a way that seems far-fetched, with a resolution that may feel a bit uncomfortable due to past circumstances.

Still, the book handles emotional themes with care and honesty, offering a satisfying blend of romance and depth. It’s an enjoyable, uplifting read about love, healing, and the complexities of relationships.

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