Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Free Falling By Jill Shalvis

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this construction project to prove himself in the family business, but he also needs to recover from the injury that ended his pro career. Too bad Emma Sumner, architect liaison and Caleb’s college nemesis, is back in town and assigned to the project. They’re going to have to see each other almost every day. Which means once again she’ll make his life a living hell.

As for Emma, her job is on the line with this big project, made all the more challenging by the project manager. Caleb was the one who had snagged the scholarship she’d desperately needed to stay in college. She’s been living hand to mouth ever since and has no intention of ever forgiving the man.

But the beautiful historic building they’re renovating is exactly the kind of project that they both love best. Their surprising common ground and a burning mutual attraction start bringing them closer and closer to a potentially explosive mistake. And that’s even before the secrets come out…

About The Author

My Review

This book is about second chances, old wounds, and two people being forced to confront a past that never quite let them go. Thisis the second book in Jill Shalvis’s Colburn Brothers series, and while it can be read as a standalone, the pull of this family makes it hard not to want to start at the beginning.

Caleb Colburn is a retired hockey player determined to prove he belongs in the family construction business, while Emma Sumner is the architect liaison he’s required to work with—despite a college history that left deep scars on both sides. From the moment they’re thrown back together, the tension is immediate, charged with sharp banter, unresolved hurt, and undeniable chemistry.

Jill Shalvis excels at writing characters who feel real and imperfect, carrying emotional baggage that doesn’t magically disappear. Emma, in particular, is heartbreakingly relatable, and I spent much of the book wanting to wrap her up in a hug and urge her to let her guard down. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is built on genuine pain and misunderstanding, making the emotional payoff especially satisfying.

Witty, warm, and laugh-out-loud funny, it delivers heart, heat, and a deeply comforting romance that leaves you eager for more Colburn brothers.

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Review Card & Book Review- The Queen Of Wishful Thinking By Milly Johnson

Her mother said if she could imagine doing something in her head, she could do it in real life. But as hard as she wishes for a new life, can Bonnie ever make it happen?

Bonnie Brookland grew up in the vibrant world of antiques, surrounded by the comforting chaos of market stalls, old treasures, and the loyal friends who became her second family. But lately, life has felt anything but colorful. So when she stumbles upon The Pot of Gold, a struggling antique shop in a quiet corner of her British town, something about it tugs at her. It feels like home.

The Pot of Gold is a dream come true for Lewis Harley, who left behind a high-pressure investment banking career after a health scare in his forties. Craving peace and purpose, he’s poured everything into the shop. But things haven’t gone to plan, and the business is struggling. That is, until Bonnie walks through the door.

However, both are navigating lives that aren’t easy to leave behind. And when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, Bonnie and Lew must each decide how much they’re willing to risk to rediscover themselves–and whether the life they’ve always hoped for might still be within reach.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about second chances, quiet bravery, and the power of community, wrapped up in a story that shows Milly Johnson at her very best. From the very beginning, I was completely absorbed by this warm, witty, and deeply comforting novel, which weaves together friendship, family, doing the right thing, and two very different marriages.

At the heart of the story is Bonnie, a woman trapped in a loveless, controlling marriage that has left her feeling old before her time. Her life begins to shift when she loses her job and unexpectedly finds herself working in a far kinder environment at the Pot of Gold antiques shop. The shop’s owner, Lewis, reinvented his life after a serious heart attack, and their meeting feels guided by fate, changing both their lives in meaningful ways.

The cast of antique dealers is wonderfully colourful, each with distinctive personalities and nicknames, creating a strong sense of warmth and loyalty. I also loved the humour scattered throughout, particularly the laugh-out-loud newspaper snippets from the local Daily Trumpet.

Comforting, funny, and emotionally engaging, this is a beautifully crafted story that flows effortlessly and leaves you feeling completely at home.

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Review Card & Book Review- Dirty Hit By Livy Hart

When a career-ending injury forces hockey superstar Sadie Rivers to hang up her skates, she never expects to be the NHL’s first female coach. The Portland Fury are the league’s worst team—and Sadie has one season to turn the franchise around. Critics of her “soft touch” coaching style make no secret of their skepticism, but Sadie has never bucked a challenge, on or off the ice.

Defenseman Leo McLaren is hockey royalty. Or he was, until a dirty hit last season left him with a shoulder injury and migraines that have destroyed his game. When he’s traded to the Fury, it feels like the end of his hockey dreams. That is, until the new head coach names him captain—and asks for his help getting to know the team, who resist her personal approach.

Secret coach-captain meet-ups lead to a tentative friendship that quickly turns into sizzling chemistry hot enough to melt a hockey rink. But with the season and both their careers on the line, Sadie and Leo will have to decide if love is a risk worth taking when the game they’re playing demands all they have to give.

About The Author

My Review

This is about second chances, resilience, and breaking barriers in a gritty hockey world. Dirty Hit opens from the coach’s perspective, which immediately feels fresh and engaging. Sadie, a former superstar player and the NHL’s first female head coach, is a compelling lead, and the story doesn’t shy away from the backlash, skepticism, and constant scrutiny she faces in a male-dominated league.

The Portland Fury begin as the worst team in the NHL, and the messy reality of that is portrayed brilliantly—low morale, fractured players, and resistance to change all feel raw and believable. Watching Sadie slowly try to turn the team around is deeply satisfying.

The romance between Sadie and team captain Leo is a highlight. Their connection builds naturally through forced proximity, trust, and secret coach-captain meetings, with undeniable chemistry. Both are grappling with career-altering setbacks, which adds emotional depth and real stakes to their relationship.

With its fresh perspective, strong character work, and gritty hockey setting, Dirty Hit is a standout sports romance—and I’m so glad I picked it up.

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Review Card & Book Review – Stalked In The Mountains By Danica Winters

She’s sworn she’ll never return home…

Until she needs a hideout.

Actress Scarlett Leafletter’s former agent is stalking her. Concealing her identity, she and her assistant hide out at her estranged family’s resort ranch. The new guest annoys cowboy Miles Miller, despite his powerful attraction to her. Scarlett’s also drawn to Miles, but both are wary of trusting one another. As they navigate their conflicted feelings, Scarlett’s past catches up to her, endangering those around her. Then Scarlett’s assistant and Miles’s brother disappear. And Scarlett must reveal everything. Now, trusting each other is the only way to save those they love.

About The Author

My Review

This is a fast-paced romantic suspense that wastes no time pulling the reader into danger. Scarlett, a well-known actress, is desperate to escape a former agent who has crossed the line from persistent to terrifying. Seeking safety, she retreats to her estranged family’s remote mountain ranch—only to find that isolation brings its own risks.

Miles, the rugged host tasked with protecting guests at the ranch, initially sees Scarlett as a spoiled celebrity running from her problems. Their early clashes are sharp and engaging, making it especially satisfying to watch his opinion shift as her vulnerability and resilience come to light. The chemistry builds naturally amid rising tension, with Miles stepping up as a determined and capable protector.

Winters does an excellent job sustaining suspense. Scarlett’s constant paranoia about being found, combined with the emotional strain of returning to a place tied to family estrangement, adds depth beyond the immediate threat. The setting amplifies the danger, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where help feels far away.

With steady twists, escalating stakes, and a strong central pairing, this is a gripping, quick read. Fans of romantic suspense who enjoy protective heroes and relentless tension will find plenty to love here.

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Review Card & Book Review- Just One More Day By Shari Low

A new dawn, and a new day…
All they have to do is choose to leave the past behind.

Bernadette O’Brien walked away from a husband who cheated on her throughout her whole marriage. Today is the day that she’ll decide between protecting her new life or risking it all for another shot at happiness.

Marge Drummond knows that now is the time to share a hidden truth with her daughter Estelle. But can she bring herself to admit the mistake that’s made her daughter’s whole life a lie?

Amber Collins is finally ready to embrace a new romance after a divorce that broke her heart. Will she find the love she deserves or are her hopes and dreams about to come crashing down to earth?

Three women, three tangled webs of love and betrayal… When all the secrets come out, who will still believe in love at the end of the day?

About The Author

My Review

This is a beautifully balanced novel—bittersweet, funny, and quietly hopeful all at once. Known for her 24-hour ensemble stories, Low once again proves how deftly she can capture life’s turning points, and this instalment feels especially poignant in its exploration of love, loss, and unfinished conversations.

At the emotional core is Marge, a widow whose failing heart forces her to reflect on her life and, most importantly, her relationship with her daughter, Estelle. Through tender flashbacks, we see Marge as a young woman finding her feet, falling in love with Ian, and sharing a secret that binds them even more closely—one Estelle has never known. These scenes are deeply affecting and add warmth and depth to the present-day narrative.

Alongside Marge are Bernadette, a compassionate nurse reassessing her own worth after years of disappointment, and Amber, whose storyline blends humour with regret and the possibility of change. Their lives intersect over a snowy February day in Glasgow, told in Low’s trademark time-segmented style.

More emotional than some of Low’s previous “Day” novels, this is still uplifting, comforting, and deeply relatable.

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Review Card & Book Review – We Never Have Sex Any More By Julia Jones

Lottie and Theo have it all – except it.

Lottie and Theo are definitely happily married: deeply in love, beautiful house, two adorable puppies… except that after seven years together, the only action they’re having in the bedroom is Netflix marathons. Why has every night become ‘not tonight’?

Frustrated in more ways than one, Lottie drunkenly calls in to her favourite podcast (The Cliterati) to let off some steam. But her anonymous rant goes viral, with thousands of women replying with tales of their own long-term relationships going limp and floppy.

Now everyone is trying to unmask the ‘horny wife’, the podcast agency make Lottie an offer which could change her life. The only problem is… Lottie still hasn’t told Theo about her confession. How on earth can Lottie admit to her husband that they could be famous – for being sexless?

About The Author

My Review

This is funny, heartbreaking, cringe-inducing, and ultimately uplifting. I was completely riveted by Lottie’s story and felt deeply connected to her from the very first page. Julia Jones captures, with painful honesty, the quiet loneliness that can grow inside long-term relationships when communication and intimacy fade.

Lottie is not a villain but a deeply human, misguided woman trying—often clumsily—to fix something she loves. The novel brilliantly explores how terrifying difficult conversations can be, and how easy it is for couples like Lottie and Theo to bury their heads in the sand rather than face uncomfortable truths. That avoidance felt painfully real.

The moment Lottie realises she has accidentally sent her confession to a well-known podcast is both mortifying and compelling. Watching her spiral further while still not talking to Theo made my heart ache, even as I cringed for her. Thankfully, her best friend Caro is a standout—warm, blunt, and fiercely supportive. I adored her and would happily read an entire book about her life.

Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, this novel feels authentic, compassionate, and deeply relatable, with a satisfying and hopeful ending.

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Review Card & Book Review- The Girl With Nowhere To Go By Louise Guy

In your own darkest hour, would you help a child in need?

When a teenage girl with haunted eyes enters Bec’s world, she stirs something in Bec she thought she’d buried long ago.

Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Bec is barely keeping her life together. But there’s something about Skye, motherless, wary and alone, that reaches into the shadows of Bec’s past. Twenty years ago, she was that lost girl, grieving her twin brother and cut off from her parents after one terrible night. Now, with the threat of those same parents re-entering her life, Bec makes an impulsive decision: she offers Skye food, shelter and the promise of help.

When Bec’s search for help brings Anna into their world, the connection feels almost fated. Anna has demons of her own. A past she’s fought to bury and a brother’s name she’s desperate to clear.

Both women believe they know what’s best for Skye. But as past and present collide, each will be forced to face truths they thought they’d left behind.

About The Author

My Review

This is an emotionally rich, multi-layered story about grief, fractured families, and the quiet power of chosen connections.

The novel weaves together three compelling perspectives. Anna has buried the pain of losing her brother so deeply it has become a closed chapter in her life. Bec, on the other hand, is shaped by loss—her twin brother, her boyfriend, and later her husband, Owen. Estranged from her parents and raising her twins alone in Sydney, her children are her anchor. When they move back to Melbourne, her daughter’s determination to uncover the truth about the grandparents she’s never met forces old wounds to the surface.

Then there’s Skye, a heartbreaking and unforgettable sixteen-year-old whose mother dies from cancer, leaving her alone and briefly lost to the foster system. Through Bec’s work, their paths cross, and Skye’s story gently intertwines with both Anna’s and Bec’s. What follows is a beautifully handled exploration of friendship, found family, and healing across generations.

The plot is filled with unexpected turns, yet never feels contrived. Guy’s writing is compassionate, absorbing, and impossible to put down. A deeply moving read, perfectly matched by its striking cover.

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