Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – When Alec Met Evie By Jenny Proctor

Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.

When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.

Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.

Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him.

But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.

A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down.

But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.

About The Author

My Review

Evie, a newly single mom, moves to a new town to start fresh as a luthier. The only person she knows is Alec, her childhood crush and a pro hockey player nearing the end of his career. Their reunion rekindles old feelings, and Alec quickly becomes attached to both Evie and her daughter, Juno. As he grapples with life after hockey, Evie navigates single motherhood in a story that is heartfelt, authentic, and beautifully written. With deep emotional moments and a genuine connection between the characters, this final installment in Jenny Proctor’s series is a touching and satisfying read.

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Review Card & Book Review – Sisterhood By Cathy Kelly

Lou never puts herself first. She always looks out for other people. Even at her own birthday party, all she does is worry whether everybody else is having a good time.

Then a terrible secret upends the celebrations. And she decides to do the one thing that nobody ever expects: something for herself.

But she’s going to need her sister. Life has pulled Lou and Toni apart– yet now they set off on a journey, one that will whisk them from the windswept Irish coast to sun-baked Sicily.

Where will their journey end?

About The Author

My Review

Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly is a heartwarming and empowering novel about self-discovery, family, and learning to put yourself first.

Lou Fielding, a lifelong people pleaser, has always put others before herself—her demanding mother, inattentive husband, and ungrateful employers. But on her 50th birthday, a shocking revelation from her mother shatters her world, making her realize just how much she has been taken for granted. Meanwhile, her younger sister Toni, a confident and successful journalist, is dealing with her own betrayal and career crisis.

Determined to escape and find answers, the sisters embark on a journey from Cork to Sligo to Sicily. Along the way, they lean on each other, learning from their differences and discovering their own strength. With humor, wisdom, and emotional depth, Sisterhood explores themes of self-worth, independence, and the power of female relationships.

The novel beautifully captures the importance of setting boundaries and the realization that “people treat you how you allow them to treat you.” It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever felt overlooked or undervalued, with a powerful message: women don’t need rescuing—they rescue themselves.

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Review Card & Book Review- Pieces Of Us By Eve Ainsworth

To move forward, I’ll have to look back to our past…

I know I have to get myself out of this funk, but it feels impossible. My childhood best friend is dead and nothing in life is working out as I’d planned.

Then Lottie leaves me a ‘jar of joy’ in her will – filled with instructions to visit places where we had our happiest memories. But with every happy memory, I also remember the things that tore us apart.

Because Lottie was keeping secrets. And Jay – the man we both loved – keeps turning up at the same places. Even as I feel pieces of myself begin to heal, some wounds run too deep.

It’s time to make a change in my life, but can Lottie’s jar of joy really give me the strength I need?

About The Author

My Review

Pieces of Us is a poignant, introspective novel that delicately navigates themes of grief, guilt, friendship, and healing. Told through dual timelines and perspectives, the story follows Sara as she copes with the death of her long-time friend Lottie, while revisiting the highs and lows of their decade-long relationship. Sara’s frustration with Lottie’s past behavior slowly gives way to a deeper understanding of her friend’s motives. Lottie, despite her flaws, emerges as someone trying to bring joy and redemption into Sara’s life, even from beyond the grave.

The dual narrative structure works well, allowing the reader to piece together not only the history of their bond but also how unresolved emotions linger after loss.Ultimately, this is a beautifully written novel that speaks to the power of forgiveness, the weight of memory, and the quiet strength it takes to move forward. It’s a moving exploration of how we carry others with us—even after they’re gone.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Woman With All The Answers By Linda Green

Alexa knows your family better than you do. Now you’re about to get to know her…

Fifty-two-year-old Michelle Banks is struggling to keep all the plates spinning. She’s a perimenopausal district nurse, caring for elderly parents. Her husband is wasting their money on children’s TV memorabilia, her teenage daughter is riddled with anxiety and her sixteen-year-old son is behaving secretively.

Alexa is the only one who knows how much Michelle is juggling. Listening in via four smart speakers, she also knows that it’s about to get even worse.

So, when Michelle pleads for help from the woman with all the answers, Alexa decides to go rogue and reveal her true identity as Pauline – a sixty-five-year-old former voiceover artist from Halifax – to teach Michelle everything she knows…

About The Author

My Review

Set in Yorkshire, the story centers on Michelle Banks, a hard-working district nurse juggling the endless demands of teenage children, aging parents, and a financially irresponsible husband. Her exhaustion is palpable—and familiar to many readers—but it’s given a refreshing twist with the introduction of Pauline, a retired actress who impersonates a virtual assistant and slowly inserts herself into Michelle’s chaotic life.

Told in alternating perspectives between Michelle and Pauline, the novel balances humor and heartache while tackling modern concerns: digital scams, mental health, generational conflict, and the feeling of being invisible in one’s own life. Pauline’s unorthodox intervention may start with good intentions, but it raises questions about boundaries, honesty, and the lengths people go to help others—and themselves. The relationship that forms between Michelle and Pauline—born of necessity and bolstered by empathy—becomes the emotional core of the story. Ultimately, this is a novel about unexpected friendships and the surprising ways help can arrive when we need it most.

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Review Card & Book Review – Royal Reluctance By Holly Kerr

A secret wedding doesn’t mean a happily ever after.

Eight years ago, Prince Bo of Laandia married Hettie Crow in a secret wedding ceremony.

Two weeks later, she left the country.

Bo, the third son of the King of Laandia, has never felt comfortable being part of the royal family. He’s close to his brothers but keeps his distance living across the country, working as a lumberjack and helping animals. Hettie is still in his thoughts, but no longer in his life, and he’s happy that no one knows that they were once married.

That they’re still married.

But then Hettie suddenly shows up.

And she’s not alone.

About The Author

My Review

This heartfelt royal romance follows Prince Bo of Laandia, who secretly married Hettie Crow eight years ago—only for her to leave the country weeks later. Now living a quiet life as a lumberjack, Bo is stunned when Hettie returns, forcing them to confront their painful past and decide if they can heal and move forward together.

Filled with humor, found-family dynamics, and emotional depth, the story explores themes of grief, insecurities, and second chances. Bo and Hettie’s journey is both sweet and compelling, with well-developed relationships and a protective, supportive cast. A low-spice royal/commoner romance, this book is perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt love stories with realistic emotional growth.

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Review Card & Book Review – No Saint By Donna Alam

I plan weddings for a living, I never planned to get married myself…

Making my clients’ wedding dreams come true is my calling, so when the would-be happy couple ask for help in escaping the press, I say yes… to fake marrying the best man.

Finn DeWitt is pure sin in a suit, a rich player as outrageously hot as he is infuriatingly annoying. We have a history—the one-night kind—but we’re utterly unsuited. How I wake next to him thoroughly honeymooned and truly married, I just don’t understand.

Things can’t possibly get any worse.

Oh, wait.…

I agreed to spend the next six days with him. Pretending to be in love. On an exclusive honeymoon resort. With only one bed.

It isn’t long before the lines blur between what’s real and what’s fake. But we’re not meant to be together. Things haven’t changed. Because I’ve always been a good girl and Finn is definitely No Saint.

About The Author

My Review

This is a sizzling, trope-filled romance with a fun twist on the fake-marriage storyline. Wedding planner Mila agrees to stage a faux wedding, only to find herself “marrying” Fin DeWitt—the enigmatic, irresistible man she hasn’t been able to forget after a past steamy encounter.

Their fake relationship quickly ignites into a believable, emotionally layered romance filled with sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and slow-burn tension. While the plot hits some familiar romance beats, Donna Alam keeps things fresh with strong character development and a modern, flirty tone.

Packed with passion, humor, and just enough emotional punch, No Saint is a guilty-pleasure romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously—making it an ideal read for fans of witty, sexy escapism.

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Review Card & Book Review – From Provence With Love By Alison Roberts

A lifechanging encounter, a whirlwind affair… an unexpected consequence

Laura Gilchrist has always made sensible choices. But a trip to Provence to sell an inherited stone house leads her face to face with Noah Dufour. Her wild, irresistibly attractive real estate agent. And within an instant she’s bewitched. Without a second thought, she decides she’s going to accept his offer to ride on the back of his motorbike and see the beauty of the South of France though his eyes. She’s never acted on impulse before, but Noah makes her feel spontaneous and free – and a little bit excited.

Weeks later, with the memories of their passionate fling refusing to fade, Laura waits for her life to return to normal. But she can’t shake the feeling something has changed. And then her instincts are confirmed by the sight of two blue lines. Their connection was a whirlwind; perfect yet brief. But Noah has become a chink in her buttoned up armour and she knows her news is going to blindside him. Now she must return to Provence to find out whether they can both take a leap of faith based on one brief yet perfect holiday romance…

About The Author

My Review

This is a charming romance filled with personal growth, emotional depth, and the beauty of Provence. A sequel to Falling for Provence, this novel shifts focus to Laura, a driven real estate agent, and her unexpected romance with the carefree Noah Dufour. Their whirlwind relationship takes a dramatic turn when Laura discovers she’s pregnant, forcing both to confront their fears about love and commitment.

The novel’s vivid descriptions of Provence—its lavender fields, quaint villages, and delicious cuisine—create an immersive setting that contrasts beautifully with Laura’s emotional journey. While the romance follows some predictable paths, Laura’s transformation is engaging, and her chemistry with Noah remains compelling, if occasionally frustrating.

For fans of slow-burn romances with rich settings and heartfelt character growth, From Provence, With Love is an enjoyable, quick read perfect for a cozy afternoon.

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