Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Not Quite By The Book By Julie Hatcher

Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.

In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.

But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…

No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?

About The Author

My Review

This book follow the journey of Emma Rini—a woman burned out from corporate life and motherhood—who takes a bold leap into solitude, hoping to channel the spirit of Emily Dickinson in a remote Amherst mansion. What she finds instead is a chaotic garden, failed domestic experiments, and the gruff (but charming) handyman Davis Sommers.

The story shines in its emotional nuance. Emma’s attempts to disconnect and rediscover herself are portrayed with both vulnerability and humor. Her budding connection with Davis is slow-burning and satisfying, evolving naturally as both characters confront their own insecurities. With vivid prose, gentle pacing, and a strong sense of place, this novel is a cozy, uplifting read perfect for fans of character-driven fiction and second-chance narratives. It’s a tribute to the messy, beautiful process of starting over—and the unexpected joys that come with letting go of perfection.

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Review Card & Book Review- If You Could See Me Now By Samantha Tonge

How far would you go for a perfect life?

Back in her troubled school days, kind-hearted Violet always dreamed of a life where she was happy. Now it feels like she’s just about getting there. She has her dream job working with books, and she’s living with her handsome boyfriend, Lenny.

But when her relationship with Lenny falls to pieces and he moves out, Violet, hurt and lonely, decides it’s time to really take her happiness in hand. With her new flatmate Bella’s help, she changes her image and takes control at work, ready to show the world that she doesn’t need Lenny, ready to live her best life!

Then she meets magnetic author Casey, she begins to wonder if all she needed all along was a makeover. Lenny will rue the day he lost her!

But – with Bella – all is not as it seems. And Violet too has a secret, one that dates right back to her childhood, which could change everything…

About The Author

My Review

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge follows Violet as she navigates heartbreak and self-discovery after her ex cheats on her. With the help of her lively new roommate, Bella, she focuses on self-improvement, but her transformation becomes a shield against deeper struggles she refuses to face. Alternating between past and present, the story begins lighthearted but soon reveals a more serious, introspective journey. As Violet confronts shocking truths, the novel explores mental health, identity, and empowerment. Though the pacing is uneven, this emotional yet hopeful read delivers a powerful message of confidence and self-acceptance.

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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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