Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – Love’s Cure By Judith Keim

Love cures all …

When Emmett Chambers comes to Lilac Lake to replace Dr. Johnson, the town’s GP, Dr. Johnson asks Crystal, owner of the Lilac Lake Café, to show him around. Emmett is the son of an insufferable ambitious politician who is the reason Emmett has chosen the life of a doctor in a small town, away from politics. Just as the relationship between Crystal and Emmett heats up, Emmett’s mother finds out about it and is furious, deeming Crystal unsuitable for the family during her husband’s presidential campaign. Hoping to allow things to cool off, Crystal spends time at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine doing her usual summer gig as an extra in some of the plays put on there. But when she’s called upon to help Emmett’s mother with a problem there, everything changes for all of them.

About The Author

My Review

The little hamlet of Lilac Lake is growing and one of it’s new citizens is Dr. Emmett Chambers, who has come to replace long time family Dr. Johnson who has retired. When Emmett is getting to know the town, the one person he is drawn to and would like to get to know more is Crystal who owns the Lilac Cafe’. Where the towns people like to hang out for their coffee in the morning and lunch. She has grown up in Lilac Lake and everyone knows her past, but she has always been good friends with Whitney, Dani and Taylor Gilford and their GG who treated her like one of her own. They know and love Crystal for who she is and so does her ex husband Nick who is now married to Whitney. As both Emmett’s past and family’s come to light, the two want to be see if they can have a life together, despite the obstacles put in their way. Can love conquer all?

I love Crystal and who she is not who others want her to be and she knows that she has fought to be where she is today, a respected member of the community. She built her business on her own and raised her sister when there was no one else. The people that helped along the way love her. She is one of my fav people in this series. Emmett was attracted to Chrystal from the start, but was he willing to look beyond the purple hair and see her for who she was on the inside. She was willing to do the same for him.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Big Witch Energy By Molly Harper

Caroline Wilton is dying to get off Starfall Point, but if she leaves, there’s a good chance she’ll literally die. For centuries, any Wilton who ventured off the island immediately perished in some freak accident. While Caroline has begrudgingly obeyed her family’s curse, she’s never forgiven all that it has cost her. After all, her high school sweetheart left for college and never came back. Until now.

Although Dr. Ben Hoult returned to take over the med clinic, in his heart, he came back for Caroline. Practical, sensible Ben was too stubborn to believe in her curse. But when his own two teenagers meddle their way into coven business, Ben’s eyes are opened to the world of magic. He quickly learns that Caroline and her friends have the power to see ghosts—like the angry woman in eighteen-century garb occupying her family’s tavern with a menacing glare—and boy, do they need managing.

As the witches dig through old spell books for insight, they discover the angry tavern ghost as one of the island’s most sinister legends—information that could be the key to breaking the Wilton curse and giving Caroline the life she’s always wanted with the man she’s always loved

About The Author

My Review

“Big Witch Energy” continues the magical tale on Starfall Point, centering on Caroline, an island resident bound by a family curse that prevents her from leaving. Caroline, who stayed to work at her family’s bar instead of attending college, reconnects with her high school love, Ben, when he returns to the island with his children after nearly 20 years. Their rekindled romance is sweet, though they must confront past issues.

Ben’s children quickly embrace Caroline and the magic of Shadow House, despite sometimes seeming overly mature. The book deepens the lore of Shadow House, adding layers to its mystery while drawing the characters closer together. Ben’s early discovery of the island’s supernatural elements, especially with his children’s potential abilities, is a welcome development. Additionally, Edison from the first book finds a new “mundane bro” in Ben to discuss the island’s magic.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – Royal Rising By Holly Kerr

Prince Kalle does not want to be king. But will the right queen make him change his mind?

Kalle. eldest son of King Magnus of Laandia, is expected to be crowned king at his father’s untimely death.

(Hopefully not anytime soon—King Magnus is in good health. But still… sometime in the future Kalle is supposed to be king.)

Only he doesn’t want the crown.

Kalle, Laandia’s most celebrated jock (baseball, hockey, curling and now darts), is heading into another high-profile fling with a wealthy socialite. He’s the prince who will give you a good time but not the one you settle down with. In fact, Kalle would be perfectly happy staying single, keeping out of the media spotlight, and spending his days at his bar, The King’s Hat, which is managed by his best friend, Edie England.

Edie thinks Kalle would be a great king. So does (some of) Laandia. Friends with Kalle since a rocky driving lesson, Edie is the daughter of the groundskeeper at the castle and knows Kalle would make a good king. But Kalle doesn’t agree.

But King Magnus suggests Kalle should be looking for someone to share the role with. Stand beside him to rule Laandia. Be his queen.

Kalle likes that idea. But who will be his queen?

About The Author

My Review

In the third Kingdom of Laandia book, Prince Kalle, the heir who prefers a quiet life above his bar, faces pressure to step into his royal duties after his brother abdicates. Advised by his father to choose a partner wisely, Kalle considers top model Fennella Carrington, but complications arise when his cousin pursues Edie, Kalle’s best friend and secret love. As Edie, the daughter of the castle’s former groundskeeper, starts dating his cousin, Kalle rethinks his feelings for her. The story is heartwarming and filled with family dynamics, romantic tension, and natural banter, offering readers an engaging journey of self-discovery and love.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Review Card & Book Review – The Best Is Yet To Come By Jessica Redland

Emma is having a fresh start.

After a successful teaching career, an exciting new chapter awaits Emma – helping her fiancé Grayson run one of Beatrix Potter’s farms. While imagining days spent supporting Grayson with his dream, working the land and helping with the animals, Emma harvests a dream of her own – to set up an alpaca-walking business around the farm.

But working together isn’t as easy as Emma expected. Soon her dreams are in tatters and, broken-hearted, she must start over yet again.

When Oliver, Rosie and the team at Willowdale Hall welcome Emma with open arms, she can’t believe her luck. But starting a new business in a new place is a daunting prospect, especially when it comes with unexpected obstacles. With a reserved, prickly groundskeeper as a partner, rapidly changing family dynamics to contend with, and time running out to get her new career off the ground, Emma may have bitten off more than she can chew.

But even though things are not going to plan just yet, the best is yet to come for Emma, if she can just take a leap of faith and follow her heart…

About The Author

My Review

The book follows Emma, who is starting over in life after leaving her teaching career to work with her fiancé, Grayson, on his farm. However, things don’t go as planned, leading Emma to start over once again, this time on her own. The story highlights Emma’s journey through disappointment and resilience as she pursues her dream of caring for alpacas with the support of her friends and family. The novel captures the importance of strong relationships and shows how unexpected challenges can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. It’s a heartwarming, feel-good story with well-crafted characters that readers will connect with deeply.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – The Little Irish Farm By Michelle Vernal

Pursuing her dream life in Ireland, twenty-something Dublin newspaper columnist Jess is now half a world away from her family and feeling pretty lonely. At least she has her childhood collection of antique fairy tales. But she longs to be out exploring all the old stories Ireland is famed for.

So when she finds a heart-breaking dedication to a little girl in a new addition to her collection, Jess knows that the story behind it would be perfect for her next column. And, when her research takes her to a tumbledown farmhouse in a tiny Irish village, she can barely contain her joy. The endless rolling hills surrounding the small cottage are just like the scenes in Jess’s favourite novels.

She even warms to the dark and brooding farmer hosting her, Owen. He may come off a little grumpy, but it doesn’t take long for Jess to be swept up by his dark eyes and quiet charms as they walk together across the fresh green fields of the farm. And Jess’s heart melts when she discovers he is hiding a tragic secret…

One wrapped up in the history of the farm, and very same little girl Jess is here to research. But, with the demands of her job calling her back to the home she hates, she must decide: does their story end here at the farm? Or could following her heart heal the wounds of a devastating past, and set her and Owen on the path to happily ever after?

About The Author

My Review

Jess Baré, a Dublin journalist, moves from New Zealand to escape her mother’s matchmaking. She enjoys writing, spending time with friends, and collecting vintage children’s books. After discovering an inscription in one book, Jess investigates its original owner, leading her to Owen Aherne and the tragic story of his sister, Amy. Despite Owen’s moodiness, a romance develops between them. The novel also highlights Jess’s strong friendships and her evolving relationship with her mother. While the romance could have been more developed, the story balances humor with emotional depth, making it a touching small-town romance.

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review – Winter Magic On Railway Lane By Alison Sherlock

Join the residents of Railway Lane for one last magical adventure… 

Globetrotting Libby Jacobs has lost her job but is looking forward to spending more time in her home village of Cranfield.

She dreams of turning her chocolate making hobby into something more permanent. There’s only one problem – Ethan Connolly.

Despite being soul mates growing up, Libby hasn’t been close to Ethan since their disastrous date at the school prom. But now he’s back and he has just what Libby needs… a large kitchen! But can they even bear to be in the same room together?

Ethan never stays in Cranfield too long as it reminds him of his parents’ terrible marriage. But when disaster strikes, he’s forced to stay and help realise his grandad’s dream of a Christmas train. Can the whole village help Ethan create a seasonal spectacular in time?

Can Libby confront her secrets and realise her dreams?

And can Ethan ever stop running from his past and trust his heart?

Perhaps the magic of winter on Railway Lane might just give Libby and Ethan a second chance after all…

About The Author

My Review

Libby Jacobs returns to her hometown of Cranfield after losing her job and dreams of turning her passion for chocolate into a business. Complicating matters is Ethan, her childhood soulmate, who’s back in town to help with a Christmas train project while dealing with his own past. As they reconnect, their old feelings resurface, but Ethan’s fear of love, shaped by his mother’s actions, holds him back. The story explores loss, illness, hope, and the magic of Christmas. Libby’s journey, mixed with chocolate-making and small-town charm, creates an uplifting, heartwarming read full of promise.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – What She’s Having By Laura Moher

She may be strong, but she’s not unbreakable.

July Tate is a force to be reckoned with—a big, strong blond with a heart the size of her whole town—but beneath her capable exterior lie the scars of a devastating lost love. To July, love equals vulnerability, and she can’t afford either. 

Joe Anderson knew from the first moment he saw her that July was The One. Now, after years apart, he’s back, driven by the need to explain his disappearance. In search of the girl who filled his teenage dreams, he finds instead a powerhouse woman who steals his heart and soul. 

Joe embodies everything July has been missing, and together they spark as brightly as ever. But with Joe around, July, who can usually outwork four men is suddenly making mistakes right and left. And that scares her. Because if July falls again, this time her beloved town could go down with her.

About The Author

My Review

July Tate, a resilient woman, reunites with her lost love, Joe Anderson, after years apart. Their old spark reignites, but July fears vulnerability and making mistakes in love again, risking everything, including her town. While the story portrays a small-town romance and explores deep emotions, some readers may find the focus on their brief teenage romance and miscommunication frustrating. The second chance trope is handled well, showing rather than telling the connection between Joe and July, though the physical progression feels abrupt. The book is inclusive, emotional, and offers a sweet, simple plot, despite occasional repetition.

My Rating

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Review Card & Book Review – How To Charm A Nerd By Katherine Garbera

Dungeons and dragons and nerds, oh my…

The spooky season is almost here, and occultist and tarot reader Liberty Wakefield is already feelin’ it. But ever since her sick nan muttered the name of Liberty’s mysterious biological father, nothing feels normal. Not her friends, her family, nor the quirky shop she runs with her besties. So maybe it’s time for Liberty to track down the father she’s never met. Of course, that means getting a little help from the sexy nerd she’s been not-so-secretly vibing since last summer…

Merle Rutland hasn’t met anyone like the vivacious, bubbly Liberty. Part of him wishes he was more like her—instead of hiding his geekery from his hyper-athletic family. The other part just wants to pull the curvy redhead close, steal a kiss and hope he doesn’t roll a critical fail.

Only, somewhere between Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, pumpkins and a few ridiculously hot sexy-times, Liberty and Merle discover their respective weirds might be a match. Yet as Halloween draws closer, it seems everyone has skeletons in the closet…and nothing spells disaster quite like being haunted by the past…

About The Author

My Review

Liberty Wakefield, a witch, enlists Merle Rutland, a nerdy D&D expert, to uncover her biological father’s identity. Their chemistry grows through shared experiences, but repetitive inner thoughts slow the story’s pace, detracting from its engaging premise of romance and self-discovery. While their connection deepens, unresolved pasts threaten their budding relationship. The novel is compelling but lacks execution, focusing too much on inner dialogue instead of action.

My Rating

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Harlequin

Review Card & Book Review – Last Christmas By Clare Swatman

As Christmas approaches, Bea Preston has a choice.

Looking up at the departures board in Heathrow airport, her flight to New York boarding soon, she knows that getting on that plane changes everything. Her life in London has grown stale, her relationship with boyfriend Dom has run its course, and New York has always been her dream. But it’s a risk – she’ll miss her parents, her friends, her job.

What if Bea could live both lives? In one she goes back home for Christmas, and in another she heads to the Big Apple. Would her fate remain the same, or can one decision really change everything?

About The Author

My Review

Bea is on a plane to New York just before Christmas, contemplating whether to start a new life in the Big Apple or stay behind. She’s leaving a strained relationship with her live-in boyfriend, who suffers from depression, and is unsure if she should move forward with her own life. On the flight, she meets a man she nicknames Paddy, who keeps his real name a secret, hinting that it’s something people have laughed at in the past. The story alternates between two parallel timelines: Bea’s life at home and her life in New York, leaving the reader to wonder which is real and which will work out.

This novel is praised for its unique and clever premise, seamlessly blending two possible realities. It explores the idea that life’s path can be shaped by fate, with unexpected twists leading to different outcomes. The book is a life-affirming romance, reassuring readers that the right things happen for the right reasons, even if they don’t align with initial expectations. The story is well-crafted, Christmas-themed, and emotionally gripping, making it a memorable read that’s difficult to put down.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review – One Midnight With You By Shari Low

What would you do if you had just twenty-four hours to change your life?

Ailish Ryan has been in hiding since her husband’s affair ended their marriage. But when a friend forces her to face her new reality, will she choose to revisit the past or embrace a brand-new future?

Ailish’s daughter, Emmy, thought her boyfriend was nothing like her cheating father, but now she’s not so sure. As the hours pass, she turns detective to find out if she picked the right man, or if history is repeating itself.

Grandmother, Minnie Ryan is on a mission to deliver a very special gift to a lifelong friend. But will dogged determination and a touch of divine intervention be enough to overcome the obstacles that fate puts in her way?

Dario Moretti has spent his whole life working in the family business, but now it’s in trouble and he’s all out of options. Will he have the strength to let it go, even if it means hurting the people he loves?

The clock is ticking… but will twenty-four hours be long enough to heal four broken hearts?

About The Author

My Review

*”One Midnight with You”* follows three generations of women—Ailish, her daughter Emmy, and mother-in-law Minnie—through a single day on New Year’s Eve in Glasgow. The story is set over 24 hours, divided into two-hour segments, as multiple characters face pivotal moments of loss, whether it be a job, a loved one, or a relationship. As the clock ticks toward midnight, they must make decisions that will shape their futures.

The novel is heartwarming and packed with emotions—laughter, tears, love, and anxieties—as the characters gather at GINO’s, their traditional New Year’s Eve spot. The book emphasizes the importance of letting go of the past to embrace the future, and despite the challenges, each character brings a heartfelt determination to find solutions. It’s a feel-good read where even those who’ve made mistakes are genuinely likable, making it easy to lose yourself in their stories.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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