Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review- Buried Lies By Kathleen Donnelly

U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson and her K-9, Juniper, are both ready for a break. Ever since moving to Colorado, it’s been one investigation after another. Murder, arson, kidnapping…they’ve handled it all. Now that her boyfriend, Undersheriff Josh Colton, is coming home, Maya is looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Until she and Juniper find the body of a woman in a pile of forest debris meant to burn, that is. Then Maya’s just looking forward to having Josh’s help in solving the crime.

But when the victim turns out to be Josh’s volatile ex-fiancée, and all signs point to Josh as the main suspect, Maya and Juniper must dig into Josh’s past to uncover the truth…before the killer, fixated on revenge, finds them.

About The Author

My Review

This is a standout entry in the National Forest K-9 series and a wonderfully accessible jumping-in point for new readers. Although it’s the fourth book, Donnelly’s confident, immersive writing makes it easy to connect immediately with Maya Thompson, her K-9 partner Juniper, and the high-stakes world they inhabit.

From the opening chapter, the story grips tight. Maya is a compelling heroine—capable, perceptive, and emotionally grounded—and her bond with Juniper is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Their partnership feels authentic and deeply earned, providing real heart amid the danger.

The plot unfolds at a razor-sharp pace, balancing layered suspense with personal stakes. When Maya’s boyfriend, Josh, becomes the prime suspect in a murder, the tension escalates dramatically. Donnelly weaves together relationship strain, a revenge-driven killer, and the isolating menace of the forest without ever losing momentum. Each twist lands cleanly, keeping the reader constantly off balance.

The Colorado wilderness is vividly rendered, acting almost as a character itself—beautiful, threatening, and full of buried secrets. Buried Lies delivers a satisfying blend of emotional depth, sharp mystery, and K-9 excellence, making it a must-read.

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Review Card & Book Review- Nurse’s Night Before Valentine’s By Louisa Heaton

There’s no cure for Cupid!

For locum nurse Cass, a temporary contract on a Scottish island is a breath of fresh air. After suffering a terrible loss, she’s lived on the go, never allowing anyone close. Except the warm welcome from her new boss, single dad GP Lachie, has her wondering if she can finally put down roots… Sharing patients leads to sharing heartaches late into the night, when their spark threatens to turn into a blaze! As Valentine’s approaches, will Cass find a home where her heart is?

About The Author

My Review

Louisa Heaton is a tender, emotionally rich romance that packs a surprising amount of heart into a short, satisfying read.

Set on the remote Isle of Gulray, the story follows Cass, a traumatised locum nurse who arrives intending to simply complete a temporary contract and keep her walls firmly in place. Instead, she finds herself drawn into the rhythm of island life—and into the orbit of Lachie, the island’s young doctor, widower, and devoted father to his son Ronan, while also caring for his mother as she battles dementia. Their connection unfolds gently, shaped by shared compassion, unspoken grief, and the quiet understanding of two people carrying heavy emotional burdens.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its sense of place. The descriptions of island life—the food, weather, local language, and close-knit community—are vivid and immersive, making Gulray feel wonderfully real. The medical details add authenticity and momentum, grounding the romance in everyday challenges and care.

Though it’s a quick afternoon read, this story lingers, offering warmth, healing, and the comforting fantasy of finding love and belonging in a remote Scottish community.

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Review Card & Book Review – Chasing The Ring By Lauren Rowe

Iris Benedetto’s wedding day just went viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.

After a heated blowout with her lying, cheating fiancé at the altar, Iris storms off on a solo honeymoon—loudly announcing that she’s finally going to find out what good sex is all about. Rebranding from small-town preschool teacher to #Horny Runaway Bride was not the plan, but the insanely hot stranger who ends up double-booked in her bungalow on the island of Kauai is an opportunity even devastated Iris can’t ignore.

It’s not often NFL quarterback Roman Maguire meets someone who doesn’t recognize him. Even rarer to have that someone barge in while he’s taking a shower and quickly make him an irresistible offer. Roman is in Hawaii to secure the deal that could finally land him a Super Bowl ring—and closer proximity to his son. A sexy fling in paradise is a perfect way to spend a week with a surprise roommate . . .

Except . . . suddenly a week doesn’t seem nearly enough. And once the truth about Roman’s identity, Iris’s internet infamy, and all kinds of loyalty-testing secrets are revealed, will they both be willing to step into the real-life spotlight together?

About The Author

My Review

This is a funny, heartwarming sports romance that delivers exactly what her readers love—big laughs, genuine emotion, and characters who feel like family by the final page.

Roman, an NFL quarterback, meets Iris, a newly jilted bride, while she’s bravely taking her honeymoon alone. What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something special, especially because Iris has no idea who Roman is. That anonymity is a gift for him, and their first week together is a joy to read as they connect simply as two people finding comfort at the right moment. Rowe captures those early days beautifully—light, tender, and full of chemistry.

I especially appreciated that Roman and Iris part ways for a time. That space allows both characters to grow individually, making their eventual reunion feel earned and emotionally satisfying. Roman’s family, as always with Lauren Rowe, is a standout. His brothers are endlessly entertaining, and his relationship with his son adds a layer of warmth that will melt your heart.

Laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and deeply charming, Chasing the Ring is a sports romance that hits all the right notes—and will leave you wishing for more books in this world.

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Review Card & Book Review – A Shore Thing By Portia MacIntosh

Lights. Camera…Showmance!

From the moment Cleo met Lockie, her infuriatingly charming co-casting producer on hit reality show Welcome to Singledom, he’s been getting under her skin. Their job? Casting singles for the ultimate island romance. Their problem? They can’t agree on anything.

Now, the cameras are ready to roll, and the contestants—well, most of them—are en route. But when the threat of a tropical storm delays half the cast, launch night turns into a total disaster. With no Plan B, Cleo and Lockie are forced to step in as contestants. Just for 24 hours until the real stars arrive.

Simple, right? Except tensions are sky-high and sparks are flying for all the wrong reasons! All they have to do is couple-up and get voted off – but there’s a storm coming, so leaving the island might not be so easy. Cleo’s used to pulling strings behind the scenes, not falling headfirst into the drama.

But when the cameras stop rolling, will their fake fling fade with the credits—or could it be Cleo’s most unexpected plot twist yet?

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, witty rom-com that delivers exactly the kind of escapism her readers have come to love. Set within the glossy, overproduced world of reality dating television, the novel cleverly pulls back the curtain on manufactured romance while still indulging in all its most entertaining tropes.

Cleo is very much a behind-the-scenes heroine—a capable fixer who values structure and control—making her forced on-screen pairing with Lockie, a charming yet infuriating co-producer, an inspired clash of personalities. Their dynamic begins with sharp banter and competitive tension, and when unforeseen circumstances push them into pretending to be contestants, the story fully embraces fake dating and forced proximity to great effect.

MacIntosh’s trademark humor shines throughout, landing in quick observations and throwaway lines that feel effortless and knowing. The island setting offers breezy escapism without overwhelming the story, allowing the focus to remain on character interaction and romantic development. Cleo feels refreshingly human, while Lockie fits the rom-com mold of a flawed hero learning as he goes.

Light, charming, and comfortably familiar, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read that will particularly appeal to fans of workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and reality TV–inspired stories.

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Review Card & Book Review- The French House Share By Gillian Harvey

‘I can’t live with total strangers… can I?’

Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes.

Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share.

At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie.

Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, uplifting novel about starting over when life unravels unexpectedly. Bella appears to be living her dream in rural France, running a B&B and leaving her past behind—until her husband asks for a divorce and everything collapses. Forced to rebuild, Bella moves to Versailles, house-sharing with two twenty-somethings while quietly hiding her real age and a résumé exaggeration.

What truly shines is the atmosphere. Harvey’s descriptions of French villages, cafés, and city life are immersive and comforting, making the setting feel like a character in its own right. Bella is a wonderfully relatable heroine—flawed, insecure, funny, and resilient. Her struggles with self-doubt, especially when compared to her sister, feel authentic and heartfelt.

The supporting cast adds charm and warmth, particularly Odette, Henri, and the formidable Claudette. Brad, the handsome American landlord, brings a gentle romantic thread that complements the story without overpowering it. Filled with humour, emotional depth, and themes of love, loss, and second chances, this novel is far more than a simple romance—it’s a reassuring reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.

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Review Card & Book Review- How To Be Fabulous By Carmen Reid

Family, fashion, fiascos—this is how to be fabulous. 💃🏼

Busy mum. Fashion guru. Domestic disaster waiting to happen?

When Annie Valentine agrees to help her best friend Svetlana pull off a charity fashion show, she thinks it’ll be a breeze. After all, no one knows couture quite like Annie, so how hard can it be?

Answer: very. With no venue, no clothes, and definitely no showstopper, Annie’s in danger of her first ever fashion fail.

And just when the wardrobe rails are about to collapse, her family life does too. Daughter Lauren is home from New York with a broken heart, son Owen is off to university with an empty wallet, and Annie is hanging on by a thread.

But when a mystery donation arrives in to save the day—and Annie—it feels like she might just pull it all together. That is, until Owen goes AWOL and everything unravels.

About The Author

My Review

This is a warm, witty blend of fashion, family chaos, and heartfelt humor that pleasantly surprised me. What begins as a seemingly breezy fashion comedy quickly reveals more emotional depth, with Annie Valentine juggling a charity fashion show, family upheaval, and her own fraying nerves.

Annie is wonderfully drawn—capable and caring, yet perpetually overwhelmed. She can transform anyone with the right outfit, but her personal life is held together with loose threads. Reid excels at showing the messiness of midlife, balancing real emotional stakes with perfectly timed humor. Annie’s children bring their own challenges, adding tenderness and relatability without tipping the story into heaviness.

The fashion show plot is gloriously chaotic, spiraling into disaster in the most entertaining way, while small twists—like a mystery donation—offer moments of hope. Reid’s writing is confident and lived-in, with sharp but kind humor and a brisk, engaging pace.

Ultimately, this is a joyful, comforting read that celebrates resilience over perfection. Fabulous, it turns out, is simply getting through the day with grace—and maybe good lipstick.

My Rating

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