Single dad and rancher Colter Wayne has moved mountains to bring teachers to Pronghorn, Oregon. So he’s floored when one of the new arrivals is the woman he almost married. To make matters worse, it looks like Willa Marshall still hasn’t forgiven him. But the kids need Willa, and she needs his help navigating small-town life. Can Colter and Willa learn to let go of the past and embrace the future…together?
Colter is a charming rancher and a single father to his daughter. Willa, a school teacher, shares a history with Colter. Years ago, Colter did something that caused Willa to leave Pronghorn. Now, this small town needs teachers, and Willa has never completely forgotten Colter. In addition to ranching, Colter is also the president of the school board. After 14 years, Willa returns to Pronghorn as one of five new teachers. Colter is quick to apologize, but Willa has moved on and doesn’t intend to look back.
I loved the small-town setting; Loretta added a lot of humor, and the other characters contributed to the story’s lively mix. Willa and Colter’s second chance was heartwarming, and I’m eager to read more from this series!
Shy PA Mareka works hard to hide her attraction to her superrich boss, Cayetano Figueroa—until picking up his engagement ring. Unable to resist the dazzling diamond, she impulsively tries it on…and is caught on camera. Suddenly the world thinks she’s Caye’s bride!
Tightly wound Caye is only marrying to keep control of his company. When the scandalous headlines cost him his convenient fiancée, Mareka is the obvious replacement. Yet as they’re alone together in his opulent Argentinian estate, Caye must confront his hunger for the woman testing his self-control to its limit…
Caye is a handsome, alpha billionaire, and Mareka is his European personal assistant. Mareka has a crush on Caye, who seems aloof and cold due to his difficult relationship with his parents. Mareka, too, is struggling with parents who seem indifferent to her. When a situation arises requiring Caye to enter into a fake marriage to inherit his grandfather’s business, he surprises everyone by choosing Mareka over his usual Argentinean fake fiancée, Octavia PA. The catch: to inherit the company, he must have a wife. Throughout the story, Caye seems distant and uninterested in Mareka, while Mareka finds herself falling harder for him with each passing day. The big question is whether Caye will eventually admit his feelings for Mareka. Will their marriage stay a fake arrangement, or will it transform into a real one with genuine love and commitment? This is a fun, fast-paced read that has a good mix of drama, conflict, bad parents, beautiful settings, steamy romance, engaging characters, and a plot that kept me hooked.
This Mother’s Day, they’re finding new moms …in these two irresistible novellas
Friendship could blossom into more in Lee Tobin McClain’s A Mother for His Childwhen single dad Blake Evans’s six-year-old daughter announces she wants her babysitter, Zoey Grey, to be her new mommy. And in Kathryn Springer’s The Mommy List, a little girl plays matchmaker between her dad, Gage Lawrence, and their next-door neighbor, Megan Albright…but are they ready to take that leap?
In “A Mother’s Gift,” I loved how McClain crafted the friends-to-sweethearts story. Widower Blake valued Zoey’s care as a babysitter for his daughter and cherished their friendship, but it took time for him to realize he was in love with her. The emotional ups and downs of their lives kept me hooked, reading late into the night.
In “The Mommy List,” Springer opened with a twist that surprised me. I loved how Gage’s daughter’s Mommy List led him to adopt a dog, ultimately bringing him to Megan, the dog rescue owner. Springer did a great job showing two sides of workaholics and how this theme played a key role in both characters’ growth.
Both authors explored the emotional impact of Mother’s Day when you’ve lost your mom, handling this sensitive topic with grace and compassion.
When he issued his impulsive invitation… their passion wasn’t meant to last!
A devastating injury brought Joan Santos’s world crashing down. Until, at a high-society wedding, her raw encounter with brooding billionaire Ivo Faulkner makes Joan feel alive for the first time in months!
With his private jet booked for the next day, Ivo has a business deal he’s intent on closing. Except after his night with Joan, his infamous laser focus is nowhere to be found! He invites her to his opulent castle to exorcise their attraction, but by indulging their temptation, Ivo risks being unable to ever let his oh-so tempting Cinderella go…
I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic journey of Ivo and Joan. Ivo, a billionaire in the middle of a business deal, shares a passionate night with Joan that he can’t seem to forget. He invites her back to his castle, and their chemistry is undeniable as they navigate their forced proximity. Their attraction, chemistry, and growing love for each other made them a delightful couple to follow.
Personal shopper Annie Valentine is back! Older and bolder!
Fashion guru Annie is struggling to cope with her hectic life. With the demands of two older children, plus four-year-old twins, her marriage to Ed is in a romance-free rut and she’s clinging by a couture thread to her job as the nation’s favourite fashion fixer.
And where is Svetlana, her multi-millionaire friend, when Annie needs her? Busy with an expensive mid-life crisis, that’s where!
When Ed gets the chance to teach in Paris, Annie thinks time apart could be the answer. Wrong!
In Paris, Ed transforms into a debonair silver fox, attracting the attentions of stylish siren Sylvie.
Annie can’t lose her man or the job she loves, so bundling her bags, her babies and a reluctant Svetlana onto the Eurostar, she sets off to the rescue. But can the City of Love deliver the ooh la la that her marriage, and her fashion series, so desperately needs?
In the latest chapter of Annie Valentine’s life, her husband Ed goes to Paris for a work exchange program, leaving her feeling overwhelmed by his absence and realizing how much she depends on him and her sister, Dinah, who helps with childcare. While taking her kids to visit a friend, Annie nearly crashes her car when she sees a social media post showing Ed sitting closely with a beautiful colleague in Paris.
Annie decides to visit Paris under the guise of researching French fashion for her show. She arranges for Dinah to look after her older son, Owen, and takes her twins to Paris to find out what’s happening with Ed. Meanwhile, her friend Svetlana, feeling the void left by her sons going to boarding school, plans some cosmetic surgery but agrees to meet Annie in Paris for a makeover.
Chaos ensues in Paris as Annie navigates her strained relationship with Ed and helps Svetlana update her decades-old style. This installment explores themes of priorities, responsibilities, and how people react to aging—some embrace it while others try to recapture their youth. The book offers a more serious tone than earlier in the series, with Annie reflecting on her marriage, career, and family dynamics.
Despite the turmoil, the story maintains a strong sense of humor and relatable characters. The author leaves the story open-ended, hinting at more adventures for Annie. This chapter stands out as a compelling read, with a blend of comedy, drama, and deeper themes of personal growth and reconciliation. Overall, the book provides a satisfying continuation to the series, leaving readers eager for the next chapter.
Eleanor Lark is an upbeat illustrator plagued by headaches and unruly strawberry blonde hair. After a grueling cross-country flight, she blacks out cold. The brooding stranger who sat next to her grumping his way through the flight catches Elle as she falls. Neither expects the sweet chaos that happens next.
August Marshall is stonehearted, insanely rich, and a master of corporate cleanups with major baggage of his own. The last man alive who needs a media frenzy after his airport heroics steal headlines. But August has a plan—ask Elle to marry him so their trouble disappears.
Elle almost faints again. They just met! But it’s hard to say no when August tells her she might be the key to saving a children’s book series she adores. And it’s even harder to remember it’s only pretend as sparks fly, hearts fall, and two perfect strangers try to remember life before make-believe…
“Almost Pretend” by Nicole Snow offers a familiar romance setup—billionaire businessman August Marshall and eccentric artist Elle Lark engage in a fake relationship that eventually leads to true love—but what sets it apart is the power of Snow’s writing. Her poetic and evocative style transforms the common trope into an emotionally charged journey. The interplay of humor, heartbreak, and sensuality pulls readers into the story, creating a captivating reading experience.
The plot revolves around August rescuing Elle at the airport after she faints from a severe migraine attack, leading to media buzz and a fake engagement proposal from August to salvage his tarnished reputation. In return, Elle gains an apprenticeship with August’s renowned aunt, children’s book illustrator Clara Marshall. Their interactions are filled with contrasting personalities: August is grumpy and brooding, with a history of betrayal and public scrutiny, while Elle is an embodiment of chaos, positivity, and vibrancy.
As they navigate their fake relationship, both August and Elle face complex emotions that grow into something real. The underlying secrets and lies within August’s family publication company threaten to derail their blossoming relationship, but the author’s careful pacing and detailed character development make their journey compelling. Despite their efforts to resist falling in love, they find themselves drawn closer with each passing day, leading to an eventual happy ending that is both heartfelt and rewarding. The book’s conclusion provides a satisfying resolution, showcasing August’s transformation and Elle’s bright spirit.
The trees that circle Someday Valley near Honey Creek are dressed in their fall finest, providing a pretty backdrop for the local businesses—including the little bookshop loved by schoolteacher Cora Lee Buchanan. There, under the watchful eye of owner Noah O’Brien, Cora Lee and her sister, Katherine, meet each Wednesday. Their talk mostly revolves around one subject: their father, known to everyone in town as Bear.
Both Cora Lee and Katherine worry about Bear Buchanan. They’ve no idea Bear has a secret life of his own. As for the sisters, Katherine, beautiful and self-absorbed, is in search of her third husband, while Cora Lee is in love for the first time. On warm nights, she climbs up to her building’s roof to chat with Noah and listen to the melody of the water below. Yet there is more intrigue afoot in Honey Creek . . .
Andi Delane has arrived in town to hear the last wishes of the father she never met. She was shocked to get a letter from lawyer Jackson Landry, and she has few expectations—of this mysterious will, or of Deputy Danny Davis who’s been assigned to protect her. But fall always brings changes, and this year there will be enough to alter not just the lives of those who call Honey Creek home, but the future of Someday Valley itself . . .
“The Wild Lavender Bookshop” by Jodie Thomas follows the lives of six different people whose paths converge in unexpected ways, ultimately helping each other find their destinies and a place to call home.
Noah O’Brien is a reserved young man who leaves New York to move to Someday Valley, settling into the Wild Lavender Bookshop and its upstairs apartment, owned by Bear Buchanan, the local handyman. Noah is an observer of his surroundings, often watching his renter Cora Lee Buchanan, a sweet elementary school teacher and Bear’s younger daughter. They quietly watch each other as they go about their daily routines.
Andi Delane is a newcomer to town, staying in a cabin near the river. She recently learned about her birth father’s passing and the existence of half-brothers, leading to a will that complicates her life. Andi’s safety is at risk due to her involvement in a legal case, and while the local sheriff and a Texas Ranger watch over her, young deputy Danny Davis takes a special interest in her safety, determined to prove himself.
Bear Buchanan is a Vietnam veteran and versatile fixer-upper, who occasionally disappears on mysterious trips. His neighbor, Eliza Docela, is the only person who truly understands him, and their unique connection plays a crucial role in bringing this diverse group of people together.
The story explores the individual journeys of these characters as they navigate personal growth, relationships, and the challenges that bring them together. The book weaves a compelling narrative of intertwined lives in a small town, offering a fresh perspective on their journeys. With elements of suspense, romance, and community, it’s a captivating tale that brings warmth and a sense of belonging to its readers.
Life didn’t turn out the way Jewel Sabatino planned. However long she’s been gone, home is waiting.
At seventeen, Jewel fled Colorado for New York City and didn’t look back. Now she’s raising a teenage son alone and is a loving caretaker to her one true friend when she receives a surprising inheritance: her aunt’s Pueblo farm and one hundred acres of land. After decades, it’s time for Jewel to reconnect with everyone and everything she left behind.
Her seventeen-year-old son, Shane, is finally meeting his relatives. Jewel’s soulmate, Michael, has a serene haven for his final days. And Jewel’s welcome back is one of a strong community embracing rich Sicilian traditions, three ebullient sisters preparing for a summer wedding, and a tearful and anxious mother with open arms. But for Jewel, it also means facing her father, who has never forgiven his favorite child for betraying him. And he may never forgive her.
As Jewel’s emotional journey begins, an estranged visitor turns her life around again and could heal her wary heart in ways she never expected.
“No Place Like Home” tells the story of Jewel, who left her traditional Italian Catholic family in Pueblo at 17 to follow her rock-star partner, Billy, and her best friend, Michael, to New York. After two decades and various challenges, including raising her son Shane, she returns to Pueblo to seek reconciliation and rebuild connections with her estranged family. The book explores themes of personal growth, redemption, and the enduring strength of family ties, with richly detailed settings and believable characters. Through heartfelt moments and emotional struggles, Jewel finds new love and a sense of belonging, making it a journey of forgiveness and healing.
Lucy Brown has spent years hiding from the world, as far away as she could get from her old life – and her ex-husband – back in London. But when she reluctantly agrees to leave her safe haven to attend her old friend Ella’s wedding in Starshine Cove, little does she know what’s in store for her down in Dorset…
When a chance airport encounter with a handsome stranger unexpectedly leads to a deeper connection, Lucy finds her trip becoming much more than just a last-minute holiday. But then her dark past comes knocking, just as she always feared it would. Will the magic of Starshine Cove be enough to heal the hurts that Lucy has carried with her all these years, or has this one-of-a-kind village by the sea finally met its match?
Single mum, Lucy Brown is at the airport with her teenage daughter, Rose. Both are travelling to Starshine Cove where they are to attend the wedding of her friend, Ella. Lucy and Ella met when the two attended the same university, and together with a couple of other girls became a close-knit group of friends. When Lucy married, she dropped out of contact with her girlfriends, choosing to focus all her attentions on her husband, Robert. Sadly, the marriage ended when Lucy realised that her husband was emotionally coercive and controlling. Sixteen years later and Lucy is still dealing with the fallout of her abusive relationship. But putting her insecurities aside, Lucy is looking forward to reuniting with her friends again and having a wonderful vacation with her daughter.
Once the duo arrives in Starshine Cove, the mood lifts and it’s all rainbows and unicorns. Starshine Cove is a place where the unusual happens; a place where magical things seem to occur; it’s a place where someone might find a second chance.
Johnson has written a light and colourful story. The combination of wit and humour together with fun scenes and a little light romance hits the spot. The characters, on their face, are a little unbelievable, but when combined with the whole Starshine Cove magical element, suddenly become believable. Themes of community, hope, and love burst from the pages of this story.
Two friends. One wedding. A love story that’s long overdue…
Olivia and Nico were once inseparable best friends with shared hopes, dreams and plans for the future. But as life took its course, they took very different paths – leaving them with a challenging long-distance friendship.
When Olivia receives an invitation to Nico’s wedding in Italy, she can hardly believe it. Despite her happiness for him, she can’t help but reflect on the roads not taken and the promises once made.
As she arrives in the picturesque Tuscany, disaster strikes. The wedding venue has fallen through and Nico’s wife-to-be is a total Bridezilla.
Love is definitely not in the air and Olivia is the only person who can help. Can she put her feelings aside for the sake of Nico’s happiness? Or will her presence cause more problems than it solves…?
Two friends. One wedding. A love story that’s long overdue…
Olivia and Nico were once inseparable best friends with shared hopes, dreams and plans for the future. But as life took its course, they took very different paths – leaving them with a challenging long-distance friendship.
When Olivia receives an invitation to Nico’s wedding in Italy, she can hardly believe it. Despite her happiness for him, she can’t help but reflect on the roads not taken and the promises once made.
As she arrives in the picturesque Tuscany, disaster strikes. The wedding venue has fallen through and Nico’s wife-to-be is a total Bridezilla.
Love is definitely not in the air and Olivia is the only person who can help. Can she put her feelings aside for the sake of Nico’s happiness? Or will her presence cause more problems than it solves…?
My Sanctuary 