Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Prince Edward Island Shores #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 1, 2023

The final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series finally gives readers insight into the Island’s most reclusive character.

Levi Ross is known to be very softspoken, but few people realize just how intelligent he is.  As the facilities director at the local high school, Levi is getting everything ready for a hurricane, but when it hits earlier than expected, he discovers that Kelsey Ahern, the drama teacher, gets trapped in her classroom.  After getting her to safety, Kelsey learns the local playhouse has been destroyed and likely her future with it.  Turning to Levi, the two team up to produce a play to raise money to rebuild the theater.  With a score of obstacles in their way, the two set out to make dreams come true.

I’ve enjoyed the story of each Ross brother, but I think this one was probably the best.  Levi also had such a small part in the first two books that this one was greatly anticipated.  Each brother had their past issues, but Levi was just a regular guy that was set on seeing his dreams come true, but genuine enough that he would put his own dreams aside to help someone else achieve theirs.  What a great story!  I can’t wait to see what Johnson dreams up next!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 5, 2023

Melody Carlson delivers a great Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit!

Adelaide Smith has her goal of finishing law school and doesn’t want to let anything keep her from achieving that goal. When she receives a letter that shakes things up, she isn’t sure if she wants to pursue it or stick to her plan. Through a DNA registry, she is found to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V of Montovia. Curiosity gets the best of her and she takes a Christmas trip that changes her life and leads her down a made for TV movie path.

I waited until right at Christmas to read this one and it was just the thing to get me in the holiday spirit. I’ve come to expect fun holiday reads from Carlson each year. The setting of this one was fun and a great royal affair. This was a sweet novella that was a super-fast read and one that holiday readers will very much enjoy. As usual, Carlson will make readers ready for the holidays.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Alli Frank & Asha Youmans

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: July 1, 2023

A rom com that wasn’t what I expected and am still thinking about it long after turning the last page.

Nina Morgan Clarke has had several difficult years and now that her ex-husband is across the country and daughter at a boarding school, she is getting ready to become the first Black female head of Royal-Hawkins school. Before starting the new job, Nina and her best friend take a girl’s trip to celebrate. It isn’t long into the school year that Nina is hit with hardships as Jared Jones, a new hire, pushes her to her limit. That is just the first in a string of events that make what was supposed to be the best time in Nina’s life far from that.

I had high hopes for this one, but as I read, I found myself confused as to why some of the characters acted the way they did and the way the story played out. I know this was a hit for many, but it fell flat for me. I wanted to love Nina and what she was going through but nothing felt natural about the story or the characters. This is a good book for the right audience, I just wasn’t that audience this time.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Amy Lea

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: October 1, 2023

This is a feel-good story that was just what I needed and can’t wait for others to enjoy reading it as well.

Charlotte Wu is getting ready for high school prom, a bucket list event for most high schoolers. She has been trying to plan the perfect prom and all is going well until she falls off a ladder and lands on J.T. Renner, her worst enemy. To make matters worse, when she wakes up next, she finds herself at 30 years old and in bed next to Renner. Neither of them knows how they got into their thirty-year old bodies and what happened in between then and now.  Charlotte and J.T. must work together to find their way back to their time.

This story had several high points for me; first was the fact that even though most of the story had our main characters in the body of adults, they were still teens at heart and the story stayed light enough for those readers to enjoy. There were a lot of the usual clichés in this novel, enemies to lovers, teen love and self-discovery that played out nicely. This book will bring readers back to their high school days, the nostalgia is real and enjoyable. I recommend this book to those that enjoy rom-com and a good read in general.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Holly Varni

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 26, 2023

A fantastic debut from Holly Varni that will stick with readers long after the last page!

Cora Matthews looks at her life and wonders what happened. After a failed engagement and the death of her mother, she isn’t sure what her new normal will look like. Her mother left her a rundown lodge on Moonberry Lake and as she goes to see about the place, she finds a group of interesting neighbors all ready to help her in some form or fashion. This wasn’t what she came looking for and as she works to put her life back together, she is going to have to change her expectations of what that life is going to look like.

I absolutely love it when I find a debut author that blows it out of the water with their words and story. So many stories end up the same these days and can be a bore, On Moonberry Lake is far from that; it is moving, heartwarming and just enjoyable. Holly Varni has crafted a story that is remarkable in the gentleness of the healing we have to find after such hardships. Each of the interesting neighbors Cora encounters turns into someone you would want to meet yourself and interact with. I recommend this story to readers that enjoy a heartwarming contemporary read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Rachel Huack

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: June 27, 2023

By far my new favorite Rachel Hauck book; she keeps getting better and better!

In the summer of 1977, Summer Wilde was expecting to have the best time with her friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow, nicknamed the four seasons. All their plans change as they end up at a camp in Oklahoma as counselors with secrets they wanted to stay hidden and a summer that would end up changing all of their lives. Years later, Summer ends up back in Oklahoma as she is stranded back in a place she never expected to be and finds healing she didn’t know she needed.

This story sucked me in from page one and wouldn’t let up, I have actually found myself rereading it just for the enjoyment. Rachel Hauck has created characters filled with such raw emotion that it was hard to turn away from. Summer was full of charm and such a relatable character in the struggles she went through and how it changed her. I found myself nodding my head as she faced each struggle and came out to the other side a better person. This is the type of story that readers can get so much out of, each reader might end up getting something different from the pages and still be completely satisfied by that.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: T.I. Lowe

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Release Date: June 6, 2023

A very interesting and unexpected, enjoyable read!

After leaving South Carolina over fifteen years ago and working to become a successful Hollywood location scout, Sonny Bates never thought she would end up back home. Her crazy schedule and demanding boss keep her from thinking about the past she left behind, until she is back of the coast of Charleston for a film and runs into a reclusive owner that the locals refer to as the Monster of Indigo Isle. This Monster is Hudson Renfrow who left his life as a successful attorney in New York and now works to keep up the fields of Indigo. When a hurricane hits the area, Sonny and Hudson are forced together until it passes. They find an unlikely friendship that quickly develops into something more.

Inigo Isle was a breath of fresh air. After several books that were sub-par for me, this one was quick and very enjoyable. I loved the way Sonny and Hudson were forced together and the flames of attraction ignited and were impossible to put out. As far as contemporary romances go, this one is a keeper for me. This is one that hooked me from the start and wouldn’t let me go. If you are looking for a fun and quick read, I highly recommend Indigo Isle.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Rebekah Millet

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Release Date: October 24, 2023

A warm and fuzzy read that will find its way into reader’s hearts.

Julie Monroe has been dealt a hard hand. She has just turned 40 and is all alone after her boys head off to college and she is left a young widow. Her focus is not on her business and trying to be the best version of herself she can. That is all made harder when Samuel Reed shows back up town after breaking her heart over twenty years ago. The last thing she wants is to find her heart in pieces again and the only way to accomplish that is to avoid Samuel at all costs. Her best friend has other plans though and sets off to bring the two together.

If you are looking for a fun and somewhat sappy love story, this one is for you. I flew through the pages waiting to see how and if the love would blossom between these characters. There were a few over the top, roll your eye, moments but overall, this was a quick and fun romance. Julia is a character after my own heart, I turned 40 this year and even though my boys are still at home it won’t be long until they are gone. I enjoyed the second chance romance aspect and how things all played out.  Anyone that enjoys contemporary romance will not want to miss this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Toni Shiloh

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Release Date: September 5, 2023

A quick and fun holiday story that will get readers in the holiday spirit!

When Starr returns home for the holidays to attend her sister’s wedding to her ex-boyfriend, she thinks that is going to be the hardest part, that and keeping the secret of losing her job. The tension with the rest of her family is high and when her brother’s best friend, Waylon Emmerson shows up, the attraction is making her think it might not be all bad coming home for the holidays.

If you are looking for a quirky holiday romance that can be read in a day and not involve a lot of deep thinking, this will be the book for you. It was a little too much at times with all the characters’ names and holiday type references, but if you didn’t think too much about that it made for an enjoyable story. This is the type of holiday story that can be quickly read and enjoyed. The family drama that Starr had to deal with made the story more entertaining and her involvement with Waylon was written just right. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean and enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.