Review: A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

 

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: October 7th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 42mins

Narrator: Henrietta Meire

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Balfour’s Christmases are full of love and chaos, but this year it’s a little more fraught as each member seems to be dealing with a crisis.

 

Twins Becky and Rosie have been distant since Rosie’s wedding. Becky’s been trying to give her sister space to settle into her new marriage while Rosie is wondering if she should’ve taken more time getting to know her husband before they married.

 

Their brother Jamie is bringing his new girlfriend, Hayley, home and he’s got a big announcement. Hayley, who’s never been part of a proper family, is worried about fitting in. My heart broke at hearing her history!

 

Jennifer, the Balfour’s matriarch, thought her husband’s retirement would be a good thing, but he’s having trouble settling in and she doesn’t know what to do about it.

 

The story is told through the perspective of Becky, Rosie, Hayley and Jennifer each dealing with their own trouble and insecurity. I loved each and every character and found their dilemmas relatable. The Balfour’s were an imperfect, loveable multi-generational family ready to give support and understanding. There’s a touch of romance woven in too: best friends falling for each other, fake-dating, and a marriage-in-crisis finding their way back to love. I rooted for all of them!

 

A Merry Little Lie was touching and lovely, filling my heart with joy!

 

I alternately read and listened to A Merry Little Lie and can recommend either version. Henrietta Meire’s narration was a joy to experience. She seamlessly alternated between characters, giving each one a unique voice and personality.

5 Stars

Book Description:

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

Review: Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

 

Snow Kissed (Shelter Springs #3) by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: October 7th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 8hrs 

Narrator: Vanessa Johansson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Snow Kissed was a sweet, feel-good story! Part women’s fiction, part romance with characters facing real life challenges. I loved how positive Holly was and how she chose to try and look for the best in both people and a situation. She could’ve been bitter and vindictive towards her ex but chose the high road. That’s not to say that she didn’t have moments where she wanted to be, though.

 

You'll want to mark this one for holiday season! Snow Kissed had Hallmark holiday romance vibes with a picturesque winter wonderland! All the magic of the season came through with the smell of pine, hot chocolate, twinkle lights, family and friends. Themes of grief and forgiveness and focusing on what’s important. A pure delight!

 

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy and can recommend either version. Vanessa Johansson has a pleasing voice, and I thought she did well with both male and female characters, young and old bringing them to life with appropriate emotions. She seamlessly switched between characters, making it easy to distinguish between them.

4 Stars

Book Description:

'Tis the season for a little white lie…

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away. 

Review: The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne

 

The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: June 3rd 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 7mins

Narrator: Vanessa Johansson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Lost Book of First Loves was a moving, feel-good story of friendship and found family with a bit of romance mixed in!

 

Still reeling from the death of her beloved father, Carson Wells, a famous literary author, Alison is informed from a DNA search that she has a sister, Juniper Connolly. Why didn’t her father tell her?

 

In order to get to know her sister and tell her their connection, Alison takes an internship at Juniper’s company, but before Alison shares her bombshell, Juniper collapses. Alison suggests she recuperate at her ranch, The Painted Sky in Bridger, Wyoming.

 

Juniper’s reeling from the shock of what happened and isn’t sure why Alison would make such an offer.  However, the sound of recovering at the ranch of the late Carson Wells, a favorite author, is too good to pass up. She strikes up a reluctant friendship with another rancher, Beckett Hunter.

 

Alison needs to figure out how to tell Juniper and study for the bar exam, when she’s not sure she wants to be a lawyer. And then there’s Xander Scott, her best friend who’s back in town. Alison’s feelings for him are complex.

 

Both Alison and Juniper were at a crossroads in their life. I was invested in their journey, as they sorted out the mystery of the past and what they wanted for the future. I soaked in the gorgeous mountain setting, which was almost a character in itself!

 

I alternately read and listened to The Lost Book of First Loves and recommend either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Vanessa Johansson’s narration in the past and she did a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life!

4 Stars

Book Description:

From New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne comes a brand-new story about two women, a family secret and a lost manuscript that changes everything…

Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Allison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister that she’s never heard about before, it’s clear there are things her father never told her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

Juniper Connolly has always been incredibly healthy…until she wakes up in the hospital after experiencing cardiac arrest, with her new—and recently fired—intern to thank for saving her life. It’s clear June needs to de-stress her life a little, so when Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in a small Wyoming town, June has no reason not to go. But when she arrives in the small town, her life will never be the same.

Under the wide-open spaces of the Wyoming summer sun, Ali and June will untangle the secrets and lies their lives were built on to discover who they really are and what family really means. But even more than that, they'll build a real relationship with one another and finally become sisters. 

Review: Other People's Summers by Sarah Morgan

Other People's Summers by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: May 6th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 16mins

Narrator: Henrietta Meire

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Milly and Nicole have been best friends since childhood staying close even when their lives took very different paths. Nicole fulfilled her dream of becoming a famous actor and Milly took over her family’s resort in the Lake District, marrying and having a child. However, when Milly’s husband left her for another woman, Nicole ghosted her, breaking her heart even more.

 

Now, Nicole is in desperate need of sanctuary, a place to hide out when scandal hits, and she calls Milly. Milly isn’t keen on helping, but she can’t say no.

 

I was pulled into the story from the first page! Milly was trying to do her best raising her teenage daughter while managing the hurt and betrayal she felt not only by her ex-husband (a real jerk!), but by the abandonment of her best friend. I wouldn’t have been too happy with Nicole either if I were Milly, but I was eager to hear what was behind her behavior.

 

Nicole was dealing with a lot. She was grateful for the second chance with Milly and her family, the only place she ever felt loved growing up.

 

Other People’s Summers was such a lovely, compelling story; completely captivating! Sarah Morgan writes flawed, relatable characters that I end up rooting for every time! Her settings are always gorgeous, making me want to visit every place she writes about. There was even a bit of romance for both Milly and Nicole. A definite recommend!

 

I alternately listened to and read an audio and e-copy. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Henrietta Meire in the past and she performed all voices, male and female beautifully with appropriate emotions. I can recommend either version.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A famous actress whose life is unraveling flees to an idyllic English lakeside resort and the best friend she ghosted in this poignant and witty story from the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Book Club Hotel.  

In school, Milly Beckett and Nicole Raven were as close as sisters. Now, years later, a gulf separates them, and not just because of the different spheres they inhabit. Nicole is a global superstar with the world at her fingertips, but when scandal breaks, she turns to the only person she trusts.

Fresh from a painful divorce and struggling to balance her work and raising her daughter alone, Milly is tempted to refuse her friend’s plea for help. Nicole wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and that’s hard to forgive. But Nicole is desperate and Milly agrees to give her the sanctuary she needs.

Against a stunning Lake District backdrop, stilted small talk gradually gives way to soul-deep revelations as the two women slowly find their way back to one another. Living with Milly gives Nicole a glimpse of a different path for herself, and Milly starts to see a life beyond her divorce, including the possibility of a new romance. But Nicole can’t stay hidden forever—and neither can the secret she’s been keeping from Milly, a secret that threatens both her future happiness and the fragile bond between them.

Heartwarming and hopeful, Other People’s Summers explores the beauty of friendship, the power of forgiveness, the impact of the choices we make and the many ways in which life can surprise us. 

 

Review: Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

 

Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

Publication Date: March 4th 2025 by Canary Street Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 27 mins

Narrators: Angus King & Savannah Davies

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Brooke and Jack met and fell in love in college but it ended badly since they were TA and student, both reprimanded when the relationship was discovered. Brooke blamed Jack, as it derailed her writing career.

 

Now Brooke is co-writing her mentor, Mhari McAllister’s memoir, a dream job. She’s set to take the same hiking trail on the Isle of Skye to infuse the story with Mhari’s experiences. Little does Brooke know that Jack, being Mhari’s nephew and a photographer, has been assigned to catalog it all.

 

I enjoyed Scot and Bothered, trekking through the wilds of Scotland’s Isle of Skye with Brooke and Jack as they sorted through their feelings of hurt and yearning. I did find it a little unbelievable, given how they felt about each other in the past, that they just cut off all ties for seven years. Still, I did enjoy seeing them mend fences and discover their intense attraction never faded. I rooted for their HEA. Their hike sounded arduous, but breathtaking and was a highlight for me!

 

Angus King and Savannah Davies narrated. Angus had a nice Scottish accent which fit Jack’s character perfectly and Savannah performed Brooke’s parts wonderfully. I thought their performances breathed life into the characters and enhanced my enjoyment of the story!

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake... not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between getting sacked from the University and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint his family for nothing. And he can’t ignore his Aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?

Review: The Holiday Cottage by Sarah Morgan

 

The Holiday Cottage by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: September 24th 2024 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Imogen’s whole life revolves around her work. Growing up with an unstable mother and home environment makes the success and security she finds in her career calming. However, she’s felt pressured to make up an ideal life outside of work and backed herself into a corner with the stories she’s told. Add to that, her mother’s current crisis causes a problem with an important account, leading Imogen’s boss to enforce some time off.

 

Dorothy, a widower, business owner and longtime client of Imogen, hears of her predicament and insists Imogen come stay at her vacant cottage in the Cotswolds. Dorothy’s daughter Sara wasn’t pleased with her mother’s offer, and I was inclined to dislike Sara, but there’s more to that whole story.

 

I was stressed and hurt for Imogen. She put on a brave face, manufactured an idyllic life when she actually led a self-contained, lonely existence. I was outraged on her behalf as details were revealed about her mother and her upbringing! I was elated as things started going her way, and she found that she had people in her corner! The romance with Miles, the local veterinarian, was the icing on the cake.  I loved the way he immediately took up for Imogen and was there for support. Of course, with a veterinarian there were several sweet animals. All filled my heart with joy!

 

I love Sarah Morgan’s stories! She combines gorgeous settings with emotional stories that warm your heart! The Holiday Cottage was a feel-good story brimming with all the cozy winter vibes!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with a heartfelt story of friendship, finding yourself, and the surprising ties that bring us together.

To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.

Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?

For Dorothy, helping Imogen offers a longed-for chance to make reparations for her own past. But as her daughter Sara keeps reminding her, it brings risks, too. Yet Dorothy knows that only a leap of courage will allow her family to grow and heal. And perhaps this Christmas, with Dorothy’s help, the new life that Imogen is slowly piecing together could be better than anything either of them could imagine…

Review: 15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne

 

15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: June 18th 2024 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Ava and Madison survived and escaped a cult/prepper group when they were teenagers. Both have moved on, but Ava’s book detailing the experience brings unwelcome attention and Madison is furious. Why would Ava write this book? Ava’s not comfortable with sharing the past either, so I wasn’t sure why she wrote the book, but all is revealed as the story goes on.

 

Madison sustained lasting physical damage but has worked hard to overcome her trauma. I loved that her main focus in life was helping animals by running a rescue shelter.  Ava’s book has become a national best seller, but she’s put her book tour off because her marriage is in trouble. She needs time back home to lick her wounds and figure out what to do next.

 

The sisters really had a traumatic experience, and it was lucky they had each other to help them get through it and survive the escape! My heart went out to them, and I was enraged over how they came to be in the situation in the first place!

 

15 Summers Later was part romance, with Madison finding love and Ava sorting out her marriage-in-crisis, and part women’s fiction with the sisters reconciling the past and mending their relationship. I adored every minute!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

15 summers ago, everything changed…

Ava Howell seemed to have it all. She moved away from Emerald Creek, Idaho, married the love of her life and published a bestselling memoir. But she never expected that her husband would feel so betrayed by a secret from her past—the truth of what happened to her and her sister all those years ago—that he’d walk away. Now Ava is back home and trying to move on with the only person who can truly understand…

Following years of healing, Madison Howell is finally happy. After college she built a no-kill shelter where she works with animals every day, and she’s in love with the town veterinarian, Dr. Luke Gentry. But she can’t ever bring herself to tell him. Years ago, his dad died protecting Madi and her sister, so how could he ever love her back?

With the truth laid bare, and the past that Ava and Madison have worked so hard to leave behind threatening everything they have built for themselves, the Howell sisters’ reunion is bittersweet. And as Ava and Madi attempt to remedy the rifts in their lives and reconcile their futures, they must face the demons of their past together.

Blog Tour Review & Excerpt: The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

 

The Sumer Swap by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: May 7th 2024 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | Bookshop.org| Books-A-Million | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Loved The Summer Swap! Three women, all at a low in their lives: Cecilia, who’s lived in the shadow of her husband throughout their marriage is now widowed. She has mixed emotions about her loss and how she’ll move on.  Kristen, Cecelia’s daughter, is grieving her father and lonely in her marriage. Kristen has been there for her husband, but he doesn’t make it a priority to be there for her.  Lily, a young woman overwhelmed by the pressure to become a doctor, drops out of college, escaping to Cape Cod where she runs into Cecilia at Dune Cottage.

Cecilia and Lily strike up an unexpected friendship providing support and a listening ear. Cecilia’s reconciling the past and Lily’s figuring out what to do about her future. I was thrilled there was a second chance romance for both Lily and Cecilia! Even though I wasn’t thrilled with Kristen at the beginning, my heart when out to her as all was revealed.

I absolutely loved everything about The Summer Swap! Finding a way to find the courage to grab up happiness and do what you love, no matter your age. Dune Cottage and Cape Code sounded idyllic and a perfect place to start fresh!

4.5 Stars

Excerpt:

 

Book Description:

A recent widow’s plan to spend the summer in Cape Cod hiding from her interfering family is upended when she discovers her beach house has an unexpected guest, and the secret she's been keeping about her marriage threatens to be exposed. Perfect beach reading for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry.

70 year old widow Cecilia Lapthorne can’t bear the prospect of a family party to celebrate her birthday and the memory of her husband, famous artist Cameron Lapthorne. They had a toxic marriage but stayed together for the children, and bound by a big secret. She runs away to the Cape Cod seashore cottage she owned with Cameron--it’s where they first fell in love--but she hasn’t returned since she discovered him cheating on her there (for the first time). No one in her family knows about it, so she will be perfectly, delightfully alone for the summer.

Except struggling artist Lily has been secretly crashing on the sofa of the seashore cottage for the last couple of weeks. Unable to make rent after dropping out of medical school to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist and working as a housekeeper in Cecilia's Cape Cod enclave,

Photo Credit: Ev Sekkides

Author Bio:

Sarah Morgan is a USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of contemporary romance and women's fiction. She has sold more than 21 million copies of her books and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives with her family near London, England, where the rain frequently keeps her trapped in her office. Visit her at www.sarahmorgan.com

Connect with Sarah Morgan:

Website | X | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

Review: Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne

 

Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: October 3rd 2023 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Natalie has come back to her hometown of Shelter Springs, Idaho after her sister, McKenna, sent out an SOS when she's ordered on bedrest having a high-risk pregnancy. McKenna needs help with her two young daughters and the Shelter Springs Inn, the Inn her parents ran. Natalie has stayed away from Shelter Springs most of her adult life since it holds memories of grief and abandonment. Her mother died when she was just sixteen and her father took off soon after, just when she needed him most leaving her in the care of an aunt.

As soon as Natalie graduated, she took on jobs all over the world as a house sitter, feeding a drive to travel after growing up at the Shelter Springs Inn, watching others enjoy their vacations staying at the inn and while their family couldn't leave. Yet now coming back she realizes all she’s been missing. Family, friends, a sense of community.  Also, there’s Griffin Taylor, her best friend’s older, handsome brother who seems to be there every time she needs a helping hand. Her feelings for him grow the more time they spend together.

I related so much to Natalie, especially regarding her relationship with her father. Yes, he was grieving, but he really hurt Natalie with his abandonment. Still, I couldn’t help but feel for him, too, because he lost his wife. I loved how Natalie couldn't help but become attached to all these wonderful people, her sister and nieces and of course, Griffin! 

Christmas at the Shelter Inn was more than a romance, it was a story about healing, forgiveness, family, and community. I adored this uplifting story!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…

Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor. On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…

Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…

Review: Wyoming Proud by Diana Palmer

 

Wyoming Proud (Wyoming Men #12) by Diana Palmer

Publication Date: October 24th 2023 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShoporg | Harlequin 

Goodreads | Books-A-Million | Powell's

My Thoughts:

Erin has been in love with Ty, who is also her boss, since she was a teenager. She gave up on ever catching his attention romantically, but then he asks her out on a date. Erin doesn’t think the date is anything more than just a ruse to get a persistent female off Ty’s tail, and it is a little of that, but Ty has been seeing Erin a bit differently lately. More than just his little sister’s best friend.

They end up sleeping with each other, and from Erin’s POV it seems Ty regrets and feels guilty, so she makes it seem like it didn’t mean much when it really meant the world to her. She ends up pregnant (in the book description), but other stuff is going on: her father is ill, financial woes thanks to her idiot father, and then Ty is an idiot too!

Ty’s company loses a bid to a competitor that came in with lower prices. Ty is told that Erin is responsible. Ty believes the accusation despite Erin’s denials.

Yep, there was a lot of angst. I wanted to strangle Ty and Erin’s father! When a guy’s an idiot there has to be a proper amount of groveling to salvage the romance for me. Did Erin forgive him? Well, I guess you’ll have to read it and see, but this is a romance. I was happy with how it all turned out, and I was compelled to read straight through after I got to the 30% mark. It was a page-turner!

I’ve been wanting to read one of Diana Palmer’s romances for quite some time, she’s such a legend in the genre! I was happy I finally got my chance. While Wyoming Proud was a bit more angsty than I usually prefer, I enjoyed it and would like to read more of her backlist soon! 

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

A sudden romance leads to betrayal and a shocking secret…

It takes one night for Erianne Mitchell to fall heart-first for dashing architect Ty Mosby. They work together and have friends in common—and a searing attraction that seems far too good to last.

But when a devastating mistake tears them apart, Erianne flees to Wyoming with a secret, one she hopes Ty never discovers. She did nothing wrong, and she’ll never ask Ty to forgive her. She'll support herself…and the baby growing inside her. How can she be with a man who doesn’t trust her?

Ty knows exactly what he’s lost and he’ll do anything to beg for her forgiveness and win back her trust. When he finds her, she’s just as proud as he remembers. Is it too late for him to make amends…or is destiny about to test them in an even bigger way?

Photo Credit: Chris Standford

About the author:

The prolific author of more than one hundred books, Diana Palmer got her start as a newspaper reporter. A New York Times bestselling author and voted one of the top ten romance writers in America, she has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. Diana lives with her family in Cornelia, Georgia. Website | Facebook

Review: The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne

 

The Cafe at Beach End (Cape Sanctuary #5) by RaeAnne Thayne

Publication Date: June 13th 2023 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Meredith and Tori, once as close as sisters, are estranged since Meredith left for what seemed to Tori a life of privilege. Meredith has lost everything and became embroiled in the scandal where her now dead husband bilked millions from unsuspecting investors. Now she’s back home. Meredith owns 49% of the small beach café now run by Tori as well as one of the beachside cottages her grandmother owned. Tori is not happy about this, but things are not as they seem.

I loved Meredith! She’s sad and feels partially responsible for the pain and financial ruin her husband caused, but I loved that after leading a privileged life she had no qualms about rolling her sleeves up, digging in and working hard. She didn’t make excuses, but she had plenty! It broke my heart.

I felt for Tori, as she felt abandoned. She was hurt, especially since Meredith didn’t even attend their grandmother’s funeral, but she didn’t have the full story. I felt she was pretty tough on Meredith, but this was a journey of forgiveness, healing, moving on from your mistakes, and embracing those important to you.

There’s a romance for both Meredith and Tori and I rooted for each of them! Liam disguised his identity and motives from Meredith, and I wasn’t too happy with him at first, but I understood as all was revealed. Tori has feelings of attraction for Sam, the brother of her dead husband, and the guilt she feels about that as well as the worry over what others think is a bit of a hinderance. They each have a teenage daughter, cousins, who get up to some teenage drama. Thankfully, they had each other for support.

As usual in this series, Ms. Thayne brings the Northern California coastal setting to life with her beautiful descriptions! It’s such a gorgeous area, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean that take your breath away! There’s a spot I visit at least yearly, close to the Oregon border that I pictured in my mind as I read.

 

The Café at Beach End brought out all the feels for me! I loved this emotional story so much!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

When Meredith Collins was a child, the little beach town of Cape Sanctuary lived up to its name. Spending summers there with her grandmother, Meredith finally felt safe and loved.

Now she’s returning in disgrace. Her late ex-husband swindled investors out of millions of dollars and made Meredith a figure of scorn—though she knew nothing about his scheme. But she still has the beach cottage she inherited from her grandmother and half ownership of the local café. It’s a place to work and earn a little money. That’s if her cousin, Tori, will let her through the door. Once, Tori and Meredith were as close as sisters—until Meredith chose her neglectful parents’ expectations over their bond. Now widowed with a teenage daughter, Tori isn’t setting out a welcome mat for the woman who let her down so badly.

While Meredith tries to make a fresh start, she is drawn to a mysterious writer renting the cottage next door. Liam Byrne’s kindness is a balm, though she worries he might not be so friendly if he knew who she was. But Liam has his own secret and a mission that will help Meredith confront her past—and maybe, claim a surprising future…

Review: The Island Villa by Sarah Morgan

 

The Island Villa by Sarah Morgan

Publication Date: May 2nd 2023 by Canary Street Press

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Famous romance writer, Catherine Swift is getting married, for the fourth time, on the Greek island of Corfu. She invites her daughters to come and share this momentous occasion and to spend the summer there with her, as well. She hopes to mend fences with Adeline, and to have a second chance at being a family.  

Adeline can’t believe her mother is getting married for the fourth time! Hasn’t the last three been evidence enough that this is a bad idea? There’s no love lost between her and her mother. They’ve been estranged for years, and she’s not even close to her younger half-sister, Cassie, but she’s persuaded and can’t say no.

Cassie on the other hand is ecstatic. She’s so proud that her mother is taking a chance on love again and can’t wait to meet the mysterious groom. Both Adeline and Cassie are in for a shock.

I was immediately pulled into The Island Villa! We get a POV from all three woman: Catherine, Adeline and Cassie. My heart broke for Adeline, at the way her mother seemed to have thrown her to the side for her new family.

The island of Corfu sounded gorgeous, with it’s glittering blue sea and pastel cottages. The perfect place for a summer romance!

There’s a bit of romance for each of the women as well. Catherine’s was my favorite, but all made me happy!

The Island Villa filled me with such emotions for these women! I was outraged and hurt in Adeline’s behalf, and felt Cassie’s situation acutely. At first Catherine seemed like a self-absorbed woman, but as her story unfolds, I had a totally different opinion. Secrets are revealed opening the way up for healing, growth and love. I was all in!

 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A messy family drama and a steamy little romance unfold under the Mediterranean sun for the perfect summer escape…

Celebrated romance author Catherine Swift has topped the bestseller lists for decades, though her personal story hasn’t been quite so successful. Three failed marriages have left her relationship with her daughters strained, but that’s about to be rectified. Engaged yet again, Catherine is counting on this wedding to be what finally brings them together as a family, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Adeline doesn’t know what’s worse—that her mother is getting married a fourth time, or that she’s being guilted into witnessing the train wreck at Catherine’s luxury villa in Corfu. It brings back the pain of her parents’ split, of her mother’s infidelity and the baby that was the result. Not that she blames her half sister, Cassie, but then she’s never made an effort to know her, either.

Cassie, on the other hand, is thrilled by her mother’s news and admires Catherine’s resilience. She’s equally excited about meeting the mystery groom, and at the prospect of spending her summer in Corfu, where she can process a secret of her own she’s been keeping from everyone.

As Cassie and Adeline arrive on the island, they each have very different expectations of what this week will bring—they haven’t been entirely honest with their mother about their lives, either—but in the lead-up to the wedding, all will be revealed, for better or worse.