Review - - How Simi Got Her Groom Back

How Simi Got Her Groom Back

by Sonali Dev

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.

The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.

With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the country: Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.

As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?

PJ's Thoughts:

Sonali Dev took me on quite the emotional roller coaster with this book. It starts slow, from Rupi's point of view, a character I initially had trouble connecting with. I really didn't like her. At all. But that's part of Dev's skill in character building. I don't think I was supposed to. Not liking - or trusting - her gave her character the opportunity to grow, and me to change my mind, over the course of the book. 

Simi was the sister I favored at the beginning of the book but, again, my feelings about her also changed over the course of the book.  That's one of the things I enjoy about this author's writing. I never know what kind of journey she's going to take me - or her characters - on. I only know it's going to be one that will be thought-provoking, emotional, and heart-wrenching at times while also sprinkled with humor and human connection. Simi and Rupi are multi-layered, flawed, and carrying an immense amount of emotional trauma that impacts their decisions and actions in present time. They both have a significant growth arc that needs to be traveled before true happiness is in reach. 

The story is told from the point of view of each sister, in alternating chapters. Viewing everything unfolding from their individual perspectives really gives it all an added punch. I vacillated back and forth among stomach-clenching heartache, pure rage, and endearing hope, never knowing until the final pages which way this story was going to go regarding either the romantic relationships or the immigration dilemma. Kudos to Dev for bringing this story to life in such a realistic, relatable way that it elicited so many visceral emotions in me. 

The comedic relief in the book comes from Prem's family, a meddling, boisterous, welcoming group of people who, through their actions, show Rupi and Simi what a loving, supportive family looks like. Of course, that also heightens the angst when the recipient of all that love and support is the sister Prem is set to marry but not the sister Prem loves. It's a tangled mess that I, again, had no clue how Dev would unravel until the very end. 

Winner - - Take Me Home to You

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a paperback copy of

Take Me Home to You by Miranda Liasson is:

Laurie Gommermann

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Liar's Treasure

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a signed print copy of

The Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann is:

Shari B

Congrats!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - - Take Me Home to You

Take Me Home to You

by Miranda Liasson

The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff - Book 3

Publisher: Miranda Liasson LLC

Release Date: February 27, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

A grumpy ER boss and a sunshine doctor think they’ve sworn off romance—until one tiny baby decides to play matchmaker.

When Dr. Ani Green drags herself onto the plane after her wedding-that-never-was, she’s a self-described mess who has sworn off all relationships for good. But her "honeymoon for one" has a silver lining: Adam. He’s the kind, charming stranger who takes her trip from unbearable to almost fun.

What happens in Turks and Caicos stays there.

She left the island thinking she’d never see him again—only to walk into her new ER shift and realize that her vacation fling is her new boss. And he’s not the man she remembers.

Dr. Adam Lowenstein doesn’t do "fun." He does rules, schedules, and whatever it takes to shield his heart from any more grief. His time in Turks and Caicos was a temporary lapse in judgment. Now that he’s the Head of Emergency Medicine, he needs to be the stoic leader—not the man who fell for a whirlwind of a woman under a tropical sun. If that means denying his connection with Ani, so be it.

Until a patient surrenders a baby with a desperate plea for help.

As their professional boundaries crumble, Adam and Ani are forced to bridge the gap between who they were on the island and who they are now. Now, they must work together to protect a tiny life—and find out if the family they never thought they’d have is the one they can’t live without.

PJ's Thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series from Miranda Liasson, with each new book feeling like a visit with good friends. I'm invested in their personal lives, in their careers, in their ride-or-die friendships, and in their sometimes tumultuous journeys to finding the right person to trust with their hearts. 

Adam and Ani certainly haven't had an easy path to travel. She's just called off her wedding at the last minute (in book two, Take Me to the Wedding) while he's still mired in grief following the death of his wife two years earlier but there's an inexplicable connection when they end up seated together on a flight neither is excited to be on. I love the ease between them when they decide to spend the week together exploring the island. The friendship they form feels organic, as does the slow building attraction, but neither is ready for a new relationship. I appreciate the author not forcing it at that point. Bringing them back together months later feels more authentic to the emotional upheaval both are dealing with when they first meet and incorporates the "real life" challenges that add humor, chaos, and emotional complexity to their journey. 

This is another heart-tugging, hopeful, and ultimately healing journey from Liasson, something at which she excels. While deeply emotional topics are tackled, there's also no lack of humor and joy along the way, keeping the tone of the book from becoming too heavy. There's also substantial growth on the parts of both Ani and Adam, leading to compromise, understanding, and, finally, a deep, enduring love. I do love happy endings. 

If you enjoy heartwarming, small-town, grumpy-sunshine romance with humor, character growth, emotional healing, an adorable baby, a dog who steals every scene he's in, friends and co-workers who add texture to the story, a few surprising twists, and a hard-won, heartfelt happily ever after, I recommend picking up a copy of Take Me Home to You. It, along with books one and two of this series, Take Me Home for Christmas and Take Me to the Wedding, have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Take Me Home to You can be enjoyed as a standalone but if you enjoy knowing the backstory of a character's journey, you might want to read Take Me to the Wedding first. 

Have you read any of Miranda Liasson's books yet?

Are you reading The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff series?

What's the last book that made you both laugh out loud and shed a few tears?

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 14 will receive a paperback copy of Take Me Home to You. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Liar's Treasure

The Liar's Treasure

by Connie Mann

A Speranza Team Novel - Book 2

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Release Date: March 10, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Camille Abernathy ignored rumors of The Liar's Treasure and her family's connection to it . . . until someone put a target on her daughter's back. Growing up in New Orleans, such tall tales were as common as beignets and gumbo. But when Camille's teenage daughter, Cass, posts pictures of a centuries-old diary her uncle gave her, she unwittingly attracts dozens of treasure hunting fanatics who are convinced Cass and the diary can lead them to a valuable cache.
To keep her daughter safe, Camille enlists the help of Speranza, a secret society always ready to help women in need. Together, they set out on a globe-trotting journey to find The Liar's Treasure while also investigating a suspicious death related to Camille's childhood friend. The deeper they dig, the more they suspect it's all connected.
Chasing clues from New Orleans to Italy to the Bahamas, Camille and her friends receive unexpected assistance—and unwanted competition—from a handsome treasure hunter from Camille's past. Then Cass is kidnapped, and finding the treasure truly becomes a matter of life and death.

PJ's Thoughts:

One thing I've learned about Connie Mann is that she doesn't mess around when it comes to action or suspense. This book didn't take long to plunge me straight into its tightly woven intensity, keeping me on the edge of my seat right up until I turned the final page. I intended to take a few days to read The Liar's Treasure. I finished it the same day I started reading. Each time I tried to put it down, something would happen that kept me turning pages. I had to know what would happen next!

The Liar's Treasure combines greed, faith, ancient legend, mother-daughter relationships, a cache of potential villains, priceless artifacts, and a secret group of women dedicated to coming to the aid of other women in need. It all meshes together in a compelling race across the globe littered with historical clues, surprising twists, life or death encounters, and unexpected romance. 

I'm fascinated by the historical lineage of The Liar's Treasure and how it impacted those who protected it through the centuries as well as those who sought to use its power for ill-gotten gains. Mann expertly weaves the story through history to present day in a realistic, believable way that convinced me I was reading about actual artifacts and not something that came from her imagination. 

So too, are the characters (good and bad) in this book realistic and relatable. That's another facet of Mann's writing that I enjoy. She creates characters with layers, with flaws, strengths, vulnerabilities, morally gray and sometimes completely evil motivations that feel authentic, like people I would actually know or read about in the news. It's the kind of complexity that deepens my investment in the outcome of the story and the various characters' roles in it. 

The Liar's Treasure is book two in Connie Mann's Speranza Team series. It can absolutely be enjoyed on its own but if you prefer to get to know the women of the team from the beginning, you may want to read book one, The Crown Conspiracy, first. (click to read my review)

Have you read any of Connie Mann's books?

Do you enjoy stories that span multiple countries/continents?

The women of Speranza  are each uniquely skilled to be members of the team. If you were a member of a secret society of women dedicated to righting wrongs for other women, what would your special skill be? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 12 will receive a signed print copy of The Liar's Treasure. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - And Now, Back to You

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison is:

Patoct

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - March Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai is:

Jody Hunt

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

by Erin Knightley

Publisher: Hearthstone Reach Publishing

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Hildy Dannaher has got to get it together. Between her high-profile divorce, the sale of her home, and the looming deadline for the most important script of her career, she doesn’t have time for a coffee break, let alone a nervous breakdown. But when she discovers her late mother’s memory box, Hildy’s long-suppressed need for answers quickly overshadows everything else in her life.

Realizing she must address the gaping holes in her own story before she can move on with writing another, she flies halfway around the world to the tiny sea-side village where her mother was raised. The L.A. to County Kerry culture shock is real, but she soon feels a connection to this, her ancestral home.

She’s charmed by the land, its people, and even her unexpected sheepdog roommate, but her focus remains on the questions that brought her here: Who is Hildy’s father, and what happened nearly forty years ago that caused her pregnant mother to flee Ireland, never to look back? The problem with going off script is she has no way of knowing if there will be a happy ending, or if she’ll end up more heartbroken than ever.

PJ's Thoughts:

 

Oh, how I have missed Erin Knightley! For me, Knightley's historical romances always guaranteed well developed characters, intriguing storylines, and an enjoyable reading experience. This new book, the first in several years, a contemporary women's fiction/romance blend, serves up the same.

I was drawn into Hildy's life from the start and happily followed along on her Irish quest for answers. Knightley brought the small seaside village in County Kerry to life, from the bucolic sheep farms amidst rolling emerald hills, to the lively camaraderie at the local pub. And then there are the vividly drawn citizens who bring a rich Irish texture to the overall story. I couldn't get enough of them. Okay, maybe not the snippy cashier at the local grocery but every town has one, right?

I enjoyed how Hildy's journey was interwoven with the lives of the locals she befriended and especially how those new relationships influenced her search for her roots. Knightley kept the suspense of those answers central to the story while keeping me guessing as to what the answers - if any - would be. It kept me eagerly flipping pages right up until the reveal.

The romance, while not the central focus of the book, is a lovely addition to Hildy's Irish experience. I was in this unexpected couple's corner the entire way, hoping for a happy ending.

SPOILER: I was not disappointed.

I hope Knightley has more books of this type in her writer's pocket. I was thoroughly charmed. I'm also ready to book a flight to Ireland!

Review - - Lonesome Ridge

Lonesome Ridge

by Maisey Yates

Rustler Mountain - Book 3

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Good guys and bad guys . . . myth and legend . . . gold and ranching. That’s what historic Rustler Mountain, Oregon, is made of, complete with feuding families descended from outlaws and lawmen. A century later, their grudges still hold—but for a new generation, when opposites attract, it might be time to surrender . . .

From killers to courtesans, the Hancock family has what might be called an eclectic history. But they’ve managed to leverage it into something respectable, creating the popular Hancock Wild West Show. The event features reenactments and trick riding—the latter performed by clever, charismatic Jessie Jane Hancock.

Jessie is usually unflappable, but lately something’s needling her—and it’s not just her annoying attraction to exasperatingly sexy Flynn Wilder—whose great, great, great, great, great grandfather was betrayed by Jessie’s just-as-many-times-great grandfather. It’s the upcoming mayoral election. Specifically, the unopposed candidate: Danielle LeFevre, mean girl, all-around awful person, and Flynn’s not-so-beloved half-sister. Jessie wants to keep Danielle from winning . . . and the only person who bothers Flynn more than she does is Danielle.

“I want you to be my first man.” Jessie Jane is hot enough to make him hallucinate, but her request is very real. Jessie wants to run for mayor, and she wants him by her side, as her fake boyfriend. A Hancock dating a Wilder. An outsider against the status quo. A drama their town will devour. Flynn always knew Jessie was a wild card, but bringing down his corrupt stepfamily is a temptation he can’t resist. Just like the vexing spark between him and Jessie. And once that fire catches, the real showdown begins . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Rustler Mountain is turning out to be one of my favorite Maisey Yates settings. I love the outlaw vs lawmen vibe and the way it frequently gets turned on its head. These characters are much more than the label they've been given by the townspeople...and by history. 

I wouldn't say Jessie and Flynn are enemies, exactly, but they sure aren't besties either. Their families have done their best to maintain the status quo of the multi-generation feud between them. While Flynn and Jessie have never done anything to disrupt that or get to know one another - until now - the fact remains that these two have been aware of each other since high school. 

I love the complexity of the characters in this series and, in particular, this book. There are so many layers - something Yates does well - revealing more and more of the true nature of the main characters as the story progresses. I enjoy being surprised by characters and both Flynn and Jessie surprised me as their story unfolded. I felt my understanding of and empathy for each of them deepening as they learned more about each other and I learned more about both of them. 

The humor and chemistry in the book is well balanced by the emotional depth, especially as related to complicated family dynamics. I found myself laughing in places, tearing up in others, and fully rooting for Jessie and Flynn, both individually and as a couple. I appreciated the evolution each of them underwent, bringing them to a point where they were unapologetically their true selves and at peace with their places in their families, each other, and life.

This is the third book in the Rustler Mountain series. It certainly can be enjoyed as a standalone though I'm glad I read the books in order as there are several characters whose relationships, and personal growth, evolve throughout the series. Wherever you decide to jump in, all three books have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - March

 

March has arrived! And, yes, I'm still trying to figure out how that happened. Are you all tired of winter yet? Ready for the reemergence of spring flowers and good books to read outside? Without bundling up like Nanook of the North? 

I'm still working back up to my previous reading capacity following cataract surgeries so this month's schedule is a bit light in quantity. I should be back to full speed by April but, for now, here's what's happening at The Romance Dish in March. 

Stop by on Wednesday, March 4 for a review of Lonesome Ridge by Maisey Yates. This third book in the Rustler Mountain series features an enemies-to-lovers trope between two members of feuding families who prove to be much more than the person they project to the public. 

Thursday, March 5 takes us to Ireland for Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script, a heart-tugging women's fiction/romance hybrid from Erin Knightley. This new (surprise) book, set in a small coastal village has me ready to pack my bags and catch a flight to the Emerald Isle. 

It's time for action and suspense on Tuesday, March 10 with a review of The Liar's Treasure. This second book in Connie Mann's Speranza Team series (I loved the first!), whisks readers away on a global adventure featuring "a mysterious diary and a thrilling, high-stakes treasure hunt."

Miranda Liasson is back with another installment in her The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff series. Join me on Thursday, March 12 for a review and giveaway of Take Me Home to You. This is a charming, heart-tugging story of healing, friendship, new beginnings, and fighting for what your heart knows is right. 

Stop by on Wednesday, March 18 for a review of How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev. I haven't read this one yet but the description - "Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family" - plus the fact that it's written by Sonali Dev have me eager to dive in. 

We're turning our focus to Romantasy on Tuesday, March 24 with a review of Queen of the Night Sky by Amalie Howard. This epic adventure story concludes Howard's Starkeeper duology. 

On Tuesday, March 31 I'll be sharing my thoughts about The Bridge Back to You by Riss M. Neilson. I enjoyed Neilson's 2025 novel, A Love Like the Sun and am looking forward to exploring a new story of second chances in The Bridge Back to You. 

That's the schedule for March as it stands today. Any changes will be updated on this post. 

What are you looking forward to this month?

Are any of the above books on your reading list?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 4 will receive a print copy of The Dating Plan by Sara Desai. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - And Now, Back to You

And Now, Back to You

by B.K. Borison

Heartstrings - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover a historic snowstorm, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.

Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal: If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With unexplored chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.

But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains stay in the mountains?

PJ's Thoughts:

I pretty much grinned through this entire warm hug of a book. It's second in a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone (though Jackson does figure prominently in book one, his best friend's story). I must point out that the second I turned the final page of And Now, Back to You, I bought book one, First-Time Caller and began reading it immediately. It's another Top Dish selection (which has been optioned for a movie!). I highly recommend both books...in whatever order you choose to read them. 

And Now, Back to You is filled with a delicious mix of many of my favorite tropes. There's opposites attract, adversaries to lovers, forced proximity, snowed in, grumpy-sunshine, and workplace romance, to name a few and yet it never feels cluttered. Everything unfolds organically with sizzle, charm, humor, emotional depth, and top-notch banter. Borison has a flair for comedy centered by heart. And then there are the characters.

  

Jackson is tightly wound, a rule follower through and through - not surprising considering his upbringing - but also just so darn endearing. I love his relationship with his sisters, the love and support he pours into them while never quite believing he's enough. I want to hug him and tell him he is. 

Delilah is a force of nature - upbeat, slightly chaotic, never met a stranger - leaving sunshine and smiles in her wake and with much more depth than her personality would suggest. She's fiercely loyal, loves deeply, and leaves Jackson agitated and perplexed...at first. She's also up against a misogynistic boss who I'd like to toss off a cliff. I can't be alone in that thought. However, his machinations do end up with Jackson and Delilah snowed in at a mountain resort (Did I mention there's only one bed...and night sledding?) so maybe I'll skip the cliff and just send him off into retirement obscurity. Though honestly, he really does deserve the cliff. 

Jackson and Delilah together may seem like oil and water but once they start opening themselves (forced proximity reveals many misperceptions), it's fun to watch them reach the same conclusions readers already know: that they really are just right for one another.  

I'm late to the Borison bandwagon but after reading Good Spirits (one of my favorite 2025 books), And Now, Back to You, and First-Time Caller (both likely to land on my list of 2026 favorites), you can bet that if B.K. Borison writes it, I'll be buying it. 

  

Have you read B.K. Borison?

What are your favorite romance tropes?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 2 will receive a print copy of And Now, Back to You.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Heir of Whitestone

The Heir of Whitestone

by Catherine Coulter

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

When Alex Ivanov was 12, someone tried to kill him. Now, 11 years later, they still want him dead.

England, 1842. Queen Victoria reigns, Buckingham Palace is overrun with rats, and the streets of London are filled with intrigue.

Alex Ivanov is a brilliant young innovator, designing cutting-edge train engines. But Alex has a secret—he isn’t really Alex Ivanov. As a boy, he was pulled from the Thames, presumed drowned, with no memory of who he was. Rescued and raised by the formidable Ryder Sherbrooke, Alex has built a new life, but his past is catching up with him.

Lady Camilla Rohman has problems of her own. Trapped by a scheming stepmother and a family determined to see her married off, she is as clever as she is desperate. When fate throws her into Alex’s path, their connection is undeniable.

But as their whirlwind romance turns into marriage, danger follows. On their honeymoon, a series of deadly attacks make one thing clear—someone wants Alex dead. As they race to uncover the truth, old enemies and long-buried secrets come to light, leading them to a shocking revelation that will change everything…

PJ's Thoughts:

A new Catherine Coulter historical romance with a Sherbrooke tie-in? I couldn't get to this book fast enough. 

It's been many years since I read a Coulter historical and, admittedly, I had forgotten the ins and outs of her particular style of writing. It was disjointed at times, with sudden veers into secondary storylines that felt a bit superfluous, and slow sections that made it too easy to set the book aside, but the main couple - plus Ryder Sherbrooke (The Hellion Bride) - kept my interest engaged and the pages turning.

Alex and Cam were so easy to root for. I became emotionally invested in them from the very start and that attachment never wavered. I loved Cam's internal strength, cleverness, and determination to take matters into her own hands in the face of toxic family dynamics. Also, how she saved that same family when adversity came to call.

Alex was equally appealing. I adored him and loved how smitten he was with Cam, coming to love her because of her unique qualities not in spite of them. I also loved his relationship with Ryder. As a fan of the original Sherbrooke books, it made my heart so happy to watch Ryder as the voice of wisdom in a paternal role. I wish Sophie (his wife) had been part of the story as well but references in the book reassured readers that they continue to be happy, in love, and giving hope and home to abandoned and abused children. 

The mystery that threaded through the book was a mixed bag. While I figured out certain aspects of it early on, there were others that eluded me until the reveal. It all built to a final climax which felt a bit rushed and left questions that I had unanswered. Others may feel differently but I guess I just like all my loose threads tied. 

The romance, however, was a complete delight. I thoroughly enjoyed it and turned the final page confident that Cam and Alex had found their happily ever after, in more ways than one.