Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - April 2026

 

April is upon us and that's no joke! Month four of this year dawned clear and bright in my neighborhood, a good harbinger for the days ahead and, hopefully, for a successful manned launch this evening. I plan to spend my day losing myself in a new book while soaking up some Vitamin D. Speaking of books, we have some great new stories on the agenda here at The Romance Dish. Let's take a look at what's on tap for April. 

We'll be kicking off the month of April on Friday, April 3 with a review of The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses by Amy Rose Bennett. This cross-class historical romance - plus a bit of magic - is the second book in Bennett's The Parasol Academy series. 

Tuesday, April 7 brings a review of Can't Get Enough of the Duke by Lenora Bell. It's grumpy/sunshine for the win in the second book of Bell's The Thunderbolt Club historical romance series. 

Join us on Monday, April 13 for a review of The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn. This contemporary romance features poignant emotion, a former sister-in-law's destination wedding, and going toe-to-toe with a mysterious, gruff best man...in Paris. 

We're bring an autumn vibe to small town murder, mystery, and romance on Friday, April 10 with a review of Murder at Cinnamon Falls by R.L. Killmore. 

Reviewer Nancy joins us on Wednesday, April 15 with a review of Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett. Get ready for an unlikely romance in a hotel occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude.

Nancy returns on Friday April 17 with a review of Family Lies by Karen Rose. This fourth book in Rose's The San Diego Case Files series is sure to bring edge-of-the-seat suspense. 

It's time to hit the track on Monday, April 20 with a review of All to Play For by Josie Juniper. This newest installment in Juniper's Frontrunners series features a F1 team's newest and only female driver and a rich, cocky British racing blogger in a battle of wills that just might end up in a life-changing romance. 

Stop by on Wednesday, April 22 for a spotlight on Body Man, a political thriller by Al Pessin. 

Join Nancy on Tuesday, April 28 for a review and giveaway of The Sea Spinner by Julie Johnson. I'm interested to read what Nancy has to say about this magical sequel to Johnson's bestselling The Wind Weaver. 

On Wednesday, April 29 I'll be sharing my thoughts about Nearly a Bride, the second book in Sabrina Jeffries' Lords of Hazard series. This historical romance is brimming with intriguing characters, unexpected twists, and heartwarming romance. 

Rounding out the month on Thursday, April 30 will be Nancy's review of Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan. The tag line for this book has me eager to read Nancy's review: Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin.

That's what's on our schedule for the month of April. What are you looking forward to this month?

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, April 3 will each receive a book of my choice from my stash. 

* U.S. only

* Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Bridge Back to You

The Bridge Back to You

by Riss M. Neilson

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.

Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly.

That is until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an opportunity: drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away.

Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a book with layers and this book has them in abundance. The characters are layered, the relationships are layered, and the unexpected second chance that lands in the laps of Carmello and Olivia is most definitely layered. Lots of messy, messy layers. 

The pace of the book isn't fast but that works for me. These characters need the time to rebuild trust, to discover what path they are meant to follow, to forgive, and to choose the future that's right for them. There's a lot of push and pull along the way, as well as self-discovery and character growth, which only makes them - and their second chance - more realistic and relatable. It's a journey filled with emotion, longing, and a hard-won happy ending. I especially enjoyed the periodic flashbacks that allow readers to experience their teenage relationship while also following along with them as reunited adults. 

Neilson surrounds the main couple with a supporting cast that shines. I adore Carmello's young son. His relationships with his father, his mother, the restaurant staff, and Olivia are so endearing and feel authentic to his age and personality. Speaking of his mother, kudos to the author for showing admirable friendship and co-parenting between Carmello and his son's mother, two people who care about one another but not romantically.  

There's also realistic depiction of mental health and chronic health issues, with one character's OCD, another's ADHD and endometriosis, and Carmello and Olivia each grieving the death of Carmello's mother, a woman who was instrumental in both of their lives. The self realization of how each of those conditions impacts past and present decisions plays a significant role in their individual growth as well as the evolution of their second-chance romantic journey. Again, more layers that enhance this story and engage readers on new and different levels. 

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the food. Much of the book is set at Celia's Place where Carmello creates mouth watering Dominican and Filipino foods that represent his cultural heritage...and kept me drooling pretty much through the entire book. Be ready to be hungry. :)

  

If you're looking for a slow-burn romance with emotional depth, complex characters, complicated relationships, cultural representation, and second chances (at romance and life), give this one a try. And, if you haven't yet discovered Neilson's adult debut, A Love Like the Sun, check out my review here. 

Have you read Riss M. Neilson yet?

Do you enjoy trying food from other cultures? What are your favorites?

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

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Winners - - A Bride for Marcus

 

The randomly chosen winners of

an e-book copy of

A Bride for Marcus by Anne Gracie are:

 Deb

Theresa Wallace-Lopez

LauraL

Congrats!

Please send your full name and email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - - A Bride for Marcus

A Bride for Marcus

by Anne Gracie

Devil Riders - Book 6

Publisher: Gracie Enterprises

Release Date: March 25, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Marcus, the handsome Earl of Alverleigh, is London’s most eligible bachelor—yet he’s vowed never to marry for love. Bitter experience taught him it only brings pain.

Tessa, his lively childhood friend, is now twenty-four and twice widowed, left destitute by her ruthless brother and the laws that prevent women from financial control. Fiercely independent, she refuses to be controlled again—until she’s on the brink of a third forced marriage.

Marcus rescues her with a practical offer: a sensible marriage between old friends. No passion, no risk—just safety and companionship. Tessa hesitates—her freedom is precious—but scandal forces her hand.

On their honeymoon, can the guarded earl and spirited widow rediscover each other? Will laughter, old memories, and long-buried affection bloom? And can what started as practicality and duty become something tender and true?

PJ's Thoughts:

When one has waited 14 years for a certain pivotal side character's story to be told, one approaches that long-awaited book with high expectations and no small amount of trepidation. One then also stays awake reading until 2:00 AM because she can't bear to go to sleep until said character's long overdue and well deserved HEA is secured. Trepidation? Erased. Expectations? Exceeded. Happy ending? You bet! 

Gracie has infused some of my favorite tropes into this heartfelt story. There's childhood friends reunited as adults, friends to lovers, scandal, marriage of convenience (to neutralize said scandal), found family, and meddling, matchmaking relatives. 

All of the tropes are brought to life through the thoughts and actions of beautifully developed characters. That's one of Anne Gracie's strengths. Her characters - both main and side - are multi-layered and realistically portrayed, never failing to elicit emotional reactions in me, whether positive or negative. She does make the villain(s) in this book truly villainous which, of course, renders their eventual downfall especially delicious. Also, I do love an irascible older relative who meddles for all the right reasons, especially if she doesn't show her hand while doing it. And, bonus, not only do we get a Daisy Chance cameo in this book, we also get her hunky Irish husband!

As for Marcus and Tessa, these two had me in their corner from their first encounter as children. I enjoyed their journeys, both individually and as a couple. It was so much fun to watch Marcus's heart soften and open to love and to cheer Tessa on as she finally claims her agency. Together, they balance one another perfectly and fill all those heart holes that had been so empty before. 

Whether you're a long-time Gracie fan or new to her historical world, A Bride for Marcus is written in such a way that you can easily jump in with this book and not miss a beat. 

Have you read Anne Gracie before?

Do you have a favorite book or series written by her?

What secondary character's book are you still waiting for?

Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, March 27 will each receive an e-book copy of A Bride for Marcus. 

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!