Review - - The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

by Julie Johnstone

Return of the Highlanders - Book 3

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: December 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

  

Divided by treachery, bound by an edict, they must decide their fate: to love or to hate.

After years of captivity, Graeme Stewart has returned home with a burning desire for vengeance, and it’s all directed at the Campbell clan. They attacked his home, killed his parents, and imprisoned him for eighteen long years. So when the king demands Graeme handfast with his enemy’s sister to end the warring of their clans, he intends to use her to get the revenge he yearns for. But Maisie’s courage and character surprise him at every turn, conjuring admiration and stirring desire. Now, with revenge within his grasp, he must make a choice before it’s too late: either cling to the malice that kept him alive or release it for the chance at love.

The vengeful and unreasonable Highlander intends to destroy her family, and Maisie Campbell is bound to him for a year and a day. She hates everything about Graeme, except the way he kisses, which is a force that nearly brings her to her knees. But lust does not a marriage make, and the man is hell-bent on proving her brother a traitor and herself treacherous, so she sets out to prove otherwise. Yet, as questions of her brother’s character arise in her own mind and Graeme displays an honorable, fiercely protective nature, Maisie faces a decision: seek a truth that will doom the brother she adores or remain blindly loyal to those she’s always held dear and lose the man she has come to love with all her heart.

PJ's Thoughts:

This book exemplifies all the reasons that when I want a fast-paced, emotional, Medieval romance that I can't put down, the author I first turn to is Julie Johnstone. Her characters are complex and fully developed. Her grasp of time and place is vividly and authentically depicted. Her books never leave me feeling as though I've read a modern book set hundreds of years ago. From the first page to the last, I was fully immersed in 15th Century Scotland, these characters, their triumphs, travails, passion, and the danger that stalks them.

While this is book three in Johnstone's Return of the Highlanders trilogy and the couples from books one and two are featured, The Highlander Burns for Vengeance stands well on its own. You can easily jump in with any book. I recommend all three. 

Coastal Magic 2025 Featured Author Spotlight & Giveaway - - Tere Michaels

Coastal Magic Convention Featured Author Tere Michaels is in our spotlight today. Tere’s specialties are snark, angst, and happily ever afters, set in the big city. It might take some time to get there but no worries - she believes in love conquering all! She has written eighteen books including her popular Faith, Love & Devotion series, the superhero saga The Vigilante, and "Broadway or Bust." Her most recent series has kicked off with Whisk-y Business, of The Love Broker series.

Welcome to The Romance Dish, Tere!  It’s a pleasure to have you visit with us today. 

Thank you so much for having me! 

For those readers who have yet to discover you, please share what they should expect when they read Whisk-y Business, book one of your The Love Broker series (which I thoroughly enjoyed - so much fun!).  

Sarcasm, Idiots to Lovers, Magical Weirdness, and sort of a reverse Hallmark Holiday Movie. 

I'm sitting here laughing out loud at that perfect description of this book! 

I love the food Annalee makes at the bakery and especially the bond with her late grandmother that it represents. Are you a baker? If so, who taught you and what’s your favorite item to bake? If not, which items catch your eye and tempt your taste buds when you walk into a bakery? 

I am not a great baker, but my mom used to make cream puffs ALL the time - like every family anything, she’d be required to bring them. Since she passed, I’ve tried to make them every Christmas. When I go to a bakery, you can usually tempt me with something that has baked apples in it, or crumb cake. (But only if it’s real NJ crumb cake, which means a huge stack of crumbs on a tiny sliver of cake. lol) 

Oh and the pastina soup she dreams about is something my Nan (grandmother) would make. I make it for myself when I need a little warmth.

I looked up the recipe for pastina soup. I will definitely be adding that to my winter soup menu!

I did not see that twist coming in the second epilogue of this book. What fun (no spoilers)! Do you already know how everything will play out over the course of the series? How many books will there be? Will the rest of them be set in Pine Lake or will you be taking readers back to the “big city?” 

Ooo, I love that. I have a pretty solid idea for the next few books. When this came together for me, I had a list of pun titles that jumped into my head so I have up to Book 5 already worked out! And I’ll keep writing them until I run out of words. Honestly, I love this world and all the chaos these folks are causing. 

I’m already beyond excited for book two. When can we expect its release? Are you able to tell us anything about it?  

The Man Date, which is Book 2, should already be out. I had it up for pre-order (uploaded with an old draft to be replaced), then it got released before it was supposed to so I took it down. Drama! Then I decided to rewrite the last third of the book. LOL I am MUCH happier with it now so…yeah. I’m a menace to myself. 

This book is a gay romance featuring two seemingly different men who find what they have in common brings them together. We also spend some time with a character who very briefly showed up in Book 1 and is going to blaze across the series, particularly Book 4. Oh. and matchmaking Malamutes, because why not? These guys were delightful to write, and I also enjoyed delving into friendship - what happens if your two best friends hook up? How does the third wheel react? I also added a bit more of the lore around Trudye’s tree, which was FUN. I hope everyone enjoys the book. 

I've already downloaded The Man Date and am looking forward to returning to Pine Lake. 

Let’s wrap things up with a few rapid-fire questions. 

What are your passions (aside from writing)?

Reading. I always have a book going and will sometimes spend most of my weekend reading. I also like to run (no, really!). 

What would readers be surprised to learn about you? 

What an introvert I am. LOL 

What are you currently reading or looking forward to reading? 

I’m currently reading Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis. My jam lately has been magical worlds with romance. I am waiting for SO many books in the new year. The new Ali Hazelwood, the next in the Assistant to the Villain series, the next Emily Wilde’s Fairy book series…I can keep going. Oh and the next book in the Fourth Wing series. I loved it. 

Where can readers find you online? 

I’m mostly on Threads, Bluesky, and occasionally Facebook and Instagram. I also have a Substack that’s primarily about the process of writing. My business partner is going to be handling all our media stuff because she is young and I am old. lol 

Thank you, Tere! Would you like to add anything or ask a question of the readers? 

Oooo…let’s see. First off, I love you all. Thanks for reading my books, and being so sweet throughout the year. I can’t wait to see everyone at Coastal.

My question, I suppose, is about The Love Broker series. What sort of tropes do you want to see me write? Not promising anything but I’d love to hear your ideas. 

Thank you so much for allowing me to visit!

Readers, let's help Tere out. What are your favorite contemporary romance tropes to read?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, January 2 will receive a Kindle copy of Whisk-y Business. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Treasure Coast Legacy

Treasure Coast Legacy

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 6

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: December 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

For nearly a year, Belle and her cousins have poured their hearts and souls—and every spare dime—into restoring the Dane Crown Inn to its former glory. As they stripped peeling paint from walls and repaired the damaged floors, the women uncovered not just the charm of the inn but also the deep, unbreakable bond they shared as teenagers, when they spent every summer keeping the inn’s suites spotless and enjoying the gorgeous beach as a tight-knit family. Now it’s time to fulfill Aunt Margaret’s final wish and host one last Dane family reunion at the inn that once again lives up to its reputation as “the gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast.”

Finally, preparations are complete for a weekend filled with family traditions. There will be horseshoes and croquet matches, fun treasure hunts and a talent show, a sing-along and even a wedding—all in celebration of the love and history their family has shared with the inn. But as assorted aunts and uncles and cousins once removed descend on the tiny beachside community of Emerald Bay, the Dane family’s legacy hangs in the balance. At the conclusion of the reunion, Margaret intends to plant a For Sale sign in the yard.

Before she does, one important question remains: If the Dane Crown Inn is the lynchpin that holds their family together, how much are Belle, Kim, Diane and the rest willing to sacrifice in order to keep it?

PJ's Thoughts:

It's the end of the Emerald Bay series and I am not ready to say goodbye to these complex characters who by this point all feel like dear friends. I've enjoyed their individual journeys as one by one the cousins returned home, reconnected as a family, worked together to restore their family legacy, and found lasting love - plus a few surprises - along the way. Duncan vividly depicted each of them on the page, bringing them to life in such a way that they felt authentic and relatable, each with unique personalities and realistic challenges, both as individuals and as a family. 

If you enjoy heartwarming women's fiction, family dynamics, a small-town, beachside location, and heart-tugging journeys to love, I highly recommend this series. I also strongly suggest reading the books in order as each book in the series builds upon those before it. 

I don't know what Leigh Duncan has planned for her next book but after falling in love with both her Emerald Bay series and the Sugar Sand Beach series that preceded it, I'll definitely be in line to buy whatever comes next. 

Winner - - The Secret Daughter

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Secret Daughter by Anne Gracie is:

Penney Wilfort

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Happy Hanukkah

 

Sending love and light

to all who celebrate!

Merry Christmas!

 

Review & Giveaway - -The Secret Daughter

The Secret Daughter

by Anne Gracie

The Brides of Bellaire Gardens - Book 4

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Orphaned Zoë Benoît has spent the last three years in Paris learning how to be a lady. But Zoë is torn—as an independent spirit and a talented artist, she cannot help but want more than the tightly controlled life of a society lady.

On an impulsive visit to the château where her mother lived, Zoë, disguised as a maidservant named Vita, meets a handsome wandering artist, known simply as Reynard. One blissful week with the charming Reynard convinces Zoë that this is the man and the life for her—until she discovers what he’s been hiding from her, and she flees, heartbroken.

Longing for the chance to redeem himself, Reynard searches far and wide for the woman he knows as Vita, to no avail. Disheartened, he returns to England to reluctantly resume his role as Julian Fox, the Earl of Foxton. However, when he sees one of Zoë’s paintings, he realizes she’s in London, and becomes desperate to find her before it’s too late. But even if they reunite, can he convince Zoë he’s worthy of her trust and prove to her that, with him, she can be a free-spirited artist and a countess?

PJ's Thoughts:

It was Anne Gracie's characters who first drew me to her books almost twenty years ago and it's her characters who bring me back with each new book she writes. Each one - whether main or secondary - is brought to life on the page with Gracie's deft hand. 

In this fourth and final book of The Brides of Bellaire Gardens series, we finally get Zoë's story and it's a delight. This former orphan, born in the London slums but with a French aristocratic heritage, is one of my favorite Gracie heroines, right up there with George (Georgiana), heroine of Marry in Scarlet (book four - Marriage of Convenience). I love her layers, her loyalty, her forthright manner, and her determination to carve her own path. I also love her vulnerability. She's quite a complex character.

Reynard/Julian has layers of his own. I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship, both as Vita and Reynard then as Zoë and Julian. Their banter is electric with each holding their own. I also appreciate how he isn't threatened by Zoë's artistic skill but supports and encourages it. There's plenty of humor between these two but also deep, heart-tugging emotion. They are a good match and I rooted for them to find their way back to one another. 

The Secret Daughter can stand on its own but it's the final book in a four-book series. As such, overarching secondary storylines are wrapped up and main characters from the first three books are instrumental in this story. Julian isn't introduced until book four but for a better understanding of Zoë and the rest of the characters I recommend reading the series in order. 

I don't know what Gracie has in store for readers next but whatever it is, I'll be happily buying it. 

~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any Anne Gracie books yet?

The Secret Daughter is set in both rural France and London. Do you enjoy books that have multiple settings?

Do you have books on your Christmas list? What titles are you hoping to get?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 27 will receive a print copy of The Secret Daughter.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - Flirting with Alaska

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Flirting with Alaska is:

Patricia B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - A Delicious Dilemma

 

The randomly chosen winner 

of a signed copy of

A Delicious Dilemma by Sera Taino is:

Patoct

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Author's Guide to Murder

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a hardback copy of

The Author's Guide to Murder is

traveler

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Bride of the Shadow King

Bride of the Shadow King

by Sylvia Mercedes

Publisher: Ace Books

Release Date: November 12, 2024

Reviewed by Nancy

 

Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. She’s told her gods-gift makes her a liability to the crown, and has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things.

When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice.

King Vor is not eager to take a human bride, but he is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement. 

So why can’t he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head?

 

Nancy’s Thoughts: 

Bride of the Shadow King is the first of three romantasy novels under a series banner of the same title. The forbidden love romance is nearly flawless, and the worldbuilding is different and intriguing despite occasional sparse descriptions. 

Princess Faraine, the heroine, has been banished to a distant convent far from the court of Gavaria, her homeland, because she inadvertently wrecked her father’s plan to marry her to a prince she loathed. We meet her as she is returning home to convince her sister Ilsevel, who has locked herself in a tower and is throwing crockery at anyone who approaches, that she must marry the Shadow King, Vor, for the good of their kingdom. They’re at war with Prince Ruaven, a fae, and they need the fierce soldiers of the trolde realm. Vor needs the human magic to vanquish the deadly beings intruding into his kingdom. 

Prince Ruaven’s fae attack Faraine’s entourage. Faraine isn’t trained to fight, but she displays courage and determination to survive in the face of these lethal foes. Her party is outnumbered and suffering casualties at a rapid pace. Fortunately, the trolde king and his escort, who are en route to Gavaria so he can woo Ilsevel, come across the battle and wade in. They rescue Faraine and her brother. 

Faraine has the gift of sensing the emotions of those around her. She can also affect their emotions. To keep the flood of feelings she senses from overwhelming her, she has a crystal necklace she grips to help her stay centered. Despite the carnage of the fight surrounding her and Vor, all she picks up from him is calm. That has tremendous appeal for her. He admires her poise and finds the hint of song he senses around her intriguing. 

Faraine knows, however, that her father, King Lorangar, would not want her to become friendly with Vor. Lorangar intends Vor to wed the lovely Ilsevel. Faraine has been summoned home only to convince her sister to go along with this plan. 

After they arrive at Beldroth, the Gavarian king’s palace, Vor remains intrigued by Faraine and seeks her out. She feels drawn to him but gently discourages his interest, which could lead him to prefer her to Ilsevel. Her father would be furious at the mere idea. 

The push/pull of their shared attraction is well done. Faraine’s fear of offending her father is understandable in context and sets up the situation that leads to disaster later in the story. Discouraged from pursuing her, Vor turns his attention to Ilsevel. Faraine continues to intrigue him, but he needs this alliance to gain access to human magic. If that means he must court only Ilsevel, he will do so. 

Both Vor and Faraine are resolved to do their duty despite the personal cost, but they aren’t whiny about it. Their matter-of-face acceptance of the situation despite their disappointment is sympathetic, and I was rooting for them both. 

The betrothal goes forward. Faraine returns to her convent. Vor resolves to put his feelings for Faraine aside, stop thinking of her, and devote himself to Ilsevel. After Vor returns to his own realm to prepare for his bride, who’s going on a pre-wedding pilgrimage, tragedy strikes. I won’t spoil the story by saying what happens, only that King Larongar’s focus on Ilsevel and his refusal to trust Vor lead to a sequence of dire events that sweep up Faraine, Vor, and his court. 

The supporting characters are individuals with layers, not cookie-cutter figures. A character who isn’t especially sympathetic in the beginning of the story comes into her own by the end, and I’m now interested to see what happens to her in the next two books. 

All that is great, so readers may wonder why I’m giving the book 4.5 stars instead of five. It’s because there were too many stoppers for me. Otherworldly creatures aren’t fully described, unfamiliar terms aren’t explained, and I don’t know why I what the problem is that leads to Prince Ruaven’s incursions except I’m told he’s the bad guy—and not much else. There’s a big inconsistency about the rules of travel between realms at a crucial moment. 

Every time I hit an unfamiliar term in a book, it stops me unless its meaning is obvious from context. Every time I encounter an unfamiliar creature, I need a description to get a visual in my head. Without it, I don’t have a clear picture of the action in the scene and am frustrated. If I’m stopping to wonder about the meaning of a term or the appearance of a creature, I’m not reading the story. I’m pulled out of it. 

The trolde kingdom is a brilliant concept, and the characters we meet there are well-drawn and varied. The landscapes are nicely done, with clear, detailed imagery and contrasts between the Under Realm and Gavaria. The problems I had were in smaller moments. Because I hit so many points where I wanted more—a couple of adjectives, a short phrase—to give me a picture, I often felt frustrated. 

The following are just a few examples. 

Casualties need “an ugghra healer,” but what is that? What sets them apart from other healers? Or is there even a difference? 

The trolde ride shadowy creatures called morleths, which are interdimensional and can manifest from shadows, which is really cool. For description, though, we’re told they have sinuous, barbed tails and snort smoke or sparks. They have fur over scales on their withers and flanks. All that’s great, but we don’t know what shape or size their heads or bodies are or how tall they are or how many legs they have. Presumably they have at least four since people sit on their backs, but it could be six or even, like Odin’s legendary mount, Sleipnir, eight. 

There are numerous references to roag poison. Is that the creature or the plant that produces the poison? If so, what kind of creature or plant is it? I’m assuming roag doesn’t mean poison because that would be redundant. 

At the point when Vor’s bride is about to cross into his lands, the Under Realm, her attendants make a big fuss about the rule that she can only take with her what he has given her. She therefore wears a new gown he sent for her. A companion lies to the trolde woman in attendance about something  the bride wants to take having been a gift from Vor, so she gets to take that. Yet the bride wears a veil she brought from home and no one says anything about that. 

For some readers, a cool-sounding term and a vague description suffice, and that’s fine. But I need more. Rating this book overall, I give the romance plot a five and the worldbuilding a four, solely I was so often stopped by needing more explanation. 

The story moves at a good pace except from the bits I stumbled over, and it kept my interest. Despite the stumbles, I would’ve continued reading even if I hadn’t committed to review the book. 

The story ends on a cliffhanger. That isn’t an issue for me, but readers who prefer a complete story may want to wait until the next two books are released to read this one. 

4.5 stars 

~Nancy

 

Review & Giveaway - - Flirting with Alaska

Flirting with Alaska

by Belle Calhoune

Moose Falls, Alaska - Book 2

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: December 10, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Caleb Stone isn’t ready to give up his Hollywood dreams. But after a disastrous run on a reality dating show paints him as an unapologetic player, Caleb needs a little time and space to regroup. Luckily, his hometown of Moose Falls, Alaska has both, plus a job helping his brothers run Yukon Cider. Even dialed down, Caleb’s flirtatious vibes are a hit at work, except for one woman who seems completely, totally, frustratingly immune to his charms–—the gorgeous new photographer for Yukon Cider’s upcoming ad campaign.

Single mom Sophia Brand isn’t made of ice—resisting Caleb’s devilishly sexy grin is hard, especially when it’s so often directed her way. It’s just that she’s been burned by handsome smiles before. Now, she’s focused on setting a good example for her daughter, and that means not getting sidetracked by Caleb’s dazzling charisma.

But as they work together on the campaign, Caleb and Sophia begin to let their guard down. Can he prove that beneath his playboy persona, Caleb is a leading man worthy of a starring role in Sophia’s heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

I am thoroughly enjoying the Stone brothers, each different but equally compelling. When I began this second book in the trilogy, I fully expected gorgeous, charming, middle brother Caleb to be my least favorite of the three but this hero has layers I had yet to discover. Much like Sophia does throughout the course of their journey.

Sophia and Caleb both carry emotional baggage from past relationships that continue to intrude on their present lives. In Sophia's case, it's the father of her daughter who suddenly decides he wants to be a part of his child's life after ignoring her since birth while for Caleb it's not only the unresolved issues with his estranged father that have significantly impacted his life choices but also a highly edited reality television show that painted him in the worst possible light, a light that Sophia, along with most of the country, believes is true. I enjoyed watching the layers slowly peel away and reveal truths about both of them. I especially enjoyed watching the endearing relationship between Caleb and Sophia's young daughter evolve. Nothing tests the true measure of a man, nor exposes his flaws, like babysitting an active four-year-old. In young Lily's eyes, Caleb is more than worthy but what will Sophia think?

If you enjoy sweet romance set in small-town Alaska with complicated family dynamics, a close-knit community, well-developed characters, and an elderly grandmother set on bringing her grandsons home and seeing them happily settled, give Flirting with Alaska a try. It will stand on its own but I think you'll enjoy it even more if you read Falling for Alaska first. (Click to read my review)

Have you read any of Belle Calhoune's books?

Have you ever visited Alaska?

What reality TV shows (if any) do you enjoy watching?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 20 will receive a print copy of Flirting with Alaska.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Coastal Magic 2025 Featured Author Spotlight & Giveaway - - Sera Taino

 

Sera Taíno writes romances exploring the joy of love in the context of community and family in all its rich diversity with an emphasis on inclusiveness.

She was selected for the Harlequin Romance Includes You Mentorship, an initiative launched in 2019 to reach out to diverse communities of writers and bring more own voices stories to romance readers.

When she is not writing, she can be found teaching her high school English class, reading, or wrangling her husband and two children.

Welcome to The Romance Dish, Sera!  It’s a pleasure to have you visit. For those readers who have yet to discover you, please share what they should expect when they pick up one of the books in your The Navarros series. 

Hello! Thank you for featuring me on The Romance Dish! So excited to be here. 

Readers who pick up The Navarros series will get a hefty dose of the Navarro family dynamic, which is fiercely loyal and protective, but also extremely silly and fun. They support each other, call each other out on their nonsense, and won’t hesitate to have a good laugh at each other’s expense.

I love the food in these books, how it not only represents their heritage but is one of the things that binds the Navarro family together. Is this something that is important in your own life? Are you a cook? Or do you prefer to be the “quality control” taster? What’s a special dish or type of cooking that speaks to you?

I love to cook and often spend hours in the kitchen. I’ve evolved as a cook. I used to want to get all the traditional Puerto Rican family dishes correct for my family. When I married my husband, I wanted to learn how to make his favorite central-Italian foods. Now, I’m more adventurous, trying things out of curiosity, and challenging myself to see if I can pull it off. Like a souffle or a bar of Dubai chocolate. I’m cooking a lot more for fun now, which speaks to the fact that my children are older and I have fewer constraints on what I have to make. 

I really enjoy the diversity in your books and among the Navarro siblings, not only as it pertains to their romantic lives but also in their choices of occupation as well as the impact of their mother’s unexpected death. As their creator, did you have all of this mapped out before you began writing or did the characters surprise you with some of their choices along the way?

It was a little bit of both! I planned the books as a four books series (I always planned a book for Oliva as well), so the occupations were settled early on according to their personalities but also, based on what I saw around me and my own experience of immigrant families. The oldest, especially if they were a daughter, would carry the family, the middle child would have all the characteristics of a middle child, and the youngest would be the one most acclimated to her new culture. Olivia is my most self indulgent character after Etienne. They came almost fully formed in my mind. I am a bit of a discovery writer - I don’t always know what’s going to end up on paper until I write it, so each character surprised me at some point. Val was the least surprising because A Delicious Dilemma is the most autobiographical of the three books, while The Trouble With Exes was perhaps the most difficult of all my novels to write, because I had the least in common with Nati.

Your bio says you’ve lived all over the world. What was your favorite place? Or, top three if you can’t choose just one. What made them special? Is there anywhere you haven’t lived that you would like to try one day?

I lived in Europe for almost ten years, so I was fortunate to be able to visit most of the countries in the EU. I found Italy the most beautiful but Germany was the easiest to live in. I have always wanted to visit South America and SE Asia, and hope to cross those off my bucket list some day!

Amazon shows a new book (first in a series) by you coming in April 2025. This makes me very happy! What can you tell us about this new series?

Oh, that’s my new series set in the fictional town of Soledad Bay, Florida. In many respects, it’s a small town romance series, much as The Navarros, but I wanted to write something in my current home state to highlight the beautiful nature of the state.

Blurb for A Summer to Start Over:

She needed help…

He needed to begin again.

Single mom Indya Linares has always been Ms. Independent—especially when her family’s hurricane-ravaged resort is at stake. But when Indya’s boat breaks down at sea, she’s forced to accept help from a handsome stranger who immediately makes her heart beat faster. Who would have imagined that he’s also her stubborn mother’s pick for a new facilities manager extraordinaire? After Santiago Pereira left Venezuela to begin again in Soledad Bay, he’s got something to prove to his family…and a mission to bring his daughter back to him. But when Santi just can’t stop thinking about his new boss, will hospitality take on a new meaning for them both?

I will definitely be picking up a copy of A Summer to Start Over!

Let’s wrap things up with a few rapid-fire questions.

What are your passions (aside from writing)?

I’m one of those people who has a million hobbies! I read, and look for good audiobooks. I love cooking, and traveling, but also I enjoy being outside in nature. I grew up wanting to be an astronomer and a telescope. I read tarot cards and use them extensively for writing and journaling. I have fun with blackout poetry, and I enjoy a really good conversation with my friends.

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

I speak four languages

I studied to be a genetic engineer for many years

What are you currently reading or looking forward to reading?

I am looking forward to the publication of When The Tides Held The Moon, a gorgeous queer, Latine historical romance by the amazing Venessa Kelly.

Where can readers find you online?

I’m serataino everywhere. I’m most active on Instagram. You can also follow my newsletter at serataino.com/mailing-list.

Thank you for joining us today, Sera. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. I loved all three of the Navarro books and am looking forward to your new series in 2025.

Readers, have you read any of Sera's books yet?

Tell us what book you're currently reading or most looking forward to reading?

Are you an adventurous cook? What types of dishes do you most enjoy making?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 19 will receive a signed print copy of book one in Sera's Navarros series, A Delicious Dilemma. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Author's Guide to Murder

The Author's Guide to Murder

by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: November 5, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead—under bizarre circumstances—in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists. 

The prime suspects are Kat de Noir, a slinky erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction. The women claim to be best friends writing a book together, but the authors’ stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don’t quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious. 

Why did the authors really come to Castle Kinloch? And what really happened the night of the great Kinloch ceilidh, when Brett Saffron Presley skipped the folk dancing for a rendezvous with death? 

A crafty locked-room mystery, a pointed satire about the literary world, and a tale of unexpected friendship and romance—this novel has it all, as only three bestselling authors can tell it! 

PJ's Thoughts:

I call this book the tale of two halves. I found the first half a bit too easy to set aside, which I did, on several occasions. It's the stage-setting portion of the book and, while interesting, it's not exactly attention grabbing. At least, it wasn't for me. A number of characters were introduced, creating confusion as to who was who and what their roles were in the castle/community/story. It took me a while to get them all straight and settle into the story. It also took me a while to warm up to the three main characters - the American authors - in much the same way as it took them time to warm up to one another. The highlight of the first half for me was the Detective Chief Inspector, a character we only see (in the first half) through the dialogue of his interrogations. Kudos to the author(s) who wrote those lines!

Part two of the book was a completely different story (pun intended). This is where the action picked up, the tension heightened, and the characters began to unravel...then slowly rebuild into stronger, more authentic versions of themselves. This half I could not put down. In fact, I read it entirely in one sitting, through dinner, and well beyond my normal bedtime. The authors (the writing ones, not the characters) kept throwing in twists and turns that had me gasping with delight and guessing right up until the final reveal. In addition to that, the second half is where the characters really came alive. Their public personas were stripped away, allowing readers to see the authentic, complex women underneath and allowing them to forge the bonds of friendship that would carry into the future. We also learned how they were connected to the deceased Brett Saffron Presley and the traumatic impact he had on their lives. Suffice to say, the not-so-dearly departed was not a nice man. 

While there were tough topics discussed in this book (date rape being one), the overall tone was one of cheeky humor wrapped in gothic mystery with justice prevailing in the end, and women wronged who not only survived but thrived. Those three women with whom I could not connect in the first half of the book? By the time I turned the final page, they felt like dear friends and I could not have been happier for them. And that Detective Chief Inspector I couldn't get enough of in the first part of the book? Well...I'll let you find out what happens to him yourselves but let's just say he gets even better as does the unexpected happy ending awaiting him. 

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Have you read Williams, Willig, and White? 

Do you enjoy British/Scottish police procedurals  (either TV or book)?

Who else enjoys the twists and turns of a compelling Gothic romance?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 18 will receive a hardback copy of The Author's Guide to Murder. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18