Review - - Honeymoon Phase

Honeymoon Phase

by Amy Daws

Mountain Men Matchmaker - Book 3

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Fact or fiction: proposing to your best friend so she can inherit her family business is a great idea.

When Addison “Roe” Monroe tells me she’s going on a husband hunt at the local lumberjack competition so she can inherit her father’s lumberyard, desperate times call for desperate measures.

She’s sworn off romance. Says she’s been through enough tragedy. So I offer myself as an alternative, 'cause that’s what best friends are for.

But my stubborn friend, who would rather drive a forklift than get her nails done, refuses to accept my help, and now I find myself training to become a lumberjack.

I refuse to let Roe hitch her wagon to some hulking ax wielder who might be a serial killer. She means too much to me.

And I swear there are moments where she looks at me like I mean something more to her, too.

On the surface, I’m offering a marriage of convenience to protect her. But the truth is…I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend.

So if I have to marry her and move her up to Fletcher Mountain just to see if she could love me back, so be it.

Because my only regret would be losing her forever, and that’s a fact.

PJ's Thoughts:

Amy Daws blends laugh-out-loud fun, heart-tugging emotion, family dynamics, and toe-curling steam in this third book of her Mountain Men Matchmaker series and I am here for every word. 

Luke Fletcher is the last unattached brother standing on Fletcher Mountain. Not that he wants to be. No, Luke has it bad for his best friend but she's set against love and marriage. Or, make that marriage with love. A marriage of convenience, on the other hand, one that will only last a year is most definitely on the table...with anyone but Luke. Our boy is out to change her mind and, hopefully, win her heart. 

To say Addison "Roe" Monroe has had an unconventional upbringing would be a understatement. Grief and abandonment have shaped her into the woman she is, with a heart she is not about to open up to more pain. If there's one person who could tempt her, it would be her best friend, her safe space. But, is she willing to risk his friendship for more? And what about his family who welcomes her with open arms? 

Addison is such a singular character, more at home on a forklift than a dance floor, more at ease in flannel than silk, but also ridiculously fond of her sourdough starter. Yes, she bakes bread. That's part of the soft side she keeps hidden, maybe even from herself. It was wonderful to watch her evolve over the course of the book, learning to deal with the emotional trauma of her past, learning to trust, and embracing those softer emotions without losing the essence of who she is. 

Luke has past trauma of his own and vulnerabilities not readily apparent but one thing that never wavers is his steadfast love, support, and belief in Addison. He is there for her, always, in whatever fashion she needs, even at the expense of his own hopes, heart, and safety (lumberjack competition, anyone?). I adored him, his family, his cock (not that one!). Okay, maybe that one too but I'm talking about his oh-so-spoiled pet rooster. 

The supporting cast of characters in this book is pure gold. The dynamic among the brothers is spot on and the Fletcher Mountain ladies have me wanting to build a cabin up there and hang out with them too. They're such a fun, sassy, relatable group. I want to sled with them, dance with them, get tipsy while eating pizza on the curb with them, and lean in for warm, teary-eyed hugs while celebrating the hard-won love and joy each has found. 

There's only one more Fletcher standing and that's beloved niece, Everly, known as the family matchmaker. The tables will turn when Everly steps into her own love story in 2026. I can't wait. 

 

Review - - Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 12

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

A favor owed. An Off-limits romance. Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen.

Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father’s death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they’re grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King.

Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father’s illegal activities caused her father's death. So when Sheena rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, Denver can’t say no. He’ll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

PJ's Thoughts:

Could Sheena Patrick and Denver King, the two black sheep loners of Pyrite Falls actually be a perfect fit for each other? Not without a whole lot of introspection and growth, thankfully something at which author Maisey Yates excels. 

This final book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series brings plenty of sizzle, snappy banter, and emotional depth, exactly what I would expect from these two main characters. Yates has a knack for writing dysfunctional families and, boy howdy, do Sheena and Denver fit that vibe. Considering their history, the actions of their fathers, and the life-changing events that shaped both of their lives from a young age, I didn't know how Yates was going to pull off a happy ending for these two. She does - of course, she does - but you'll have to read the book to discover how. 

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series is the many layers of the characters along with the emotionally complicated journeys they travel. It's a gradual process, often with a fair amount of push and pull, as the main couples work individually and together to sort through their emotional baggage and find their way forward. That is certainly the case with Denver and Sheena. Of course, they don't accomplish such a monumental task on their own. We have siblings and their partners on both sides more than ready to step in and meddle when necessary. 

As someone who has read the entire Four Corners Ranch series, it was fun to watch favorite couples from earlier books jump into the fray to help Denver, the last man standing, find his HEA. For readers who are new to Four Corners Ranch, be aware that while this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, there may be confusion due to those supporting characters and references to events that have already occurred. For me, however, Cowboy, it's Cold Outside was a heart-tugging way to wrap up this series with a hard-won happy ending and an epilogue that had me grinning with happy, touched-my-heart tears. 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - The Marriage Narrative

The Marriage Narrative

by Claire Kann

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Zinnia is an ambitious, successful businesswoman who is not about to wait around for her One True Love. She turns her dating profile into a marriage-merger proposal: a few strategic meetings, move in together, get married—all within thirty days. Her friends think it will never work… until she meets Jordan, a near-perfect applicant with a big secret.

Jordan’s family has spent the last decade starring in a massively popular reality show about their lives. He has finally agreed to join the cast, but production wants him to marry an actress (his ex) in a romantic storyline to boost viewership.

Convinced Zinnia is perfect for the role instead, Jordan proposes a mutually beneficial marriage agreement: she gets her business partner husband, and he gets to help his family on his terms. Together they face strict schedules, wild plot twists, and behind-the-scenes hostilities, all while acting like besotted newlyweds—an intense performance that evolves into a relationship they never expected.

As the line between reality and show blurs, Zinnia and Jordan must choose between a clean contract or a beautifully messy love story.

Santa Says:

The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann is an intense ride about two people who strike a bargain. The bargain? Pretend to be engaged on a reality tv show set. What can go wrong and what, in the end, can go incredibly right? I give this book four out of five stars!

Our heroine, Zianna, an artist and successful businesswomen. She runs with her roommates and best friends out of their apartment. She wants more than anything to feel connected to someone. Dating apps have not been successful and she feels love is just out of her reach. She decides instead to create an online business proposition which allows for a partnership without the messiness of love involved. They would meet, get to know one another and marry after one month. Pretty straight forward - right? She creates a whole presentation for her friends who feel she has lost her mind! They reluctantly agree to go along with the hairbrained scheme but only if they can help her vet potential candidates.

Zianna meets with a host of men who do not quite measure up. Her friends think she’s given up on her plans when she decides to meet with Jason, a successful coffee shop/bookstore owner. He ticks all the right boxes until he presents his own seemingly impossible idea. Jason’s family is on a hit reality tv show which they want him to be on and sort of join the family business by coming back to marry his ex who is also a famous actress. He never wanted to be a part of the show and definitely not to marry his ex-girlfriend. He proposes that Zianna come on as his fake fiance and they would indeed marry at the end of the season.

Zianna thinks he’s made the whole thing up! Whose family is featured on a hit reality tv show. She thinks he’s scamming her but he shows her footage of the show. She reluctantly agrees to going on set and living on the property with him. Immediate sparks fly as Zianna finds that everyone from the show runner to his mother and sister really wanted him to marry his ex. They don’t buy their whirlwind romance. Tensions are high but they are able to navigate choppy waters and avoid curveballs on set and out in the real world. Their bungalow becomes their sanctuary.

Despite all this their hea is secured. Close proximity can really move things along in the right direction. He falls first which is also a favorite trope of mine. Claire Kann makes the storyline and these two characters really believable. I enjoyed this book and will look out for more from her in the future.

Readers, do you enjoy the marriage of convenience trope?

Do you watch Reality TV? What are some of your favorite shows?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 13 will receive a print copy of The Marriage Narrative.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - While it was Snowing

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

While it was Snowing by Julia London is:

Cindy_S Ev0lvin

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Claiming the Princess

Claiming the Princess

by Charis Michaels

Hidden Royals - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Princess Danielle Allard d’Orleans grew up believing that she was a simple village girl raised in Kent by surrogate parents. That simple life vanishes when she discovers she’s actually a princess in hiding— especially as the first order of royal business is to marry a war hero she’s never met.

Captain Luke Bannock wasn’t trying to become a hero—and even less so, a husband. But he shows selfless courage in a fierce Naval battle and the Crown offers him a reward for valor. His chosen prize? The hand in marriage of an obscure princess, living in exile. The reason? Revenge against his sworn enemy.

What begins as an arranged marriage between a village girl and a cynical captain evolves into dance of passion and self-discovery. As Luke helps Dani reckon with her secret royal blood, his thirst for revenge is replaced by desire for his new wife. The shock and hurt burn away, and an all-consuming love sails this fated couple into their happily ever after.

PJ's Thoughts:

Charis Michaels never fails to deliver an immersive reading experience with atypical settings, multi-layered characters, and intriguing, original storylines that keep me engaged from start to finish. Her newest book, Claiming the Princess, concludes her Hidden Royals trilogy with a story that pulled me in and refused to let go until I had turned the final page. 

I do love a tortured hero. Enter Captain Luke Bannock, smuggler, part-time courier for the Crown, and reluctant public hero. Luke has one goal: to rescue his surrogate father from French captivity and avenge the brutal deaths of his crew. The key to accomplishing both? An exiled French princess living in a small English village. He's certain she will be thrilled to be returned to her rightful, pampered position in French aristocracy. I mean, she's a princess, right? Poor Luke has no idea what he's actually signed up for or all the ways in which this unexpected woman is going to impact his plans. 

Princess Danielle Allard d’Orleans is English to her bones. A young woman from a small village in Kent, Dani's primary concerns are her adoptive parents, her friends, and saving her village from unscrupulous men with too much money. Dani has no idea that she's a princess. She doesn't even know that she's French. And, why in the world would the King even be aware of her existence, let alone insist she marry a national hero? An attractive, intelligent, appealing, bent on revenge, national hero? 

This book checked all of my happy reader boxes. I love the slow-burn romance between Luke and Dani, first as they get to know one another in Kent, then through their letters while they are apart. The letters are an especially effective method of allowing feelings to deepen as they gradually open their hearts and minds to one another. I loved watching them slowly discover not only their love for each other but also the path each is destined to follow. Their engaging journey from strangers to love is brimming with emotional depth, sparkling banter, unexpected surprises, action, danger, and a hard-won happy ending. I was with them every step of the way. 

Michaels has crafted a supporting cast who only add to the richness and complexity of the overall story. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy seeing Dani reunite with her siblings while also celebrating the found family that means so much to both Dani and Luke. They all contributed to laughter, tears, and several tugs on my heartstrings.

While I enjoyed all three books in this series and am happy I read them in order (I'm weird about that), those new to the series need not worry about beginning with Claiming the Princess. All three books stand well on their own and all have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Winner - - November Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Love Lessons by Sidney Halston is:

Sharlene Wegner

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Summer We Met

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Summer We Met by 

Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott is:

Patoct

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review and Giveaway - - While it was Snowing

While it was Snowing

by Julia London

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

All Amy Casey wants for Christmas is to paint. She needs five new paintings for the holiday show at her local art gallery, but between her two teenage sons, her needy ex-husband, and her overbearing parents, she hardly has any time for herself. Luckily, her best friend has the perfect solution: a vacant family lake house in North Texas, all hers for two weeks of distraction-free painting. Or so she thought.

Turns out professional golfer Harrison Neely also rented the lake house so he can spend the holidays rehabbing the injury that has put his career—and life—on hold. Despite the booking snafu, both Amy and Harrison (along with Amy's old blind dog and the army of child-sized nutcrackers residing in the living room) agree to share the festive lodging.

When an impending snowstorm has the two cozying up by the fire, sparks fly in more ways than one, and they open up to each other, unwrapping secrets and stories they’ve never shared before. But Harrison is expected back on the tournament circuit after the holidays, and Amy's family needs her. As their departure date looms and her family and his manager press them for answers, they’ll have to decide if this December to remember has been a fun holiday fling, or if they’ve found a Christmas miracle: true love.

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Much. Fun. This book felt like it was written solely for my enjoyment. I laughed. I sighed. I cringed. I laughed some more. I cheered. I sighed and laughed at the same time.  

Anyone who has lived with clueless teenagers (who can't find items right in front of them without their mom's help), dealt with a clueless ex who has discovered the grass really isn't greener on the younger side of the fence and wants to come home (not happening), or suffered loving but (again, clueless) extended family who don't seem to understand you have needs too (how many texts a day are too many and just how long is my unemployed brother going to be sleeping on my couch?) should be able to identify with Amy's line in the sand. This woman has reached a breaking point and needs her two weeks alone at her friend's family home. Too bad (or is it?) her friend's sister rented the house to Harrison for the same two weeks.  

London taps into all the fun and chaos of this steamy, endearing, and hilarious forced proximity, adversaries-to-lovers romance. There's plenty of laughter but also satisfying emotional depth and character growth. Harrison (almost fifty, never married, no children, no pets) has devoted his entire life to golf but because of injury is now facing a professional crossroads. Could a personal crossroads be on the table as well? Amy (same age) has devoted her adult life to her family and is now wondering how she lost herself in the process and if it's too late to recapture her youthful dreams. She certainly isn't looking for a new romance but fate (and sisters who don't talk to each other) seem to have stepped in to steer both of them in that direction.

Both Amy and Harrison came to the lake seeking solitude. Neither expected to find the other. Harrison also did not expect to find an elderly, mostly blind dog who goes thud in the night (actually, around the clock). Amy wasn't surprised by the dog seeing as she's the one who brought her. And, by the way, that dog stole every single scene she was in...and she was in quite a few. They absolutely did not expect to be sharing their space with multiple uninvited guests who promise to stay out of their way but this is a rom-com and we all know how that goes. The menu is set for hilarity, frustration, holiday shenanigans, personal growth, surprises (so many surprises), sneaky romantic encounters, and, just maybe, a chance to fall in love and forge a new path...together.  

While it was Snowing overflows with sparkling banter, impeccably-placed humor, emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and pure entertainment from start to finish. I loved it and plan to make it an annual holiday read. 

Have you read Julia London?

Do you enjoy books with mature lead characters?

Do you have any annual holiday re-reads? What are they?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 9 will receive a print copy of While it was Snowing.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Heartbreak Hotel

The Heartbreak Hotel

by Ellen O'Clover

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: September 23, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Louisa Walsh emerged from a tumultuous childhood with a degree in counseling, a wealthy boyfriend, and her sunny outlook on life mostly intact. But that optimism is tested when she’s dumped and left unable to afford rent on their gorgeous house in the mountains of Colorado. Even with her life in disarray, Lou knows losing the one stable place she’s ever called home is not an option.

Her plan: ask her reclusive landlord, Henry Rhodes, to let her stay for free in exchange for renting out the house’s many rooms as a bed-and-breakfast. She’s shocked when he agrees to her terms, and even more surprised to discover Henry is a handsome thirtysomething veterinarian with silver at his temples and sadness in his eyes. One who does not take it well when Lou starts marketing her B and B as a retreat for the recently heartbroken.

But as the Comeback Inn opens its doors to its weary, hopeful guests, Lou and Henry find themselves dancing around both their undeniable connection and the closely held secrets that threaten to topple this fragile new start. A chance at love, here, could be too close to home…or it could be exactly where their hearts finally heal.

PJ's Thoughts:

Heartbreak, hope, and healing are the cornerstones of this achingly emotional debut romance by Ellen O'Clover. 

When Louisa "Lou" Walsh's long-time relationship with her boyfriend comes to a screeching - and very public - halt, she retreats to the house in the mountains that they've been renting for years. For Lou, who survived a tumultuous childhood, it's the only place that has ever felt like home and she's desperate to stay but she also knows she has no way of affording the rent by herself. Maybe she can convince the owner to let her take the huge house in a different direction? 

Henry reluctantly agrees to let Lou (temporarily) turn the house into a retreat for the broken-hearted though he has strong doubts about how well that will go. However, it's hard for him to say no to the woman he's been attracted to for years but has kept his distance from...until now. 

Thus begins a journey of growth and healing for Lou, Henry, and the visitors to the Comeback Inn. O'Clover seamlessly weaves characters and their stories into a tapestry of friendship - and romance - as individual stories unfold and new ones are written. The characters, dealing with a variety of realistic and relatable heartbreaks, are vividly depicted as they organically evolve over the course of their time at the Comeback Inn, adding texture, humor, conflict, and hope to the overall story. For Lou and Henry, it's a deeply emotional, ultimately uplifting journey with slow-burn romance, personal growth, intense vulnerability, and complicated family dynamics on the way to a hard-won happy ending. 

I'm looking forward to discovering what Ellen O'Clover will bring readers next. 

Review - - Otherwise Engaged

Otherwise Engaged

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: November 4, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.

Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.

Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.

PJ's Thoughts:

Wow, what a roller coaster of a ride! Mallery digs into all the messy, precarious, sometimes volatile emotions of mother-daughter relationships and the impact they have on her characters' lives. And, in this book, that impact is mighty. 

Imagine discovering as an adult that your entire life was supposed to be different. That's what happens to Shannon and Victoria, two women with very different upbringings and very different relationships with their mothers. For one, the revelation explains so much about why she and her mother have never connected. For the other, it threatens the close - maybe too close - bond between mother and daughter. The fallout is immense, as one would expect, and expertly revealed, one piece at a time, by Mallery.

The twists never stop coming in this story, pulling me into the lives of these characters and keeping me invested while wondering what would happen next. The relationships are complicated, the emotions complex, and the resolutions hard won. Mallery doesn't shy away from the messiness, the ramifications of mistakes made or the devastation of heartrending decisions. It all feels very authentic and relatable. 

Aside from the relationships among the women, there are also romantic relationships (marriage, secret engagement, dating) that do not go untouched in the aftermath of the revelation of those long-held secrets. It all unfolds organically with expected difficulties along the way but results in long-overdue growth, healing, and hope for stronger relationships going forward. The process isn't easy but it's ultimately rewarding. 

This story grabbed me from the beginning and held me enthralled throughout, right up until the abrupt, what-the-heck ending. I was sure I had received a corrupted file and there were missing pages but, nope. That was the end. Maybe it's the romance reader in me but it just felt unfinished. I wanted more closure for these characters. An epilogue or even a few more pages could have given me that and made this a five-star read (for me). Other readers may feel differently. My issues aside, Otherwise Engaged is still a deeply emotional, immersive, well-written book and one I highly recommend. 

Winner - - Pickle Perfect

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Pickle Perfect by Ilana Long is:

traveler

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - November

 

Welcome to November! Are you ready to dive into new books as we gear up for the winter holidays? Here's what's on the schedule.

First up on Tuesday, November 4 is a review of Susan Mallery's Otherwise Engaged. This deeply emotional women's fiction novel from Mallery is filled with secrets, messy family dynamics, and more than one unexpected revelation. 

Wednesday, November 5 brings a review of The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover. This debut novel is heartbreaking, hopeful, and satisfyingly romantic. 

Don't miss a review - and giveaway - of While it Was Snowing by Julia London on Thursday, November 6. Mature characters, forced proximity, chaotic family, humor, heart, happy endings, and a mostly blind senior dog who stole every scene she was in kept me enjoying this story late into the night. 

Monday, November 10 brings a review of Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels. This final book in the Hidden Royals trilogy hit all my happy reader buttons. 

Join us on Tuesday, November 11 for Santa's tour review - and a giveaway - of The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann. I'm eager to read what Santa has to say about this modern marriage of convenience romance. 

Wednesday, November 12 brings a grumpy/grumpy romance in Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Maisey Yates. This final book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series brings emotional depth, snappy banter, chemistry for days, and a chance at an unexpected HEA for the least likely couple in Pyrite Falls. 

Those confirmed-bachelor Fletcher brothers - and their matchmaking niece - are back with a friends-to-lovers romance in Honeymoon Phase by Amy Daws. Stop by on Thursday, November 13 for a review where I'll be talking about the laughter, shenanigans, and heartfelt emotion to be found in this book. 

On Friday, November 14, I'll be sharing a review of Snowfall in Park City, book two of Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott's humorous and heartwarming holiday quartet. 

Join us on Monday, November 17 for a review of The Christmas Keepsake by Annie Rains, a small-town story of hope, healing, family, and love. 

Be sure to stop by on Wednesday, November 19 for a review and giveaway of The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan. Colgan's holiday books always grace my must-buy list. 

Friday, November 21 takes us back to Highbury for book two in Vanessa Kelly's cozy, historical Emma Knightley Mysteries series. Stop by to read my thoughts about Murder at Donwell Abbey. 

Don't miss my review of Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade on Monday, November 24. This hilarious, steamy, grumpy/grumpy romance checked all of my happy reader boxes and is one of my favorite books this year. 

Santa returns on Tuesday, November 25 with a review of The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews. This enemies-to-lovers, historical romance is book two in Matthews' The Crinoline Academy series. 

That wraps up the month of November at The Romance Dish. What books are you looking forward to reading this month?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 4 will receive a print copy of Love Lessons by Sidney Halston. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18