Winners - - Debbie Mason's The Sweet Life

 

The randomly chosen winners

of a signed print copy of

The Sweet Life by Debbie Mason are:

Jody Hunt

and

Maryann

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Please include "The Sweet Life" in the subject line

of your email. 

Tour Review - - Over the Sea to Skye

Over the Sea to Skye

by Sue Moorcroft

The Skye Sisters Trilogy - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

PJ's Thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy. Moorcroft has done a superb job of immersing me not only into the lives of Thea, Ezzie, and Valentina but also the beautiful Isle of Skye. As with books one and two, the first thing I wanted to do upon turning the final page of Valentina's book was book a flight to Scotland. This author always manages to do that to me, wherever her books are set. 

Moorcroft kept me on my toes with this story. With more than a few twists, I wasn't sure how it would all work out but was happy with the way it did. I enjoyed the multiple relationships explored throughout the story - from Xander's relationship with his teenage nephew to the familial relationships among Valentina, her sisters and their partners, to the fraught one between Valentina and her soon to be ex-husband, not to mention his family and girlfriend. Then there is the simmering romantic potential between Valentina and Xander. With her in Scotland and Xander from the U.S., can it ever be more than just a summer romance? There's also awkwardness and second thoughts between adopted Valentina and the biological family member she's just discovered. I appreciated the author's skill in seamlessly weaving them all together organically while keeping the progression realistic and relatable. 

Over the Sea to Skye is a humorous, heart-tugging, emotional journey from heartbreak to happiness that brings Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. It can be read as a standalone but, for me, was much more enjoyable for having read the three books in order. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Sweet Life

The Sweet Life

by Debbie Mason

Sunshine Bay - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Sometimes you can go home again . . .
 
Attorney Sage Rosetti is a force to be reckoned with. Work/life balance? Never heard of it. But when the unexpected loss of her mentor sends her spiraling, she’s prescribed a healthy dose of time off. Luckily, she’s just inherited the perfect home where she can recover. Unluckily, she’s now co-owners with her high school crush/nemesis, Jake Walker. How can she truly relax when her heart is at risk?

Sage’s mother, Gia, is dealing with a crisis of her own. A new book is about to reveal their family’s biggest secret—and Gia’s devasting heartbreak. The only person she can confide in is the one man she shouldn’t be getting close to: her sister’s ex.

But just as Sage and Gia are starting to find their paths, someone from Gia’s past resurfaces who could ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

PJ's Thoughts:

Debbie Mason takes readers back to Sunshine Bay for the final book in her trilogy about the Rosetti women. This time, Gia and her workaholic daughter, Sage take center stage and things in Sunshine Bay are about to get complicated.

I absolutely adore this Italian-American family of women that Mason has created. They leap from the pages of this book with their verve, their over the top emotions, their family feuds, and their bonds of love that, while tattered in some cases (for very good reasons), are perhaps not quite beyond repair. 

There's a lot going on in this book that kept me eagerly flipping pages. Mason infuses the story with humor, hope, romance, grief, betrayal, family conflict, self-discovery, and unexpected new beginnings, managing it all seamlessly. And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the drool-worthy dishes that emerge from the kitchen of the Rosetti family restaurant. My advice: have the pasta ready before you start reading.

Her characters are incredibly well developed and fully dimensional, with journeys that feel authentic and relatable. In all three books, I have never felt like I was reading about fictional characters. The three generations of Rosetti women and the men who have won their hearts have become real people to me and I am fully invested in their happiness.

Debbie Mason is a consummate storyteller whose books are among my favorites. If you enjoy family-centric books with romance, complicated relationships, a bit of mystery, and the joy - and messiness - of a big Italian family, give this one a try. 

The Sweet Life could be enjoyed on its own but because of the inter-woven stories and complicated family relationships that run through the trilogy, my understanding of all the characters, their past - and present - relationships and conflicts was enhanced by reading the three books in order. They are Summer on Sunshine Bay, Three Little Wishes, and The Sweet Life. 

Have you read Debbie Mason?

Do you enjoy women's fiction-romance blends?

Each of the Rosetti women has developed a signature sauce. What's the dish you're known for in your family?

Debbie Mason has very graciously offered a signed copy of The Sweet Life to two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, (EDT), June 12.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - It Takes A Psychic

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a hardcover copy of

It Takes A Psychic by Jayne Castle is:

Marcia B-C

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winners - - June Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winners

of a print book of my choice are:

Glenda

and

Cherie J

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - The Summer That Changed Everything

The Summer That Changed Everything

by Brenda Novak

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

She returned to prove her father's innocence, but there's no telling what she'll find…

It's been fifteen years since Lucy Sinclair saw her father. Fifteen long years since she sat in a courtroom and watched him sentenced to life in prison. He murdered three victims—all people she knew—which ruined her life at just seventeen. But now she’s back in Virginia to talk to him, wondering if there’s more to the story of what happened that fateful night.

An old flame, Ford Wagner, makes his own return to North Hampton Beach, fleeing a marriage that seems destined for divorce. He’s wary of Lucy and her digging into the past, but the more time they spend together, the closer they get and the more he finds himself reconsidering the truth behind the death of their mutual friend that summer. Problem is, there are plenty of those in this small coastal town who would prefer things stay quiet…

PJ's Thoughts:

This is one of my favorite Brenda Novak books that I've read in the past few years. It is so well crafted, pulling me into the story and holding me in its grip through a series of twists and turns that I did not see coming. It kept me up reading way too late because I had to know how it would all turn out. 

I love a good mystery and this one was so tightly woven that I had no idea what would happen until the final reveal. Novak outdid herself. Just when I thought I had it figured out she threw in an unexpected twist that sent me careening in a totally different direction. I was thoroughly absorbed in every page, trying to decide where she would take the story next. I love when an author accomplishes that!

The romantic part of the story is no less complicated with Ford and Lucy reuniting after their teenage relationship crashed and burned. There's tension and mistrust (understandable, considering what happened after her father was arrested) but Novak handles it with a deft hand. Their actions in present day feel authentic and their slowly unfolding relationship, with its peaks and valleys, real and organic. 

If you're looking for a well-crafted romantic suspense novel with a cross-class, second-chance romance, a tightly-woven mystery, a hostile community, unexpected twists, and a hard-won happy ending, add The Summer That Changed Everything to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it. 

Review - - The Lost Book of First Loves

The Lost Book of First Loves

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Alison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister she never knew about, it’s clear there are things her father didn't tell her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne is another multi-layered story of complicated relationships that tugs masterfully at the heartstrings. Thayne has a gift for creating complex families - both biological and family of the heart - that take me on an emotional journey.

I enjoyed not only the unfolding story of Ali and June but also the romantic journeys each of them traveled. The themes in the book are plentiful, including found family, forgiveness, acceptance, second chances (in life, career, and love), self discovery, and mapping new paths. That could be a bit much but in Thayne's skilled hands, they are interwoven with care and finesse, leading to an organic evolution of a realistic and relatable journey. 

Another facet of Thayne's writing that I enjoy is her ability to set a vividly depicted scene. She brought Wyoming to life through her descriptions, immersing me in it's majestic mountains and beautiful valleys. I felt as if I was right there with June as she discovered the healing medicine of nature and the first tendrils of belonging. 

If you're looking for a heart-tugging story of healing, hope, family, and endearing romance, add The Lost Book of First Loves to your summer reading list.   

 

Review & Giveaway - - It Takes a Psychic

It Takes a Psychic

by Jayne Ann Krentz

A Harmony Novel

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

PJ's Thoughts:

I first discovered this author while reading her Amanda Quick historical romances. I then fell in love with the romantic suspense books written by Jayne Ann Krentz, having no idea at the time that the two authors were one and the same. Some time later, I stumbled upon Jayne Castle's Harmony books, set a few hundred years in the future on the planet of Harmony. Again, another pen name of this talented wordsmith. Different eras. Different planets. All the same superb writing. Whether I'm in Victorian England, 1930's California, present-day, or across the galaxy in the distant future, I know when I pick up one of her books I'm guaranteed an immersive, relatable story I won't be able to put down.

Leona and Oliver hooked me from the opening pages of this book. They - and the reader - are thrown head first into danger and intrigue almost immediately. Strangers to one another, they discover a common goal (each for their own reasons) which has them teaming up and heading out of town to track down answers. All of this seems completely acceptable to them and especially to Leona because as her moms (who did a quick investigation into Oliver) have told her, he's "probably not a serial killer."

The pace never lags as they face down a weird little town (think Twilight Zone), a cult, mind-altering psi weapons, Underworld hazards (a series of psi-rich tunnels and caves, not Satan's playground), an eccentric hoarder who may hold answers to Leona's childhood, and a cunning, clearly unstable villain who wants at least one - and maybe both - Oliver and Leona dead. It's a wild ride and one that kept me engaged and eagerly flipping pages from start to finish. Castle/Krentz has a way of crafting these stories, and characters, that has me jumping right in with both feet and total acceptance. Nothing seems too "out there" to be believable. 

While the action/suspense element of this book takes the lead, romance is not lost. I loved the chemistry between Oliver and Leona and the way their relationship evolved over the course of the book. Their unique "talents" have caused previous relationships to crash and burn, leading both of them to think they are most likely destined to be alone. It was fun to watch that belief turned on its head. 

Last, but never least, a Jayne Castle Harmony novel would not be complete without a dust bunny. In this book, the star of the show is Roxy, a sparkly-blue-fascinator-wearing, pizza-eating, adventure-seeking, adrenaline junkie who is not about to be left behind when Oliver and Leona set off to solve the mysteries before them. I adored her and I have to be honest, she pretty much steals the whole book. 

If you're in the mood for laughter, suspense, witty dialog, tightly-crafted mystery, quirky characters, romance, danger, and happy endings, pick up a copy of It Takes a Psychic. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

PSA: When you get to Chapter Fifty-Two, make sure you're not eating or drinking anything. I laughed out loud the first time I read it and have continued to do so each of the two...five...fifteen times since. 

Note: If you read last year's People in Glass Houses (click title to read my review), you will recognize Leona as Molly's sister, the one lost in the Underworld who Molly is trying to rescue. If you're new to Harmony, it isn't necessary to read the two books in order to fully enjoy them. I do, however, highly recommend both. 

Have you read Jayne Ann Krentz or any of her other pen names?

Have you read any of the Harmony books?

Do you enjoy reading books with psychic elements? Have you ever had any psychic experiences?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, June 5 will receive a hardback copy of It Takes a Psychic.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - June

 

Memorial Day is in our rearview and summer is just around the corner. It's time for warm summer days and those beach/pool/backyard books we can't put down. Here are the titles on our June schedule that I hope make you laugh, smile, and stay up reading way past your bedtime. 

We're launching this month's schedule on Tuesday, June 3 with a review and giveaway of It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle. Krentz takes us back to the future for another Harmony page turner bubbling over with adventure, humor, romance, and irrepressible dust bunnies.

Wednesday, June 4 brings a review of The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne, a heart-tugging women's fiction novel about family, second chances, and lasting love.

Don't miss my review of Brenda Novak's The Summer That Changed Everything on Thursday, June 5. This compelling novel simmers with suspense, complex family dynamics, and second chance romance. 

Tuesday, June 10 brings a review and (signed) two-book giveaway of Debbie Mason's The Sweet Life.  This feel-good women's fiction novel concludes Mason's Sunshine Bay trilogy and the humorous and heart-tugging stories of the multi-generation Rosetti women. 

Join me on Thursday, June 12 for a tour review of Over the Sea to Skye by Sue Moorcroft. We're back on the Isle of Skye for the final book in Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy, a story of family, adoption, starting over, and unexpected romance. 

We return to the Formula 1 race circuit on Tuesday, June 17 with a review of Josie Juniper's Coming in Hot, a high-stakes romance between a sports journalist and a team owner. This is book two in Juniper's Frontrunners series.

Friday, June 20 brings a review of Small Town Hero, a western romance duet by Linda Lael Miller and Maisey Yates. One book. Two heart-tugging stories. 

Stop by on Friday, July 21 for a review of The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown. I enjoyed the humor, heart, and sparkling banter of Brown's debut and am looking forward to diving into her second rom-com. 

On Monday, June 23 I'll be sharing my thoughts about Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George. This is book two in St. George's The Doves of New York series about illegitimate American heiresses who must marry an English title in order to claim their inheritance. Things don't always go to plan. I can't wait to dive in. 

Santa will be here on Tuesday, June 24 with a review of Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath. This is book two of Heath's humorous Miss Prentice's Protegees historical rom-com series. 

What has Rosie Montague (or, for that matter, her parents, Romeo and Juliet) been up to since last year's A Daughter of Fair Verona? Don't miss my review of the newest installment in Christina Dodd's hilarious Daughter of Montague series, Thus With A Kiss I Die on Wednesday, June 25.

Join me on Thursday, June 25 for a review of The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis. This heartwarming tale of family, forgiveness, healing, and romance is a great summer read. 

Maisey Yates always takes me on an emotional journey, especially in her women's fiction novels. Stop by on Friday, June 27 for a review of Cruel Summer. The tag line of "A Contemporary Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity Romance of a Life-Changing Road Trip" has me ready to pack my bags and hit the road with these characters.

We're rounding out the month on Monday, June 30 with a review of Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong. Armstrong's Finding Mr. Write was one of my favorite books last year and this author's second rom-com is shaping up to be just as enjoyable. 

What are you looking forward to this month? Any trips on the horizon? Upcoming books to recommend? 

Do your reading tastes change in the summer? 

Two people who post a comment before 11:00 PM (ET), June 4 will receive a book from me.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Reviews - - May 2025

 

May was a busy month here at The Romance Dish. We reviewed 19 books, including several 4-5 star titles and three that earned our highest Top Dish rating, landing on my Best of 2025 watchlist.

Top Dish: Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

Top Dish: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Top Dish: Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

What were your favorite May reads?

 

Review - - The Laird's Magical Lass

The Laird's Magical Lass

by Julie Johnstone

Spellbound Hearts - Book 1

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing LLC

Release Date: May 30, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Freya

Aye, I stole a goblet. A magical one. From a witch.
In my defense, I returned it.
I just… took too long.
I was trying to save myself from a loveless marriage, not doom my future.
But witches don’t take kindly to thievery that cost them dearly.
She granted my wish—then twisted it into a curse.
Now I’m thrice wed, never for love.
Men want me for my sight, not my heart.
And when they don’t heed my visions, they die.
I've been taken again, this time by Colin bloody MacDonald.
A brute. A Highland warlord. My father’s greatest enemy.
He says he’s not like the others. I say he’s worse.
He married me to ruin my clan.
He thinks he can use me.
But I’ve had my fill of being used.
And yet… he’s careful with me. Fiercely so.
Worse still, he’s handsome when he’s not scowling,
and kind when he thinks I’m not looking.
I won’t give him my heart.
But I fear it may no longer be mine to keep.

Colin

I didn’t want a wife.
I needed leverage. A weapon. A way to end this war.
Freya MacLeod is all of that—and more trouble than I bargained for.
I forced her hand, aye. But I swore not to touch her until she’s willing.
And now, every day she refuses me feels like its own kind of curse.
She’s fire and prophecy, steel wrapped in silk.
And I’m starting to forget I married her for vengeance.
Starting to wonder what it would mean to earn her trust.
There’s no room for softness in war.
No space for hearts in bargains.
But when it comes to Freya, I’ve already lost more than I meant to give.

PJ's Thoughts:

Julie Johnstone takes us back to the Medieval Scottish Highlands with another compelling, action-packed, sensual romance that reeled me right in and refused to let go. 

One of the things I most enjoy about Johnstone's books is the sense of place. I never feel like I'm reading a modern story set in the past. She writes with an authenticity that convinces me I'm actually watching a story unfold in Medieval times. Things aren't easy. In fact, they are often harsh and unforgiving, especially for women. But, fear not, there is always a happy ending, even if it comes only after a hard-fought journey. 

Another facet I enjoy about Johnstone's books is her characters. Always complex, with multi-layered emotional histories, they come to life on the pages of the book, engaging my interest and my emotions. Freya and Colin are both beautifully developed and their journey is one that had me pulling for them every step of the way. 

While The Laird's Magical Lass is filled with the adventure, betrayal, danger, and romance I've come to expect from this author, it also has the added bonus of a magical twist. I fully bought into the curse placed upon Freya and am already eager to discover what will happen to her friends (who were also cursed) when it's time for their books. And, although Freya's sister is too young for her own story now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will get her own book when the time is right.