Winner - - And Now, Back to You

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

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

Patoct

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - March Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai is:

Jody Hunt

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

by Erin Knightley

Publisher: Hearthstone Reach Publishing

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

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

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

 

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

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

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

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

SPOILER: I was not disappointed.

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

Review - - Lonesome Ridge

Lonesome Ridge

by Maisey Yates

Rustler Mountain - Book 3

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

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

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

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - March

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stop by on Monday, March 16 for a review of How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev. I haven't read this one yet but the description - "Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family" - plus the fact that it's written by Sonali Dev have me eager to dive in. 

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

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

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

What are you looking forward to this month?

Are any of the above books on your reading list?

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

*U.S. only

*Must be 18