Review - - Five-Star Summer

Five-Star Summer

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

PJ's Thoughts:

I can always count on Sarah Morgan to sweep me away to intriguing places with stories that never fail to touch my heart. With her newest novel, Five-Star Summer, that place is Cornwall and the story is another keeper I found hard to put down.

Much like Abby Jones, I found myself immersed in the rugged beauty of the Cornish coast, the charm of the village locals, and the hotel that stands as their slightly tarnished crown jewel. And, like Evie, I wanted to see that hotel restored to her previous glory. But the story is more than just the hotel. So much more.

Relationships are something Sarah Morgan excels at creating and she's at her best in this book. There's the friendship that grows between Abby and Evie. I love these two, how they bond over the summer as they work together with their shared goal; how they learn from one another, share confidences, encourage one another to live their best lives. But there are also secrets simmering below the surface because, of course. It couldn't be that easy, right?

Then, there are the relationships between Evie and the hotel staff, people who have known her since birth and are having trouble letting go of behaviors honed over 20+ years. The gradual changes that have to happen for Evie to be successful - and happy - are organic and believable.

Romance isn't at the forefront of this story but it absolutely hold a place for both Abby and Evie. I enjoyed both of the men at the heart of their romantic journeys.

And, finally, it wouldn't be a Sarah Morgan book without messy, emotional, life-altering family dynamics. This time, the secrets that unfold hold more than a few unexpected surprises that add depth, growth, and heart-tugging emotion to more than one happy ending. 

Five-Star Summer has my enthusiastic recommendation for your summer reading list. 

Review - - The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

by Laura Bloom

Solace Springs - Book 1

Publisher: Dell

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

When Sophie Bennet gets fired from her high-profile marketing job and dumped by her boyfriend for being "too boring," she decides to take a risk–fueled by wine–and launches a crowdfunding campaign called "Help a Boring Girl Buy a Bookshop." To her shock, what started as a joke goes viral, raising enough money for her to leave London and buy a rundown boathouse in the sleepy small town of Solace Springs, Washington, marking the start of her new chapter.

Local boatbuilder and professional grump Luke Rhodes has had it with outsiders coming to Solace Springs and disturbing his carefully cultivated quiet life. So when Sophie, his annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor, moves in with her endless optimism, relentless determination, and distracting curves, he wants nothing to do with her renovation project. Too bad fate—and the town residents—have other plans. As Luke gets roped into working with Sophie, he starts to find that the cherry blossoms aren’t the only thing blooming in town.

In the midst of clashing over paint samples and arguing over structural integrity, things start to heat up between the town local and the new resident. But just as Luke’s carefully constructed walls begin to crack, Sophie’s sudden viral fame threatens the tranquility of Solace Springs. They’ll have to decide if their unexpected connection will wilt away or bloom into something more.

PJ's Thoughts:

London meets small-town Washington State in this charming, quirky, emotionally-charged story that I couldn't put down. 

This was my first book by Laura Bloom. I wasn't sure what to expect but the premise sounded intriguing so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so happy that I did! I was plunged straight into the story - much like Sophie's plunge into the lake - and didn't look up again until I turned the final page. 

I lost count of the happy reader boxes this book checked for me, there were so many. A whole boatload! First off, I love the grumpy-sunshine trope and, boy howdy, do Luke and Sophie exemplify this vibe. So much delicious banter and tension. Then there's the small-town setting. I want to visit Solace Springs, attend their festivals, spend time on the lake, visit with the locals. And speaking of locals, there are more than a few begging for stories of their own.  

The journey Luke and Sophie travel is filled with charm, growth, emotional healing, some steam, a few surprises, non-stop banter, and, how could I forget, a crowd-funded bookshop that beckons readers in and encourages them to stay for hours. Count me in!

The next book in Laura Bloom's Solace Springs series, The Sugar Maple Inn, is scheduled for release on September 15, 2026. I already have in on preorder.

 

Review - - Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret

by Tracy Solheim

Milwaukee Mayhem - Book 2

Publisher: Sun Home Productions

Release Date: June 8, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

He inherited a hockey empire from a father he never knew.
Now he’s risking it all for the one woman he shouldn’t touch.

When Max Kellogg unexpectedly inherits the Milwaukee Mayhem after the death of the man who refused to acknowledge him, the league expects the brash Hollywood nepo baby to crash and burn. Not wanting to give them—or his late father—the satisfaction of being right, Max steps into the spotlight—rewriting contracts, rebuilding the roster, and signing the most electrifying teenage talent professional hockey has ever seen.

Eighteen-year-old phenom Parker Dern is a virtuoso on the ice—and a tabloid sensation off it. The only person who can steady him is his fiercely devoted older sister, Olivia Dern. When Olivia suddenly finds herself unemployed and on the brink of losing the stability she’s fought so hard to build, Max makes her an offer she can’t refuse: travel with the team. Keep her brother focused. Be his handler. Shield him from the glare of the spotlight.

It’s supposed to be temporary. Strictly professional.

Until late-night flights, luxury hotel rooms, and private skating sessions begin to blur the lines.

Making his late father pay for a lifetime of neglect has always been Max’s driving obsession. But when Olivia walks into his carefully calculated world, revenge is no longer the only thing on his mind. And for the first time, Max must decide if payback is worth losing the one person who makes him want something more…

PJ's Thoughts:

Hockey. Family. Romance. Tracy Solheim beautifully blends the three in this second book of her Milwaukee Mayhem series. These characters quickly drew me into their lives and held my attention right up until the end. There's intrigue, steam, villainous family members, surprise revelations, character growth, and a hard-won happy ending. 

If you're looking for multi-layered contemporary romance with messy family relationships, characters who feel like real people, high emotional stakes, a few surprises, and a heartfelt happy ending, all set within the world of professional sports, an arena this author knows well, pick up a copy of Dirty Little Secret and prepare to be swept away.  

Do you enjoy sports romance? If so, all sports or just particular ones?

Have you read any books by Tracy Solheim yet? (She's also written romantic suspense and straight contemporary romance).