Review - - The Love Audit

The Love Audit

by Lucy Eden

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

  There are three things that PR strategist Jasmine Morgan knows for sure: One, she’s damn good at her job. Two, she’ll do whatever it takes to save her team from looming layoffs. And three, Derek Carter will always be her archnemesis—even if the man is ridiculously fine. Unfortunately, she and Derek end up on competing projects in Miller’s Cove, a small town highly suspicious of corporate outsiders. To gain the trust of the locals, she’ll have to ditch her blazer and pose as a “honeymooning couple” with her mortal enemy.

Derek isn’t about to let Jasmine best him on the venture that will seal their fate during this company audit. But wherever he goes, she’s there—in his hotel suite, digging for the same research, and even stealing the loyalty of his dog (traitor). Worse, her tempting performance as his fiancée has him torn between killing her career or kissing her senseless. But as the two get deeper into their charade, they discover little Miller’s Cove has a lot of big secrets. Secrets that could save their careers . . . but at what cost?

PJ's Thoughts:

This was my first book by Lucy Eden. It won't be my last. 

So many of my favorite tropes have center stage in this story. Derek and Jasmine were childhood friends who parted amidst bad feelings and haven't spoken in years until they are reunited only to discover they are workplace rivals for the same position at a newly merged company. Enemies to lovers: one of my favorites. But it doesn't stop there. We have fake newlyweds, forced proximity, small-town romance, spicy chemistry, one bed, and...oops...one gets sick and the other nurses them back to health. Not to mention a heart-stealing, matchmaking dog (you won't convince me otherwise). 

There's more to savor in this book than just Derek and Jasmine. Eden also dips into the multiple layers of the town of Miller's Cove, its citizens, and its origin story. Rising from the grief of an actual historic event in Tulsa, OK, this small Florida town is zealously guarded by the people who call it home, especially those descended from the founding families. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story and the hope rising from the ashes of an attack not enough people know about. 

Then there's the dynamics stemming from Derek's and Jasmine's families, once best friends and business partners, now bitter enemies. Their history has played a significant role in Derek's and Jasmine's feelings over the years as well as their currently deepening emotions for one another. I was surprised by the truths that were revealed. I also hope we'll get to see more of Derek's brother and a certain doctor. 

If you enjoy a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance with heart-tugging emotion, humor, multi-layered characters, spicy romance, a dog who steals not only scenes but also hearts, and a happy ending, not only for our main couple but the town as well, pick up a copy of The Love Audit. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - Mistletoe in Park City

Mistletoe in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 3

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: December 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Gracie McBride is up to her elbows in Christmas cookie dough at her beloved bakery, Sugarfall, when a health-conscious rival opens a sleek new shop across the street—serving kale cupcakes and protein-packed pastries that threaten to steal her customers. But when a holiday project throws them together, Gracie discovers that sometimes the sweetest treats in life come from the most unexpected ingredients.

At Snowberry Lodge, the season sparkles with love as Cindy and Nicole prepare for a double Christmas wedding. But MJ can’t stop thinking about Matt Walker, the mysterious guest who came and went last year, leaving her to wonder...will he keep his promise to return?

With weddings, wishes, and a sprinkle of mistletoe—will this be the sweetest Snowberry Christmas yet?

PJ's Thoughts:

Scott and Holloway continue to bring the humor, heart, and holiday goodness in this third book of their Christmas in the Canyons quartet. 

By now, these characters feel like good friends and each new book, a much anticipated visit to their beautiful, snowy corner of the world. That speaks to the authors' ability to develop characters to the point that they feel like real people in whom my heart is invested. 

When we rejoin the family, one year has passed since the end of book two. A lot has happened but as I read I never felt as though I was missing anything. It felt like we picked right back up with everyone during an annual visit to the mountains. Romance is in the air for multiple couples with wedding planning in the works, matchmaking kids, and a surprise arrival. I loved every word. 

This heartwarming series has my enthusiastic recommendation. Because each book builds on the previous one, I strongly encourage readers to read them in order. The fourth and final book will be published later this month. 

 

Winner - - Julie Johnstone

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a signed print copy of

Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone is:

Diane Sallans

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - December Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey is:

Shari B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Ember Eternal

Ember Eternal

by Chloe Neill

Souls Burn Brightest – Book 1

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by Nancy

4.75 stars 

Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free. 

While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability, and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage. 

 

Nancy’s Thoughts: 

In Ember Eternal, veteran author Chloe Neill offers a romantasy set in a fully-realized, beautifully described pre-industrial world. She always gives the reader a complete picture of the characters and their surroundings, so the mental images that flow from the pages are never vague or puzzling. Yet that picture is painted so efficiently that the description doesn’t slow the pace. I’m happy to say the book includes zero made-up terms that may sound cool but are never explained, even though they pop up often. Using words that way is a pet peeve of mine. 

The heroine, an orphaned thief named Fox, can see ghosts and has other magical senses she doesn’t fully understand. She only steals what she needs and avoids taking from someone who needs the money more. Her best friend, Wren, also a thief and an orphan, is Fox’s sister in all but blood. The two of them are bond servants to a wealthy woman who hires them out for money. Neither Fox nor Wren knows how much is owed on her bond, and neither expects ever to pay it off. 

Fox’s creed is “Never be noticed.” Forced to choose between doing the right thing or not being noticed, however, she chooses what is right. Almost everything that happens to her in the story springs from one such choice. 

The hero, Nik, arrives at the stronghold, the city where Fox lives, in the train of the prince who is its new ruler. An assassination attempt against the prince leads Nik and Fox to work together. The romance between them builds slowly, and their cooperation leads to a number of unwelcome surprises for Fox. Her abilities draw the attention of a magic-wielder who means to destroy the prince’s dynasty, the Lys’Careths. 

The characters are sympathetic, engaging, and layered, and the romance, while not the primary storyline, is strong and well developed. The heat level increases as Fox and Nik’s emotional intimacy deepens. 

Because the story is told in first person, we have only Fox’s viewpoint on events and the relationship. We do get a good idea of Nik’s feelings from his reactions. 

The supporting characters are varied and elicit different levels of sympathy. The Lady, who holds Fox’s and Wren’s bonds, is mercenary and grasping but not unkind to them. The palace staff and guardsmen are loyal and efficient, a contrast to the local city guard, and each has a moment to show individual personality traits. 

Unfortunately, Fox isn’t the only woman interested in Nik’s heart. The other woman, while manipulative and not generally trusted, has a moment that sparks Fox’s grudging sympathy for her. 

The plot is logical and builds off the unique features of the story world. The choices Fox and Nik make are believable because they are in keeping with the characters’ beliefs as established earlier in the story. The book doesn’t wrap everything up at the end, but the ending was satisfying and believable. 

I’m reluctant to include more about the characters or the plot. I don’t want to spoil the twists the story takes. 

You may have gathered that I was cruising toward a five-star review. I was. But one thing about the book pulled me out of the story and frustrated me. In four or five places, I needed dialogue attributions that aren’t supplied. When more than two characters are in a scene, it isn’t always possible to tell which one is speaking based on the content of the dialogue. When I’m confused because I don’t know who is talking, I have to stop and count lines back from the last attribution. Even then, I can’t always tell. This happened in only four or five places, and balancing those rare frustrating incidents against my tremendous enjoyment of the rest of the story led me to take off only ¼ of a star. 

I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait for the next one. 

~ 4.75 stars 

Nancy

 

Reader questions from Nancy: 

Do you read romantasy? 

If you’re a romantasy reader, where on the continuum of worldbuilding do you fall? Do you like detailed worldbuilding, or are you closer to the minimalist level of a preindustrial setting, some magic or otherworldly elements and maybe some made-up terms? Or are you somewhere in between? 

Do you prefer the romance in a romantasy to be the central story, a strong but subordinate element, or a 50/50 split?

 

Review & Giveaway - - Christmas Wishes of Love

Christmas Wishes of Love

by Julie Johnstone

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: December 1, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Her first mistake was not killing the brute when she met him. Her second was falling in love with him.

Highlander Rory Matheson knows what he wants—a biddable wife. So when an edict from the king demands Rory choose a bride by Winter Solstice from the twin daughters of his clan’s greatest enemies—The MacLeods, he knows the moment he meets the sharp-tongued, headstrong Lillith that he’ll definitely not be picking her. Not only is she far from the docile wife he craves for peace, she’s unpredictable and dangerous—she put an arrow in his shoulder! Yet, he cannot keep away from the oddly enticing lass who stirs his desire. She’s brave and cunning, and she challenges him at every turn. And as the king’s deadline draws near, Rory comes to realize that he no longer wishes to win his battle of wills with Lillith—he’s determined to claim her heart.

Lillith MacLeod wants to be a warrior, not a wife. She’s seen the havoc love creates, and she’ll pass—thank you very much. She’s determined to defy both king and clan rather than become the bride of Rory bloody Matheson, so she hatches a scheme to drive Rory away and leave her clan blame-free. But she soon finds herself entangled in fiery exchanges with the irritatingly handsome Scot that spark her interest, kisses that ignite her desire, and a competition that reveals an honorable, caring side of the Hammer of the Highlands that she never expected. As tensions rise between the women and men of her clan over the edict and the king’s deadline looms, her family’s future—and her own—hangs in the balance, and she must decide: is love her greatest enemy or is it herself?

PJ's Thoughts:

Whether  you're already a fan of Julie Johnstone's Highlander Vows - Entangled Hearts series or new to these books, Christmas Wishes of Love is a story that should be on your holiday reading list.

This new novella highlights all the reasons why Johnstone is one of my favorite authors writing romance in the Medieval era. The setting, language, and characters all feel authentic to place and time. The family dynamics are an absolute delight. The characters are well developed, eliciting a range of emotions that made me smile, laugh, shed a tear or two, and cheer well-deserved happy endings. 

The banter between Rory and Lillith is terrific, as are the chemistry and deepening feelings. I love a romance where both parties are against the match then slowly, over time, come to realize there really couldn't be anyone else for them but the one they were against. I adored Rory's wooing of Lillith, the care he used as well as his emotional support.  especially appreciated his respect and support of her wishes for her life. I also enjoyed Lillith's evolution from fear of opening her heart to acceptance and celebration of a deep, abiding love. She touched my heart and was easy to cheer for. Also, the advice from older generations to both Lillith and Rory was a delight. So much fun to see Iain and Marion (When a Laird Loves a Lady - Book 1) as grandparents! 

While I love and recommend all of the books in this series, Christmas Wishes of Love can easily be enjoyed as a standalone story. Don't hesitate to make this heart-tugging novella your first visit to Julie Johnstone's unforgettable Highlanders. 

Have you read Julie Johnstone yet?

Do you enjoy Medieval romances?

What do you think about next generation stories?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 6 will receive a signed print copy of Highland Hope (the story of Royce and Eve, Lillith's widowed father and stepmother) by Julie Johnstone.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - December 2025

 

It's here! The final month of 2025 has arrived Wow, that went fast. Anybody else feel like we were just celebrating New Year's? Life is still a bit complicated at my house so you'll find the number of December offerings a bit light this year. Don't worry though, what we lack in number this month we make up for in quality.  

Launching the month on Thursday, December 4 is a review of Christmas Wishes of Love by Julie Johnstone. I love next generation stories and this newest Medieval Highlander tale from Johnstone ticked all my happy reader buttons. 

Reviewer Nancy will be here on Friday, December 5 with a review of Ember Eternal by Chloe Neill. This new Romantasy launches Neill's Souls Burn Brightest series. 

Join me on Monday, December 8 for a review of Mistletoe in Park City by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. This third book in their Christmas in the Canyons quartet brings more family, romance, and hijinks to a story I didn't want to put down.

Former childhood friends are reunited as work rivals in The Love Audit by Lucy Eden. Work and family complications lead to a fake newlyweds trope, small town goodness, and a second chance for a real happily ever after. Stop by Wednesday, December 10 for my review.

Friday, December 12 brings a review and giveaway of The E.M.M.A Effect by Lia Riley. Pair a nerdy computer scientist with her best friend's hot, hockey-playing, younger brother then fill the story with both humor and heart? Yes, please! 

Reviewer Nancy returns with a review of Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay on Wednesday, December 17. This contemporary romance takes readers to Wilder Ranch with a second-chance romance for a woman fleeing family scandal. 

Visit us on Friday, December 19 for a review of Santa Cutie by Jenny Alexandra. This spicy holiday romance bubbles over with laugh-out-loud humor and heart-tugging emotion. 

Jump start your holiday week on Monday, December 22 with a review of Shaylin Gandhi's Love Letters for Other People. Gandhi's debut (When We Had Forever) is one of my top books this year. I can't wait to dive into this new one!

That's what's on the blog schedule (so far) this month. What books are on your December reading radar?

What holidays will you be celebrating in December?

Do you have any special plans?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 5 will receive a print copy of Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - Second Chance Romance

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade is:

Susanne Lercher

Congrats!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Marriage Method

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews is:

Nicole B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Secret Christmas Library

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan is:

Susan C 

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway - - The Marriage Method

The Marriage Method

by Mimi Matthews

The Crinoline Academy - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . .

Excerpt

Gloved hands folded neatly in her lap, she waited for Mr. Quincey’s questions. But he didn’t give voice to them. Not immediately. He only looked at her with a pensive frown, as though something about her person prevented him from pursuing his logical course.

“Forgive me,” he said at length. “Mrs. Royce failed to mention that you were lately bereaved. Had I known of your loss, I would never have pressed you to—”

“I am not bereaved,” Nell said.

“No?” He swept a glance from her black-veiled hat to her lusterless black mourning dress with its tight-fitting bodice and wide, untrimmed skirts. “You can doubtless understand my confusion.”

Nell would have thought it plain enough. “I travelled alone from the Academy. I preferred to do so unmolested.” She paused, adding, “Widows are generally accorded a degree of respect not offered to unaccompanied young ladies.”

Mr. Quincey didn’t bat an eye at her explanation. She suspected he was a man who wasn’t easily surprised. “In other words, it’s a disguise.”

Nell’s expression tightened. Leave it to a man to reduce a woman’s desire to protect herself to a childish pantomime. “It’s a practical necessity,” she said.

“I see. And do all teachers at Miss Corvus’s Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies employ such arts? Or is it only you who…” His words died away as she pushed back her veil.

Ah. Perhaps he was capable of being surprised after all.

Nell met his gaze, a hint of a challenge in her own. She wasn’t vain. Neither was she guilty of false modesty. She knew herself, both her weaknesses and her strengths. “Feminine ingenuity isn’t limited to the staff room at the Academy,” she informed him. “Though, I assure you, it’s in no short supply there.”       

Mr. Quincey collected himself in a blink—so quickly Nell wondered if she’d imagined the look of masculine alertness that had flared in his eyes on first seeing her face. Clearing his throat, he very slowly and very methodically returned his pen to the brass holder on his desk. “Something else Mrs. Royce failed to mention.”

“What might that be?”

“How young you are.”

Nell stiffened at his tone of disappointment. She wasn’t used to anyone implying that she was lacking in wisdom or experience. Quite the reverse. In times of crisis, people generally looked to her for guidance. During Miss Corvus’s recent illness, Nell had all but been running the school. “Is my age of importance to your inquiries?”

“Only as it pertains to your tenure,” he said. “You can’t have been in your position long.”

“I have been employed as a teacher for five years, sir.”

He sat back in his chair, frowning at her again with an attitude of impatience. One would think she had wasted his precious time. “Mrs. Royce led me to believe you had been present at the Academy’s founding, nearly twenty years ago. It’s why I consented to meet with you instead of pursuing an interview with Miss Corvus herself. I had anticipated your providing certain information about the institution’s origins.”

Nell at once grasped the cause of his irritation. He’d wrongly presumed she would be a much older woman. One who had spent the whole of the past eighteen years teaching at the charity school. “Mrs. Royce did not mislead you.”.

“Not only Mrs. Royce,” he replied. “You, as well, Miss Trewlove. Your letters gave me to understand that you had decades of experience at Miss Corvus’s Academy.”

“I do,” she said. “Or nearly that long. I was one of its earliest students.”

Understanding registered on his face. He stared at her with renewed attention. “You were an orphan?”

Nell’s chin ticked up a notch. “That’s correct.”

There was no shame in it. Not as far as she was concerned. It was just as she often told her girls. One wasn’t accountable for the circumstances of one’s birth, only for the choices they made and the actions they took. It was that which defined a person, not pedigree.

“As are all the students at the Academy?” Mr. Quincey asked.

“To a one,” she said. “They come to us from all over the county. I flatter myself that we do our best for them.”

“Your best being…?”

She lifted one shoulder in an artfully casual shrug. “We feed them, house them, and provide them with an education that will best help them meet their potential.”

Mr. Quincey narrowed in on the word with single-minded precision. “Their potential for what, exactly?

Nell’s mouth curved in a slow smile. She comprehended the unspoken crux of his question. He believed the Academy was a home for dangerous revolutionaries. Budding feminists and crusaders for equality, willing to go to any ends to achieve their goals, even if that meant destroying the occasional man who got in their way.

He wasn’t wrong.

 

Excerpted from The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews. Copyright © 2025 by Mimi Matthews. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727469/the-marriage-method-by-mimi-matthews/

 

Have you read any books by Mimi Matthews?

Do you enjoy books where the lead couple are in a battle of wits?

Thanksgiving is this week. What's your favorite Turkey Day dish?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 28 will receive a print copy of The Marriage Method. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Second Chance Romance

Second Chance Romance

by Olivia Dade

Harlot's Bay - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've read my Top Dish review of last year's At First Spite (Harlot's Bay - Book 1), you know that I fell hard for this historic coastal town and her citizens. Book two, Second Chance Romance, has only reinforced those feelings. I first read an ARC of Second Chance Romance four months ago after which I posted the following: "Snort laughs, ugly tears, and swoony romance. This one's going straight to my list of 2025 favorites." I read the book again this week and those feelings have not changed. Olivia Dade has tapped a gold mine with these characters and I am here for every single word and emotion. 

Karl is everything I could have hoped for...and more. With his crusty exterior, marshmallow center, aversion to using his words (who needs to when actions work just as well?), baking expertise (A man who bakes? Yes, please!), creative murder mind (not that he'd hurt a fly but whoa, that's one creative imagination), kindness, salty mutter yells (the man has no volume control), and nurturing soul, he's not your typical romance hero but he's one of my all-time favorites...and he's absolutely perfect for Molly. 

Molly? OMG, I love every bit of her nerdy, fact-spouting, wary-heart self. If anyone deserves a happy ending after being betrayed, first by her father then her jerk of an ex-husband, it's Molly. No wonder she doesn't trust easily. Watching her gradually open herself not only to Karl but to others in Harlot's Bay was a delight. Watching her regain her confidence and stand up to those trying to run roughshod over her was even better. Watching her open her heart and claim her happiness? Cue happy tears and swoony delight. 

If you enjoy second chances, banter for days, emotional depth, laugh-out-loud humor, body positivity, slow-burn romance, a terrific supporting cast, and a lead couple who will steal your heart and have you cheering them on every step of the way, pick up a copy of Olivia Dade's Second Chance Romance. It's a funny, endearing, warm hug of a book that kept me engaged and entertained from beginning to end. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of Olivia Dade's books? Do you have a favorite?

Karl's a master at creating mouth-watering treats at his bakery. What's your go-to order when you visit a bakery or donut shop?

Molly narrates monster romance books. Do you listen to audiobooks? What's your favorite format for reading: print, e-book, or audio?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 30 will receive a print copy of Second Chance Romance. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Murder at Donwell Abbey

Murder at Donwell Abbey

by Vanessa Kelly

Emma Knightley Mysteries - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Have you discovered Vanessa Kelly's Emma Knightley Mysteries yet? I have to say, I'm thoroughly enjoying this new direction in which Kelly has taken her writing. 

In this second book in the series, we return to Highbury with another murder mystery that captures our amateur sleuth Emma's attention. Not only is Emma's personal life turned upside down with her father's surprising engagement announcement to Miss Hetty Bates but it's thrown into total chaos with a death (is it an unfortunate accident or something more sinister?) at the betrothal ball hosted by Emma and her husband. Will Emma figure things out before she finds herself in the villain's sights? Will the local constable muck it up? And what about the spinster, soon to be Emma's stepmother, Miss Bates? Will she turn out to be a complication or a delightfully unexpected ally?

There are so many things I enjoyed about this book. Set in a cozy, English village with intriguing characters, a tightly crafted mystery, charm, humor, witty dialogue, an indulgent, protective husband, and twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the action-packed reveal, it kept me happily turning pages from beginning to end. And bonus, I didn't figure out the final twist! 

If any of these are your reading jam, I recommend picking up a copy of Murder at Donwell Abbey as well as book one in the series, Murder in Highbury. I'm already excited to discover what sort of tangle Emma will get herself in the middle of next. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Secret Christmas Library

The Secret Christmas Library

by Jenny Colgan

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt’s attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McKinnon family’s collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate—if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.

But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it’s not a chance meeting. She’s all too familiar with Theo’s good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there’s a treasure that needs locating.

Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie’s grandfather, the castle’s most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house—forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.

A treat for booklovers and treasure hunters alike, The Secret Christmas Library serves up a delicious mystery with a hint of romance, and plenty of holiday spirit!

PJ's Thoughts:

Jenny Colgan is an author whose holiday novels I look forward to with excitement each year. She always takes me on an intriguing adventure, whether it be to a dusty Edinburgh book store (The Christmas Bookshop and Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop in 2021 and 2023) or a creaky castle at the northern tip of the Highlands in this year's The Secret Christmas Library.

This newest book bubbles over with things to love. Set in the present, there's a bit of fairy tale quality to Mirren's unexpected journey to the Highlands which then transitions into a Gothic vibe when she reaches her destination. Colgan sets the scene beautifully with all the atmosphere I could ask for: a crumbling castle with iffy electrical power at the edge of the North Sea, dusty rooms overflowing with books of all sorts, a dangerous snowstorm, and did I mention no neighbors? Very isolated. 

The cast of characters is small but compelling, especially when the reason for these five being stuck together is a treasure hunt for a priceless book that may - or may not - be somewhere within the hundreds of thousand of books in the castle. Yes, the castle owner's grandfather was a book hoarder. He was also fond of riddles hidden in the most obscure and unlikely of places. 

The hunt is on and it's a gem. I was totally invested in the search for the missing book, in the evolving relationships forming among the characters, in the touch of romance (with a happy ending), and in trying to outwit a wily grandfather who left behind one last riddle to save the estate...or not.

If you can't make it to a castle on the edge of the North Sea this winter, I enthusiastically recommend adding The Secret Christmas Library to your holiday reading list instead. You will definitely feel like you're there! 

Readers, have you ever visited Scotland?

Do you enjoy Gothic romance?

Have you read any of Jenny Colgan's books? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 23 will receive a print copy of The Secret Christmas Library. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18