Review & Giveaway - - Anne of a Different Island

Anne of a Different Island

by Virginia Kantra

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same wild imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm one of those unicorn readers who has never read Anne of Green Gables. That takes nothing away from my love of Virginia Kantra's Anne of a Different Island. Inspired by the L.M. Montgomery novel, Kantra's version sets its own course with a present-day story that while it may evoke echoes of the original characters, stands well on its own for those readers, like me, who are new to the "Anne" universe.

Although Anne Gallagher is twenty-four, teaching, in a relationship, and living off the island when this book begins, it is still very much a coming-of-age story. She may be an adult but she has much yet to discover about life and about herself. I enjoyed the flashbacks to her childhood that give context to who she is today and who she ultimately becomes by the end of the book. I found her growth to be organic, authentic to her character, and very relatable. Kantra excels at bringing me into the minds of her characters and Anne is no exception. 

Another facet of writing at which Kantra excels is her ability to build a community of characters contributing context, support, conflict, humor, lessons, growth, and, in some cases, love. Each is vital to Anne's journey. I fell hard for Joe, Anne's childhood adversary turned friend turned potential soulmate (?), who has a significant growth arc of his own. Using flashbacks along with present-day scenes gave me a full picture not only of his evolving relationship with Anne but also the complications of his business and personal relationships with Anne's father. It also deepened the layers of who Joe is now and how his romantic past has affected his ability to trust both himself and others. 

Mackinac Island is a character in its own right and just as important to the overall story as any of the characters. Kantra nailed its unique vibe beautifully. I don't know if she's ever visited the island in person but she captured it's heart and left me eager to revisit this magical island in my native Michigan. 

Have you read Virginia Kantra? Do you have a favorite book or series that she's written?

Have you read Anne of Green Gables? Do you enjoy new books inspired by treasured classics? 

Have you ever visited Mackinac Island?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, January 25 will receive a signed print copy of Anne of a Different Island.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Catch Her if You Can

Catch Her if You Can

by Tessa Bailey

Big Shots - Book 5

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to this pairing since meeting Eve and Madden in last year's Pitcher Perfect. I was hoping for the same perfect blend of humor and emotion that landed Robbie and Skylar's story on my 2025 favorites list. What I got didn't quite reach that level but was still enjoyable. 

First, let's just put it out there: Madden is hero goals. There are so many layers to this guy that slowly reveal themselves during the course of this book - events that could have made him bitter and resentful. They don't, though they do add depth to his character. I loved his loyalty to his friends, his vulnerable heart, and his steadfast feelings for Eve that never changed...no matter how much she tried to drive him away.

So, let's talk about Eve. Growing up the town outcast (through no fault of her own), she values her friendship with Madden for the treasure it is. However, she's determined to keep the depth of her feelings hidden, both from Madden and from the people she's sure would hold it against him. She has always put his well being ahead of her own, even if he's unaware of it. She's a complex character. At times, I found myself cheering her on while at other times, I wanted to shake her out of frustration and tell her to stop sabotaging herself. But I also understood her actions considering her past. It was satisfying to see her finally accept all the parts of herself and, especially, accept that Madden loves her for everything she is.

Bailey has imbued Eve's and Madden's journey with humor, angst, a whole boatload of spice, growth, empowerment, yearning, emotional depth, and self-reckoning...on the way to a hard-earned happy ending. If that's your jam, give this one a try. 

Have you read Tessa Bailey's romcoms?

What's your favorite romance trope? 

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 24 will receive a print copy of Catch Her if You Can.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - The Shop on Hidden Lane

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a hard cover copy of

The Shop on Hidden Lane is:

Patricia B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Marked as a Lyon's Marchioness

Marked as a Lyon's Marchioness

by Wendy LaCapra

The Lyon's Den Connected World

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

She sought marriage.
He sought pleasure.
Love had other plans.


When scandal threatens to force her sister into a disastrous marriage, Miss Eliza Wainwright makes a desperate, daring nighttime visit to the Black Widow, owner of London's most notorious gaming hall. All Eliza needs is a respectable husband to restore her family's standing—instead, she finds herself drawn to the arrogant yet enigmatic Marquess of Redver, who comes to know her only as The Blackbird.

Redver’s carefully crafted façade hides explosive family secrets. But during a masked encounter with The Blackbird, he discovers not only pleasure and passion, but unexpected solace. When she refuses to see him again, him being of the same ilk that ruined her sister, his walls begin to crumble.

As hidden truths emerge and disguises fall away, will Redver and Eliza be destroyed? Or can Redver convince his perfect match he is worthy of her heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

So, there are apparently 100+ books, written by multiple authors, in the Lyon's Den Connected World. This was my first. It is also Wendy LaCapra's first entry in this fictional world. Jumping in at this point did not diminish my enjoyment of Eliza's and Adrian's journey at all. Much of the credit for that is due to LaCapra's fully developed, multi-layered characters as well as her flowing, nuanced storytelling. She never disappoints.

At 249 pages, this is a quick read that still packs a punch. The spice - which also includes a bit of mystery and hidden identity - is in the opening pages of the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. I found the pace to be a bit slow in those early chapters but once the layers of Eliza and Adrian - especially Adrian - began to slowly peel away and I started to understand them more, I really got into their characters and their bumpy, sometimes humorous, sometimes mysterious, sometimes heart-tugging journey from adversaries to friends to lasting love. I became emotionally invested in their friendship, their deepening feelings, their individual growth and healing, and the slow realization (I do love it when the lead couple are the last to realize they're in love) that they have found the person they want to share their life with. The story picked up pace after those first few chapters and I was happily flipping pages, eager to discover what would happen next until the satisfying conclusion.

Secondary characters played pivotal roles in the book, including Eliza's four sisters, Adrian's friends and family, and a mysterious woman (at the center of this fictional world) who owns a gaming house and apparently meddles in the romantic lives of her clients. At least, she did in this romantic journey.

I hope LaCapra has plans to write stories for at least some of Eliza's sisters because I'm nowhere near ready to say goodbye to these characters.

Review - - The Bodyguard Affair

The Bodyguard Affair

by Amy Lea

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

As loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. In an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

Hellie’s Heeds

Thank Goodness for Winter break because this was just the book I needed for my travels and it was all the things I adore about a “vacation book.” The book goes back and forth between the two main characters (in a first person writing, which allows a deeper POV for readers to connect to the characters immediately.) Rom com humor can be a bit subjective for readers, but I adore Amy Lea’s style of absurd humor (the “meet cute” happens when the hero walks into the bathroom stall as the heroine is using it) is blended with real emotional pulls as the heroine is dealing with a breakup, only to learn her best friend now wants to date her ex. And in fact, the ex had wanted to date her friend the whole time–their relationship had been a mistake. Seriously, dude? I just…related with this heroine so hard with her need to keep this friendship and to put aside her needs and reactions in order to please everyone else. But her character arc isn’t even the bigger one! The hero’s struggle with his complicated relationship with his mother and her new diagnosis of Alzheimer's just kicks the reader in the chest as you wonder how is this author going to make a positive resolution to this story.

Amy Lea does what I feel is an awesome thing with her “one night stand” scene. (I feel having sex so early in the story can deaden the sexual tension, which is why I love to read romance, so it can be a chancy thing to have the sex too early in my opinion.) It’s a one-night stand that doesn’t connect at a physical level, but instead connects at the emotional level, providing each character with something they need at this point of their lives before they part ways in the morning. Therefore when they meet again a few years later, the heroine, Andi, has been outed as a romance author who wrote a book called The Prime Minister & Me, when she is an assistant to the Prime Minister’s wife–and it seems the obvious choice she forges a fake dating relationship with her former one-night stand, now the PM’s bodyguard, to deflect the scandal. 

Their “summer of love” is filled with the easy connection they had experienced when they met three years ago and it deepens into an even better friendship, but also, oh, the sexual tension! Neither seems to want to ruin things with sex, especially Nolan, who knows he’s leaving at the end of summer. However, they finally come to their senses–and oh, the scenes are steamy. So worth the wait. Even better, the heroine starts writing again–and with the new popularity of her scandal-producing book–this couldn’t be timelier. The character arc for Andi had exactly the elements needed to make her the more confident, “I’m worthy” character in the end, but it was Nolan’s arc that broke me. Oh my God, the dog, people. You have to read this book for the dog. 

I kept reading scenes and dialogue to my husband–and would say, “Does this sound familiar?” because the heroine honestly felt like my doppleganger. Then I would read scenes with the hero, and my husband would sniffle (he’s a notorious Disney crier) and I would be like, “I know! Right?” This book is on my top 5 books I’ve read this year (2025). All the feels. If you haven’t put it in your TBR pile yet, do so. Top Dish all across the board. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Magic of Untamed Hearts

The Magic of Untamed Hearts

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Wild Magic - Book 3

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 13, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one condition: that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.

PJ's Thoughts:

The first thing you have to do with this book is suspend disbelief. Once that's accomplished, what follows is a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy that tells the stories of the three Flores sisters, complex women with secret magical powers. 

I've been eager to read Sky's book since she was first mentioned earlier in the series. How could I not be curious about a girl who falls from a cliff at sixteen and is not seen again until she magically reappears at twenty-four? How is that possible? Where has she been? Was she really "living" as a ghost caught in the in-between all that time? 

Sky is depicted exactly as I would expect of one who lost eight formative years. Struggling to find her place within her family, the community at large, and an unexpected friendship with Adam, she's a complicated character who embodies both old-soul wisdom and inexperienced naivete. Couple that with what is most certainly undiagnosed neurodiversity and you have a woman who is unapologetically authentic, if at times awkward and a bit cringey. I found her to be believable, relatable, and someone I couldn't help but root for.

Adam is certainly not a perfect hero but he just might be perfect for Sky...if he can unpack his own emotional baggage. I appreciated the time the author took with him as well. Both he and Sky have a believable growth arc that gradually unfolds as their friendship slowly transitions into sizzling chemistry and deepening feelings. 

If you're in the mood for spicy romance, family dynamics, coming-of-age stories, magical elements, and hard-won happy endings, give this one a try. It can stand on its own but I think it's much more meaningful - and enjoyable - if the trilogy is read in order. 

Do you enjoy magic in your reading?

Have you read any books by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 20 will receive a print copy of The Magic of Untamed Hearts.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Janae Sanders' Second Time Around

Janae Sanders' Second Time Around

by LaQuette

Savvy, Sexy, & Single Club - Book 2

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Reviewed by Santa

A single mom gets a second chance at love with her high school sweetheart.

Wary of love after divorce, Janae Sanders focuses on the best things in her life: her son James and her besties in the Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club. As for romance? Not today, Satan. That is, until high school heartthrob Adam Henderson crashes back into her life at their 20-year reunion. Sparks fly, but just when Janae considers dating again, the new superintendent of James’ school district slashes his beloved arts program. Instead of getting her groove back, Janae gets her protest on.

Returning home after twenty years, Adam jumps at the chance to reacquaint himself with Janae, the one who got away. But he’s nearly reached his limit, juggling a meddling father, school politics, and―unbeknownst to him―Janae’s ire. If he can’t get the head of the PTA off his back after cutting programs that were costing the district money, his debut role as superintendent and his love life hang in the balance.

When a school board meeting is called and they both realize they’ve been dating the enemy, Janae gives Adam two choices: restore the program or lose her. Adam proposes a third option: one weekend at his cabin to talk it all out―funding the arts, and old feelings too. When her girls cheer her on, Janae must decide if she’s willing to risk it all. Armed with sass, sarcasm, and a suitcase full of emotional baggage, Janae and Adam discover that sometimes love shows up in the most infuriating and unexpectedly sexy ways.

Santa Says:

I have to say that I loved Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around by LaQuette. I happily give it five stars. I had never read any books by the author LaQuette but I will be glamming her back list with pleasure. In fact, this book is the second in this series which means that when I read the first book, I get to reintroduce myself to the members of the Savvy, Single and Sexy Club. That’s the name of the club Janae and her fellow divorcees Vanessa and Cree formed following their divorces. Janae, for one, was most certainly not in the market for love or marriage. Her own toxic marriage and divorce put a moratorium on that aspect of her life. Her laser focus is on her career as a nurse anesthetist and on supporting her son’s own career aspirations. 

That focus is knocked on its side when her high school crush saunters back into her life. Adam Henderson looked as fine at forty-three as he did as the school’s star basketball player back at Monroe Hills High School. He went on to be an NCAA and NBA super star. He left that behind to pursue a career in education. That turned out to be his true calling. It was also one of the reasons for his move back to his hometown. Adam was also pleased to see Janae again. It turns out he also had a crush on Janae in high school. 

It seems that at every turn there are challenges for Adam and Janae to face as a couple and individually. Just as Janae’s resistance to any kind of relationship starts to soften she comes to learn that Adam is the new interim district superintendent she, as PTA president, is set about to go to battle with over slashes to the arts programs in the district. These programs are vital to her own son’s dreams of a career in dance and fashion design. You don’t poke a mama bear! Interfering and judgemental parents are not conducive to romance either.  

Adam and Janae face each obstacle with a dogged determination to explore their mutual attraction and buried feelings. They do hit a brick wall as emotions get the better of them and they are forced to look within themselves. Adam, to his credit, knows he was in the wrong. And, with the help of his friends, grovels in a hilarious way. Chef’s kiss! His gesture makes Janae realize that she needs to work on her tendency to run away from acknowledging her own faults. This type of growth leads to a wonderful HEA. 

I am going to say that as a contemporary romance the author, LaQuette, could have framed it as a happily ever after for now. However, I think this is a true love story more than a let’s see where this romance goes. LaQuette’s storytelling reaches into very telling parts of each character’s make up and personalities. This creates well rounded, though flawed, characters. I enjoyed that depth of storytelling. I look forward to her next book in the series. Please go and get your copy of this gem today. You will not be disappointed!

 

Review & Giveaway - - The Shop on Hidden Lane

The Shop on Hidden Lane

by Jayne Ann Krentz

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

The Harper and the Wells families have regarded each other with deep suspicion for four generations. The Harpers have been known to offer their psychic talents for less-than-legal purposes, and the powerful Wells clan has a reputation for playing both sides of the street. But for all the years of history and distrust between them, there is a mysterious pact binding the two. They share the responsibility for protecting a long-buried and very dangerous secret.

Sophy Harper and Luke Wells are shocked to learn that her aunt and his uncle have been sleeping together—and now they are both missing. Not only that, but the last traces of them are at the scene of a murder soaked in negative paranormal energy. Clearly, someone is willing to kill to obtain the secret their families have been charged with protecting. Despite their mutual distrust, which, as far as Sophy is concerned extends to Luke’s hellhound of a dog, they both know that the terms of the pact must be honored.

Their investigation uncovers a psychic trail leading to a bizarre desert art colony where nothing is as it seems. But Luke and Sophy are concealing a few secrets, too. By a strange twist of fate, a Harper and a Wells have no choice but to trust each other and the fierce attraction that is binding them as surely as the pact between the families.

PJ's Thoughts:

Jayne Ann Krentz is one of those authors who plunges me into her stories from the opening pages and never lets up until I turn the final page. The tightly-crafted, action-packed suspense, fully developed characters, and eerily realistic psychic obstacles and abilities all send me straight down the rabbit hole of Krentz's high-stakes stories.

In The Shop on Hidden Lane, Krentz pairs two unlikely characters in a race against time to find and rescue missing family members. Luke and Sophy are from enemy families forced to honor a long-standing pact that originated in the disaster of dangerous experiments, experiments that are now - two generations later- in the hands of very bad people. They don't know each other, or trust one another, but to protect his uncle and her aunt, they will travel to a secluded arts colony in the middle of the desert and work together to figure out what's really going on while trying not to blame each other's families for the predicament they are in. The twisty suspense portion of this book keeps the story flowing and the reader guessing. At least, it kept me guessing for most of the book. I love being surprised while also being on the edge of my seat. Krentz is superb at both. 

The banter in the book is top notch. Initially rooted in mistrust and snark, it gradually softens a bit as Luke and Sophy begin to peel back layers and get to know one another. Of course, once they begin to feel more comfortable, their true personalities begin to surface and that makes their interactions even more fun. Sophy, in particular, is not shy about sharing her unfiltered opinions. Krentz really does excel at writing sharp, witty banter. Even Luke's dog (who, no, does not speak) has no trouble showing his feelings of humor, disdain, mistrust, and love. I adore him and am so happy to learn that there are more books planned with dogs like Bruce who gained special abilities from the mysterious Fogg Lake.

If you're a Krentz fan, you will no doubt enjoy the references and story tie-ins to Bluestone, Fogg Lake, Mirror Lake, The Foundation, and more. However, if you're new to Krentz's psychic universe, you can easily step into it with The Shop on Hidden Lane without missing a beat. Fair warning, though: once you've immersed yourself in a Jayne Ann Krentz story, you're likely to slide right down that back list rabbit hole. It's a fascinating, 5-star place to visit! 

Do you enjoy animals in the books you read?

What books are you looking forward to reading this month? Is The Shop on Hidden Lane on your list? 

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 13 will receive a hard cover copy of The Shop on Hidden Lane.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Coming Attractions - - January 2026

 

We kick off the new year on Tuesday, January 6 with a review and giveaway of The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz. People aren't the only beings who were affected by the para-fog in Fogg Lake. 

Santa shares her thoughts about LaQuette's Janae Sanders' Second Time Around on Friday, January 9. Get ready for a single mom, her high school boyfriend, and a second chance at love. 

Join me on Tuesday, January 13 for a review and giveaway of The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. Magic is afoot in this coming of age romance with a bit of a mysterious twist. 

Thursday, January 15 brings a review of The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea. Stop by to read why Reviewer Hellie says this first Top Dish review of 2026 should be on everyone's read list. 

On Tuesday, January 20, I will be sharing my thoughts about Catch Her if You Can by Tessa Bailey. Marriage of convenience, hidden feelings, and a whole lot of spice. 

Don't miss a review and giveaway of Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra on Wednesday, January 21. Kantra takes readers to Mackinac Island with a heartfelt contemporary tale inspired by Anne of Green Gables. 

Hellie will be here on Friday, January 23 with a review of Remember That Day, a new Ravenswood historical romance by Mary Balogh. 

Don't miss my review of Nan Reinhardt's The Cowboy's Comeback on Thursday, January 29. We're heading to Montana for a second-chance, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story in the first book in Reinhardt's new Juniper Falls Ranch series. 

 

That's what's on the schedule here for January. What are you looking forward to this month?