Tour Review - - A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm

A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm

by Helen J. Rolfe

Heritage Cove - Book 4

Publisher: Helen J. Rolfe

Release Date: December 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It's almost Christmas in Heritage Cove - the village tree is all lit-up, the bakery is full of festive treats, the tea rooms and waffle shack are welcoming locals inside out of the cold, and for some of the residents of the Cove, snow might not be the only thing they're wishing for this year...

Tilly is overjoyed when an estranged relative comes to Heritage Cove wanting to make amends. But as she lets him in to her life and Tilly’s Bits ‘n’ Pieces - the shop she owns and loves - her friends aren’t so sure whether everything is quite as it seems.

Benjamin’s parents run Mistletoe Gate Farm, selling Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe. Benjamin has always thought his family was as firmly rooted in the ground as the rows of Norway Spruce and Fraser Firs. But when he finds a letter that rocks his world he realises he may not be able to do anything to prevent the changes coming their way.

Benjamin and Tilly have been falling for one another since the summer but will family complications put an abrupt stop to what is looking like a burgeoning romance?

With festive cheer weaving its way through the Cove as two local favourites plan their wedding, there’s more than one relationship that could receive a little Christmas magic…

PJ's Thoughts:

This was a delightful introduction to the community of Heritage Cove. Rolfe immerses readers into small-town British culture with intriguing characters, festive events, and heartwarming stories. 

I immediately connected with both Benjamin and Tilly as they navigated the treacherous waters of their respective family dramas while also dipping their toes into a sweet, tentative romance. They felt like people who could have been my neighbors growing up. I also enjoyed the touch of suspense that Tilly's uncle brought to town as well as the reconciliation his actions brought about.

This is the fourth book in Rolfe's Heritage Cove series and while I enjoyed it as a standalone I think that enjoyment would have been enhanced had I read the earlier books first. There's a rather large secondary cast of characters with stories and events that are alluded to throughout the book. At times, I felt like I was on the outside looking in. But, having said that, the author certainly has me intrigued enough to search out their books as well. 

If you enjoy heartwarming holiday stories with a sweet, closed-door romance, complicated family dynamics, and a community of interesting characters who stand ready to help and support one another, give A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm a try. I'll be going back for more from Helen J. Rolfe's Heritage Cove. 

Tour Review - - A Cosy Countryside Christmas

A Cosy Countryside Christmas

by Eliza J. Scott

Life on the Moors - Book 6

Publisher: Eliza J. Scott

Release Date: November 1, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Ella Welford’s done with love. After having her fingers burnt, she’s been resolutely single for the last year and has sworn to stay that way.

Joss Campion’s still reeling from a messy divorce and has vowed never to open his heart to love again.

Growing up in the picturesque village of Lytell Stangdale, with the North Yorkshire Moors as their playground, Joss and Ella were best friends. The pair were inseparable.

Until the day something happened to ruin their friendship and Joss moved away.

An urgent telephone call summons Joss back to the village. His father’s been rushed to hospital and he’s needed to run the farm. When he returns, with his loyal canine companion, Sid, in tow, it isn’t long before he realises things aren’t as they seem. Why is his brother, Rich, being so evasive? And why does he get the impression the farm’s in trouble?

Teaching Assistant, Ella, has just broken up for the Christmas holidays and is looking forward to spending more time on her parents’ farm, tending her variety of rescue animals and recharging her batteries.

It isn’t long before the pair run into one another and sparks of attraction begin to fly - not that either of them will admit to it. But, just before Christmas, they find themselves thrown together in an unexpected turn of events as a fierce snow blizzard rages around them.

Could this be the moment that changes everything? Or is their past too big to ignore?

One thing’s for certain, life’s never dull in this little corner of the North Yorkshire Moors.

PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoy second-chance romances, especially when there's a solid foundation of friendship at their core. In this book it isn't only the reunion of childhood friends Joss and Ella that plays out against the small-town backdrop but also the reunion of estranged family. 

It's clear early on that this book is part of a long-running series with many community members in the forefront of the story. Scott does a commendable job of threading other couples in and out of the story without taking primary focus away from Joss and Ella or causing confusion for readers who haven't read the earlier books (like me).

 

I enjoyed the strong community spirit, the secondary characters who helped move the story forward, and the development of Joss and Ella, both as a couple and as individuals. I especially enjoyed the evolution of Joss's relationship with his father and the light thread of suspense involving his brother. Both were relatable and realistically portrayed. 

There is a thread in the first part of the book, however, involving Joss and a secondary character, that I did not enjoy. What happened, and how it was handled afterward, did not feel authentic to what I knew of Joss's character at that point and definitely impacted my feelings about him. The characters came to terms with what happened (very quickly, it seemed) but what occurred felt gratuitous to me and continued to have a negative impact on my enjoyment of Ella and Joss's relationship. I was happy for them at the end of the book, and other readers may not share my reservations, but my happiness was tempered by a shadow that, for me, still hovered. 

That quibble aside, my overall enjoyment of the book was enough to encourage me to seek out the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed this little village and there are several couples whose stories I would like to read. 

 

Tour Review - - One Christmas Wish

One Christmas Wish

by Brenda Jackson

Catalina Cove - Book 5

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It’s Christmas in Catalina Cove, a time of promise and second chances. But when you’re starting over, love is the last thing you’re wishing for…

Vaughn Miller’s Wall Street career was abruptly ended by a wrongful conviction and two years in prison. Since then, he’s returned to his hometown, kept his head down and forged a way forward. When he is exonerated and his name cleared, he feels he can hold his head up once again, maybe even talk to the beautiful café owner who sets his blood to simmering.

Sierra Crane escaped a disastrous marriage—barely. She and her six-year-old goddaughter have returned to the only place that feels like home. Determined to make it on her own, Sierra opens a soup café. Complication is the last thing she needs, but the moment Vaughn walks into her café, she can’t keep her eyes off the smoldering loner.

When they give in to their attraction, what Sierra thought would be a onetime thing becomes so much more. Vaughn knows she’s the one. Sierra can’t deny the way Vaughn makes her feel, but she’s been burned before. With Christmas approaching, Vaughn takes a chance to prove his love, and it will be up to Sierra to decide if her one Christmas wish—true happiness—will come true.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've enjoyed each book in Brenda Jackson's Catalina Cove series. She brings this small southern Louisiana town to life and populates it with intriguing characters who are easy to root for. While fans of the series will no doubt enjoy catching up with some of those earlier characters, Sierra and Vaughn are new to the series. Readers who are also new to the series can easily begin with One Christmas Wish without any confusion.

Sierra and Vaughn's relationship is not without its challenges, with Sierra throwing up roadblocks with frequency. Her former marriage definitely took a toll on both her own self-worth as well as her willingness to let another man into her life. I wanted to toss her ex off a remote, very high, cliff for what he put her through both during their marriage as well as in the present. She has some growing - and healing - to do in order to be ready to open her heart again. 

Vaughn has emotional baggage in his past as well but seems to have reached a point where he's dealing with it better than Sierra. He's such a good guy. I loved his chemistry with Sierra and the deeper feelings he's ready to embrace. I also loved his interactions with Sierra's adopted daughter, Teryn, a six-year-old dynamo who steals every scene she's in. 

While reading this book, I spent a lot of time drooling over the soup specials at Sierra's restaurant (I need recipes) as well as immersing myself in the holiday events in Catalina Cove. Jackson depicts the town so vividly. 

There are a few secondary stories intersecting with Sierra and Vaughn's relationship which add intrigue, angst, a threat against Sierra, and the introduction of a new couple for a future book. There are also some threads left hanging from the potential resolution of the issue regarding Sierra's ex-husband. I hope that will be addressed in the next book. Only then, will I be certain of the happy ending this book promises.  

I can always count on Brenda Jackson for an immersive reading experience that brings all the feels and she delivers once again with this newest Catalina Cove tale. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to this small, friendly town on the bayou where second chances and love await new residents as well as those who find their way back home. 

Buy Links: 

BookShop.org

Harlequin 

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Books-A-Million

Powell’s 

Social Links:

Author Website

Facebook: @BrendaJacksonAuthor

Twitter: @AuthorBJackson

Goodreads

Brenda Jackson is a New York Times bestselling author of more than one hundred romance titles. Brenda lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and divides her time between family, writing and traveling.

 

Tour Review - - Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount

Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount

by Sarah Mallory

Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Release Date: November 30, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

An imperfect proposal…But a perfect match?

Major James Rossington, Viscount Austerfield, survived Waterloo, but can he survive the season as London’s most eligible bachelor? Convinced his battle scars make him unlovable, and to escape society’s matchmakers, Ross proposes a wedding in name only to shy, sensible Carenza Bettridge. Liberated from her cruel stepmother and bullying half sisters, she blossoms into a confident, altogether desirable woman. He promised Carenza a convenient marriage but inconveniently finds himself wanting more…

PJ's Thoughts:

This was my first book by Sarah Mallory but, after reading Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount, I will definitely be checking out her other titles. This marriage-of-convenience, Cinderella-themed historical romance is one I enjoyed. 

Mallory's vibrantly-depicted, fully-developed characters come to life on the pages of this book. I felt an immediate affection for Carenza that never wavered. I admired her kindness in the face of the years of mistreatment from her step-mother and half-sisters but also cheered her evolution as she slowly gained confidence and began to take control of her life. 

Ross's evolution is also an important part of this couple's journey. I thought his PTSD was realistically portrayed throughout the story, adding depth and complexity to his character. Also, I appreciated the slow burn of his relationship with Carenza, moving their journey forward at a gradual, realistic pace with no quick and easy, fairy-tale solutions. By the time they reached the conclusion of their journey, I was fully convinced of their mutual love and confident of their future together. Thanks to the author for the endearing epilogue that confirmed my wishes for these two...and the others. 

The villains of the piece were as vibrantly depicted as the main characters, only in a negative, I'd-like-to-throw-you-off-the-nearest-cliff, kind of way. Mallory gave me protagonists I could love and antagonists to despise in equal measure. 

If you enjoy characters who not only survive what life has thrown at them but triumph over adversity, finding love and happiness in the process, give Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount a try. 

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Scarred-Viscount-Mills-Historical-ebook/dp/B096T9Q35K

Author Bio –

Sarah Mallory is an award-winning author who has published more than 30 historical romances with Harlequin Mills & Boon. She loves history, especially the Georgian and Regency. She won the prestigious RoNA Rose Award from the Romantic Novelists Association in 2012 and 2013. Sarah also writes romantic historical adventures as Melinda Hammond. Sarah lived for many years on the Yorkshire Pennines, taking inspiration from the wild and rugged moors. Then in 2018 she fell in love with Scotland and ran away to live on the rugged North West Coast, which is proving even more inspiring.

Social Media Links –

www.sarahmallory.com

Twistter -  @SarahMRomance

Review - - The Babe from Toyland

The Babe from Toyland

by Daphne Chase

Publisher: Pretty Shrimp Press

Release Date: November 16, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

A DILF in need is a DILF indeed
Five days before Christmas, with the biggest deal of his career on the line, the last thing Logan Fenton wants is to play happy effing family. His plans for a silent night implode when his ex-wife drops off their children for a surprise visit. He’ll move heaven and earth NOT to be the dad who ruins Christmas, but has no clue where to start. A trip to his neighborhood toy store provides the answers to his prayers, but the only package he wants to unwrap is Paige Piper, the plus-sized angel behind the counter, whose curves were meant for sin.

All she wants for Christmas are a few days off
Being a special-ed teacher and part-time shop girl have given Paige Piper a very particular set of skills, but not enough money to pay off her student loans any time before retirement. When grinchy DILF Logan Fenton waltzes through Toyland’s doors and offers her a boatload of cash to be his nanny for the holidays, she had to agree. He might be a dad she’d like to F…but a Scrooge who outsources Christmas is on the naughty list, for sure.

Christmas with kids in New York City should be a holly jolly journey through a winter wonderland. But once the children are nestled all snug in their beds, Logan and Paige can’t ignore the steamy heat between them, or how it begins to melt their icy hearts. Tis the season to be horny, but a relationship is on neither of their wish lists this year, even if love could be the miracle that leaves them questioning…
Can this fa-la-la-la-ling turn into something more?

PJ's Thoughts:

What do you get when you blend the heart of a Hallmark holiday movie and the angst of a Lifetime drama with the steam of an erotic novel? You get Daphne Chase's debut, The Babe from Toyland. It's one wild ride that will tickle your funny bone, warm your heart, and have you reaching for a fan. Did I mention the steam? If explicit sex, graphic language, and the occasional kink aren't your jam, this might not be the book for you. But, if you choose to take a pass, you'll be missing so much more that this book has to offer.

Paige and Logan are wonderfully developed, complex characters. I loved Paige's innate kindness, her joy, her relationship with Logan's children, and her passion for her career as a special education teacher with a focus on neurodiversity. Chase illustrates that career passion, and kindness, in a restaurant scene within the book that is written with thoughtfulness and sensitivity. It's one of my favorite scenes in the book. I also enjoyed her sexual confidence, her openness in asking for - sometimes demanding - what she needs to find pleasure. I appreciated the exploration of both the positives and negatives between a couple willing to be open and inquisitive in the bedroom. As with all things, it's a learning process as Chase deftly conveys with her characters. 

Where Paige is all sunshine, light, and capture the moment, Logan is work, work, work. He hasn't a clue how to connect with his children, throwing money at the problem when all they want is time with him. But he isn't a bad person; he truly believes that providing for them financially is what he's supposed to do. He loves his children, wants a better relationship with them, wants more than hot steam between the sheets with Paige. He just doesn't know how to accomplish that...until Paige shows him the way. Of all the characters in this novel, Logan has the greatest growth arc and his journey is the rockiest. There were times I wanted to kick him off a cliff and others when I just wanted to hug him. There are a few potholes of his own making along the way to his HEA but they make his evolution more believable and much more satisfying in the end. 

I adored Logan's son and daughter! They are a huge part of this story, bringing humor, poignant emotion, kid wisdom, and a whole lot of heart to the table. Kudos to Chase for creating fully-developed, realistic child characters who enrich the story within a family unit without making it all about them. It's a fine balance and one she mastered.

If you like your heartwarming Christmas romances on the (very) steamy side, give The Babe from Toyland a try. It's a promising start to Daphne Chase's writing career.  

Review & Giveaway - - Holiday Ever After

Holiday Ever After: An Anthology

One Snowy Night, Holiday Wishes, & Mistletoe in Paradise

by Jill Shalvis

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Three fan-favorite Jill Shalvis novellas are together for the first time in this holiday anthology!

One Snowy Night

It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to her family. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, her long-time crush, and his big, goofy, lovable dog. A long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past…and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.

Holiday Wishes

When Sean O’Riley shows up for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, the last person he expects to see is Lotti Hartford, the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago. As the weekend continues, Sean realizes he wants to leave his hook-up life behind, but can he convince Lotti to open her heart to him again?

Mistletoe in Paradise

Years after their secret fling ended, Hannah isn’t eager to see James during their families’ annual joint holiday-themed yacht adventure. But when they’re the only people who show up, James and Hannah are stuck together on the high seas for days. As the former lovers try to make the best of the Christmas snafu, they soon realize the best things in life can’t be planned, and sometimes love is sweeter the second time around. 

PJ's Thoughts:

Perfect for the busy holiday weeks when we're looking for a romantic escape but don't have a lot of time, Holiday Ever After combines three previously published novellas by Jill Shalvis. Each of the stories is connected to a Shalvis series but is suitable for both fans and new readers alike, although I do believe reading the earlier books in the Heartbreaker Bay series before reading One Snowy Night and Holiday Wishes will add an extra layer of enjoyment to the novellas. Mistletoe in Paradise is probably the novella that stands best on its own. It's a second-chance romance set aboard a yacht in the Caribbean, a place I frequently fantasize about during the cold months of winter. 

All three stories are filled with the banter, emotion, and happy endings that I look forward to whenever I pick up a Jill Shalvis story. My favorite character from the anthology is Carl, Max's "huge, eternally hungry, adorable Doberman" in One Snowy Night. I adored him. My favorite story is Holiday Wishes. I love a stranded by a storm trope and this one is especially fun. And last, but not least, my favorite location is - no surprise - the balmy, beautiful Caribbean where childhood friends Hannah and James realize that sometimes, life does give you second chances. I enthusiastically recommend readers give Holiday Ever After by Jill Shalvis a chance this holiday season. 

Do you gravitate toward novellas during the busy holiday season?

Have you read any recently that you would recommend?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 4 will receive a print copy of Holiday Ever After.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Dinner on Primrose Hill

Dinner on Primrose Hill

by Jodi Thomas

A Honey Creek Novel - Book 3

Publisher: Zebra Books

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Benjamin Monroe is pretty sure how his life will play out. He’ll continue teaching chemistry in his small college, and spend his free time biking through the valley. Eventually, he’ll retire to putter around in his garden and greenhouse.

His colleague, Virginia Clark, is not one for routines. She’s chatty, spontaneous, and bubbly, and before Benjamin realizes what happened, she’s talked him into collaborating on a research project—studying the mating habits of college students. Virginia knows her desire to work with Benjamin is motivated by more than the potential prize money . . . and hopes he might not be quite as indifferent as he seems to be.

Ketch Kincaid, one of Benjamin’s star students, returned to college after serving in the army. He needs something to get his mind off his recent breakup and collecting research data might do it. And there’s another distraction on the horizon—a woman who looks like she, too, knows about heartache.

Soon enough, their project, “The Chemistry of Mating,” is gaining notoriety. Friends, neighbors . . . the whole town has become involved. But no matter what the data determines, one conclusion seems inescapable: love follows its own rules . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

One of the things I've most enjoyed about this series is how Thomas captures the spirit of a small town and the people who live there. In Dinner on Primrose Hill, her characters span a wide range. Some have spent their whole lives in the same small town while others couldn't wait to get out as soon as they turned eighteen and still others are newly arrived. They all have stories, they all have flaws, they all deserve love. Even when they aren't looking for it...or don't believe they're deserving of it...or think the time for love has passed them by. 

Thomas focuses on three couples in this book, one in their forties, one in their late thirties, and the third in their twenties. While events (a bit of mystery/suspense) cause the couples, and a few others, to weave in and out of one another's lives, each of the couples' relationships unfolds in alternating chapters told primarily from the male perspective, a twist I found to be very entertaining. Each couple has a unique vibe and while I related to some more than others, their journeys were all sweet, heartfelt, a bit quirky, and enjoyable. 

This is the third book in Thomas's Honey Creek series and while a few continuing characters appear, readers new to Honey Creek should have no problem starting with Dinner on Primrose Hill. For fans of the series, reading this newest book is like a trip home, where you catch up with old friends and make a few new ones. I'm already looking forward to my next visit in Sunday at the Sunflower Inn, which is scheduled to be published April 26, 2022. 

Review - - A Cowboy Christmas Legend

A Cowboy Christmas Legend

by Linda Broday

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Reviewed by Hellie

Devastated by the loss of his young wife―and the life he'd always thought would be his―Sam Legend II has done everything he can to make a fresh start. As a bladesmith, all he needs is a bed, a hot fire, and enough distance from his famous family to finally indulge in a little peace and quiet. So what if it's almost Christmas? This year, he's happy just keeping to himself.

But then fiery Cheyenne Ronan comes blasting into his home, and any notion of peace goes flying out the door.

Cheyenne's like no one Sam has ever met―and from the moment he first catches her eye, his quiet life is anything but. Now he's hunting wanted men with the Texas Rangers, decking every hall, and sharing passionate embraces with the woman who's set his world alight. For the first time in what feels like forever, Sam's facing Christmas feeling like his life is full of meaning again―and that with Cheyenne by his side, love can be the stuff of Legend.

 

Hellie’s Heeds 

When I first started reading romance novels--at a precociously young age--some of my favorites were cowboy set romances and I’m really glad for authors like Linda Broday who continue to bring stories with strong cowboys and feisty heroines. The cowboy motif in romances is just as tried-and-true as the Mr. Darcy version. If you have read Linda Broday before, you’ll see she has quite the backlog of books showing her passion for her setting as well as wonderful characters who light up the page. She doesn’t shy away from tougher aspects of the Western setting (which has gone through some transitions over the years as we’ve become more aware of how some aspects are represented and who is representing them--and in shining a light on those things that were hidden or ignored.) I think she does a great job in addressing some of these issues in a way that doesn’t sound preachy, but also being sensitive to those for whom these topics may trigger reactions or questions.  

I used to bring library books to an elderly friend who wasn’t able to leave her house--and her request was always for either highlanders or cowboys; so I was always relieved when I saw a new Linda Broday book on the shelves. I knew there would be humor, adventure, and larger than life characters with a happily ever after. My friend passed away this year, so I read this book in memory of her--and I’m glad because Linda delivered. Sam Legend, who is the son of the famous ranger Sam Legend Sr, is a recluse who lives in a lean-to looking shed in the Texas hills where he creates knives. He is content with his life (not happy: he’s a widower who grieves for his wife, after all) but soon finds his peace interrupted by a little hellcat neighbor named Cheyenne. Soon it becomes apparent Sam will not be allowed to continue in his rut; and additionally, the townsfolk need his help as they are overrun by the same outlaws who were involved with his wife’s murder.  

The pacing of this story kept me turning pages to see what would happen next; and at times I wondered how this was going to work out for everyone. But Linda was able to give a happily ever after despite all the travails that befell the characters. It was also adorable to read about how one might celebrate Christmas in Texas where trees aren’t readily available, but tumbleweeds are. Also, the Christmas play that is put on by the children is worth the read alone. Be forewarned that if you haven’t read the other books in the series, you will be very tempted to go back and read them if you start with this one. While this story stood perfectly on its own, I do long to go back and read the other heroes associated with this series.  

If I did have any moments of disquiet about the story, it would be that I was at first taken aback by a heroine who would sneak up on a hero in the middle of the night and pull a knife on him, especially since she is like half his size; and I was also a bit concerned she was a white woman wearing native clothing, but Linda addressed my second concern almost immediately by having the hero call her out for wearing native clothing, presumably without permission, and the heroine explains the clothing was a gift from a good friend and also that she worked closely with the native populations, assisting them directly in saving children from the assimilation schools. Later, the more I got to read about Cheyenne’s character, the less I felt she was acting out of “time” for her setting; she was just a remarkable heroine who was traditional in many ways, but a fearless leader and pioneer in others. So yeah, she is the kind of heroine who could pull a knife on a hero and live to tell the tale.  

All in all, a wonderful new story in Linda’s series about the Legend men; a heartfelt and traditional Christmas set love story; and one in which neither kids nor the dog die--which for me is paramount in any romance story. I don’t believe I’m giving something away by saying this--I assure you there will be plenty of characters to worry about. Happy reading!

Review - - Messing with the Billionaire

Messing with the Billionaire

by Breezie Bennett

Maid in Miami - Book 1

Publisher: Palm Island Publishing

Release Date: October 15, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

When a case of mistaken identity goes too far…can this billionaire win the trust of a woman who thinks she loves the gardener?

TJ: Buying a winter home in Miami Beach has its benefits. Not only did I escape the pressure of being a hedge fund manager in New York, but when my housekeeping team shows up and an adorable bubbly blonde is in charge, I find I like the tropical sun even more. Sure, I let her believe I’m the gardener because the mistake was amusing, and she was amazing. I obviously planned to tell her when she says yes to our first date, but…I didn’t. For once, a woman is really into me without the trappings of my wealth and status. But the joke’s on me when feelings get real and telling her the truth could wreck the best thing I’ve ever had.

Lilly: It's official. I've met the perfect guy. At least, he seems perfect. He might not be the best landscaper in Miami, but he looks great in a sweaty t-shirt out on the lawns of my client’s mansion. For once, I’ve found someone who appreciates hard work and, like me, didn’t get anything handed to him. The only problem is...I think he's hiding something. Something big. I want to believe that the sweet and humble gardener I'm falling in love with is as real as he seems...but some unanswered questions make me wonder if this is all just too good to be true. Who is he and can I trust him with my heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

Breezie Bennett takes readers back to Miami for the first book in her new sweet and sassy, Maids in Miami romantic comedy series. When five best friends wrap up their business school post-grad degrees with no jobs on the horizon, they decide to return home to Miami, combine forces, and launch a high-end housekeeping service. These savvy, hard-working women are on their way, with a crew of top-notch workers and some solid contracts but what they really need is to land a few "rich and famous" clients for their business to soar. Will those clients also bring unexpected love? 

I really enjoy Bennett's breezy (no pun intended) style of writing. It's fresh, fun, full of charm, has great depth of emotion, and a sweet, endearing sizzle. Lilly and TJ are likeable characters who have an immediate attraction that leaves them both - especially TJ - a bit flustered. It was easy to understand how - and why - mistaking TJ for the gardener occurred and why he let the assumption stand, especially when it was such a novelty to be admired and desired for himself and not his money. It gave the author time to explore their characters as well as allow them the opportunity to get to know one another without pre-conceived opinions. I enjoyed watching them slowly become friends, then more, as they opened themselves to one another. The only real issue I had with their relationship was how long it took for TJ to come clean about his real identity. Yes, he felt awful about it and yes, I did understand why it was so difficult for him to do it but it went on longer than I was comfortable with. Of course, I forgave him - as did Lilly - because, well, let's just say that soul-baring confessions and heartfelt grand gestures go a long way when securing a happy ending. 

I love the support, love, laughter, and life-long friendships among these five women who, at this point, are really more chosen family than friends. I'm already invested in their happiness and eager to see more of all of them in future books in the series. 

 

Review - - Romancing the Holidays, Vol. 2

Romancing the Holidays, Vol. 2

by 14 authors from First Coast Romance Writers

Publisher: First Coast Romance Writers

Release Date: September 22, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Looking for a Happily Ever After? How about fourteen of them?! Romancing the Holidays, Volume 2 is a collection of romantic short stories all with the happy ending you crave. Genres include: contemporary, historical, paranormal, romantic suspense and young adult.

And what better time to find romance than during the holidays? Escape into these Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Three Kings Day and Valentine’s Day adventures, and swoon anew with each couple as they fall in love.

Proceeds from this anthology benefit First Coast Romance Writers, a non-profit chapter of Romance Writers of America that helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.

PJ's Thoughts:

This collection of holiday short stories has something for everyone. Whether your reading choice is contemporary, historical, paranormal, romantic suspense, new adult, or something else, chances are good you'll find a story to enjoy. And, you just might discover a new author to binge or possibly a new sub-genre you've yet to try.

Paranormal is usually not my first choice when selecting a book but Melody Johnson's Halloween romance, "Fated by Fire," drew me in and held me captive. I will definitely be reading more of this author!

Abigail Sharpe is an author whose contemporary romcoms I have enjoyed. In "New Year's Ex-Pectations," she takes takes readers to a Wyoming dude ranch for a heart-tugging, low-heat, second-chance romance that packs a lot of emotion into a short story.

Laura Salas brings a Latin flair to the collection with her friends-to-lovers romance, "Love on Calle Ocho." I enjoyed the Cuban traditions, and festivities surrounding the celebration of Three Kings Day on Calle Ocho, in Miami's Little Havana. I really enjoyed Maddie and Carlos and their three day getaway to Calle Ocho that changed everything. 

These are just a few of the entertaining romance "appetizers" to be found in this collection, each one perfect for a quick, uplifting romance boost during the busyness of the holiday season.