Review & Giveaway - - Love on the Shelf

Love on the Shelf

by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

The battle lines are drawn—between a romance-loving bookseller and the shock jock determined to tear happily-ever-afters apart.

Alice Willoughby and her mom run HEA Books, a cozy shop devoted to love stories and the people who crave them. Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.
Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers and their partners. He’s arrogant, aggravating, and absolutely not book-boyfriend material.
Parker’s crusade leads to spirited debates and bookstore protests, but when unexpected sparks fly between the two of them Alice begins to wonder if her favorite trope—enemies to lovers—might actually be playing out in real life. Parker may claim romance is a lie…but is he protesting a little too much?
With sharp wit and plenty of charm, USA Today bestselling author Sheila Roberts delivers a modern battle of the sexes where the biggest question is simple:
Are romance novels ruining love—or rewriting it?

PJ's Thoughts:

One of the things I most enjoy about Sheila Roberts' books is the community of characters she creates. They are well developed and almost always include characters who elicit my compassion as well as those I'd happily toss off a cliff (not literally, but definitely in my thoughts). In Love on the Shelf, Roberts once again gives readers a good blend of both.

Humor is central to this battle of the sexes but so is emotion and a storyline that I can easily see playing out in real life. I enjoyed watching Parker and Alice evolve throughout the book, especially Parker. He has many lessons to learn and, boy howdy, do certain characters enjoy delivering them.

This book feels like a women's fiction-romcom blend with multiple relationships, snappy banter, some sweet, Hallmark-style romance, and a hopeful ending. I could definitely envision it playing out on my TV as I read it. 

If you're looking for a fun, feel-good story with laughter and heart, I suggest putting Love on the Shelf on your summer reading list. 

Have you read any of Sheila Roberts' books?

Have you watched any of the Hallmark movies based on her books?

What are you reading this summer?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, July 26 will receive a print copy of Love on the Shelf.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

by Laura Bloom

Solace Springs - Book 1

Publisher: Dell

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

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

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

 

Review - - Dirty Little Secret

Dirty Little Secret

by Tracy Solheim

Milwaukee Mayhem - Book 2

Publisher: Sun Home Productions

Release Date: June 8, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

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

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

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

It’s supposed to be temporary. Strictly professional.

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

Review - - Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel

by Elizabeth Everett

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: March 10, 2026

Reviewed by Nancy  

 

When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

Manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, Pax Nomen has one of the easiest jobs in all the known universes, unless you count the occasional plumbing disaster. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on a non-magical world, even Pax's trusty Wayside Handbook can’t help him. How is he going to “reboot” the hotel and keep it on its magical journey?

Josie LaChusia is a single mom experiencing debt, having parenting doubts, and tipping dangerously toward depression when an ad pops up on her phone that an apartment is available in a building she’s never seen before.

Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a nudge to restart her life. In a building occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude, two souls from very different places come together to create a home like no other.

Nancy's Thoughts: 

Magic & Mischief at the Wayside Hotel is a charming cozy fantasy with a strong romance thread. It’s set in an intriguing world that left me with some questions that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. Pax and Josie are very well drawn and engaging, and the secondary characters have enough layers and detail to seem real without taking over the story. 

The Wayside Inns travel between realms. Travelers seeking to reach one of these realms go to a place that’s a stop for one of the inns and register as guests. The inns have strict rules to make different, sometimes mutually hostile species, coexist peacefully. The problem this Wayside Inn faces is that it has run out of magical fuel. That’s how it comes to land, and be stranded, on our Earth. Some of the inns have disappeared, but no one knows why. 

We don’t learn much about these other worlds, but Pax shows Josie records of one that’s drawn in vivid and appealing detail. The brief explanation of the inns’ traveling implies that any inn can go to any and every destination. I couldn’t help wondering how this worked and whether there actually were routes for the individual inns. 

Pax and his assistant manager, Maddy, don’t know what to do to fix the Wayside so it can resume its travels. The inhabitants, who’ve paid for transportation, understandably want to reach their intended destinations. Pax has an idea, bringing in an ordinary person, making a change in an effort to “reboot” the inn, which the instruction manual directs them to do but does not define. Some of the guests favor this approach, some do not, and a couple want to try using an ordinary person as a blood sacrifice. In the end, they advertise an apartment for rent, knowing a nonmagical human will move in because this world has nothing else. 

Contemporary popular culture plays a big role in this book. There are many pop culture references. For the most part, they were a lot of fun. I loved seeing the stranded fairies become enamored of TikTok and cheerleading, for example. By the end of the book, though, I felt that there were too many pop culture callbacks.

One of the threads that runs through the book is Pax learning contemporary American culture. His internal questions about various topics, which he then consults Google for information about, are humorous and endearing. Josie’s son, Amos, plays a big role in this part of Pax’s education. 

Pax grew up in an orphanage on his world, where all orphans are slated for the Army of the Light, which defends the existence of magic. Pax was a paladin, a leader, and very good at his skills that come in handy for dealing with the assortment of non-human beings—faeries, a vampire, a gnome, gargoyles, and a zombie, just to name a few—who’re marooned in the inn. Because of his upbringing, Pax has no experience of love and doesn’t understand it. 

Josie lands at the Wayside because she sees the apartment ad. She can’t afford her current rent, so, despite some odd experiences when she views the apartment, the Wayside is a godsend. Her life has been difficult though she and Amos’s father, Dan, had a good relationship until he died. Now Dan’s mother undercuts Josie’s parenting at every opportunity. 

Josie lacks confidence in her ability to make decisions. She doesn’t trust her own judgment. Pax doesn’t understand love, and neither of them knows what will happen to the romance building between them when the Wayside recovers and goes on its way. As she and Pax find their way to each other, they also become stronger, more confident people, in the best tradition of romance. 

The inn itself is both sentient and magical, and it takes an indirect hand in the various developments. Everett uses scent effectively as a tool to interpret the inn’s actions. There are also visual cues. The changes the inn makes at time almost drive Josie away, but she does need a place to stay. 

There were a few downsides to the book for me. There were also a couple of passing references to contemporary American politics. Whether I agree with such a references or not, I don’t want them in my escapist reading. Amos’s grandfather is described as letting his wife do the talking but steps aside from that at an important point. I didn’t feel it had been seeded well enough. I need a little more foreshadowing for his move. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book tremendously. Highly recommended. 

4.5 stars 

~ Nancy

Review - - The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

by Amy Rose Bennett

The Parasol Academy - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Hermina Davenport can hardly believe the audacious exploit she is about to attempt. To protect an orphaned young viscount, the prim and proper governess feels she has no choice but to break the rules of the Parasol Academy Handbook! When the lad’s guardian, a ruthlessly ambitious explorer, ensorcelled by the evil Fae Queen, spirits him away on a dangerous North Pole expedition, Mina employs an invisibility spell to snatch him from the ship. But a magical misfire whisks Mina and her charge onto a different vessel, that of a ruggedly handsome Irishman—a strapping prizefighter from Dublin’s backstreets—and Mina finds she’s at sea in more ways than one . . .

Phineas O’Connell, Lord Kinsale, can no more explain the arrival of this English Rose than he can adapt to his newly-inherited title—though his disgruntled pet pug clearly has “thoughts” about the fair stowaway. But their enchanted encounter sparks an irresistible offer: Phinn enlists the polished Miss Davenport to transform this misfit marquess into a mannered gentleman ready for his seat in Parliament. No magic required, just enticingly intimate lessons in etiquette and elocution to smooth all his rough edges including a stammer. . .

But when enemies—both earthly and supernatural, past and present—threaten, a confrontation begins, where Mina’s nondescript umbrella is just one of her powerful weapons . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Check your disbelief at the door and embrace the faery magic in this newest book from Amy Rose Bennett. 

I've lost track of the number of times I've watched Mary Poppins, which could be why I'm so thoroughly enjoying this new series from Bennett. I want to be friends with these graduates of The Parasol Academy who are tasked with protecting London's children. How could I not? They are kind, dedicated to their charges, pragmatic, and surprisingly adept at fending off villains. They also come equipped with intriguing spells and magic pockets. I do love a good pocket and, really, wouldn't a spell come in handy on occasion? I especially like the closet teleportation one, even if it does go wonky now and then, landing you in the master cabin of someone's ship. How else are you supposed to meet a hunky Irish marquess who just might end up being the love of your life? 

And let's talk about that newly-minted marquess. Say hello to Phinn, Lord Kinsale, my new book boyfriend, a tall, muscular, rugged, former boxer from the streets of Dublin. He's woefully ignorant of the ways of the Ton, doesn't know how to dance, and has a stammer. He's also kind, caring, dedicated to improving the lives of the poor, protective of those in his care, and smitten with his new governess. I say "his" because in addition to teaching the two young boys in his home, Mina is also teaching Phinn what he needs to know to effectively navigate society as well as deliver speeches in Parliament. Maybe "never been kissed" Mina would like a few lessons as well? I love the slow-burn chemistry between these two, how they slowly become friends while the growing yearning simmers beneath the surface. I love how gentle Phinn is once he realizes what he thought about Mina isn't actually what is truth, how he always verifies consent, even in the throes of his own desire. And, I love how he embraces all that she is without blinking an eye, ready to go to battle to keep his little family safe. 

If you're in the mood for a feel-good historical romance with humor, heart, a bit of adventure, slow-burn cross-class romance, an opinionated dog (who communicates with a certain governess), Fae magic, and a swoon-worthy happy ending, check out The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses. It's a delight.  

Review - - How Simi Got Her Groom Back

How Simi Got Her Groom Back

by Sonali Dev

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.

The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.

With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the country: Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.

As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?

PJ's Thoughts:

Sonali Dev took me on quite the emotional roller coaster with this book. It starts slow, from Rupi's point of view, a character I initially had trouble connecting with. I really didn't like her. At all. But that's part of Dev's skill in character building. I don't think I was supposed to. Not liking - or trusting - her gave her character the opportunity to grow, and me to change my mind, over the course of the book. 

Simi was the sister I favored at the beginning of the book but, again, my feelings about her also changed over the course of the book.  That's one of the things I enjoy about this author's writing. I never know what kind of journey she's going to take me - or her characters - on. I only know it's going to be one that will be thought-provoking, emotional, and heart-wrenching at times while also sprinkled with humor and human connection. Simi and Rupi are multi-layered, flawed, and carrying an immense amount of emotional trauma that impacts their decisions and actions in present time. They both have a significant growth arc that needs to be traveled before true happiness is in reach. 

The story is told from the point of view of each sister, in alternating chapters. Viewing everything unfolding from their individual perspectives really gives it all an added punch. I vacillated back and forth among stomach-clenching heartache, pure rage, and endearing hope, never knowing until the final pages which way this story was going to go regarding either the romantic relationships or the immigration dilemma. Kudos to Dev for bringing this story to life in such a realistic, relatable way that it elicited so many visceral emotions in me. 

The comedic relief in the book comes from Prem's family, a meddling, boisterous, welcoming group of people who, through their actions, show Rupi and Simi what a loving, supportive family looks like. Of course, that also heightens the angst when the recipient of all that love and support is the sister Prem is set to marry but not the sister Prem loves. It's a tangled mess that I, again, had no clue how Dev would unravel until the very end. 

Review & Giveaway - - Take Me Home to You

Take Me Home to You

by Miranda Liasson

The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff - Book 3

Publisher: Miranda Liasson LLC

Release Date: February 27, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

A grumpy ER boss and a sunshine doctor think they’ve sworn off romance—until one tiny baby decides to play matchmaker.

When Dr. Ani Green drags herself onto the plane after her wedding-that-never-was, she’s a self-described mess who has sworn off all relationships for good. But her "honeymoon for one" has a silver lining: Adam. He’s the kind, charming stranger who takes her trip from unbearable to almost fun.

What happens in Turks and Caicos stays there.

She left the island thinking she’d never see him again—only to walk into her new ER shift and realize that her vacation fling is her new boss. And he’s not the man she remembers.

Dr. Adam Lowenstein doesn’t do "fun." He does rules, schedules, and whatever it takes to shield his heart from any more grief. His time in Turks and Caicos was a temporary lapse in judgment. Now that he’s the Head of Emergency Medicine, he needs to be the stoic leader—not the man who fell for a whirlwind of a woman under a tropical sun. If that means denying his connection with Ani, so be it.

Until a patient surrenders a baby with a desperate plea for help.

As their professional boundaries crumble, Adam and Ani are forced to bridge the gap between who they were on the island and who they are now. Now, they must work together to protect a tiny life—and find out if the family they never thought they’d have is the one they can’t live without.

PJ's Thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series from Miranda Liasson, with each new book feeling like a visit with good friends. I'm invested in their personal lives, in their careers, in their ride-or-die friendships, and in their sometimes tumultuous journeys to finding the right person to trust with their hearts. 

Adam and Ani certainly haven't had an easy path to travel. She's just called off her wedding at the last minute (in book two, Take Me to the Wedding) while he's still mired in grief following the death of his wife two years earlier but there's an inexplicable connection when they end up seated together on a flight neither is excited to be on. I love the ease between them when they decide to spend the week together exploring the island. The friendship they form feels organic, as does the slow building attraction, but neither is ready for a new relationship. I appreciate the author not forcing it at that point. Bringing them back together months later feels more authentic to the emotional upheaval both are dealing with when they first meet and incorporates the "real life" challenges that add humor, chaos, and emotional complexity to their journey. 

This is another heart-tugging, hopeful, and ultimately healing journey from Liasson, something at which she excels. While deeply emotional topics are tackled, there's also no lack of humor and joy along the way, keeping the tone of the book from becoming too heavy. There's also substantial growth on the parts of both Ani and Adam, leading to compromise, understanding, and, finally, a deep, enduring love. I do love happy endings. 

If you enjoy heartwarming, small-town, grumpy-sunshine romance with humor, character growth, emotional healing, an adorable baby, a dog who steals every scene he's in, friends and co-workers who add texture to the story, a few surprising twists, and a hard-won, heartfelt happily ever after, I recommend picking up a copy of Take Me Home to You. It, along with books one and two of this series, Take Me Home for Christmas and Take Me to the Wedding, have my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Take Me Home to You can be enjoyed as a standalone but if you enjoy knowing the backstory of a character's journey, you might want to read Take Me to the Wedding first. 

Have you read any of Miranda Liasson's books yet?

Are you reading The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff series?

What's the last book that made you both laugh out loud and shed a few tears?

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 14 will receive a paperback copy of Take Me Home to You. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Lonesome Ridge

Lonesome Ridge

by Maisey Yates

Rustler Mountain - Book 3

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

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

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

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

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

PJ's Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

Review - - Falling for the Rabbi

Falling for the Rabbi

by Jennifer Wilck

Matchmaker, Matchmaker - Book 1

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by Hellie 

 

 Josh Axelrod is incensed! His matchmaker date brought along her annoying best friend—Emma something-or-other. The same Emma who’s ruining the house filled with the young rabbi’s childhood memories and turning it into a bookstore. Sure, she captures his attention but—no. Just no. Emma is too impulsive. Too out there. And he’s a Rabbi, for God’s sake! Except now, it seems impossible to avoid her. And with every encounter, “no” feels more like “yes.” Perhaps the unwitting Josh and Emma were always the match meant to be… 

 

Hellie’s Heeds

 

I always marvel at Harlequin stories because the writing has to be so tight, but I feel Jennifer Wilck is even more exceptional because while I know the writing is tight, it also feels luxurious as I’m getting so much detail and setting and character development with just a few sentences or pages. I also adore opposites attract motifs and this one has it in spades. Josh feels like Mr. Type A. He has a plan–and if that plan derails (say by a beloved grandmother or a feisty bookstore owner), he handles everything poorly. Emma, on the other hand, can never do anything right. That’s been the story of her life from her parents who constantly compare her to her sister, and not favorably. It’s no surprise to the reader when Emma will do anything for her best friend, Samantha, who has been with her through it all, but what happens when her best friend is matched with someone that Emma is attracted to? And worse, that someone is the grandson of the woman who sold her the house where Emma is putting her bookstore–and he hates her? Oh, so much conflict–and we haven’t gotten to chapter 3 yet. 

 

The author does an impeccable job of building the relationship between the two, despite the fact they have so many reasons not to be together–in the end, it feels inevitable. And the conflict, which seems to come from many different and legitimate angles (her parents, her best friend, Emma’s guilt that she’s “stolen” love interests of Sam before) does keep the story moving swiftly. However Sam’s definition of “man stealing” is a bit much considering both incidents occurred prior to adulthood and that Sam doesn’t give any blame to the men in the situation (since Emma was not actively seeking their attention.) It felt immature, but it also became clear this is a character growth issue for Sam, due to her childhood and issues she still needs to wrestle with. It will be interesting to see how this is handled in future books. 

 

The conflict that was the black moment of sorts for Emma and Josh seemed abrupt; and frankly I was on Emma’s side about it. But I will respect that the issue was real for Josh. For me that probably felt the weakest part of the story, but I admit that is probably a “me-issue.” Other readers may totally be with Josh here. I’ll let the reader decide. 

 

If you love the idea of a smaller town near the bustle of New York City where you can attend a Winter Festival and ride around in a sleigh and drink hot cocoa and a community where the local senior assisted living is made up by a group of octogenarians who could give partying tips to the local fraternities, you will likely enjoy this small town and its community. I know I did. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!