Review - - A New Year in the Keys

A New Year in the Keys

by Hope Holloway

Coconut Key - Book 8

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: December 27, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

For Beck and her mother, Lovely, the serene island life they’ve carefully built is about to be upended. Plans for a quiet holiday with no guests at their popular Coquina House Bed & Breakfast are disrupted when they agree to host a trio of last-minute guests. These unexpected arrivals stir up more than just the peaceful waters of Coconut Key, leading to revelations that will transform the family forever.

At seventy-five, Lovely is thriving—healthy, happy, and finally spending her life with Beck, the daughter she never had a chance to raise. But when a figure from the past steps into her home—and heart—in a way she never dreamed possible, Lovely faces the daunting task of reimagining her entire life.

Meanwhile, Beck is standing at her own crossroads. Her newfound love, Oliver, is torn between his native Australia and their idyllic life in Coconut Key. When an opportunity arises that could give Oliver everything he wants, Beck must make a difficult choice: pursue her own dreams of happiness or sacrifice everything for the man she loves.

As a new year dawns on Coconut Key, there's a wedding on the horizon and babies on the way, so celebration should be in the air. But will the changes, choices, and challenges ahead bring an end to this family’s hard-won happiness?

PJ's Thoughts:

My heart. This book. I thought we were finished with this series but Hope Holloway had one more wonderful story in her pocket and it just may be my favorite of all the books she's written.

I have so much love for these characters, for this family. I sighed, I cried, I cheered. I don't think it's possible for Hope Holloway to write a book that does not touch me emotionally but even among the many heart-tugging stories from her various book series, A New Year in the Keys stands out. It celebrates life, love, and multiple generations of family. It's achingly romantic. And, I have no doubt, to the delight of hordes of readers (like me) who rarely see themselves depicted in this manner, it features soul-stirring romance for a vibrant character in her seventies. 

It is never too late to fall in love just as it's never too late to fall in love with Hope Holloway's beautiful stories.

I strongly recommend reading the books in this series in order. They are: 

A Secret in the Keys

A Reunion in the Keys

A Season in the Keys

A Haven in the Keys

A Return to the Keys

A Wedding in the Keys

A Promise in the Keys

A New Year in the Keys

Review - - The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

The Highlander Burns for Vengeance

by Julie Johnstone

Return of the Highlanders - Book 3

Publisher: Darbyshire Publishing, LLC

Release Date: December 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

  

Divided by treachery, bound by an edict, they must decide their fate: to love or to hate.

After years of captivity, Graeme Stewart has returned home with a burning desire for vengeance, and it’s all directed at the Campbell clan. They attacked his home, killed his parents, and imprisoned him for eighteen long years. So when the king demands Graeme handfast with his enemy’s sister to end the warring of their clans, he intends to use her to get the revenge he yearns for. But Maisie’s courage and character surprise him at every turn, conjuring admiration and stirring desire. Now, with revenge within his grasp, he must make a choice before it’s too late: either cling to the malice that kept him alive or release it for the chance at love.

The vengeful and unreasonable Highlander intends to destroy her family, and Maisie Campbell is bound to him for a year and a day. She hates everything about Graeme, except the way he kisses, which is a force that nearly brings her to her knees. But lust does not a marriage make, and the man is hell-bent on proving her brother a traitor and herself treacherous, so she sets out to prove otherwise. Yet, as questions of her brother’s character arise in her own mind and Graeme displays an honorable, fiercely protective nature, Maisie faces a decision: seek a truth that will doom the brother she adores or remain blindly loyal to those she’s always held dear and lose the man she has come to love with all her heart.

PJ's Thoughts:

This book exemplifies all the reasons that when I want a fast-paced, emotional, Medieval romance that I can't put down, the author I first turn to is Julie Johnstone. Her characters are complex and fully developed. Her grasp of time and place is vividly and authentically depicted. Her books never leave me feeling as though I've read a modern book set hundreds of years ago. From the first page to the last, I was fully immersed in 15th Century Scotland, these characters, their triumphs, travails, passion, and the danger that stalks them.

While this is book three in Johnstone's Return of the Highlanders trilogy and the couples from books one and two are featured, The Highlander Burns for Vengeance stands well on its own. You can easily jump in with any book. I recommend all three. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Asheville Christmas Tradition

The Asheville Christmas Tradition

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Carolina Christmas - Book 4

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: November 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but the Chambers sisters are discovering that even the happiest season has its share of surprises. Noelle, newly married to Jace and managing her own cozy art gallery, is on a mission to perfect the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting. But between stepmom duties, dreams of growing her family, and strong-willed townsfolk resisting her festive plans, Noelle’s Christmas spirit is put to the test.

Meanwhile, Angie’s working at the iconic Biltmore House, where an intriguing new curator has her second guessing both her career and her heart. And their fun-loving stepcousin Hannah is struggling with the fact that her long-term relationship has fizzled out. Will a chance meeting with a former pro hockey player who now owns the Christmas tree farm have her skating her way into a whole new life?

Once again, Christmas brings challenges and change, happiness and heartbreak, and the power of unbreakable family bonds. Join these strong, funny, and loving women as they celebrate old traditions and create a few new ones along the way.

PJ's Thoughts:

Family. Faith. Heart. Humor. Hope. Love. These are the cornerstones of The Asheville Christmas Tradition, book four in the Carolina Christmas series co-written by women's fiction authors Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and this book. It's been a heart-tugging and heartwarming journey. There were tears but also smiles, sighs, and more than a little laughter along the way. It's my recommendation that the books be read in order.  

Scott and Holloway seamlessly blend their writing skills in this book. I would not be able to tell you which author wrote which words. They all flow together as if written in one voice. The characters are complex, interesting, and fully developed, creating bonds among the full cast of fictional characters as well as with me, the reader. I feel like I've come to know them, flaws, quirks, and all. They have realistic - and relatable - issues. They overcome challenges any of us might face. They have complicated family relationships, not always seeing eye to eye, but that family bond is strong and unbreakable. I love the support given and received among the women in this book, the lessons imparted and learned, and not only within the family. And I love the men in their lives, the committed partners who both give and receive the love, respect, and support we all should be fortunate enough to find. 

There are also romantic elements within this book that offer insight into various characters. A long-term relationship ends, an unexpected one begins, a married couple face a difficult decision, a sweet tradition offers comfort to a widow, and all three sisters - and their partners - look forward to the future with hope, joy, and love in their hearts. 

I would also like to mention the setting of the books in the Carolina Christmas series: Asheville, North Carolina. Most, if not all, of you are aware of the devastation heaped upon Asheville and the rest of Western North Carolina by Hurricane Helene. Scott and Holloway bring the beauty and unique vibe of Asheville to life in these books, all written before the storm. It's an area I love and know well, having lived within two hours of Asheville for more than twenty years. Mountain people are strong, they are resilient, and they will persevere. Of that, I have no doubt. It may take a while but they will rebuild their lives and their towns. In the meantime, they need help. Scott and Holloway have pledged to help that effort by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Carolina Christmas series (all four books - all formats) to Samaritan's Purse, an organization doing critical work on the ground in Western North Carolina. To help them in this mission, I have purchased a set of the four Carolina Christmas books in print format.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 10 will receive the set of books: The Asheville Christmas Cabin, The Asheville Christmas Gift, The Asheville Christmas Wedding, and The Asheville Christmas Tradition. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Second Chance Season

Second Chance Season

by Emily March

Lake in the Clouds - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 5, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Zoey Hillcrest thought the hard part was over once she and her fiancé, Cooper, settled on a venue for their destination wedding. But as the date approaches, Zoey faces professional burnout, her estranged mother’s terminal illness, and a worrisome distance from her fiancé. When presented with an excuse to return to Colorado, she flees to the peaceful lakeside hotel to figure out what she truly wants in life.

After all the hard work Genevieve Prentice and her sister Helen McDaniel put into renovating their rustic waterfront lodge, the two finally have time to take a breath and celebrate the lives they’ve built in Lake in the Clouds, Colorado. Then a chance run-in with their latest bride turns their lives upside down. 

Helen has never laid eyes on Zoey before, but something about her feels familiar. And when the three women uncover a devastating family secret, they must make peace with the past in order to fully embrace what the future has to offer. 

PJ's Thoughts:

Emily March takes readers on another heart-tugging, emotional journey in this third book of her Lake in the Clouds series. I love the way she weaves generations together within this family, giving equal consideration to all ages. And, I especially love that the pillars of the three books are sisters with decades of life behind them. Sisters who still have a thirst for life, for adventure, and for new romantic opportunities. 

Second Chance Season brings new characters to Lake in the Clouds and into Genevieve and Helen's life, bringing unexpected revelations with them. March seamlessly weaves Zoey's journey into those of Helen, Genevieve, and their family, keeping me eagerly turning pages. All of these characters - and their stories - are compelling. March has a way of creating characters who seem so real. I feel as if I know them personally, become invested in their well being, ache when they are hurt, and cheer their happiness. 

You could read Second Chance Season as a standalone but I'm glad I read the three books in order, especially because Helen's and Genevieve's stories - as well as their sibling relationship - unfolds over the course of the three books. The emotional impact of Second Chance Season was much greater having that understanding of where they started and how far they've come. The books, in order, are: The Getaway, Balancing Act, and Second Chance Season (click the titles to read my reviews). I highly recommend all three. 

Review - - Made for Mistletoe

Made for Mistletoe

by Nan Reinhardt

The Walkers of Rivers Edge - Book 3

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: October 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

This Christmas he has big plans until he meets a beautiful distraction….

Army reservist Cameron Walker loves everything about the holidays in River’s Edge—celebrating with his big family and carving out more time to work on his custom design furniture in his studio. But when he meets a visiting artist and niece of a family friend, he’s eager to break his work plans for play. He knows first-hand life’s short.

Teacher and artist Harper Gaines is bowled over by the handsome and friendly finish carpenter she meets during her vacation. His admiration for her art and his enthusiasm for life light her up, and remind her of how much she’s been missing since her soldier husband’s death. But when she discovers Cam’s also a soldier, she retreats, unable to risk another loss.

Cam has never felt such a strong connection, and he won’t give up without a fight. But will Cam’s persistence and the magic of Christmas be enough to convince Harper to take a chance on them?

PJ's Thoughts:

Nan Reinhardt's River's Edge books are always hopeful and heartfelt but those set during the holidays seem to have that extra punch of emotion. Made for Mistletoe has all the feelings. 

I adored Cam. How could I not? He's like a Golden Retriever puppy with his huge heart, kind soul, over-the-top love of all things Christmas, and dedication to helping others. Harper really has no chance against all that sweetness, charm, and sex appeal, except...

Harper Gaines is stuck, mired in grief, and unable to move forward. Reinhardt's depiction of her is so realistic, so relatable. My heart bled for her. I could feel her pain so acutely, moved to tears more than once. I appreciate the journey that was crafted for her, the time and patience given as she navigates the incredibly difficult process of moving on with life and courageously opening her heart a second time. 

I enjoyed the gradual evolution of the friendship between Cam and Harper that slowly deepens into more, the respect and support they give to one another, and the sizzle of attraction that, while always there, waits patiently on the back burner until the time is right. I love the connections that are forged between Harper and other women in River's Edge, how each one opens a pathway toward healing. And I love the layers within Cam that give his character unexpected depth without losing that special light that shines from his heart. 

River's Edge really is a magical place. I wish it was real. I wish I could visit and spend time with all of the wonderful characters who inhabit Nan Reinhardt's fictional world. They feel real to me. I'm emotionally invested in their lives, their well-being, their happiness.

If you're looking for heart-tugging, small-town, contemporary romance with a strong sense of community, emotional depth, a sprinkling of humor, feel-good romance, and a hard-won, happy ending, check out Made for Mistletoe. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. If you're new to River's Edge, don't worry. You can jump in with Made for Mistletoe and do just fine. 

Review - - Hero for the Holidays

Hero for the Holidays

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 9

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

When Landry King shows up at Four Corners Ranch with Lila, the teenage daughter no one ever knew he had, it sets the gossip mill churning. Landry’s daughter has lost her adoptive parents and is in desperate need of a new family. So this Christmas, the untamed cowboy is finally getting the chance to become the father he could never have been when Lila was born. Even if it means dealing with his other biggest regret…

Fia Sullivan hates Landry King. That’s how it’s always been. At least, that’s how it’s been since their dramatic teenage love affair ended in a way that shattered their hearts and left them with wounds that never healed. When Landry dredges up her most agonizing secret, Fia’s devastated…and also overjoyed at the possibility of the new life they could have. But there’s only so long she can be near Landry before their simmering desire reignites. Can they finally overcome their past pain to find new love—and new family—this Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

Maisey Yates is an author I turn to for complex family dynamics and deeply emotional romance with a western flair. I like some of her books more than others but she’s an author who has never let me down. Her newest novel, a second-chance, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story with deep emotional underpinnings just may be my all-time Yates favorite.

Everyone on the Four Corners Ranch knows Fia Sullivan and Landry King can’t stand each other but nobody knows why. Those of us who have been reading this series don’t know why. Hero for the Holidays opens with that reason and, boy howdy, it’s a doozy. What follows is a roller coaster of emotions as Fia, Landry, and Lila navigate the life-changing events that have been thrust upon all three of them.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the evolution of these characters, both individually as well as a family unit. I like how Yates leaves no stone unturned in the development and evolution of Fia and Landry as she guides them through a present-day reflection of the turmoil of their teens, something they had never talked about, helping them forge a new understanding of decisions made at that time through the more mature lens of the people they are today. It’s a gradual process, with ups and downs, as is to be expected when you’ve spent years believing you’re 100% in the right about something only to realize maybe you shoulder some of the blame. Their individual growth paves the way for forgiveness, understanding, and a chance to rekindle an old love in a more balanced, mature, and enduring, though no less fiery, way. These two have chemistry!

Lila offers another layer of emotion, complication, sarcastic humor, and hope as only a young teen whose life has imploded can. She’s authentic, relatable, and has a firm grip on my heart, as she does with Landry, Fia, and the entire King and Sullivan families. She’s the heartbreaking - but ultimately healing - catalyst for the changes that are long overdue in Landry’s and Fia’s lives. I laughed with her, ached for her, loved her. She’s one of my favorite characters of this entire series. 

Hero for the Holidays is the ninth book in the Four Corners Ranch series. While several characters and couples from earlier books are featured in this book, Yates has written the story in such a way that it can be enjoyed as a standalone. I’ve read all of the books and it’s fun to catch up with other characters but I don’t think starting with Hero for the Holidays would lessen the emotional impact of Fia’s and Landry’s story. It might, however, make you curious enough to pick up the other eight books. ;-)

Review - - Take Me Home for Christmas

Take Me Home for Christmas

by Miranda Liasson

The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff - Book 1

Publisher: Hawthorne House

Release Date: October 4, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

She invented Mr. Right...just in time for the holidays.

Every tangled web starts with one tiny white lie. The kind you spin when you're desperate.

One day I, Mia D'Angelo, third-year pediatric resident, was telling my mom that I'd finally met the perfect guy. Gushing about how amazing he was. And how happy I was.

It was all true. Until my "perfect guy," Dr. Braxton Hughes, turned out to be my co-worker and my only competitor for a spot in the best practice in town...and then suddenly I was dumped...again. But I kept going with the stories, to get her through a very tough time.

My mom's health crisis ended, and just when I thought things had settled down, my family wanted to meet my wonderful boyfriend for Christmas.

So I asked (okay, begged) just about every male I knew under forty, except of course for Brax.

Don't get me wrong. I could always count on him in a pinch. At work, that is.

Brax is an amazing pediatrician, but he would never fit the bill as a boyfriend. Maybe in looks. And charm. And his big heart. The problem is that he's the biggest commitment-phobe this side of the Mississippi.

He's the kind of guy I would definitely never take home for Christmas. There'd be no kissin' under the mistletoe, no canoodling under the tree—because my heart could not survive falling for him again.

My car is packed and I'm down to no one, when magically, there he is, duffle in hand, melt-me smile on his face.

Oh, joy.

Keeping it professional is going to be a whole lot harder than I thought. Especially when he charms my parents, my whole family, and even my dog.

And Dr. Wrong...well, he's suddenly looking awfully right.

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Many. Feelings. Miranda Liasson is an author who always takes me on an emotional journey but even in the midst of many keepers, this book stands out. It has so much heart, so many tender moments. I laughed out loud, shed  tears (both kinds), and fell head over heels in love with…well, pretty much the entire cast of characters. Okay, there are a few exceptions but everyone else. 

I want to hang out with Brax, Mia, Sam, Gage, and the rest of their hospital friends. I want to spend Christmas with Mia’s fun-loving family, join in all of their traditions, make cookies with her mom at daybreak, read The Night Before Christmas with her adorable niece, and tackle the scream-inducing sledding hill behind their house. I love the way Liasson portrays the love, support, teasing, and complications within this close-knit family that has suffered a grievous loss. I wanted to gather them all in and give them huge hugs, including Brax, who has never experienced a Christmas - or family - like the one gifted him by D’Angelos. 

Liasson tackles some tough topics in this book - including sick kids, grief, and cancer - handling them with thoughtful, hopeful, but also realistic care. It adds additional emotional layers to an already heart-tugging story and extra depth to the characters. I especially enjoyed the look forward six years into the future in the Epilogue. 

Take Me Home for Christmas launches Miranda Liasson’s The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff series and sets a high bar for the rest of the books. I feel like these characters have become my friends and am eagerly anticipating (hopefully) catching up with them again in book two. 

Review - - One Big Happy Family

One Big Happy Family

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating.

But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months.

As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, she’ll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.

PJ's Thoughts:

Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family is one special book. I’ve been reading Mallery for years, enjoyed many of her books, but even among the many Mallery keepers lining my shelves, this book is an all-time favorite. It’s so addictively enjoyable I read it in one day and am already looking forward to my next re-read. I won’t be a bit surprised if it ends up being one of my special annual, in-front-of-the-tree-with-hot-cocoa-and-a-cozy-blanket Christmas reads. It’s just that good. 

Mallery brings an ever expanding cast of characters to this story but it never feels cluttered or confusing. Chaotic? Well, that’s a different story but it’s the kind of holiday chaos I gobble up faster than hot-from-the-oven holiday shortbread. The characters are all developed with care and a thoroughness that brings them to life on the page. They are layered, complex, intriguing, and authentic. Even those who are eminently unlikable at first have layers that slowly reveal unexpected depths. Secrets are revealed, life decisions are made, a romance rekindles, another deepens, broken family relationships take the first steps toward healing, children bring a magical anticipation, and friends and family, old and new, biological and chosen, illustrate clearly that Christmas is the perfect time to open our hearts to the hope, joy, love, fun, and unexpected guests of the season. 

Don’t miss Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - A Fire in the Sky

A Fire in the Sky: A Novel

by Sophie Jordan

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone. 

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

PJ's Thoughts:

I’m not typically a romantasy reader but this book...wow…I could not put it down. From the opening pages to the final sentence, I was fully immersed in this world, in these characters. I had to know what would happen next. 

Jordan’s world building gave me a clear and vivid vision and understanding of this land where dragons once filled the skies before being annihilated by humans. The war against the dragons was necessary. It was kill or be killed. The only way for the humans to survive was to rid their world of the dragons. Only then would they be safe. But, was that really what happened or was there a deeper, more sinister plot at play among those humans who incited the masses? Why are some citizens living in the lap of luxury while those who protect their borders balance on the brink of starvation? And what will happen when a woman raised in that luxury is married off to a warrior from those borders who thinks he’s marrying a Royal Princess, who counts on that marriage to give him a seat at the table where decisions are made but, instead, finds himself saddled for life with the royal whipping girl? (And yes, that is exactly as horrible as it sounds)

Stakes are high for both Tamsyn and Fell from the get-go and it didn’t take long for me to be fully invested in both, especially Tamsyn. Jordan does an outstanding job of slowly unveiling the layers of these characters as they face off against danger, treachery, unimaginable circumstances, unexpected feelings, and each other. I enjoyed watching Tamsyn grow in confidence, finding her self worth and identity as her journey progresses while Fell deals with unfamiliar feelings as well as life-altering revelations. Tamsyn and Fell have the opportunity to change their lives, their world, if they are willing to embrace the unthinkable. Please embrace the unthinkable! 

A Fire in the Sky is one of my favorite books this year. The story held me in thrall, never once lagging, and keeping me eagerly reading late into the night. I’m fully invested in Tamsyn’s and Fell’s plight, emotionally attached to both characters, and already begging to know when book two will be released because….whoa…that ending! I have to know what happens next!