Review - - Love Letters for Other People

Love Letters for Other People

by Shaylin Gandhi

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

When mathematician Aubrey MacLean’s career implodes, she has no choice but to return to her rural Indiana hometown, at least temporarily. But small towns have long memories, and so does she, especially when it comes to Nick Thacker, the boy who broke her heart.

Nick’s life is routine: long shifts at the steel mill, plus a side business writing love letters for other people. It’s enough to numb his regrets—until his first love returns, stirring up a past he thought he’d buried.

Aubrey is focused on rebuilding her career, until she falls for a man whose love letters feel achingly familiar. But as their connection deepens, so does her sense that she’s been here before. The similarities must be a coincidence, right? Because if not, Aubrey may have to choose between the life she’s built and the love she left behind…

PJ's Thoughts:

After reading Love Letters for Other People and When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi, what I've come to expect from her books is beautiful writing, complicated relationships, deeply emotional stories, boy-howdy-I-did-not-see-that-coming twists, and layered characters who linger in my mind long after I turn the final page.  

Love Letters for Other People takes us to rural Indiana and a story that pulled me in and refused to let go. Gandhi expertly crafts a tale of heartache, betrayal, long-overdue reckoning, forgiveness, and second chances but nothing on this journey will be easy. There are so many twists in this book, some I sniffed out in advance while others took me by surprise. 

Many characters are layered, with flaws that I could understand even if I didn't agree with their actions. There's a Cyrano de Bergerac plotline that had me worried but works out without going too far (for me). While some of the secondary characters had me ready to do some cliff tossing, Nick and Aubrey (and Nick's daughter) are characters who won my affection and support. My heart hurt so hard for what they had been/were going through but celebrated the joy of their hard-won second-chance happiness. 

If you enjoy an emotional roller coaster ride with complex characters, a hard-won happy ending and a few surprises along the way, I recommend picking up a copy of Love Letters for Other People. It's another winner from one of my favorite new authors, Shaylin Gandhi. 

Review - - Honeymoon Phase

Honeymoon Phase

by Amy Daws

Mountain Men Matchmaker - Book 3

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Fact or fiction: proposing to your best friend so she can inherit her family business is a great idea.

When Addison “Roe” Monroe tells me she’s going on a husband hunt at the local lumberjack competition so she can inherit her father’s lumberyard, desperate times call for desperate measures.

She’s sworn off romance. Says she’s been through enough tragedy. So I offer myself as an alternative, 'cause that’s what best friends are for.

But my stubborn friend, who would rather drive a forklift than get her nails done, refuses to accept my help, and now I find myself training to become a lumberjack.

I refuse to let Roe hitch her wagon to some hulking ax wielder who might be a serial killer. She means too much to me.

And I swear there are moments where she looks at me like I mean something more to her, too.

On the surface, I’m offering a marriage of convenience to protect her. But the truth is…I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend.

So if I have to marry her and move her up to Fletcher Mountain just to see if she could love me back, so be it.

Because my only regret would be losing her forever, and that’s a fact.

PJ's Thoughts:

Amy Daws blends laugh-out-loud fun, heart-tugging emotion, family dynamics, and toe-curling steam in this third book of her Mountain Men Matchmaker series and I am here for every word. 

Luke Fletcher is the last unattached brother standing on Fletcher Mountain. Not that he wants to be. No, Luke has it bad for his best friend but she's set against love and marriage. Or, make that marriage with love. A marriage of convenience, on the other hand, one that will only last a year is most definitely on the table...with anyone but Luke. Our boy is out to change her mind and, hopefully, win her heart. 

To say Addison "Roe" Monroe has had an unconventional upbringing would be a understatement. Grief and abandonment have shaped her into the woman she is, with a heart she is not about to open up to more pain. If there's one person who could tempt her, it would be her best friend, her safe space. But, is she willing to risk his friendship for more? And what about his family who welcomes her with open arms? 

Addison is such a singular character, more at home on a forklift than a dance floor, more at ease in flannel than silk, but also ridiculously fond of her sourdough starter. Yes, she bakes bread. That's part of the soft side she keeps hidden, maybe even from herself. It was wonderful to watch her evolve over the course of the book, learning to deal with the emotional trauma of her past, learning to trust, and embracing those softer emotions without losing the essence of who she is. 

Luke has past trauma of his own and vulnerabilities not readily apparent but one thing that never wavers is his steadfast love, support, and belief in Addison. He is there for her, always, in whatever fashion she needs, even at the expense of his own hopes, heart, and safety (lumberjack competition, anyone?). I adored him, his family, his cock (not that one!). Okay, maybe that one too but I'm talking about his oh-so-spoiled pet rooster. 

The supporting cast of characters in this book is pure gold. The dynamic among the brothers is spot on and the Fletcher Mountain ladies have me wanting to build a cabin up there and hang out with them too. They're such a fun, sassy, relatable group. I want to sled with them, dance with them, get tipsy while eating pizza on the curb with them, and lean in for warm, teary-eyed hugs while celebrating the hard-won love and joy each has found. 

There's only one more Fletcher standing and that's beloved niece, Everly, known as the family matchmaker. The tables will turn when Everly steps into her own love story in 2026. I can't wait. 

 

Review - - Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 12

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

A favor owed. An Off-limits romance. Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen.

Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father’s death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they’re grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King.

Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father’s illegal activities caused her father's death. So when Sheena rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, Denver can’t say no. He’ll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

PJ's Thoughts:

Could Sheena Patrick and Denver King, the two black sheep loners of Pyrite Falls actually be a perfect fit for each other? Not without a whole lot of introspection and growth, thankfully something at which author Maisey Yates excels. 

This final book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series brings plenty of sizzle, snappy banter, and emotional depth, exactly what I would expect from these two main characters. Yates has a knack for writing dysfunctional families and, boy howdy, do Sheena and Denver fit that vibe. Considering their history, the actions of their fathers, and the life-changing events that shaped both of their lives from a young age, I didn't know how Yates was going to pull off a happy ending for these two. She does - of course, she does - but you'll have to read the book to discover how. 

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series is the many layers of the characters along with the emotionally complicated journeys they travel. It's a gradual process, often with a fair amount of push and pull, as the main couples work individually and together to sort through their emotional baggage and find their way forward. That is certainly the case with Denver and Sheena. Of course, they don't accomplish such a monumental task on their own. We have siblings and their partners on both sides more than ready to step in and meddle when necessary. 

As someone who has read the entire Four Corners Ranch series, it was fun to watch favorite couples from earlier books jump into the fray to help Denver, the last man standing, find his HEA. For readers who are new to Four Corners Ranch, be aware that while this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, there may be confusion due to those supporting characters and references to events that have already occurred. For me, however, Cowboy, it's Cold Outside was a heart-tugging way to wrap up this series with a hard-won happy ending and an epilogue that had me grinning with happy, touched-my-heart tears. 

Review - - Snow Kissed

Snow Kissed

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

'Tis the season for a little white lie…

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a deal: he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away.

PJ's Thoughts:

I always look forward to RaeAnne Thayne's holiday novels. Filled with family, community, holiday hope, and endearing romance, this year's addition, Snow Kissed, wrapped me in a warm holiday hug that kept me eagerly turning pages from start to finish. 

Thayne takes readers back to Shelter Springs (site of her last two holiday novels) with this newest story. I enjoyed catching up with some characters from the past books but readers new to Thayne's Shelter Springs books will have no difficulty jumping in with Snow Kissed. Regardless if you're a new or returning reader, the citizens of Shelter Springs will pull you into their warm and welcoming town with open arms. The same as they do with Ryan Caldwell. 

There were times in this book when I felt like I was in the middle of a snow globe. That's how lovely and inviting this small, snow-covered town is during the Christmas holidays. It's hard to avoid the holiday happiness that exudes from every corner, as Ryan discovers when he arrives to take care of his niece while his sister (her mother) is in rehab. Then he meets Holly and her heart-stealing, special-needs daughter, Lydia. Between them, and his niece, Audrey, there's a good chance that Christmas spirit that's been missing from his life for years just might be waiting around the corner. Not to mention a package-deal love to last a lifetime. 

I loved Holly and Ryan together and how each of them slowly opened their hearts to love, forgiveness, and acceptance. Their romance made my heart so happy but this book isn't only about finding romantic love after heartbreak. It's also about mending broken family ties, forgiving the past, and learning to look to the future with hope, something at which RaeAnne Thayne excels. I appreciated that she didn't take any easy fixes but, instead, allowed the relationships in question to move forward realistically and organically. I especially liked how the relationship between Holly, her ex-husband, and his new wife evolved. 

If you're looking for a feel-good romance with heart, humor, and emotional depth, all wrapped up in snow-blanketed holiday joy, pick up a copy of Snow Kissed. It's sure to put you in the mood to browse Christmas markets, sip hot chocolate, and toast happy, holiday beginnings. 

Review - - A Merry Little Lie

A Merry Little Lie

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

I always look forward to reading Sarah Morgan's annual Christmas novel. In this year's book, A Merry Little Lie, we meet the Balfour family: mom, dad, grandparents, and three adult children (plus partners), all gathering for a family holiday celebration, possibly the last one where everyone is present. The grandparents are growing older (but no less feisty), the parents are transitioning (not that successfully) to retirement, and the adult children are pairing up (with only one of the three couples being a ruse...maybe) so it's anyone's guess where they will all be next Christmas. It could be their last hurrah...or the beginning of new traditions...or the validation of how much they all love celebrating together...if they make it through this Christmas. Love is strong but tensions are high and more than a few relationships are tenuous. It's a time of joy, uncertainty, fun, surprises, celebrations, and human struggles - a combination of emotions right up Morgan's alley. And mine. 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Morgan has assembled three generations of characters and the assorted issues facing them at their various stages of life. I found all of them to be authentic, relatable, and easy to root for. Of course, there are messy family and couple situations and emotions to contend with which are handled flawlessly. The characters and their individual journeys are woven together into an intriguing family tapestry where each individual is given due attention while also being a balanced part of the whole. There's sibling tension, marital tension, holiday fun, meddling family members, humor, and romance to keep the story moving right up to a red-ribbon-wrapped, holiday happy ending. 

Reading this book felt like being an invited guest in the Balfour home and experiencing all of the heart-tugging interactions and emotions right along with the members of the family. I loved it. 

Review - - Last on the List

Last on the List

by Amy Daws

Wait with Me - Book 5

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: September 30, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Only a bad nanny knows what it’s like to kiss the boss.

CEO millionaire Max Fletcher is a single dad in desperate need of a nanny.

Cozy Barlow is in the middle of her self-appointed “gap year” and doing everything she can to detach from her past.

But when her sister begs her to interview for the nanny position of a high-maintenance client, she doesn’t have a good enough reason to say no.

And when Max locks eyes on the twentysomething in tie-dye who pitches the idea of daydreaming all summer, he prepares to give this bad nanny the boot.

One problem: Max’s little girl thinks this "plus-size in body and spirit" nanny might be her new bestie, so she hires her on the spot.

Now Max is stuck with a woman who hates everything he represents—corporate greed, money, status, power.

But one stormy night when the power goes out, he discovers Cozy doesn’t hate him. In fact, he’s the leading role in her fantasies.

Fantasies he would very much like to make a reality.

PJ's Thoughts:

I pretty much smiled through this entire book. I mean, come on, pair a by-the-book, single-dad billionaire with a big-hearted, taking-a-career-break, more-than-she-seems Nanny. Add forced proximity, sparkling banter, sizzling attraction, humor, fun, emotional depth, and steam for days. Then, just for kicks, top it with an 11-year-old matchmaker, meddling brothers and friends, plus growing feelings, and Max and Cozy just might have the perfect recipe for their very own happily ever after. 

I prefer to read a series in order. In the case of Last on the List, however, I did things backwards. While this is book five in the Wait with Me series, it is also the prequel to the Mountain Men Matchmaker series. I have not read the first four books in the Wait with Me series and I have read the first three books in the Mountain Men Matchmaker series (which feature Max, Cozy, and Everly as secondary but important characters several years later). I'm happy to say that this did not impair my level of enjoyment one bit. After meeting Max's friends, I will definitely be picking up their books. As far as his "Mountain Men" brothers, it was fun to go back in time and read the origin story of their beloved niece and personal matchmaker, Everly. Wherever you are in the reading order of either series, Last on the List stands well on its own and has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Note: If this book sounds familiar there's a chance you may have read it as an indie digital release. 

 

Review - - The Sea Witch

The Sea Witch

by Eva Leigh

Salt & Sorcery - Book 1

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Condemned as a witch, sentenced to die, Alys Tanner uses her innate magical power to flee Puritanical New England. Stealing a ship, Alys becomes captain of The Sea Witch, leading its all-female, sorcery-wielding pirate crew. But the colonial British navy is in hot pursuit. The navy fights for a choke hold on the Caribbean and will destroy anything they cannot control, especially witches.

When Ben Priestley, a headstrong naval navigator, is inadvertently captured by the lady pirates, dangerous truths are revealed. A quest that could turn the tides against the navy’s might ignites a reluctant partnership between the by-the-books prisoner and the fierce witch pirate captain. While they brave backstabbing pirates, perilous tropical islands and monster-filled seas, Alys and Ben’s mistrust grows into unexpected desire as they battle an enemy that will stop at nothing to rule the waves.

PJ's Thoughts:

Lady pirates sailing the Caribbean? Yes, please. Lady pirates who are also witches? Oh, heck yes! 

This book was everything I didn't know I needed: lady witch pirates, high-seas adventure, magical realism, forced proximity, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and twists I never saw coming. The characters drew me in from the get-go, immersing me in their cut-throat world of piracy. If that wasn't enough, Leigh also added in witches, mages, and super-powered sea creatures bound to England's naval ships and bent on destruction. Fantastical? Yes. And yet, Leigh makes it all seem plausible and real. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while at the same time wanting to slow down and absorb every minute detail. I read the entire book in one day, staying awake way past my bedtime and relishing every impeccably presented detail. 

The characters were multi-layered, nuanced, and fully developed. I loved the evolution of Alys and Ben, both individually and as an eventual couple. But I also enjoyed the relationships among the all-women crew on Alys's ship. While not the lead couple, they are intrinsically important to the overall story and I appreciated the time and care devoted to their individual characters and stories. I'm hopeful that we will continue to learn more about them as the series continues. 

The relationship between Alys and Ben was not easy, as one would expect between a pirate witch captain and her upright British naval navigator captive. I loved that she held the power but also appreciated the eventual ebb and flow of that dynamic as their characters and relationship grew. Their interactions felt authentic and their slowly changing opinions, organic. I was fully immersed in their quest, in their relationship, in their chaotic world. I was pulling so hard for their improbable happy ending. And, yes, I actually gasped when I reached the end of the book. Cliffhanger!

I don't know when book two of this trilogy is scheduled to be released but what I do know is that I'll be hitting that preorder button the second it becomes available. I am fully involved in these characters now and I cannot wait to discover what Eva Leigh has planned for the next phase of their journey. In the meantime, I'll be rereading The Sea Witch, probably more than once. It's just that immersive. It's just that good. 

Review - - Love is an Open Book

Love is an Open Book

by Chandra Blumberg

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: August 12 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Blurring the line between fiction and reality...

Mia Brady never imagined her romance novels would become bestsellers, much less inspire a hit TV show. However, after signing a deal to write the final book of the series, she’s struck by a serious case of writer’s block. Her fans are clamoring for a passionate payoff, but Mia’s own experience with heartbreak—and current lack of real-life romance—is getting in the way. Do friends who become lovers ever truly have a happy ending?

Gavin Lane would like to think so. As Mia’s ride-or-die BFF, he’s been by her side through it all and convinced himself his crush on her is a thing of the past. He’s not about to let his feelings ruin their friendship, and never will. But things get complicated when Mia pitches a bold idea to help save her career: testing out tried-and-true love story tropes...together.

From workplace romance to fish-out-of-water, Mia and Gavin embark on a series of “experiments” to spark a little creativity—but they are not prepared for the flame that ignites between them. Does their friendship even stand a chance when pure fantasy suddenly becomes a little too real?

PJ's Thoughts:

Love is an Open Book is a fun, flirty, friends-to-lovers romcom that had me rooting for Gavin and Mia from the get-go. 

Imagine someone meeting the love of her life the same night she's had her heart broken by the good friend turned boyfriend who has just informed her he's in love with her sister. Is it any wonder Mia immediately friend-zoned Gavin and vowed to never risk that friendship by letting it slide into romance? Ten years later, she's still stubbornly clinging to that vow. In truth, she's terrified of changing the parameters of the best friendship (she refuses to call it a relationship) that's she's ever experienced.

Gavin, on the other hand, has been in love with Mia for the past ten years but he's hidden it well. He's not about to do anything to rock the boat of their friendship...until she needs his help figuring out how to navigate her reluctant best-friend fictional characters to a happy ending of their own. Suddenly, there are feelings on both sides but also those are some pretty sturdy walls Mia has built around her heart. Okay, so I'm Team Gavin all the way. Such a good guy! I love that the story unfolded from both Gavin's and Mia's points of view. Understanding his full range of emotions made me even more invested in his character. 

Someone who has held fast to her fear for ten years isn't about to toss it aside easily and the author does a good job of showing that in Mia's progression. Did I become impatient with her push and pull? Yes, but I also understood. She has a significant growth arc which the author illustrates by allowing us into Mia's thoughts as we watch her slowly open herself to new possibilities. 

I loved the supporting cast of friends and family (including adorable kittens!) who provide humor, emotional depth, and help both Gavin and Mia move forward in their relationship. The banter, both between the main couple and among friends, sparkles and kept me entertained. The messy history with certain family members and complications of changing relationship parameters mid-stream adds an emotional depth that gives authenticity and relatability to Gavin's and Mia's evolving relationship, and the HEA had me grinning with heartfelt delight. 

If you like friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with relatable characters, flirty banter, humor, heart, and happy endings, give Love is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg a try or any of the books written by this author. I've enjoyed them all. 

Review - - Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer

by Maisey Yates

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

There are no rules this cruel summer…

“I think we should see other people…” That one sentence unravels Samantha Parker’s perfect life. She has a loving husband, three wonderful kids and a comfortable suburban lifestyle. But on the brink of their long-awaited empty-nest chapter, Will asks Samantha for something she never dreamed of: an open marriage.

Desperate to keep her husband happy, Samantha proposes a summerlong separation with no contact. She knows she has to use the opportunity to find herself, but she also has no interest in being with anyone but Will. She’s confident when the season is over, they’ll get back together like this time never happened. 

Then Sam gets an offer of adventure from an unlikely source: Logan Martin, a classic-car restorer who happens to be Will’s best friend, asks Sam to help him drive across the country to make deliveries. Logan and Sam have never had an easy relationship. He’s prickly, aloof and a little too handsome. And as they traverse the winding roads and breathtaking backdrops of North America, her changing connection with Logan challenges everything she believed she wanted in life, love and passion. When her summer with Logan is up, will she go home to the familiar stability of her past…or choose the thrilling uncertainty of her future?

PJ's Thoughts:

Raw. Real. Heartbreaking. Healing. Empowering. Romantic. Unforgettable. Those are but a few of the many words that flowed through my mind while on the emotional journey that is Maisey Yates' Cruel Summer. 

Rarely do coming-of-age stories feature 40-year-old protagonists but that's exactly what happens to Sam in this book. She's settled in a comfortable, predictable marriage. She's happy - or thinks she is - but to be honest, she's never known anything else...until her husband blows it all to bits. Thus begins a summer unlike any she's previously lived. Crisscrossing the U.S. and Canada with Logan opens her eyes to places she's never seen and her heart to feelings and realizations she never considered. Realizations such as maybe her marriage was never perfect and maybe she's spent the past twenty-two years molding herself into what others expected her to be rather than fulfilling her own wants and needs. Realizations such as maybe what she wants for her future is something completely different.

I've been reading Maisey Yates for a long time. Cruel Summer, in my opinion, is one of the best books she's written. The lead characters are so vividly depicted, I forgot they were fictional and became wholly invested in them, their journeys, and their happiness. I appreciated their complexities, their emotional layers that were gradually revealed, and shared past experiences that took on new meaning as perspectives changed. And I cheered enthusiastically for the ending my heart was begging to see.

This is an immersive story of heartbreak, growth, healing, and forgiveness. It's also a heart-tugging journey of learning to value your needs, your worth, and your right to love and be loved for your complete, authentic self. I couldn't put it down.