Review - - The Summer of Lost and Found

The Summer of Lost and Found

by Toni Blake

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Recovering from cancer, Cincinnati news anchor Jessica Fox has no choice but to take a summer leave. Her boss’s proposal: for Jessica to take it easy and recharge at his late grandmother Mabel’s cottage in the Kentucky mountains.

The town of Lost and Found lives up to its name. Resistant at first, Jessica grows to appreciate the slower pace, the spectacular sunsets, the affable locals, and even Matt Cordray, the laid-back, too-friendly police chief next door. Most engaging of all is Mabel, who left behind a treasure map that leads Jessica to a collection of lost items―mementos and love letters―people have mailed to the town over the years. Jessica needs something to help pass the time, and she finds it in reuniting these precious things with the distant strangers who lost them.

Lost and in flux herself, Jessica has no idea just how connected to life this town will make her feel again or, by summer’s end, how transformative a season it will be.

PJ's Thoughts:

Transformative is a good word to describe this book. Written with the perspective of someone who lived her own cancer journey, Blake's complex, heart-tugging, and, ultimately, hopeful story gives readers an intimate view into the life of someone who has emerged from  treatment with a good health prognosis but, unbeknownst to her, has yet to begin the process of emotional healing. 

Not only did I get to tag along with Jessica during her transformative, life-changing summer, reading this book was a visceral experience in itself, one that reminded me of the importance of slowing down, taking a breath, and giving myself grace when a life-altering obstacle appears in my path. 

I'm a fast reader who typically finishes a book in one day. This book encouraged me to take my time and savor each small step of Jessica's journey along the way, whether that's the blooming of a long-awaited flower, the majesty of a painted sky at sunset, the joy of human connection, the burst of flavor on the tongue from fresh-picked, summer-warmed fruit, the fear of being vulnerable, the artistry of life's lines in an aging face, or the opening of one's heart to love. Each felt like a small celebration in the evolving trajectory of Jessica's life. 

Jessica's journey showcased the complexity of her gradual emotional healing over one unexpected summer. On a personal note, while I don't purport to understand the emotions of one who has received a cancer diagnosis, and each of those people surely lives a unique experience, Blake, through her own personal experience, has given us a main character, and surrounded her with characters, who through their feelings, insights, and shared experiences, have taught me how to better understand, support and lift up someone who has. That, in itself, is a gift to be treasured. 

The Summer of Lost and Found is an engaging, thought-provoking, hopeful, emotional celebration of life in all its messy, complex, painful, and joyful moments. It reminds us that, as Matt says in the book, "Sometimes life has to force on us the gifts we wouldn't have gotten any other way." For Jessica, that gift is a forced summer in a small mountain town that brings life-changing discoveries about herself, her surroundings, and her future path in life. For me, it's what, in my opinion, is Toni Blake's best book - a beautifully written story with realistically, and lovingly, depicted characters who will continue to live in my heart long after the final page. Don't miss this one. It's a keeper. 

Review and Giveaway - - While it was Snowing

While it was Snowing

by Julia London

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

All Amy Casey wants for Christmas is to paint. She needs five new paintings for the holiday show at her local art gallery, but between her two teenage sons, her needy ex-husband, and her overbearing parents, she hardly has any time for herself. Luckily, her best friend has the perfect solution: a vacant family lake house in North Texas, all hers for two weeks of distraction-free painting. Or so she thought.

Turns out professional golfer Harrison Neely also rented the lake house so he can spend the holidays rehabbing the injury that has put his career—and life—on hold. Despite the booking snafu, both Amy and Harrison (along with Amy's old blind dog and the army of child-sized nutcrackers residing in the living room) agree to share the festive lodging.

When an impending snowstorm has the two cozying up by the fire, sparks fly in more ways than one, and they open up to each other, unwrapping secrets and stories they’ve never shared before. But Harrison is expected back on the tournament circuit after the holidays, and Amy's family needs her. As their departure date looms and her family and his manager press them for answers, they’ll have to decide if this December to remember has been a fun holiday fling, or if they’ve found a Christmas miracle: true love.

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Much. Fun. This book felt like it was written solely for my enjoyment. I laughed. I sighed. I cringed. I laughed some more. I cheered. I sighed and laughed at the same time.  

Anyone who has lived with clueless teenagers (who can't find items right in front of them without their mom's help), dealt with a clueless ex who has discovered the grass really isn't greener on the younger side of the fence and wants to come home (not happening), or suffered loving but (again, clueless) extended family who don't seem to understand you have needs too (how many texts a day are too many and just how long is my unemployed brother going to be sleeping on my couch?) should be able to identify with Amy's line in the sand. This woman has reached a breaking point and needs her two weeks alone at her friend's family home. Too bad (or is it?) her friend's sister rented the house to Harrison for the same two weeks.  

London taps into all the fun and chaos of this steamy, endearing, and hilarious forced proximity, adversaries-to-lovers romance. There's plenty of laughter but also satisfying emotional depth and character growth. Harrison (almost fifty, never married, no children, no pets) has devoted his entire life to golf but because of injury is now facing a professional crossroads. Could a personal crossroads be on the table as well? Amy (same age) has devoted her adult life to her family and is now wondering how she lost herself in the process and if it's too late to recapture her youthful dreams. She certainly isn't looking for a new romance but fate (and sisters who don't talk to each other) seem to have stepped in to steer both of them in that direction.

Both Amy and Harrison came to the lake seeking solitude. Neither expected to find the other. Harrison also did not expect to find an elderly, mostly blind dog who goes thud in the night (actually, around the clock). Amy wasn't surprised by the dog seeing as she's the one who brought her. And, by the way, that dog stole every single scene she was in...and she was in quite a few. They absolutely did not expect to be sharing their space with multiple uninvited guests who promise to stay out of their way but this is a rom-com and we all know how that goes. The menu is set for hilarity, frustration, holiday shenanigans, personal growth, surprises (so many surprises), sneaky romantic encounters, and, just maybe, a chance to fall in love and forge a new path...together.  

While it was Snowing overflows with sparkling banter, impeccably-placed humor, emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and pure entertainment from start to finish. I loved it and plan to make it an annual holiday read. 

Have you read Julia London?

Do you enjoy books with mature lead characters?

Do you have any annual holiday re-reads? What are they?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 9 will receive a print copy of While it was Snowing.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Forever Cowboy

Forever Cowboy

by Nan Reinhardt

Montana's Rodeo Cowboys - Book 4

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: September 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

It was supposed to be just a vacation fling…

43-year-old Beth Dykeman’s life is spiraling—her 20-year marriage is over as is her career in Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce. Now back home in River’s Edge, Indiana, she’s grieving the end of her dream to have a family. Hoping to restart her life, she books a relaxing long weekend at a spa in beautiful Montana. But Beth arrives only to discover she accidentally booked a stay at a working dude ranch in the middle of Marietta’s 87th Copper Mountain Rodeo celebration weekend.

When he’s not competing, 36-year-old bronc rider Del Foster works at the Aspen Springs Ranch. He’s ready to hang up his spurs. This rodeo will be his last competition before he finally settles down and buys his own small spread to train cutting horses.

Their instant chemistry shocks them both, and on her last night, Beth indulges the attraction, knowing she’ll never see Del again. But fate has a way of changing plans and challenging assumptions. Can Beth and Del both have what they never knew they always wanted?

PJ's Thoughts:

Whether the book is set in charming River's Edge, Indiana or under the wide open skies of Montana, if it's written by Nan Reinhardt it's on my must-read list. Sometimes, a mistake isn't just a mistake. Sometimes, it's an opportunity to take a new path. Beth is adrift after the end of her 20-year marriage. Del is struggling with a close friend's devastating rodeo injury as well as when - and how - to end his own successful rodeo career. A booking error lands them together on a Montana ranch and a journey of healing, growth, self-discovery, and love follows. Reinhardt packs this book with an immersive setting, multi-layered characters, relatable issues, and a realistic happy ending. I laughed and cried (this author's characters always tug at my heartstrings) before turning the final page with a happy, heartfelt sigh. If you're looking for a feel-good western romance with heart, humor, and emotional depth, give Forever Cowboy a try. I hope Nan Reinhardt has plans for more Montana books because while I love her River's Edge community (and fingers crossed for more books there), I am all in with her new Montana community of characters too!

While Forever Cowboy is listed as book four, it's a standalone story in a multi-author series. You'll be fine jumping in here or at any other point in the series. 

Tour Review - - The Dolce Vita Divas

The Dolce Vita Divas

by Maddie Please

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Release Date: May 1, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

At the ripe (and fabulous) age of 64, Joanna Dawson finds herself seeking a new adventure. Her husband, Greg, has run off with a TBT (thin, blonde, trollop, obviously), her kids have flown the nest, and her social calendar is emptier than her wine rack.

As Jo's 65th birthday looms, she's left wondering: Is this it?

Enter Susie, her best friend, with an offer Jo can’t quite refuse: an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to honour their late friend Ellen. Jo's not sure she wants to go all the way to Italy, but with nothing else to do and if only to make Susie happy, she agrees. A holiday is a holiday after all.

Capri is even more gorgeous than Jo imagined and soon she and Susie are having the time of their life, especially as Jo is reunited with her dashing first love, Paulo. The one who, most definitely, got away…

Things might have fizzled with Paulo decades ago, but in the land of sun, pasta, and far too much wine, Jo begins to wonder: Could this be her second chance at life…and amore?

PJ's Thoughts:

How much did I love this book? I read it entirely in one day, turned the final page with a huge smile and happy sigh, and wanted nothing more than to go back to page one and read it all over again. This was my first Maddie Please novel. It will not be my last!

Please's realistic and oh, so relatable characters took me on a humorous and heart-tugging journey of friendship, adventure, and romance, proving that we're never too old for new chapters or second chances. The main characters are realistically layered and beautifully developed. I loved watching Jo blossom as she began to reconnect with her own self-worth while also reconnecting with the man who first captured her heart as a young woman. My heart broke over Jo and Paulo's ill-fated college romance but soared for their reunion so many years later. To everything there is a season. 

Friendship plays an important role in this book. We should all be blessed with the enduring friendship Susie and Jo share. I love how they challenge and support one another through the many stages of their lives; the laughter, fun, encouragement, and acceptance they share. 

Family dynamics are also key with multi-generational characters bringing a richness and texture to the overall story, from Paulo's strong-willed and perceptive mother to Jo's flabbergasted children (who, quite candidly, think Mum has gone round the bend), to Paulo's young grandson. All are used to perfection.

And, finally, Please brings to life the beauty and vibrant spirit of the Isle of Capri. Her descriptions are so vividly depicted, I could close my eyes and smell the lemons, feel the gentle sea breeze on my face, and long for the unique charm of one of my favorite places. 

If you're looking for a warm hug of a book that makes you laugh, possibly shed a few tears, cheer loudly for these wonderful characters, and immediately search out the author's entire back list, look no further than The Dolce Vita Divas. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review & Giveaway - - Remember When

Remember When

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 4

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've been reading this series, you already know the details of Clarissa's marriage and subsequent widowhood. If you haven't, Balogh weaves them into this book in a such a way that you won't be lost or confused if this is your first foray to Ravenswood. 

I love second chance, reunion romances, especially those between childhood friends who reconnect later in life. But this one has an added layer of challenge. Matthew and Clarissa are from different stations in life, even more significant now that she is a dowager duchess and he is town's carpenter/wood carver. The difference was enough to not cross the line between friendship and love in their youth and is now sure to set tongues wagging when they're observed holding hands on long walks through the park. But they are no longer 17 and 18. They're a mature couple on the cusp of fifty and they know what they want although they are not unaware of the challenges that will need to be conquered to achieve it. 

This is such a lovely, endearing novel. I really enjoyed watching Matthew and Clarissa rediscover their friendship and in doing so, rediscover themselves. Clarissa, especially, learns who she is and what she wants - and deserves - outside of being a mother. I love how she begins to take control of her life and how much she - and her relationships with her children - grow as a result. Matthew has no surfeit of growth himself. I enjoyed watching the positive evolution of his relationship with his family, due in no small part to Clarissa's encouragement and support. These two are so good for each other. I loved the caring, joy, fun, and eventually, deep, lasting love that developed between them. I laughed, I cried, and I turned the final page of their novel with a deep, happy, heartfelt sigh. 

How do you feel about older characters who get a second chance at love?

Have you read any of the Ravenswood novels?

Do you enjoy cross-class romances?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, January 12 will receive a hardcover copy of Remember When. 

*U.S. Only

*Must be 18

Review - - Christmas Beach Wedding

Christmas Beach Wedding

by Lori Wilde and Susan Sands

Publisher: Epiphany Orchards Press

Release Date: October 30, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Christmas magic of the season sparks hope for lost love in this heartwarming holiday tale.

It's been twenty-five long years since Jane Lafitte's heart was broken by her college sweetheart Trevor Gardner. She never imagined she'd see him again—until their adult children announce their own Christmas engagement!

Thrown together amidst cozy holiday celebrations in Christmas Beach, Louisiana, the old flames can't deny the warm embers that still smolder between them. But with painful memories and practical concerns conspiring against them, can Jane and Trevor set aside the past and rekindle their romance in time for the holidays?

PJ's Thoughts:

This may be a novella (133 pages) but it packs the emotional satisfaction of a much longer story. It's humorous, charming, and heart-tugging with the depth that accompanies an unexpected second chance romance twenty-five years after a heartbreaking split. Even though the story length is short, the authors take the time to properly address what happened in the past and give this couple the necessary time to make their reunion journey realistic and relatable. I loved watching them navigate forgiveness, healing, and falling in love a second time, all while also navigating a potentially awkward family situation that affects them both. 

Characters, primary and secondary, are well developed and integral to the story. Settings (both New Orleans and the beach) are vividly depicted, creating an atmosphere that's as important to the overall story as the individual characters. And Henry, the hero's dog, manages to steal not only every scene in which he appears but everyone's hearts as well, including mine. 

This quick read is a great choice for a heartwarming romance fix during the busy holidays ahead. I may even read it again. (I'm kidding. I pre-ordered a copy of my own because I will definitely read it again). 

 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - Flirting with Fire

Flirting with Fire

by Jane Porter

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Forty-nine-year-old Margot Hughes has lived and breathed theater for the past twenty-five years. After a devastating breakup with her playwright fiancé, she wants nothing to do with the industry. She has sworn off New York, theater, actors—all of it. She returns to her hometown on California’s central coast and takes a job in real estate, where she manages significant investment properties. But Margot’s suddenly thrown back into the theater world when Sally, her friend and boss, who had been restoring and funding Cambria’s historic theater, has a heart attack. Before she knows it, Margot is tapped to take over the troubled summer production of Barefoot in the Park.

But the play is no walk in the park—the leads and director have all quit, and Margot struggles to find new actors…until Max Russo arrives. Forty-five-year-old Max is a former soap opera star turned rugged cowboy on TV’s most popular western series.  Max has a huge following and is the perfect hero to step up and save the play, provided Margot stars opposite him.   Although adamant she would never return to theater, Margot enjoys the long hours of rehearsal with a professional like Max, who is charming, witty, and passionate. But when the curtains close, can Margot allow herself to fall for Max when he represents everything she left behind?

PJ's Thoughts:

I have really enjoyed the three books in this new trilogy by Jane Porter. Mature couples bring with them a multitude of life experience - and baggage - adding texture and interest to both their individual characters as well as new relationships.

Of the three couples, all of whom I liked, Margot and Max are my favorite. There's so much to cheer for with these two. I liked them as people, related to their life experiences, especially Margot's. Approaching her 50th birthday, she's faced with a number of realizations: unfulfilled dreams, paths not taken, but also new opportunities on the horizon. If she's courageous enough to take the first step. Her journey with Max is a reminder that sometimes second acts can be the best acts. That's a theme that flows through all three books in this series and one Porter navigates well. 

As a theater geek, I loved all the intricate details of the community theater and the fact that Max's character is a working - and successful - actor. Just like Margot, I couldn't help but fall for Max. I wanted to hug the little boy in him for all he had endured, climb the rugged, sexy man he had become, and reassure him that he wasn't broken but, in fact, has overflowing amounts of love and commitment for the right person. I was cheering him on the entire way.

The secondary cast is well drawn, bringing the right amount of support, conflict, and texture to the story without detracting from the main couple. Porter blends them all together seamlessly into an intriguing, empowering, emotionally satisfying story of growth, forgiveness, understanding, new beginnings, and love. 

I don't know if Porter plans to continue these stories featuring couples in their 40's and 50's but if she does I will definitely be here for them. They are an important reminder that love can find us at any age and new beginnings are always just around the corner. 

Have you read any Jane Porter books?

Do you enjoy older couples in the romances you read?

Have you experienced a second act, either in your professional life or in romance?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, Tuesday, July 26 will receive a print copy of Flirting with Fire. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review and Giveaway - - Flirting with the Beast

Flirting with the Beast

by Jane Porter

Modern Love - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 29

Reviewed by PJ

It’s been five years since Andi McDermott lost her husband, and she's finally starting to feel like herself again, ready to live fully—she’s even started dating again. But when her holiday plans with her stepson and his fiancée fall through, she refuses to spend another Christmas alone while everyone is celebrating with their families. Impulsively, she decides to go up to her cabin in Lake Arrowhead, a place she used to love to visit but hadn’t gone to in years, not since the feud started between her husband and their nearest neighbor.
 
Andi starts to rethink her decision when being alone at the cabin proves to be more challenging than she expected—a heavy snowstorm hits the area, and Andi finds herself trapped there with no one to help except for her neighbor, Wolf Enders. A military vet who lives full-time on Lake Arrowhead, Wolf is as grumpy and intimidating as Andi remembers. But he’s also unexpectedly kind and uncomfortably sexy—his presence reminds Andi that she may be older, but her body still works perfectly fine, thank you very much. But can this good girl tame this sexy beast of a man, and will this snowy fling turn into a love of a lifetime?

PJ's Thoughts:

I am thoroughly enjoying the mature love stories in Jane Porter's new Modern Love series. These characters have a fair amount of life experience and all that brings with it. They're proving you're never too old to start over, to fall in love, and to grow. I love that Porter has created complex characters with complicated family dynamics, unpacked emotional baggage, relationship wariness, and sizzling desire. 

Andi and Wolf are fully developed, realistic and very relatable. In Wolf, Porter has perfectly captured a true alpha, very stubborn male. It was fun to watch the sparks he and Andi created, especially in light of his contentious past with her late husband. Watching Andi grow into her confidence and strength was especially satisfying. In many ways, even though she has several decades behind her, this is her coming of age story and it was heartening to see her take control of her life. 

There were times when I wondered if these two would be able to find their way through their own emotional roadblocks. Porter gave them the time to work through issues - separately and together - before leading them to their happy ending.  They created laughter, steam, friction, and deep emotional upheaval along the way but that made their eventual happily ever after all the more satisfying and believable.

If you enjoy heart-tugging contemporary romance with mature lead characters, give Flirting with the Beast a try. I highly recommend it.

Do you enjoy alpha heroes?

Have you read any romances featuring mature characters that you would recommend?

Have you read any Jane Porter books yet?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 1 will receive a print copy of Flirting with the Beast.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Review - - Flirting with Fifty

Flirting with Fifty

by Jane Porter

Modern Love - Book 1

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

A sexy and sparkling later-in-life contemporary romance about a woman who leaps out of her comfort zone and takes a chance on love by New York Times bestselling author Jane Porter.

Paige Newsom is finally at a place in her life where she’s comfortable. She loves her job as a college professor in Southern California, lives close enough to her mother to visit her regularly, and has three daughters who are flourishing in their own careers. Paige has no plans to upend her life again after her divorce eight years ago, but she’s about to embark on a new adventure: co-teaching a course that includes a three-week international field study.
 
Paige can think of a dozen reasons why she shouldn’t go, one being a dazzling Australian biologist who will be teaching alongside her. Professor Jack King is charismatic, a world traveler, and more like Indiana Jones than Indiana Jones, all of which unsettles Paige, who prides herself on being immune to any man’s charms. She isn’t looking for love, and it turns out, neither is he. But as the two co-professors lead the rigorous program together, first on campus, then in beautiful Tanzania, their biggest challenge will be working closely together while resisting the undeniable chemistry they feel when they’re with each other.

PJ's Thoughts:

Are you, like me, a reader of "a certain age" aching for romances featuring characters with some life experience? Characters who think they've reached the age where new love is a closed door rather than an exciting rainbow of possibilities? Characters so firmly entrenched in their comfort zone that the thought of trying something new sends their anxieties into a tailspin, if it even occurs to them? Characters who discover it's never too late to open your mind - and heart - to the joys of new beginnings? If any of these pique your interest, do I have a book for you!

Flirting with Fifty is a gem of a story that I didn't want to put down. These characters were so well developed and relatable. I wanted to be friends with Paige...and Jack! I was immediately invested in them, their relationship, and their futures...hopefully, together. Porter used a deft hand in creating them, balancing hopes and fears, old regrets and new possibilities. She didn't shy away from the emotional baggage both carried and how that affected their abilities to move forward, how it impacted the way they viewed relationships. Their journey was a slow burn that felt realistic and appropriate for where they were in their lives, especially for Paige. I loved the friendship that developed between them, the mutual respect, the caring. I especially appreciated Jack's responses to Paige's insecurities and doubts. I also enjoyed how their family relationships and friendships were interwoven into their romantic journey. Again, so realistic and relatable for a couple in their fifties, with adult children, and complicated relationships in their past. 

The scenes in Tanzania were some of my favorites in the book. Porter's descriptions brought the scenery, culture, animals, and people of that country to life for me. And the unexpected impact the trip had on Paige had me reading, and rereading, passages as my heart twisted, then bloomed, with the incredible depth of emotion. So many feelings.

Porter will be returning with another "mature" romance this fall when secondary character, Andi, widowed for five years, has a chance for a second love with grumpy military vet, Wolf. The excerpt at the back of Flirting with Fifty has me drooling in anticipation and the cover? Yes, please! Flirting with the Beast is scheduled to be released November 29, just in time for some snowed-in-forced-proximity Christmas reading fun.