Review - - Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

Hildy Dannaher Goes Off Script

by Erin Knightley

Publisher: Hearthstone Reach Publishing

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Hildy Dannaher has got to get it together. Between her high-profile divorce, the sale of her home, and the looming deadline for the most important script of her career, she doesn’t have time for a coffee break, let alone a nervous breakdown. But when she discovers her late mother’s memory box, Hildy’s long-suppressed need for answers quickly overshadows everything else in her life.

Realizing she must address the gaping holes in her own story before she can move on with writing another, she flies halfway around the world to the tiny sea-side village where her mother was raised. The L.A. to County Kerry culture shock is real, but she soon feels a connection to this, her ancestral home.

She’s charmed by the land, its people, and even her unexpected sheepdog roommate, but her focus remains on the questions that brought her here: Who is Hildy’s father, and what happened nearly forty years ago that caused her pregnant mother to flee Ireland, never to look back? The problem with going off script is she has no way of knowing if there will be a happy ending, or if she’ll end up more heartbroken than ever.

PJ's Thoughts:

 

Oh, how I have missed Erin Knightley! For me, Knightley's historical romances always guaranteed well developed characters, intriguing storylines, and an enjoyable reading experience. This new book, the first in several years, a contemporary women's fiction/romance blend, serves up the same.

I was drawn into Hildy's life from the start and happily followed along on her Irish quest for answers. Knightley brought the small seaside village in County Kerry to life, from the bucolic sheep farms amidst rolling emerald hills, to the lively camaraderie at the local pub. And then there are the vividly drawn citizens who bring a rich Irish texture to the overall story. I couldn't get enough of them. Okay, maybe not the snippy cashier at the local grocery but every town has one, right?

I enjoyed how Hildy's journey was interwoven with the lives of the locals she befriended and especially how those new relationships influenced her search for her roots. Knightley kept the suspense of those answers central to the story while keeping me guessing as to what the answers - if any - would be. It kept me eagerly flipping pages right up until the reveal.

The romance, while not the central focus of the book, is a lovely addition to Hildy's Irish experience. I was in this unexpected couple's corner the entire way, hoping for a happy ending.

SPOILER: I was not disappointed.

I hope Knightley has more books of this type in her writer's pocket. I was thoroughly charmed. I'm also ready to book a flight to Ireland!

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 & Giveaway - - Anne of a Different Island

Anne of a Different Island

by Virginia Kantra

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same wild imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm one of those unicorn readers who has never read Anne of Green Gables. That takes nothing away from my love of Virginia Kantra's Anne of a Different Island. Inspired by the L.M. Montgomery novel, Kantra's version sets its own course with a present-day story that while it may evoke echoes of the original characters, stands well on its own for those readers, like me, who are new to the "Anne" universe.

Although Anne Gallagher is twenty-four, teaching, in a relationship, and living off the island when this book begins, it is still very much a coming-of-age story. She may be an adult but she has much yet to discover about life and about herself. I enjoyed the flashbacks to her childhood that give context to who she is today and who she ultimately becomes by the end of the book. I found her growth to be organic, authentic to her character, and very relatable. Kantra excels at bringing me into the minds of her characters and Anne is no exception. 

Another facet of writing at which Kantra excels is her ability to build a community of characters contributing context, support, conflict, humor, lessons, growth, and, in some cases, love. Each is vital to Anne's journey. I fell hard for Joe, Anne's childhood adversary turned friend turned potential soulmate (?), who has a significant growth arc of his own. Using flashbacks along with present-day scenes gave me a full picture not only of his evolving relationship with Anne but also the complications of his business and personal relationships with Anne's father. It also deepened the layers of who Joe is now and how his romantic past has affected his ability to trust both himself and others. 

Mackinac Island is a character in its own right and just as important to the overall story as any of the characters. Kantra nailed its unique vibe beautifully. I don't know if she's ever visited the island in person but she captured it's heart and left me eager to revisit this magical island in my native Michigan. 

Have you read Virginia Kantra? Do you have a favorite book or series that she's written?

Have you read Anne of Green Gables? Do you enjoy new books inspired by treasured classics? 

Have you ever visited Mackinac Island?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, January 25 will receive a signed print copy of Anne of a Different Island.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Mistletoe in Park City

Mistletoe in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 3

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: December 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Gracie McBride is up to her elbows in Christmas cookie dough at her beloved bakery, Sugarfall, when a health-conscious rival opens a sleek new shop across the street—serving kale cupcakes and protein-packed pastries that threaten to steal her customers. But when a holiday project throws them together, Gracie discovers that sometimes the sweetest treats in life come from the most unexpected ingredients.

At Snowberry Lodge, the season sparkles with love as Cindy and Nicole prepare for a double Christmas wedding. But MJ can’t stop thinking about Matt Walker, the mysterious guest who came and went last year, leaving her to wonder...will he keep his promise to return?

With weddings, wishes, and a sprinkle of mistletoe—will this be the sweetest Snowberry Christmas yet?

PJ's Thoughts:

Scott and Holloway continue to bring the humor, heart, and holiday goodness in this third book of their Christmas in the Canyons quartet. 

By now, these characters feel like good friends and each new book, a much anticipated visit to their beautiful, snowy corner of the world. That speaks to the authors' ability to develop characters to the point that they feel like real people in whom my heart is invested. 

When we rejoin the family, one year has passed since the end of book two. A lot has happened but as I read I never felt as though I was missing anything. It felt like we picked right back up with everyone during an annual visit to the mountains. Romance is in the air for multiple couples with wedding planning in the works, matchmaking kids, and a surprise arrival. I loved every word. 

This heartwarming series has my enthusiastic recommendation. Because each book builds on the previous one, I strongly encourage readers to read them in order. The fourth and final book will be published later this month. 

 

Review & Giveaway - - Sleigh Bells in Park City

Sleigh Bells in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 1

Publisher: Holloway and Scott

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

It’s never too late to come home for the holidays. At the cozy, family-run Snowberry Lodge, the Christmas season stirs up more than just festive cheer. For Cindy Kessler, it brings the shocking arrival of her ex-husband Jack—along with the return of his world-famous sleigh rides and the spark they never quite lost. Could this be the second chance at love or just one more goodbye?

Cindy’s daughter Nicole is facing a different kind of challenge. After a childhood ski accident shattered her confidence, she swore off the slopes for good. But when someone she loves needs her, Nicole may have to confront the fear she’s kept buried for years.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Benny and his great-grandpa Red are cooking up some merry mischief—a secret holiday scheme that just might pull off a Christmas miracle and save the lodge.

PJ's Thoughts:

Co-written by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott, Sleigh Bells in Park City takes readers to the mountains of Utah with the first book in what looks to be another heart-tugging holiday quartet by two of my favorite authors.

Holloway and Scott always bring the feels and there are plenty of them in this heartwarming story. I laughed, shed a few tears, laughed some more, and fell in love with each member of this close-knit family...all four generations...and the horse. How could I not fall in love with Copper? 

If this book doesn't have you wanting to hit the slopes (it's the bunny hill for me), take a ride through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh (preferably under a starlit sky), cheer on a long overdue second chance romance, indulge in the baked delights at Sugarfall Bakery, sip hot cocoa by a roaring fire, and watch an endless loop of hilarious Grumpy Santa videos courtesy of the youngest and oldest members of the Snowberry Lodge family, then are you even paying attention? I'm ready for all that and more. Luckily, I don't have to wait long for more Snowberry Lodge stories. The four books in this series will all be published over the next two months with the final book dropping just after Christmas. 

Note: This quartet has continuing characters with a different family member/couple taking center stage in each book. No cliffhangers!

When do you start reading holiday books? What's your ideal setting for a Christmas getaway, fictional or real life? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 3 will receive a print copy of The Summer We Met (book one, The Destin Diaries) by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - That Last Carolina Summer

That Last Carolina Summer

by Karen White

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creek near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, and always living in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Addie, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast, as far from her family as possible. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina, to help Addie care for their ailing mother.

As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn to Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson Liam resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past.

But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify—bringing her closer to the shocking truth that will irrevocably change everything. Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, That Last Carolina Summer is an unforgettable story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances.

PJ's Thoughts:

Karen White paints a picture with her words of South Carolina's Lowcountry in her newest novel, That Last Carolina Summer. From the weather to the food to the topography, the southern turns of phrase, character traits, and more, the uniqueness of this region is brought to life on the pages of this book. I could feel the dense, sultry humidity of the air on my skin, hear the whispers of marsh grass swaying in the breeze, smell the brine of the nearby ocean, and tingle with electricity from incoming storms. And speaking of storms, there are more than a few, some created by the weather while others spring from long-held family secrets. 

This was such a compelling, immersive read. White kept me on my toes with these complex characters and their twisty, emotional journey. She plunked me right down in the middle of this fractured, three-generation family and the challenges facing them one turbulent summer. I never felt like an outside observer; I was right there with them experiencing each new revelation and the multitude of emotional reactions elicited. 

Then there's the masterfully constructed mystery element of the book surrounding an event at the core of those long-held secrets, a devastating truth with ripples still being felt many years later, with long-delayed answers just out of reach. I kept flipping pages long into the night trying to figure out if my guesses were correct and what, if any, impact those answers would have for the characters involved.  

If you enjoy multi-generation, Southern stories with rich authenticity, complicated family dynamics, romantic elements, and a twisty mystery, add The Last Carolina Summer to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it. 

Have you read any of Karen White's books?

What book have you recently read where you felt immersed in a particular setting?

I named some of the attributes that are unique to the Lowcountry setting in That Last Carolina Summer. What are attributes that would describe the region where you live?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), July 25 will receive a hard cover copy of That Last Carolina Summer.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

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. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Love Fix

The Love Fix

by Jill Shalvis

Sunrise Cove - Book 8

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged.  So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to. 

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for Lexi: for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

PJ's Thoughts:

By the time I finished this book I felt like I had spent several hours with good friends. Such is the magic of Jill Shalvis' storytelling and character development. The Love Fix (wonderful title and very appropriate for this book) centers on found family, forgiveness, growth, healing, and love (both romantic and familial). It takes the three main characters on a journey of self discovery that strengthens bonds and offers new perspectives about each other as well as the person (now deceased) who ties them all together. 

As is usually the case with a Shalvis book, I laughed, shed a few tears, and turned the final page with a deep, heartfelt sigh of satisfaction. She does it to me every time.

This book brings Shalvis' Sunrise Cove series to an end. As with the other seven books in the series, The Love Fix is a standalone story with the Sunrise Cove location being the only element binding the eight books together. If you're looking for stories that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone, check them out. I enthusiastically recommend the entire series. 

Have you been reading the Sunrise Cove series? Do you have a favorite?

I love that I can read the books in this series in any order. Have you read any other series that are comprised of standalone stories? 

What's on your reading agenda for this weekend? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), June 28 will receive a print copy of The Love Fix. 

U.S. only

Must be 18

Tour Review - - Over the Sea to Skye

Over the Sea to Skye

by Sue Moorcroft

The Skye Sisters Trilogy - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

PJ's Thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy. Moorcroft has done a superb job of immersing me not only into the lives of Thea, Ezzie, and Valentina but also the beautiful Isle of Skye. As with books one and two, the first thing I wanted to do upon turning the final page of Valentina's book was book a flight to Scotland. This author always manages to do that to me, wherever her books are set. 

Moorcroft kept me on my toes with this story. With more than a few twists, I wasn't sure how it would all work out but was happy with the way it did. I enjoyed the multiple relationships explored throughout the story - from Xander's relationship with his teenage nephew to the familial relationships among Valentina, her sisters and their partners, to the fraught one between Valentina and her soon to be ex-husband, not to mention his family and girlfriend. Then there is the simmering romantic potential between Valentina and Xander. With her in Scotland and Xander from the U.S., can it ever be more than just a summer romance? There's also awkwardness and second thoughts between adopted Valentina and the biological family member she's just discovered. I appreciated the author's skill in seamlessly weaving them all together organically while keeping the progression realistic and relatable. 

Over the Sea to Skye is a humorous, heart-tugging, emotional journey from heartbreak to happiness that brings Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. It can be read as a standalone but, for me, was much more enjoyable for having read the three books in order.