Review & Giveaway - - A Hard Habit to Break

A Hard Habit to Break

by Siera London

The Calvary Brothers - Book 2

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release: August 11, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

At age eighteen, Rachel Johnson left Service, West Virginia with a college acceptance letter, a broken heart, and a blueprint for a new life. Now the star architect is back, for two weeks, and not a second more, for her dad’s wedding—and zero intention of rekindling old flames. But when she’s roped into the town’s redevelopment committee to bring much needed resources for the community, she finds herself face-to-face with the committee chair ... her ex, Noah Calvary.

Firefighter Noah volunteered for this assignment to further his career, not to work with Rachel. A born competitor, Noah isn't thrilled to share the spotlight with the woman who once left him in the dust, but to help the town, he figures he can play nice. And his success could clinch the promotion he’s been angling for.

Rachel’s got vision and a partnership at her firm on the line. Noah’s got a promotion to protect. And every decision is a battle of wills. Their history is messy, but their chemistry is explosive. Between small-town politics, big-time rivalries, and sizzling glances, Noah and Rachel must decide if they’re laying the foundation for professional disaster or finally building something real.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to book two of the Calvary Brothers series since reading Fake It Till You make It (Amarie and Eli - click to read review). This time around it's Noah's turn and this former childhood friends, teenage sweethearts, second-chance romance brings all the feelings. 

I enjoy the second-chance trope, especially when the author takes her time with the couple as London does. She allows Rachel and Noah the time to sort the issues that led to their breakup after high school. They are also given time necessary for individual growth as well as growth as a couple. It may feel like a slow progression to some but, for me, it felt organic and realistic. 

The characters, both primary and secondary are well developed and relatable. I was in Rachel's corner from the get-go. I understood her reasons for leaving Service when she did, her reasons for returning (albeit temporarily), and I appreciated the life she had built for herself in the interim. Noah took me longer to warm up to. In fact, for the first part of the book I didn't like him all. But I think those negative feelings were essential to allow him the time to reflect and mature. By the end of the book I was firmly in his and Rachel's camp and fully supportive of the decisions they made. 

There are many relationships threaded throughout the book - family, friendship, and romantic. I loved the relationship between Rachel and her dad and I found new the relationship between Rachel and her future stepmom very heartwarming. Noah's family was also a favorite, as they were in book one. The sibling dynamic among Noah and his brothers is spot on and their mom, as in the first book, was also a favorite in book two. I love how they call him out on his behavior. 

Rachel's bestie, who accompanies her back to Service, is a hoot. He flat out steals every scene he's in. I do hope we'll see more of him in future books. 

There's one more brother who needs to find his happy ending. I don't know what London has planned for him or when his book will be published but I'll for sure be picking up a copy when it is. 

For readers new to this series, while there are continuing characters from book one, you should be able to start with A Hard Habit to Break without feeling confused or lost. Though I do recommend both.

Have you read Siera London yet?

Do you enjoy a book series that features connected characters, such as siblings, friend groups, etc.?

What are you reading now?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 22 will receive a print copy of A Hard Habit to Break.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

  

 

Review & Giveaway - - The Bridge Back to You

The Bridge Back to You

by Riss M. Neilson

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.

Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly.

That is until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an opportunity: drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away.

Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a book with layers and this book has them in abundance. The characters are layered, the relationships are layered, and the unexpected second chance that lands in the laps of Carmello and Olivia is most definitely layered. Lots of messy, messy layers. 

The pace of the book isn't fast but that works for me. These characters need the time to rebuild trust, to discover what path they are meant to follow, to forgive, and to choose the future that's right for them. There's a lot of push and pull along the way, as well as self-discovery and character growth, which only makes them - and their second chance - more realistic and relatable. It's a journey filled with emotion, longing, and a hard-won happy ending. I especially enjoyed the periodic flashbacks that allow readers to experience their teenage relationship while also following along with them as reunited adults. 

Neilson surrounds the main couple with a supporting cast that shines. I adore Carmello's young son. His relationships with his father, his mother, the restaurant staff, and Olivia are so endearing and feel authentic to his age and personality. Speaking of his mother, kudos to the author for showing admirable friendship and co-parenting between Carmello and his son's mother, two people who care about one another but not romantically.  

There's also realistic depiction of mental health and chronic health issues, with one character's OCD, another's ADHD and endometriosis, and Carmello and Olivia each grieving the death of Carmello's mother, a woman who was instrumental in both of their lives. The self realization of how each of those conditions impacts past and present decisions plays a significant role in their individual growth as well as the evolution of their second-chance romantic journey. Again, more layers that enhance this story and engage readers on new and different levels. 

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the food. Much of the book is set at Celia's Place where Carmello creates mouth watering Dominican and Filipino foods that represent his cultural heritage...and kept me drooling pretty much through the entire book. Be ready to be hungry. :)

  

If you're looking for a slow-burn romance with emotional depth, complex characters, complicated relationships, cultural representation, and second chances (at romance and life), give this one a try. And, if you haven't yet discovered Neilson's adult debut, A Love Like the Sun, check out my review here. 

Have you read Riss M. Neilson yet?

Do you enjoy trying food from other cultures? What are your favorites?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 2 will receive a print copy of The Bridge Back to You.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - Free Falling

Free Falling

by Jill Shalvis

Colburn Brothers - Book 2

Publisher: That's What She Said Publishing, Inc.

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

These rivals are stuck with each other…

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this new construction project to go smoothly to prove he’s earned his place in the family business. There’s only one problem. The architect liaison assigned to the project is Emma Sumner. As in, the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Now, she’s back in town and already breathing down his neck on the job. Worse? She’s only gotten more beautiful.

Emma’s in love with the beautiful historic building they’re renovating. But her feelings toward project manager Caleb definitely lean more toward hate. Not only is the man making her job harder than it needs to be, he’s the one who took everything from her when she was at her most desperate. Not that she’d ever admit it out loud, but she’s never recovered.

Neither is willing to forgive and forget. But forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is. A burning mutual attraction adds complications for them both. Will anything be left standing when their secrets are finally revealed?

PJ's Thoughts:

Free Falling is the second book in the Colburn Brothers series by Jill Shalvis. That's all the time it's taken for me to become fully invested in this family. And not only the three brothers but their sister too. Shalvis tells their stories with an abundance of charm and humor but also adds layers of emotional depth, evolution, forgiveness, and healing. It all creates an emotionally moving experience for the reader that brings joy, love, and satisfying happy endings, broaching difficult topics but never losing hope.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance. Caleb and Emma may have been adversaries in college but their memories of those days are skewed by what they thought to be true at the time. As we all know, what we perceive to be truth isn't always the actual truth. I love how actual facts are slowly revealed in present day as Caleb and Emma slowly begin to know and understand one another as they are forced to work together. It feels very organic and realistic, with growth on both of their parts. I was cheering them on the entire way.

The dynamic among the Colburn siblings is spot on. The push and pull, teasing, and bossiness, all underpinned by love, loyalty, and support are realistic and relatable. They are survivors of traumatic childhoods who are now in a difficult situation where previously unimaginable choices must be made. I appreciate that Shalvis chose to include this situation in this series. It's handled with humor, grace, and forgiveness, but without minimizing the pain once inflicted. 

Shalvis' trademark dialog and banter shine in this book, among the siblings, between Emma and Caleb, and even with the construction crew. There's a scene with Emma and the crew that tells the reader everything we need to know about the hearts of these characters. I loved it. 

And then there are Caleb's two rescue dogs. These goofballs steal every single scene they're in. I couldn't love them more. 

If you're looking for humor, charm, second chances, complicated family dynamics, a touch of mystery, loveable dogs, and hard won happy endings, pick up a copy of Free Falling by Jill Shalvis. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - The Cowboy's Comeback

The Cowboy's Comeback

by Nan Reinhardt

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: January 29, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

It’s an enemies to lovers showdown between the cowboy who can’t trust and the cowgirl who won’t forgive.

Injured rodeo cowboy, Bo Kennedy, takes a job as a horse trainer at a Montana ranch. His skills training cutting horses are in high demand, but he’s holding out hope his days of competing aren’t over. Then his first client arrives, desperate for help with her mare. One problem, she’s his ex.

When World Champion barrel racer Cassie Franklin needs a new horse quickly, her last hope to rebuild her career is to switch to cutting competitions. She brings her new mare to Juniper Falls Ranch, hoping the highly hyped horse whisperer can help. She’s stunned to see Bo. They haven’t spoken in five years after he wrongly accused her of sabotaging his horse when he saw her flirting with his fiercest competitor.

Working together seems impossible, especially as the chemistry still sizzles. Will one of them finally lower their guard and admit they were wrong?

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm enjoying this new western location of Nan Reinhardt's. Set under the wide open sky of Montana, she brings to life the everyday ups and downs along with the characters who call Juniper Falls Ranch home, if only for a short time. 

In The Cowboy's Comeback, sparks are flying between Bo and Cassie. These two are a classic lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers pair. They walk a tenuous line of  "I'll never forgive you...but you still make my heart flutter...but how can I trust you...but you're my only hope of reaching my goals...but, whoa, pesky feelings" and I bought into it, hook, line, and sinker. Everything unfolds gradually, organically, with plenty of push and pull as both Bo and Cassie work through complicated feelings. I was glad to see them each grow during the process and especially happy when they each took ownership of their own parts in the misunderstanding that ended their earlier relationship. By the end of their book, I was fully on board with them as a couple. 

If you enjoy western settings with second chance romance, strong character growth, a terrific supporting cast, horses (I do love horses), emotional depth, and happy endings, check out The Cowboy's Comeback.  

The Juniper Falls Ranch is owned by Del and Beth (Forever Cowboy-Click for review) who have a strong presence in The Cowboy's Comeback. If you read their book, you'll no doubt enjoy seeing them post-HEA in this newest story but if you're new to Reinhardt's Montana books, know that The Cowboy's Comeback stands well on its own. 

 

Review - - Second Chance Romance

Second Chance Romance

by Olivia Dade

Harlot's Bay - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've read my Top Dish review of last year's At First Spite (Harlot's Bay - Book 1), you know that I fell hard for this historic coastal town and her citizens. Book two, Second Chance Romance, has only reinforced those feelings. I first read an ARC of Second Chance Romance four months ago after which I posted the following: "Snort laughs, ugly tears, and swoony romance. This one's going straight to my list of 2025 favorites." I read the book again this week and those feelings have not changed. Olivia Dade has tapped a gold mine with these characters and I am here for every single word and emotion. 

Karl is everything I could have hoped for...and more. With his crusty exterior, marshmallow center, aversion to using his words (who needs to when actions work just as well?), baking expertise (A man who bakes? Yes, please!), creative murder mind (not that he'd hurt a fly but whoa, that's one creative imagination), kindness, salty mutter yells (the man has no volume control), and nurturing soul, he's not your typical romance hero but he's one of my all-time favorites...and he's absolutely perfect for Molly. 

Molly? OMG, I love every bit of her nerdy, fact-spouting, wary-heart self. If anyone deserves a happy ending after being betrayed, first by her father then her jerk of an ex-husband, it's Molly. No wonder she doesn't trust easily. Watching her gradually open herself not only to Karl but to others in Harlot's Bay was a delight. Watching her regain her confidence and stand up to those trying to run roughshod over her was even better. Watching her open her heart and claim her happiness? Cue happy tears and swoony delight. 

If you enjoy second chances, banter for days, emotional depth, laugh-out-loud humor, body positivity, slow-burn romance, a terrific supporting cast, and a lead couple who will steal your heart and have you cheering them on every step of the way, pick up a copy of Olivia Dade's Second Chance Romance. It's a funny, endearing, warm hug of a book that kept me engaged and entertained from beginning to end. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of Olivia Dade's books? Do you have a favorite?

Karl's a master at creating mouth-watering treats at his bakery. What's your go-to order when you visit a bakery or donut shop?

Molly narrates monster romance books. Do you listen to audiobooks? What's your favorite format for reading: print, e-book, or audio?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 30 will receive a print copy of Second Chance Romance. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Pickle Perfect

Pickle Perfect

by Ilana Long

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Lulu Gardner only takes predictable shots. After faulting on tennis stardom at eighteen, Lulu, now a thirtysomething single parent, is in control of her game. But when an unanticipated blunder threatens her teaching job, Lulu’s stable, well-planned—okay, boring—world spins out. And somehow, her godparents convince her to join them for a “de-stressing” destination pickleball vacation in Costa Rica. Maybe an all-inclusive picklecation is just the pick-me-up she needs to loosen her grip.

Or it would have been if she wasn’t backhanded by the sight of her high school fling Tyler Demming on the beachside courts. Fresh off the pickleball pro tour, the reigning bad boy of paddle sports is as studly and snarky as ever. Even though his public image took a hit with a ballsy publicity stunt, Tyler seems to be the big shot he’s always been.

But Lulu’s had years to steel herself against his rugged good looks and hypnotic charm. Despite the changes she sees in Tyler since their teenage days, Lulu will have no problem keeping her head in the game and her heart on the sidelines. Or so she tells herself….

Santa Says:

Pickle Perfect by Ilana Long is a heart warming book about second chances. A 4 star read for me. It’s a bonus that it takes place in beautiful Costa Rica. The main characters Lulu and Tyler were high school sweethearts, best friends and teammates on their school’s tennis team. However, young love can be fragile. Tragedy follows and defines them, especially Lulu, whose parents are killed by a drunk driver while they were out frantically looking for Lulu. Amidst her pain Tyler seemingly abandoned her in her grief. She felt immense guilt over her parents’ deaths and Tyler’s abandonment would go on to shape her.

Life did take Tyler and Lulu in different directions. Lulu was taken in by her godparents, Aunt Laverne and Uncle Rooster, who anchored her. She became a teacher which helped pay her bills especially when she became pregnant and her partner abandoned her. Again, her godparents took her in again and became instant grandparents to her daughter Zoe.

Tyler became a successful tennis player until an unfortunate series of events dimmed his light. Tyler bounces back and lands on his feet in the world of competitive pickleball. He became an instant sensation here, too. Of course, he did.

Lulu’s life also took an unexpected turn when an email that was critical about her students was mistakenly sent out. Her school strongly suggested she step back for an undetermined period of time. She was at a loss once again but her godparents once again pulled her back from the edge of the cliff. Her godfather’s love of pickleball earned him a trip to Costa Rica for a tournament. They convince Lulu and her daughter to join them at minimal cost to her. I mean where better to ponder your future than on a tropical island.

In a cruel twist of fate Tyler is also part of the tournament. Uncle Rooster teaches Lulu the basics of pickleball when they arrive. Suddenly, she is swept up into touring the island with the official team. This guarantees close proximity to Tyler and all those memories and feelings come to the forefront for Lulu. Tyler hopes that they can also become closer. 

Ilana Long writes a beautiful love story of young love reborn. Do they resolve all their issues? Their happily ever after sparks a renewed drive in Lulu in figuring out what she wants to do in her life. Their love is like those Chinese bowls with veins of gold that not only repair it but makes them stronger. Bonus points for Tyler showing up. Extra points for Lulu’s growth. Extra credit for Zoe getting a happier mom, for Tyler kneeling down to her level and opening his heart to her, too. Pick up Pickle Perfect! You won’t be disappointed.

Fun fact: My youngest was in Costa Rica at the same time that I was reading the book! I am pretty sure she visited some of the places written in the book! Alas, she was not in a pickleball tournament. A case of art imitating life.

~~~~~~~~~

Do you play pickle ball?

Do you enjoy books that take characters to faraway places?

Have you ever visited Costa Rica?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, October 31 will receive a print copy of Pickle Perfect.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Date Night in December

Date Night in December

by Jaqueline Snowe

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

He has one month to make a Christmas miracle happen.
 
Laney Reynolds knows there’s only one place that can help her heal a broken heart: Cherrywood Creek. The small town where she grew up, with its holiday festivals and snow-covered streets, is exactly where she needs to be this December. It feels good to leave the bustling city, where her husband was too busy climbing the corporate ladder to notice the growing distance between them. But she’s got his attention now . . .

          Connor received his wake-up call loud and clear when Laney left, and there’s no way he’s giving up on his marriage. If that means dropping everything and trading high-rises for gingerbread houses to sweep his wife off her feet in her hometown, then so be it. This time, he’s listening; but it’ll take more than hot chocolate dates and even hotter nights to win Laney back. Can he prove that being a CEO is nowhere near as important as being her husband?

PJ's Thoughts:

Two years ago the lovely PR ladies at Forever sent me a copy of Snowed in for Christmas, a forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine, holiday romance that introduced me to the writing of Jaqueline Snowe (click for review). I was thoroughly charmed and an annual reading tradition was born. Last year, it was Snowe's Christmas Sweater Weather, with over-the-top Christmas shenanigans, single dad heroes, heroines you'd like to be besties with, and steamy, heartfelt romance that helped me usher in my holiday reading (click for review). But it's this year's Date Night in December that is my favorite so far.  

Is there anything more heartrending than a marriage ending, especially when the couple is still very much in love? That's the case with Laney and Connor but Christmas is the season of miracles and Connor, who has finally realized he may have lost the one person he loves more than anything else, isn't going down without a fight. 

These two. I couldn't have been more invested in their story, more emotionally engaged with them and their second chance. No one person was totally at fault here, though it may seem that way in the beginning. I appreciated the layers of both lead characters, the way they each grew over the course of the book, and how they finally voiced their thoughts, fears, hopes, and opinions. How they each began to own their individual contributions to the unraveling of their marriage. Laney, especially. And how hard they worked (I'm looking at you, Connor) to start over and build a new future together...the right way. I could feel their emotions every step of the journey. I cried with them, laughed with them, cheered for them. 

Snowe surrounded Laney and Connor with a well-developed supporting cast of characters who added conflict, humor, and support while never overshadowing the lead couple. Then there's the small town of Cherrywood, a character in itself, wrapped up in colorful decorations, ice skating rinks, scavenger hunts, community dinners, cookies galore, and can't miss holiday festivals. I want to visit. I want to hang out with Connor, Laney, Petra, Matt, Laney's parents, and the rest of the warm, welcoming people who call Cherrywood home. 

If you're looking for a second-chance, heartwarming, marriage-in-crisis romance with steam, humor, substantial character growth, emotional depth, unexpected twists, and hard-won happy endings, kick off your 2025 holiday reading with Date Night in December by Jaqueline Snow. It's a heart-tugging, second-chance, hot chocolate - with sprinkles - warm hug of a book. 

Review - - Bad Luck Bride

Bad Luck Bride

by Laura Lee Guhrke

Scandal at the Savoy - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Third time’s a charm? For Lady Kay Matheson, it had better be. Her first engagement was a failed elopement; the second ruined by gossip about the first. Resigned to be a disgraced spinster, no one is more surprised than Kay when an American millionaire offers for her hand. Just when she’s convinced she will finally make it down the aisle, the scoundrel who broke her heart arrives with his own fiancée.

Devlin Sharpe has finally become a success. He has wealth, connections, and a lovely bride-to-be—and he won’t let an old flame derail all his hard work. But it turns out time has not dampened his grudge toward Kay—or the desire sparking between them. And one searing kiss threatens to ruin their wedding plans and their futures, and make Kay the bad-luck bride all over again.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been eagerly anticipating this third book in Laura Lee Guhrke's Scandal at the Savoy series and am happy to say it was worth the wait. Filled with betrayal, second chances, family dynamics, and a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, it's a story that kept me engaged from start to finish.

I love the Victorian setting of this series with its more modern sensibilities and characters - heroines in particular - with more independence and opportunity. However, society still holds sway in London and sometimes women, for the sake of family, are forced to follow their heads rather than their hearts. I really enjoyed watching Kay and Devlin work through the many emotions that rise to the fore when Devlin's return to London brings them face to face at the Savoy. The sparks between these are strong enough to set fire to the place. But, wow, there's a whole boatload of messiness to wade through. Speaking of messy, did I mention their respective fiancés?

These characters kept me engaged from start to a very surprising finish. I have to admit, I had no idea how Guhrke was going to pull off a happy ending for Devlin and Kay with everything that was at stake but she did. In the process, she gave me a story with sparkling dialogue, snappy banter, emotional depth, a few twists, a terrific supporting cast, and a hard-won, happy ending. 

While characters from the first two books in this series appear in Bad Luck Bride, you can easily begin with book three without missing a beat. I do, however, enthusiastically recommend all three books in the series. 

Review - - Two Ruins Make a Right

Two Ruins Make a Right

by Janna MacGregor

Publisher: Janna MacGregor

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Lady Nellwyn “Nell” Whitton and Mr. James Richardson absolutely detest each other—and for good reason. A broken engagement (fine, let’s be blunt: a spectacular jilting) tends to sour a romance.

Eight years later, fate—or possibly a bored deity with questionable judgment—leaves Nell stranded precisely where she’d least like to be: on James’s doorstep. And because fate loves a good laugh, James is hosting a house party, determined to fulfill his spirited daughter's fondest wish, finding a new mother. In short, he’s bride-hunting, and Nell has inconveniently crashed the party.

James instantly suspects Nell of plotting revenge by sabotaging his meticulously planned party. Nell would prefer to marry a turnip and would have a more engaging conversation with it as well. Clearly, the universe delights in tormenting these two. When Nell’s sister and James’s cousin stroll into a compromising embrace, scandal becomes as inevitable as an overly sweet punch at a country gathering.

Now, reluctantly allied, Nell and James must confront their tangled pasts to safeguard their families’ futures. Yet house parties, full of moonlit alcoves, whispered gossip, and impulsive decisions, inevitably lead to one ruination after another.

And perhaps, if they’re lucky, this second scandal might just ruin them for anyone else...forever.

Dear reader, Two Ruins Make a Right was initially published as a novella in The Young and the Ruin anthology. I’ve added a prologue and several new scenes to make it a novel. I hope you enjoy this updated version.

PJ's Thoughts:

Are you in the mood for a second-chance, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, historical romance? That's exactly what Janna MacGregor brings to the table with her (newly revised and expanded) Two Ruins Make a Right. 

Fate was having fun the day Nell's carriage brakes down in front of widower James's home at the very moment he begins his search for a new wife and mother for his young daughter. Nell was once the woman James thought would be his forever love and mother of his children but Nell's family forced her to break his heart (without explanation). Needless to say, he is not happy to see her. Unfortunately, his beloved daughter is thrilled. Things are about to get sticky.

I love when couples are given a second chance to get things right. There's a lot of emotional baggage to sort through before these two will be ready to open their hearts again though. The feelings are still there but forgiveness, understanding, and healing will be necessary before they are able to move forward. James gets there first but the lessons Nell needs to learn take much longer. Her experiences have changed her profoundly, causing her to make decisions for herself and others that she thinks are grounded in love when they are actually made from a position of fear. It adds another layer of complexity to her character and to the eventual happy endings (yes, there are two).

The supporting cast adds another layer of humor, emotion, and conflict to the overall story. I especially enjoyed James's adorable daughter (who steals every scene she's in), his matchmaking aunt, and Nell's younger sister. They add richness and texture to the story while also smoothing Nell's rigid edges and helping her grow. 

If hard-won, second-chance historical romances are your jam, give this one a try.