Review - - The Paris Match

The Paris Match

by Kate Clayborn

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: April 7, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Physician Layla Bailey has spent over a year telling herself she's moved on from a painful but amicable divorce from her college sweetheart. Staying friends with her ex seemed like the mature thing to do, but when Layla is invited to her former sister-in-law’s destination wedding in Paris—where Layla once spent her own romantic honeymoon—she knows her commitment to maturity might be her worst enemy…especially since her ex isn’t attending alone.

The only thing that could make the week more difficult is getting through it without the distraction of the wedding.... But when what Layla thought was a harmless conversation about the choices of her younger self leads to the bride getting cold feet, Layla finds herself facing down the groom’s mysterious, taciturn best man, Griffin, who will do anything to make sure this wedding happens.

Since she broke it, Griff demands she help him fix it. Going along with his plan to alleviate the engaged couple's doubts seems like Layla’s best chance at maintaining a good relationship with a family she once called her own. But as she learns more about the past heartbreak that’s driving Griff to help his friend, she gets closer and closer to confronting the true depth of her own pain…while finding herself more and more willing to risk it all again for Griff.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've decided that when Kate Clayborn publishes a new book I may as well go ahead and block out the entire release day - and night - because I'm not going to get anything done - and certainly, no sleep - until I turn the final page and am assured of another couple's happy ending. 

I found myself completely immersed in The Paris Match from the beginning and, if anything, became even more invested as the story progressed. First, there's the setting. I don't know if Clayborn has wandered through the streets of Paris in real life but it absolutely felt like that's what I was doing as I tagged along with Layla and Griff. Hot chocolate and croissants at charming sidewalk cafes on quiet streets, history-drenched art and statues in museums, high fashion, long walks along tree-lined avenues, soft jazz floating on night air and sparkling lights outlining the Eiffel Tower. It all created an atmosphere of romance and self-reflection which, in Layla's case, was both pleasurable and painfully poignant. 

The characters were skillfully depicted with messy relationship ties, complicated back stories, and, in Griffin's case, both physical and emotional wounds at play. I appreciated that the author took the time to slowly build trust between Layla and Griff, leading to a gradual unveiling of the events and decisions that had brought both to this place and time in their lives. Nothing was quick or easy about their journey which made the ultimate outcome all the more satisfying and realistic. I loved the growth of both characters. It was only in discovering their own strengths, acknowledging their weaknesses, and taking long-overdue steps to address them that these two were able to take that step into a solid and lasting relationship. I was right there with them every step of the way.

If you enjoy contemporary stories with charming settings (I mean, come on, we're talking Paris), adversaries-to-lovers romance, awkward (ex) family relationships, humor, heart, and emotionally satisfying happy endings, I highly recommend Kate Clayborn's The Paris Match. I turned the final page at 1:30 am and do not regret one single minute of lost sleep.

Review & Giveaway - - And Now, Back to You

And Now, Back to You

by B.K. Borison

Heartstrings - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover a historic snowstorm, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.

Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal: If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With unexplored chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.

But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains stay in the mountains?

PJ's Thoughts:

I pretty much grinned through this entire warm hug of a book. It's second in a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone (though Jackson does figure prominently in book one, his best friend's story). I must point out that the second I turned the final page of And Now, Back to You, I bought book one, First-Time Caller and began reading it immediately. It's another Top Dish selection (which has been optioned for a movie!). I highly recommend both books...in whatever order you choose to read them. 

And Now, Back to You is filled with a delicious mix of many of my favorite tropes. There's opposites attract, adversaries to lovers, forced proximity, snowed in, grumpy-sunshine, and workplace romance, to name a few and yet it never feels cluttered. Everything unfolds organically with sizzle, charm, humor, emotional depth, and top-notch banter. Borison has a flair for comedy centered by heart. And then there are the characters.

  

Jackson is tightly wound, a rule follower through and through - not surprising considering his upbringing - but also just so darn endearing. I love his relationship with his sisters, the love and support he pours into them while never quite believing he's enough. I want to hug him and tell him he is. 

Delilah is a force of nature - upbeat, slightly chaotic, never met a stranger - leaving sunshine and smiles in her wake and with much more depth than her personality would suggest. She's fiercely loyal, loves deeply, and leaves Jackson agitated and perplexed...at first. She's also up against a misogynistic boss who I'd like to toss off a cliff. I can't be alone in that thought. However, his machinations do end up with Jackson and Delilah snowed in at a mountain resort (Did I mention there's only one bed...and night sledding?) so maybe I'll skip the cliff and just send him off into retirement obscurity. Though honestly, he really does deserve the cliff. 

Jackson and Delilah together may seem like oil and water but once they start opening themselves (forced proximity reveals many misperceptions), it's fun to watch them reach the same conclusions readers already know: that they really are just right for one another.  

I'm late to the Borison bandwagon but after reading Good Spirits (one of my favorite 2025 books), And Now, Back to You, and First-Time Caller (both likely to land on my list of 2026 favorites), you can bet that if B.K. Borison writes it, I'll be buying it. 

  

Have you read B.K. Borison?

What are your favorite romance tropes?

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

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Bodyguard Affair

The Bodyguard Affair

by Amy Lea

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

As loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. In an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

Hellie’s Heeds

Thank Goodness for Winter break because this was just the book I needed for my travels and it was all the things I adore about a “vacation book.” The book goes back and forth between the two main characters (in a first person writing, which allows a deeper POV for readers to connect to the characters immediately.) Rom com humor can be a bit subjective for readers, but I adore Amy Lea’s style of absurd humor (the “meet cute” happens when the hero walks into the bathroom stall as the heroine is using it) is blended with real emotional pulls as the heroine is dealing with a breakup, only to learn her best friend now wants to date her ex. And in fact, the ex had wanted to date her friend the whole time–their relationship had been a mistake. Seriously, dude? I just…related with this heroine so hard with her need to keep this friendship and to put aside her needs and reactions in order to please everyone else. But her character arc isn’t even the bigger one! The hero’s struggle with his complicated relationship with his mother and her new diagnosis of Alzheimer's just kicks the reader in the chest as you wonder how is this author going to make a positive resolution to this story.

Amy Lea does what I feel is an awesome thing with her “one night stand” scene. (I feel having sex so early in the story can deaden the sexual tension, which is why I love to read romance, so it can be a chancy thing to have the sex too early in my opinion.) It’s a one-night stand that doesn’t connect at a physical level, but instead connects at the emotional level, providing each character with something they need at this point of their lives before they part ways in the morning. Therefore when they meet again a few years later, the heroine, Andi, has been outed as a romance author who wrote a book called The Prime Minister & Me, when she is an assistant to the Prime Minister’s wife–and it seems the obvious choice she forges a fake dating relationship with her former one-night stand, now the PM’s bodyguard, to deflect the scandal. 

Their “summer of love” is filled with the easy connection they had experienced when they met three years ago and it deepens into an even better friendship, but also, oh, the sexual tension! Neither seems to want to ruin things with sex, especially Nolan, who knows he’s leaving at the end of summer. However, they finally come to their senses–and oh, the scenes are steamy. So worth the wait. Even better, the heroine starts writing again–and with the new popularity of her scandal-producing book–this couldn’t be timelier. The character arc for Andi had exactly the elements needed to make her the more confident, “I’m worthy” character in the end, but it was Nolan’s arc that broke me. Oh my God, the dog, people. You have to read this book for the dog. 

I kept reading scenes and dialogue to my husband–and would say, “Does this sound familiar?” because the heroine honestly felt like my doppleganger. Then I would read scenes with the hero, and my husband would sniffle (he’s a notorious Disney crier) and I would be like, “I know! Right?” This book is on my top 5 books I’ve read this year (2025). All the feels. If you haven’t put it in your TBR pile yet, do so. Top Dish all across the board. 

Review - - Her Time Traveling Duke

Her Time Traveling Duke

by Bryn Donovan

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Reviewed by Hellie

Rose Novak, a free-spirited museum employee who dabbles in magic, has had her share of disappointments. So when she tries a little spell for a romance with an “old-fashioned gentleman,” she doesn’t really expect it to work…especially literally. And yet, the duke from a painting she admired at the museum is now standing in her apartment, demanding to know who abducted him.

A man of science and truth, Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford, has searched tirelessly for a way to turn back time and be with his late wife again. Instead, just as he’s about to pose for his portrait, he’s ripped centuries forward by a feckless, scantily dressed—and utterly bewitching—woman who believes in nonsense like magical crystals and astrology.

Unable to immediately reverse her spell, Rose vows to help Henry return to his own century, even though disguises and high jinks are required to get their hands on an enchanted astrolabe and master the art of time travel. But it’s hard not to fall for the irritable yet honorable duke.

Little does she know that he’s starting to wonder: did a reckless love spell get it right, after all?

Hellie’s Heeds:

I snatched up this frothy feel-good book after having had the opportunity to read Donovan’s debut, Her Knight at the Museum (November 2024), and it did not disappoint. For fans who loved the swoony rom-com, Kate & Leopold, as well as for those of us who wish we could bring the real Mr. Darcy into the modern-era to bypass all those Tinder ads–this is wish-fulfillment at its finest. 

Tropes: Grumpy and Sunshine, also Mr. Rational Science Guy with Miss “I Perform Magic in my Nightie while Sipping Chardonnay" and a little Marvel Universe hilarity with a secondary character named Jason, who I would love to know more about in future books–and I hope there is more time-traveling books to come–or even a time-traveling damsel for Jason–that’d be fun. If you read the first book, you get to meet up with some beloved characters there as well, but you don’t need to have read the first one to enjoy this one. (There are other secondary characters that I wouldn’t mind learning more about–but Jason really stands out.) 

I have to hand it to Ms. Donovan–she had me scared. There was a Black Moment where the hero really futzed it up and I thought, “Oh, my girlfriend is not going to get over this! What was he doing?” But fortunately–ruining it for all of you–they work it out. You’ll have to read it to see how though. 

I took this book with me on a trip–and I was supposed to go and look at art museums and eat out in a big city–and I refused to leave my hotel room so I could keep reading it. It makes you forget whatever is happening outside of you–which is the best recommendation I can have about a book. My husband would return from work and I’d be like, “Listen, listen, I’m going to let you talk about your terrible day, but isn’t this the funniest thing you ever heard?” and would read a scene to him. And it did make his day a little better. And I had the best vacation, staying in the hotel, in bed with this delicious novel. (I also recommend a chocolate bar–that also upped the experience too.)

I’m recommending this to all my rom-com readers this holiday season. Please rush out and put it on your last minute stocking stuffer because once the presents have been torn through, you deserve a little me-time to dream about stuffy dukes from England and modern day wallflowers who deserve a happily ever after.

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 - - Pitcher Perfect

Pitcher Perfect

by Tessa Bailey

Big Shots - Book 4

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?

PJ's Thoughts:

Full disclosure: I've read three Tessa Bailey books. The first two were a struggle. I didn't connect with the characters or their journeys and was at the point where I was ready to admit I just wasn't the right demographic for her writing. I mean, thousands of readers love her so it had to be me, right? But, then along came Pitcher Perfect and a heroine Bailey said was partially inspired by (U.S. Rugby player) Ilona Maher. Once I read that, I had to give her one more try. Holy wow, am I glad I did!

Pitcher Perfect is one of those unicorn books that flowed like hot maple syrup over a stack of yummy pancake perfection. It grabbed my attention from the first page, never lagged, never wavered, and kept me happily flipping pages until the final word. There's enemies-to-lovers romance, fake dating, forced proximity, unexpected vulnerability, family wilderness games (with accompanying snort laughter and tears), banter for days, thought-provoking family dysfunction (but also love and humor), self discovery, surprising twists, and sigh-worthy words - and actions - of respect, admiration, and love. Basically, everything that makes my reader's heart happy. 

I couldn't read this book fast enough while also wanting it to never end. Robbie and Skylar are one of my favorite couples I've read in a long time. Pitcher Perfect is my favorite romcom of 2025. It's a book, and a couple, I want to revisit time and time again. Pitcher Perfect has my highest, Top Dish, do not miss this book, recommendation. Seriously, buy it now. It's that good. 

Note: For those of you who say you don't read "sports" romance, know that while hockey and softball are integral facets of Robbie's and Skylar's lives, the main focus of this book is the personal relationships that bring challenges, growth, self-realization, and love to the characters within. 

Have you read Tessa Bailey?

Does knowing the identity of real people who inspire characters impact how you view the fictional characters while reading?

I love the fake dating trope (especially as it plays out in this book). How about you?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 14 will receive a print copy of Pitcher Perfect. 

*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 - - Along Came Amor

Along Came Amor

by Alexis Daria

Primas of Power - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

No strings

After Ava Rodriguez’s now-ex-husband declares he wants to “follow his dreams”—which no longer include her—she’s left questioning everything she thought she wanted. So when a handsome hotelier flirts with her, Ava vows to stop overthinking and embrace the opportunity for an epic one-night-stand.

No feelings 

Roman Vázquez’s sole focus is the empire he built from the ground up. He lives and dies by his schedule, but the gorgeous stranger grimacing into her cocktail inspires him to change his plans for the evening. At first, it’s easy for Roman to agree to Ava’s rules: no strings, no feelings. But one night isn’t enough, and the more they meet, the more he wants.

No falling in love

Roman is the perfect fling, until Ava sees him at her cousin’s engagement party—as the groom’s best man, no less! Maintaining her boundaries becomes a lot more complicated as she tries to hide their relationship from her family, but Roman isn’t content being her dirty little secret. With her future uncertain and her family pressuring her from all sides, Ava will have to decide if love is worth the risk—again.

PJ's Thoughts:

This one was worth the wait. Not only is Along Came Amor my favorite book of Alexis Daria's exceptional Primas of Power trilogy, it's also one of my favorite books I've read this year and Roman and Ava, one of my favorite couples.

Once again, Daria's big, loving, but wholly dysfunctional, Latinx family took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. My heart broke for Ava. I just want to wrap her up in a big hug and tell her she is absolutely worthy of love just as she is without having to be the perfect "good girl" to earn it. I loved watching her slow evolution even if, at times, I wanted to move it along. Daria knew what she was doing though. The indoctrination of Ava to always put everyone else before herself had taken years to accomplish. To feel authentic, changing that mindset would have to take time as well.

And that's where Roman comes in. I love this character! Is he perfect? No, he isn't. He's a workaholic, tends to be a fixer, and has some emotional baggage to work through himself. But, he is perfect for Ava. His respect, his understanding of her and her needs, his willingness to give her the time and space she needs, all while falling hard (and first) and wanting more proved to me just how right he is for a woman who has never, in her entire life, been put first by anyone. I also love how he opens himself, how he also grows, and the changes in his life he's willing to make to prove the commitment he's promised. He's such a swoon-worthy hero. 

One of my favorite facets of this book, as well as the two preceding, is the cultural representation. I love the food, history, and traditions that are intertwined throughout this story, the little insights into life in a large, meddling, Puerto Rican family. I especially enjoyed the parts of the story set in Puerto Rico - some funny, some steamy, some poignant, and some deeply emotional. 

I've read Along Came Amor twice. Pretty sure I'll be reading it again. It checks all my happy reader boxes and then some. Each of the books in this trilogy can be enjoyed on its own, however, it's my opinion that reading them in order will deepen your understanding of this family and your enjoyment of each couple's journey. I highly recommend them all.