Review - - The Summer We Kept Secrets

The Summer We Kept Secrets

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

The Destin Diaries - Book 4

Publisher: Self published

Release Date: August 15, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Seven summers. Two families. One beach house. And a diary that holds all the secrets.

As the sun beats down on Destin, life at the Summer House takes a dramatic turn—starting with its tiniest new arrival. As Jonah settles into life as a single father of a newborn, he has to imagine a future he never dared to dream. When his seemingly perfect sister shows up with a few secrets of her own, the entire family dynamic is forced to shift.

Tessa is stepping into a new chapter—one that asks her to choose between playing it safe or taking the kind of risk that changes everything. And when Kate returns to Destin to see if her spark with Eli still burns, they face a test that could easily mean the end of this budding romance.

Meanwhile, Maggie must confront her deepest fears as she and Jo Ellen set off on a secret adventure that is equal parts heartstopping and hilarious.

In a season of sunshine and second chances, some secrets are meant to stay buried. But others will come to light and bring these two intertwined families ever closer...and forever changed.

PJ's Thoughts:

Each book in this series has taken me on an emotional journey filled with laughter, tears, heartbreak, hope, and love. And, each book in this series has left me eager to return to this beautiful Destin beach house for more time with the Lawson and Wylie families. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I turn the final page of the seventh book. I guess I'll have to go back to book one and read them all again. I love these characters that much. 

The Summer We Kept Secrets continues the evolving relationships that have grown over the course of the first three books while also introducing course changes that will impact all of our characters. The authors have developed these characters to the point where they all feel like friends which, of course, heightens the emotional impact of every shift and obstacle life throws their way. I am so invested in each and every one of them!

One of the facets I love about this series is the attention given to each generation. Whether it's a young child struggling in school, twenty-somethings searching for their life path, middle-age couples testing romantic waters for a second time, seniors setting off on unexpected adventures, or an unexpected reunion that may (or may not) lead to a fifty-something woman finding love for the first time, each generation is given their due. 

In this book, I especially loved the time allotted to the two family matriarchs and their secret adventure. I laughed, cringed, laughed more, and sighed with deep satisfaction as two women (my age) challenged themselves, expanded their horizons, faced their fears, and opened their minds to new possibilities. 

I can't wait to discover what Holloway and Scott have planned for all of their characters in book five.  As each book in this series builds upon on the previous ones, I strongly recommend reading them in order. 

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. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Sweet Life

The Sweet Life

by Debbie Mason

Sunshine Bay - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Sometimes you can go home again . . .
 
Attorney Sage Rosetti is a force to be reckoned with. Work/life balance? Never heard of it. But when the unexpected loss of her mentor sends her spiraling, she’s prescribed a healthy dose of time off. Luckily, she’s just inherited the perfect home where she can recover. Unluckily, she’s now co-owners with her high school crush/nemesis, Jake Walker. How can she truly relax when her heart is at risk?

Sage’s mother, Gia, is dealing with a crisis of her own. A new book is about to reveal their family’s biggest secret—and Gia’s devasting heartbreak. The only person she can confide in is the one man she shouldn’t be getting close to: her sister’s ex.

But just as Sage and Gia are starting to find their paths, someone from Gia’s past resurfaces who could ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

PJ's Thoughts:

Debbie Mason takes readers back to Sunshine Bay for the final book in her trilogy about the Rosetti women. This time, Gia and her workaholic daughter, Sage take center stage and things in Sunshine Bay are about to get complicated.

I absolutely adore this Italian-American family of women that Mason has created. They leap from the pages of this book with their verve, their over the top emotions, their family feuds, and their bonds of love that, while tattered in some cases (for very good reasons), are perhaps not quite beyond repair. 

There's a lot going on in this book that kept me eagerly flipping pages. Mason infuses the story with humor, hope, romance, grief, betrayal, family conflict, self-discovery, and unexpected new beginnings, managing it all seamlessly. And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the drool-worthy dishes that emerge from the kitchen of the Rosetti family restaurant. My advice: have the pasta ready before you start reading.

Her characters are incredibly well developed and fully dimensional, with journeys that feel authentic and relatable. In all three books, I have never felt like I was reading about fictional characters. The three generations of Rosetti women and the men who have won their hearts have become real people to me and I am fully invested in their happiness.

Debbie Mason is a consummate storyteller whose books are among my favorites. If you enjoy family-centric books with romance, complicated relationships, a bit of mystery, and the joy - and messiness - of a big Italian family, give this one a try. 

The Sweet Life could be enjoyed on its own but because of the inter-woven stories and complicated family relationships that run through the trilogy, my understanding of all the characters, their past - and present - relationships and conflicts was enhanced by reading the three books in order. They are Summer on Sunshine Bay, Three Little Wishes, and The Sweet Life. 

Have you read Debbie Mason?

Do you enjoy women's fiction-romance blends?

Each of the Rosetti women has developed a signature sauce. What's the dish you're known for in your family?

Debbie Mason has very graciously offered a signed copy of The Sweet Life to two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, (EDT), June 12.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Lost Book of First Loves

The Lost Book of First Loves

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Alison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister she never knew about, it’s clear there are things her father didn't tell her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

Juniper Connolly has always been incredibly healthy…until she wakes up in the hospital after experiencing cardiac arrest, with her new—and recently fired—intern to thank for saving her life. It’s clear June needs to de-stress her life a little, so when Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in a small Wyoming town, June has no reason not to go. But when she arrives, her life will never be the same.

Under the wide-open spaces of the Wyoming summer sun, Ali and June will untangle the secrets and lies their lives were built on to discover who they really are and what family really means. But even more than that, they'll build a real relationship with one another and finally become sisters. 

PJ's Thoughts:

The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne is another multi-layered story of complicated relationships that tugs masterfully at the heartstrings. Thayne has a gift for creating complex families - both biological and family of the heart - that take me on an emotional journey.

I enjoyed not only the unfolding story of Ali and June but also the romantic journeys each of them traveled. The themes in the book are plentiful, including found family, forgiveness, acceptance, second chances (in life, career, and love), self discovery, and mapping new paths. That could be a bit much but in Thayne's skilled hands, they are interwoven with care and finesse, leading to an organic evolution of a realistic and relatable journey. 

Another facet of Thayne's writing that I enjoy is her ability to set a vividly depicted scene. She brought Wyoming to life through her descriptions, immersing me in it's majestic mountains and beautiful valleys. I felt as if I was right there with June as she discovered the healing medicine of nature and the first tendrils of belonging. 

If you're looking for a heart-tugging story of healing, hope, family, and endearing romance, add The Lost Book of First Loves to your summer reading list.   

 

Review - - Other People's Summers

Other People's Summers

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

In school, Milly Beckett and Nicole Raven were as close as sisters. Now, years later, a gulf separates them, and not just because of the different spheres they inhabit. Nicole is a global superstar with the world at her fingertips, but when scandal breaks, she turns to the only person she trusts.

Fresh from a painful divorce and struggling to balance her work and raising her daughter alone, Milly is tempted to refuse her friend’s plea for help. Nicole wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and that’s hard to forgive. But Nicole is desperate and Milly agrees to give her the sanctuary she needs.

Against a stunning Lake District backdrop, stilted small talk gradually gives way to soul-deep revelations as the two women slowly find their way back to one another. Living with Milly gives Nicole a glimpse of a different path for herself, and Milly starts to see a life beyond her divorce, including the possibility of a new romance. But Nicole can’t stay hidden forever—and neither can the secret she’s been keeping from Milly, a secret that threatens both her future happiness and the fragile bond between them.

PJ's Thoughts:

My summer reading list would not be complete without a new novel by Sarah Morgan. This talented storyteller never fails to take me on a heart-tugging journey with complex characters and complicated relationships.

One of the relationship types Morgan seems to enjoy exploring - and does so skillfully in this book - is friendship. It's a topic to which most of us can relate. I enjoy how she peels back the layers of the friendship between Milly and Nicole, exposing the nuances of the stretched but not completely broken bond between the two women, revealing the reasons behind their estrangement, and then inviting us along the slow, sometimes painful, but ultimately joyful journey to reconciliation. Sometimes, it's those personal potholes in life that, once repaired, forge a stronger, more durable future. It's a story facet that Morgan crafts exceptionally well.

The secondary cast surrounding Milly and Nicole provide texture that only enrichens the overall story. Milly's grandmother (who has some of the best - and funniest - lines in the book), along with her mother (who has her own personal journey), and her daughter are well developed and intriguing characters in their own right. Two men (I love them both) offer respect, understanding, and hopeful possibilities to Milly and Nicole. Even Milly's ex has a realistic redemption (she's still better off without him). 

If you're looking for a hopeful and heartfelt story about two women, the ties that bind them, the secrets that have kept them apart, and the summer that brings them back together, pick up a copy of Sarah Morgan's Other People's Summers. I highly recommend it. 

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.