Review - - Lost in the Summer of '69

Lost in the Summer of '69

by Eliza Knight

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Release Date: June 9, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Three generations of women, an unforgettable summer of music, and the epic cross-country road trip they'll never forget.

Summer, 1969. Eleanor Bell doesn't have anything to lose. According to her doctors, she might not remember how to sing or play guitar soon, so why not head west now? Why not join the music festivals sweeping the country and lose herself in the music again in a swan song of her own?

Except Eleanor forgets, maybe on purpose, to tell anyone where she's going. When her daughter, Leanne, discovers her mother missing, she enlists the help of her own daughter, Nora, to help her find Eleanor. The last thing Nora wants to do before starting as one of Yale's first female undergrads is hit the road. But then Nora hears her grandmother on the radio - singing. Nora and Leanne hop in their Lincoln Continental for a cross-country road trip, always one step behind Eleanor, who has been dubbed the Dame of Rock n' Roll by none other than Johnny Carson.

Full of nostalgia and awash with the warmth of summer, Lost in the Summer of '69 is an epic celebration of savoring the encore-no matter what the next act may bring.

PJ's Thoughts:

Eliza Knight's Lost in the Summer of '69 is one of my favorite books this year. A multi-generation story featuring a grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter, it takes readers from present day back to the summer of 1969 with a life-changing journey of music, books, travel, testing boundaries, chasing dreams, reconnection, and self discovery. 

Knight's compelling storytelling offers up a poignant, immersive, celebratory, heart-tugging journey of female empowerment that hits all the right notes, especially for those of my generation for whom that iconic summer holds precious, sometimes contentious, coming-of-age memories. I laughed, teared up more than once, found myself nodding in agreement with the mother/daughter dynamics, felt the heartbeat of that summer in my soul, and, yes, sang along with the musical artists of my teens as the main characters crisscrossed the country, soaking in the myriad music festivals of that summer while my mind traveled between the book's characters and my own memories. How can it have been 57 years when it feels like only yesterday?

Whether it evokes your own memories or introduces you to that long-ago summer that changed so much, Lost in the Summer of '69 is an uplifting, empowering, emotional, joyful story of relationships, family, personal growth, and chasing your dreams regardless of age or circumstance. It has my enthusiastic recommendation! 

 

Review - - Five-Star Summer

Five-Star Summer

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

PJ's Thoughts:

I can always count on Sarah Morgan to sweep me away to intriguing places with stories that never fail to touch my heart. With her newest novel, Five-Star Summer, that place is Cornwall and the story is another keeper I found hard to put down.

Much like Abby Jones, I found myself immersed in the rugged beauty of the Cornish coast, the charm of the village locals, and the hotel that stands as their slightly tarnished crown jewel. And, like Evie, I wanted to see that hotel restored to her previous glory. But the story is more than just the hotel. So much more.

Relationships are something Sarah Morgan excels at creating and she's at her best in this book. There's the friendship that grows between Abby and Evie. I love these two, how they bond over the summer as they work together with their shared goal; how they learn from one another, share confidences, encourage one another to live their best lives. But there are also secrets simmering below the surface because, of course. It couldn't be that easy, right?

Then, there are the relationships between Evie and the hotel staff, people who have known her since birth and are having trouble letting go of behaviors honed over 20+ years. The gradual changes that have to happen for Evie to be successful - and happy - are organic and believable.

Romance isn't at the forefront of this story but it absolutely hold a place for both Abby and Evie. I enjoyed both of the men at the heart of their romantic journeys.

And, finally, it wouldn't be a Sarah Morgan book without messy, emotional, life-altering family dynamics. This time, the secrets that unfold hold more than a few unexpected surprises that add depth, growth, and heart-tugging emotion to more than one happy ending. 

Five-Star Summer has my enthusiastic recommendation for your summer reading list. 

Review - - How Simi Got Her Groom Back

How Simi Got Her Groom Back

by Sonali Dev

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.

The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.

With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the country: Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.

As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?

PJ's Thoughts:

Sonali Dev took me on quite the emotional roller coaster with this book. It starts slow, from Rupi's point of view, a character I initially had trouble connecting with. I really didn't like her. At all. But that's part of Dev's skill in character building. I don't think I was supposed to. Not liking - or trusting - her gave her character the opportunity to grow, and me to change my mind, over the course of the book. 

Simi was the sister I favored at the beginning of the book but, again, my feelings about her also changed over the course of the book.  That's one of the things I enjoy about this author's writing. I never know what kind of journey she's going to take me - or her characters - on. I only know it's going to be one that will be thought-provoking, emotional, and heart-wrenching at times while also sprinkled with humor and human connection. Simi and Rupi are multi-layered, flawed, and carrying an immense amount of emotional trauma that impacts their decisions and actions in present time. They both have a significant growth arc that needs to be traveled before true happiness is in reach. 

The story is told from the point of view of each sister, in alternating chapters. Viewing everything unfolding from their individual perspectives really gives it all an added punch. I vacillated back and forth among stomach-clenching heartache, pure rage, and endearing hope, never knowing until the final pages which way this story was going to go regarding either the romantic relationships or the immigration dilemma. Kudos to Dev for bringing this story to life in such a realistic, relatable way that it elicited so many visceral emotions in me. 

The comedic relief in the book comes from Prem's family, a meddling, boisterous, welcoming group of people who, through their actions, show Rupi and Simi what a loving, supportive family looks like. Of course, that also heightens the angst when the recipient of all that love and support is the sister Prem is set to marry but not the sister Prem loves. It's a tangled mess that I, again, had no clue how Dev would unravel until the very end. 

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. 

Blog Tour Review - - This Book Made Me Think of You

***********UPDATED 5 February 2026***********

This Book Made Me Think of You

by Libby Page

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 3, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Twelve books. Twelve months. One chance to heal her heart…

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. But mainly because Joe died five months ago....

When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the bookshop owner with kind eyes, explains the gift—twelve carefully chosen books with handwritten letters from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

At first Tilly can’t imagine sinking into a fictional world, but Joe’s tender words convince her to try, and something remarkable happens—Tilly becomes immersed in the pages, and a new chapter begins to unfold in her own life. Monthly trips to the bookstore—and heartfelt conversations with Alfie—give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story—like a book—becomes more than her own.

PJ's Thoughts:

What a lovely, tender, transformative story. As one who knows first hand how difficult the first year following the death of a loved one can be, I started this book with mixed feelings. Would it be weighted down by unimaginable grief? Would it be a total sob fest? Or, would it be a gradual awakening, a reminder of love that never leaves the heart but the realization that the living heart goes on beating. 

With the help of her late husband's gift, the thoughtful bookseller who is waging his own battle with grief, twelve carefully curated books, and twelve beautifully and lovingly written letters from her late husband, Tilly slowly begins to reimagine her future. Her emotional journey resonated deeply with me. Page does a superb job of laying it out, with realistic stops and starts along the way. I wanted to wrap her in a warm hug while also encouraging her to venture out of her small, but understandable, comfort zone. I loved the part books play in her transformation, how each month's selection, and each visit to Alfie's bookshop, seem to bring her exactly what she needs to move one more step forward. 

Alfie is a true beta hero: thoughtful, caring, dealing with his own loss, and unaware of the lasting impact he has on his customers, family, friends...and Tilly. I wanted to hug him too. He puts himself last - always - and I so wanted someone to put him first. He deserves healing. He deserves love. And, he deserves to live life - the life he chooses - to the fullest. Page skillfully guides him through the various stages of his journey and I couldn't help but cheer him on the entire way. 

If you enjoy tender, transformative stories about starting over, reclaiming joy, and moving forward with the healing help of loving letters, thoughtfully selected books, new friends, family, and an endearing bookseller and grieving widow who may not be perfect but could be perfect for one another, give This Book Made Me Think of You a try. I highly recommend it. 

Have books ever helped you through a difficult time in your life? 

Do you have a favorite bookshop that lifts your spirits each time you visit?

What are you currently reading?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 8 will receive a hard cover copy of This Book Made Me Think of You. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

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 - - Love Letters for Other People

Love Letters for Other People

by Shaylin Gandhi

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

When mathematician Aubrey MacLean’s career implodes, she has no choice but to return to her rural Indiana hometown, at least temporarily. But small towns have long memories, and so does she, especially when it comes to Nick Thacker, the boy who broke her heart.

Nick’s life is routine: long shifts at the steel mill, plus a side business writing love letters for other people. It’s enough to numb his regrets—until his first love returns, stirring up a past he thought he’d buried.

Aubrey is focused on rebuilding her career, until she falls for a man whose love letters feel achingly familiar. But as their connection deepens, so does her sense that she’s been here before. The similarities must be a coincidence, right? Because if not, Aubrey may have to choose between the life she’s built and the love she left behind…

PJ's Thoughts:

After reading Love Letters for Other People and When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi, what I've come to expect from her books is beautiful writing, complicated relationships, deeply emotional stories, boy-howdy-I-did-not-see-that-coming twists, and layered characters who linger in my mind long after I turn the final page.  

Love Letters for Other People takes us to rural Indiana and a story that pulled me in and refused to let go. Gandhi expertly crafts a tale of heartache, betrayal, long-overdue reckoning, forgiveness, and second chances but nothing on this journey will be easy. There are so many twists in this book, some I sniffed out in advance while others took me by surprise. 

Many characters are layered, with flaws that I could understand even if I didn't agree with their actions. There's a Cyrano de Bergerac plotline that had me worried but works out without going too far (for me). While some of the secondary characters had me ready to do some cliff tossing, Nick and Aubrey (and Nick's daughter) are characters who won my affection and support. My heart hurt so hard for what they had been/were going through but celebrated the joy of their hard-won second-chance happiness. 

If you enjoy an emotional roller coaster ride with complex characters, a hard-won happy ending and a few surprises along the way, I recommend picking up a copy of Love Letters for Other People. It's another winner from one of my favorite new authors, Shaylin Gandhi. 

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.