Winners - - August Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winners 

from the August Coming Attractions post are:

Sharlene Wegner

Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg

dstoutholcomb

Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - - He Falls First

He Falls First

by Jill Shalvis

Colburn Brothers - Book 1

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

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

PJ's Thoughts:

Jill Shalvis is back and she's better than ever. He Falls First launches a new series from Shalvis featuring a family of four siblings with an emotionally fraught background. This first book is both sweet and steamy, with sparkling banter, complicated family dynamics, humor, emotional depth and a swoon-worthy happily ever after. 

I love the community of characters Shalvis has built within this book. Both Penny's and Ryder's families offer abundant opportunity for messy emotions, comic relief, growth, hope, and healing. Of course, Penny and Ryder are at the center of the story but their supporting cast is richly textured, both in moving the central relationship forward as well as introducing sibling personalities and setting the stage for future stories. 

Ryder is such a good guy. And hot. Did I mention he's hot? I really loved how caring and protective he was of Penney and how their deepening relationship helped them both begin to heal. I also loved Penney's commitment to her family, and her determination to move forward with her life no matter how difficult. I'm fully on board with their romance and looking forward to watching it continue to blossom as the series progresses. 

A strong element of this book is surviving abuse. In the case of the Colburns, it's made more complicated due to the fact that the man who abused them (their father) is now completely at their mercy due to a life-changing stroke. Having been through two severe strokes with family members, I was impressed by the authenticity and care used by the author in describing this character's current personality and actions without erasing his past actions. It's a complex storyline that raises a number of thought-provoking issues. 

If you enjoy immersive contemporary romances that pull you into the characters' lives, make you laugh, make you think, maybe shed a tear or two, and celebrate hard-earned happy endings, check out He Falls First by Jill Shalvis. The fact that there are more Colburn brothers waiting in the wings for their own story is a happy, cherry-on-the-top bonus! 

Have you read Jill Shalvis?

Do you enjoy a series that features siblings?

Penney turns out some mouth-watering breakfast delights in this book. Do you have a favorite breakfast item to make? Or, if you don't bake, what's your favorite item to order?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), August 7 will receive a print copy of Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis. 

U.S. only

Must be 18

Winner - - July Review Roundup

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Muse of Maiden Lane and Rules for Ruin is:

Meg

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - August

 

Welcome to August! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that summer is almost over. Teachers in my area are already back to work and students will be in the classrooms in a little over a week. I do have to admit though, I'm looking forward to some autumn temperatures. It's been a very hot summer here and I've missed my pool-side reading time. Here are the books we'll be talking about at The Romance Dish this month.

First up this month is a review of He Falls First by Jill Shalvis on Tuesday, August 5. This contemporary romance launches a new family-centric series for Shalvis and I am here for it. Expect emotion, humor, and heartwarming romance. 

Thursday, August 7 brings a review of Five Alarm Love, book three in Jillian David's Yukon Valley, Alaska Hospital contemporary romance series. This small town romance features favorite secondary character, Tuli, Yukon Valley's Fire Chief, a man with a Golden Retriever personality and a decades long unrequited love for paramedic, Louise. 

Don't miss my review of My Best Friend's Earl by Bethany Bennett on Tuesday, August 12. This second book in Bennett's Bluestocking Booksellers historical romance series features sparkling banter, unexpected romance, and a most unusual love triangle. 

Friday, August 15 brings a review of The Summer We Kept Secrets, the fourth book in the Destin Diaries series co-written by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. Expect laughter, heartache, romance, faith, and the strengthening bonds of family and friendship in the latest installment. 

Stop by on Thursday, August 14 for a review of Love is an Open Book, a fun and flirty romcom by Chandra Blumberg. This friends-to-lovers journey had me smiling from start to finish. 

Tuesday, August 19 brings a review of A Promise of Forever by Sheryl Lister. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series with friendship, food, and romantic journeys at its heart. This time, Lister brings readers a marriage in crisis story with a couple's heartwarming second chance to rediscover love. 

On Monday, August 25 I'll be sharing my thoughts about A Hero's Return by Carrie Nichols. This emotional contemporary romance features a former military pilot and a widowed single mom with valid reasons for steering clear of her grumpy landlord. 

I've loved Liana De la Rosa's intrepid Luna sisters and their journeys to love. On Tuesday, August 26, I'll be sharing my thoughts about the third and final book in this series, Gabriela and His Grace. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers and road (or, in this case, boat) romances with beautifully detailed cultural rep, you won't want to miss this one. 

Stop by on Wednesday, August 27 for a review of Erica Ridley's A Waltz on the Wild Side. The entire Wynchester family is on hand for this final book in Ridley's The Wild Wynchesters historical romance series. Expect adventure, humor, witty dialogue, and hard-won happy endings. 

Wrapping up the month on Thursday, August 28 will be Hellie's review of The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe. Expect secrets, betrayal, and steamy romance in this Gilded Age novel set in New York City. 

That's what's on our schedule (so far) for the month of  August.

What are you looking forward to reading this month? 

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), August 5 will receive a print copy of Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith.

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), August 5 will receive a print copy of Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg. 

U.S. only

Must be 18

Reviews & Giveaway - - July 2025

 

July brought a nice mix of entertaining reads here at The Romance Dish. We reviewed twelve books that ranged from small-town contemporary to Victorian historical to paranormal to women's fiction to hockey romance to Jane Austen retellings (with a Korean twist) to second chances in New Orleans to messy family relationships in South Carolina to a story set in Ireland! There were two novellas, a debut, three new-to-me authors, and heartwarming stories from auto-buy favorites. It was a good month for books!

Did you read any of the books we covered this month? 

Did you discover any new or new-to-you authors in July?

What were your favorite July reads?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 3 will receive a print copy of The Muse of Maiden Lane and Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

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 - - Give Me a Reason

Give Me a Reason: A Novel

by Jayci Lee

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's PERSUASION, a K-drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left to save her family, if only she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.

For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. To save her father from bankruptcy, she dropped out of UC San Diego to pursue an acting career in Korea. Anne had to stop Frederick from following her and ruining his future. Breaking up with him was the best way she could love him.

After Anne left him, Frederick spent years loving her, missing her, and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. He didn’t need romance. He had his work and his friends.

When she returns to Los Angeles, Anne and Frederick find themselves in the same wedding—she as her cousin’s bridesmaid and he as his friend’s groomsman. Even though he is cold and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Not even close. As for Frederick, needing to take care of Anne is a habit he can't seem to kick, but that doesn't mean he has to forgive her.

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a second-chance romance. Give me that trope with a Korean-American cast of characters, dysfunctional family, firehouse chosen family, and a K-drama actress/Fire Captain main couple all wrapped up in a story by Jayci Lee that's a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion? I couldn't wait to dive in!

I've enjoyed every book I've read by Jayci Lee and this one was no exception. I love how she immersed me into this Korean-American extended family and their culture. My heart ached for Anne and the way she was treated by her father and sister, not only in the present but also in the past when she sacrificed her happiness for those who would never have done the same for her. I appreciated the time Lee took to show the inner workings of Anne's family and the impacts - both intended and unintended - their actions caused. 

Giving readers a dual POV gave me insight into Frederick that I might not have had if this story had only unfolded within Anne's frame of reference. I could feel the pain he suffered in the past and how that had shaped him and his relationships in the present. There were times when I wanted both Frederick and Anne to get out of their heads and talk to one another but I also think watching them work through their issues internally helped me understand them better and be more appreciative of their relationship when they finally open their hearts again. 

Lee does a good job of blending emotion, humor, and slow-burn romance in this book. I enjoyed the friendships depicted, especially Frederick's friends and how staunchly they protected and supported him. I also appreciated the love and support among Anne, her younger sister, and her cousins as she reestablished herself within the family unit after her return from Korea. Certain events added elements of awkwardness, humor, and angst to the journey which, for me, gave it more of an authentic feel. I'm glad Anne cleared the air with one family member but would have liked to have seen her do the same with another as well. Still, I felt like she found her strength and would not be walked over again. 

If you enjoy Austen retellings or just enjoy a good, second-chance, contemporary romance with intriguing characters, family dynamics, and Korean-American representation, add Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee to your reading list. 

Last Chance Winners - - July Coming Attractions

 

The giveaways below have not been claimed.

July Coming Attractions

Ina

Theresa Wallace-Lopez

Please send your full name and mailing address to

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

no later than 11:00 PM, July 28. 

 Thanks!

Winner - - That Last Carolina Summer

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a hard cover copy of

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White is:

LauraL

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Steady Now

Steady Now

by Liberty Stowe

Publisher: RupertBossier

Release Date: August 1, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

From the sound of bacon frying and sliding meringue to coveted tractor emoji invitations this sexy, sizzling small town romance will make you glad you did.

Wren Baldwin isn’t running for her life. She’s running from it. Until her Maserati stops running near Vogel Springs, Texas—home to Hudson Bass, the only man in a hundred miles who can fix it. She hits town just as his life is spinning out of control. But, dammit, if he can’t keep his eyes off her. The mechanic who can fix anything but himself may have found the fix that will break him.

WREN

My car broke down. I felt an attraction to a stranger, and I fell in love with a quaint town. That’s all that’s happened here. Once I get my car back, things will look differently. One last glance across the street at the Pit Stop that comes up empty-handed, and I can’t pop out of bed fast enough. I’m out of here.

HUD

I can’t allow myself to have her because she’ll leave in a matter of days. But watching her hurt, all I want to do is erase the pain I’ve caused. I’ve got a legal battle looming and too much baggage for a pack mule to carry. How can I pile it on top of this delicate creature? Even though her heart is breaking right now, she’ll leave and forget a country boy like me in a week. It is what it is.

PJ's Thoughts:

A small Texas town. A woman on the run...in a Maserati. A local mechanic with troubles of his own. A devious ex. A big-hearted cafe owner. Two best friends (his and hers) determined to steer our couple to a hard-earned happy ending. And just why is she running?  

I was immediately intrigued and eager to dive into this debut by Liberty Stowe. I'm happy to say that, for the most part, it lived up to my expectations. It's an instant-attraction, slow-burn, opposites-attract romance between Wren and Hud that reeled me in pretty much from the get-go. I liked that the author hit that attraction hard then backed off (for reasons), giving the characters more time to both establish feelings and address obstacles. While I would have enjoyed more depth and communication between Hud and Wren, I felt their chemistry and was still invested in them both as individuals and as a couple. 

The supporting cast adds a lot to the story in both positive and negative ways. I especially enjoyed Wren's best friend, Anderson and Hud's best friend, Cal. I have my fingers crossed that Steady Now will turn into a series because I'd sure like to see more of those two. Young Connor is a character who captured my heart. Stowe really brought him to life in an age appropriate way. Hud's ex is a piece of work who is brought to life so vividly that you do not want to know what I wanted to do to her. Needless to say, she elicits a lot of emotions. 

One aspect of the story that fell a bit short for me was the relationship between Wren and her father. For all that his actions played a part in the decisions that had her ending up in Vogel Springs, I would have liked seeing more development of their relationship. Also, the final pages seemed rushed. Considering all Wren and Hud had been through, the abrupt conclusion left me wanting. While they are definitely together, it felt more like a "to be continued" (we'll secure their happy ending in the next book) than a "wrapped up with a bow HEA" (this is a standalone-time to say goodbye to these characters). I haven't seen anything about this being a series starter but my fingers are crossed. 

All in all, Steady Now is a solid debut contemporary romance with a lot to recommend it. I'm definitely interested in seeing what Liberty Stowe brings readers next, especially if it takes us back to Vogel Springs. 

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 - - 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. 

Review - - Don't You Forget About Me

Don't You Forget About Me

by Shana Galen

Publisher: Shana Galen

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

 

A woman who’s forgotten who she is…

When Marjorie regains consciousness in a cold, sea-drenched cave with no memory of who she is or how she got there, panic sets in. She barely escapes the rising water and stumbles onto a beach—deserted except for one man who calls out to her. He says he’s her husband. That her name is Marjorie. That they’re honeymooning in Cornwall.

At first, she has no reason to doubt the handsome stranger. In fact, she’s thrilled to be married to a man she desires and who seems kind and caring. But as the days unfold, cracks in his story begin to show and Marjorie fears her husband may not be at all who he claims. In fact, she suspects he is her enemy and a traitor to England.

A man who desperately needs her to remember.

The last thing Simon Burrows expected was for Marjorie to go missing. When he finds her wet and shivering on the beach at dawn, she remembers absolutely nothing—not who she is, not who he is, and, most importantly, not the vital information only she possesses.

Simon hopes her memory will come back to her with a bit of rest and care, but as the hours and days tick by, he’s running out of time. Added to his dilemma, Marjorie seems to want him as much as he’s always wanted her. It hasn’t been easy keeping his hands to himself. And when she reaches for him with raw passion, he finds himself caught between duty and desire. Because if Marjorie ever remembers the truth, he may lose the one woman he's never stopped wanting…forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

I would never wish amnesia on someone in real life but in fiction? Yes, please! I love the idea of fictional characters having a blank slate upon which to build, a fresh perspective that allows them to view people and circumstances through a new lens. That's exactly what happens in Shana Galen's new novella, Don't You Forget About Me.

Galen pulled me into this story from the initial scenes and held my attention right up until the end. It's a journey brimming with mystery, chemistry, lively banter, and an unexpected opportunity to start over. 

If you enjoy historical romance with a gothic vibe, a colleagues-to-lovers romance, suspense, and emotional depth, all leading to a heart-tugging HEA, I enthusiastically recommend Don't You Forget About Me. It's a quick read (novella) with the emotional punch and satisfaction of a full-length book - something Shana Galen does very well.