Review - - Double Apex

Double Apex

by Josie Juniper

Frontrunners - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Phaedra Morgan is one of the best race engineers in Formula 1. She’s a math prodigy with dazzling skill, cutting wit, and no patience for matters of the heart. Of course, her job would be a lot easier if she didn’t keep butting heads with their team’s cocky and infuriatingly hot new driver. 

Cosmin Ardelean is intense and committed, but as famous for his off-track romantic exploits as his on-track wizardry. Yet his devil-may-care façade conceals a haunted past. When the pair strikes up a secret—and thrillingly forbidden—“arrangement” to improve their communication and bond of trust, the heat of their attraction turns to something more . . . 

But no secret stays hidden for long in the racing world, and soon things are spinning out of control. With everything on the line, will they be able to strip away all their defenses and go full throttle for a chance at love?

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm an avid Formula 1 race fan so you can imagine how excited I was to discover Josie Juniper was writing a series set in that wealthy, high-stakes, fast-paced world. Matching a new, hot shot, Romanian, playboy driver with his blunt, math-prodigy, socially-awkward, American team owner's daughter, race engineer? I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.  

With this first book in her Frontrunners series, Juniper brings an intriguing, behind the scenes look at the world of F1 racing. I enjoyed the fact that the book takes place during the course of one season, with chapters set at different locations on the international circuit. It was also entertaining to watch team politics, adversarial relationships between drivers, the intense competitive nature of the sport, and Phaedra's role as a woman engineer in a predominantly male environment play out on the page. 

The romance is an enemies-to-lovers trope with plenty of friction between Cosmin and Phaedra that morphs into a singe-your-fingers, sizzling physical relationship before deepening into more. What I didn't expect was the incredible depth of emotion as well as the hidden layers within both main characters. I had some difficulties with both during the first part of the book - they were flat-out unlikable in spots - but that slowly begins to change with significant growth arcs over the course of the book. There's so much more to these two than is visible on the surface, with dysfunctional family dynamics, emotional baggage, and other issues contributing.

Juniper tackles some difficult topics through her characters including child abuse (in the past), sexual assault (not on the page), parental death, and grief. If those are triggers, this may not be the book for you.

While Cosmin - and Phaedra - both said and did things that I took issue with, those flaws made the evolution of their characters that much more satisfying for me. In the end, I was able to get on board with their relationship and cheer them on individually and as a couple. I'm looking forward to what Juniper has on tap for the next book in the series. There are some intriguing - also flawed - side characters I'm eager to learn more about. 

Review - - Take Me Home for Christmas

Take Me Home for Christmas

by Miranda Liasson

The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff - Book 1

Publisher: Hawthorne House

Release Date: October 4, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

She invented Mr. Right...just in time for the holidays.

Every tangled web starts with one tiny white lie. The kind you spin when you're desperate.

One day I, Mia D'Angelo, third-year pediatric resident, was telling my mom that I'd finally met the perfect guy. Gushing about how amazing he was. And how happy I was.

It was all true. Until my "perfect guy," Dr. Braxton Hughes, turned out to be my co-worker and my only competitor for a spot in the best practice in town...and then suddenly I was dumped...again. But I kept going with the stories, to get her through a very tough time.

My mom's health crisis ended, and just when I thought things had settled down, my family wanted to meet my wonderful boyfriend for Christmas.

So I asked (okay, begged) just about every male I knew under forty, except of course for Brax.

Don't get me wrong. I could always count on him in a pinch. At work, that is.

Brax is an amazing pediatrician, but he would never fit the bill as a boyfriend. Maybe in looks. And charm. And his big heart. The problem is that he's the biggest commitment-phobe this side of the Mississippi.

He's the kind of guy I would definitely never take home for Christmas. There'd be no kissin' under the mistletoe, no canoodling under the tree—because my heart could not survive falling for him again.

My car is packed and I'm down to no one, when magically, there he is, duffle in hand, melt-me smile on his face.

Oh, joy.

Keeping it professional is going to be a whole lot harder than I thought. Especially when he charms my parents, my whole family, and even my dog.

And Dr. Wrong...well, he's suddenly looking awfully right.

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Many. Feelings. Miranda Liasson is an author who always takes me on an emotional journey but even in the midst of many keepers, this book stands out. It has so much heart, so many tender moments. I laughed out loud, shed  tears (both kinds), and fell head over heels in love with…well, pretty much the entire cast of characters. Okay, there are a few exceptions but everyone else. 

I want to hang out with Brax, Mia, Sam, Gage, and the rest of their hospital friends. I want to spend Christmas with Mia’s fun-loving family, join in all of their traditions, make cookies with her mom at daybreak, read The Night Before Christmas with her adorable niece, and tackle the scream-inducing sledding hill behind their house. I love the way Liasson portrays the love, support, teasing, and complications within this close-knit family that has suffered a grievous loss. I wanted to gather them all in and give them huge hugs, including Brax, who has never experienced a Christmas - or family - like the one gifted him by D’Angelos. 

Liasson tackles some tough topics in this book - including sick kids, grief, and cancer - handling them with thoughtful, hopeful, but also realistic care. It adds additional emotional layers to an already heart-tugging story and extra depth to the characters. I especially enjoyed the look forward six years into the future in the Epilogue. 

Take Me Home for Christmas launches Miranda Liasson’s The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff series and sets a high bar for the rest of the books. I feel like these characters have become my friends and am eagerly anticipating (hopefully) catching up with them again in book two. 

Review - - The Merry Matchmaker

The Merry Matchmaker

by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they’d just let her—and if all of her help didn’t end in utter disaster. 

Then there’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He’s been divorced for years, and it’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she’s determined to help him find that someone—whether he likes it or not.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sheila Roberts is back with another humorous, heart-tugging novel that is sure to put readers in the Christmas spirit. One of the facets of Roberts’ books that I most enjoy is the sense of community she creates, something that’s important in The Merry Matchmaker, with main character Frankie front and center. 

Frankie is that friend, family member, business owner that has her hands in just about everything going on in her small town. She’s the person who is certain she knows what’s best for everyone else and sets about making it happen…whether “everyone else” wants it or not. Where she’s completely clueless is when it comes to what she needs.

Roberts walks a fine line with this character. Her antics generate humor but also awkward situations, frustration, and occasionally hurt feelings. What saves her is the fact that everything she does comes from a place of genuine - if misguided - kindness. She may be fifty but she still has some growing to do, a journey that Roberts skillfully, and realistically, guides. 

The supporting cast of the book are all richly depicted, contributing humor, holiday fun, and, in some cases, life lessons along the way. Combining laughter, emotion, and those all-important lessons is something Sheila Roberts does exceedingly well. The touch of romance - between mature characters - adds another layer of enjoyment as does the community’s many Christmas events. This one is sure to put you in a holiday frame of mind. 

Review - - One Big Happy Family

One Big Happy Family

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating.

But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months.

As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, she’ll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.

PJ's Thoughts:

Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family is one special book. I’ve been reading Mallery for years, enjoyed many of her books, but even among the many Mallery keepers lining my shelves, this book is an all-time favorite. It’s so addictively enjoyable I read it in one day and am already looking forward to my next re-read. I won’t be a bit surprised if it ends up being one of my special annual, in-front-of-the-tree-with-hot-cocoa-and-a-cozy-blanket Christmas reads. It’s just that good. 

Mallery brings an ever expanding cast of characters to this story but it never feels cluttered or confusing. Chaotic? Well, that’s a different story but it’s the kind of holiday chaos I gobble up faster than hot-from-the-oven holiday shortbread. The characters are all developed with care and a thoroughness that brings them to life on the page. They are layered, complex, intriguing, and authentic. Even those who are eminently unlikable at first have layers that slowly reveal unexpected depths. Secrets are revealed, life decisions are made, a romance rekindles, another deepens, broken family relationships take the first steps toward healing, children bring a magical anticipation, and friends and family, old and new, biological and chosen, illustrate clearly that Christmas is the perfect time to open our hearts to the hope, joy, love, fun, and unexpected guests of the season. 

Don’t miss Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - Deja Brew

Deja Brew

by Celestine Martin

Elemental Love - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Ex-celebrity chef Sirena Caraway has had the wackiest October ever. Her cooking powers are on the fritz, she failed to land a career-saving job, and she embarrassed herself at the town’s Halloween party. Just before midnight, she makes a desperate wish for a second chance to fix her life. The next morning Sirena wakes up and realizes that she’s repeating the entire pumpkin spice-flavored month. Even sweeter, she runs into Gus Dearworth, whose magic leaves her spellbound.

A former reality star, Gus moved to Freya Grove to rebuild his reputation and heal his broken heart, but his restless magic is tempting him to return to the spotlight. And his secret crush on Sirena is making him want to try something dangerous like fall in love again. When Sirena realizes he can help her fix her powers, Gus makes her a deal. If she’ll help decipher a mysterious cookbook in his collection, he'll help get her magical groove back.

Every encounter offers a new adventure—from tasting menus, harvest mazes, and a growing attraction that’s taking on an irresistible enchantment of its own. But as the month winds down and the wish grows stronger, Sirena and Gus have a decision to make. Will their second chance be their happy-ever-after ending or a bittersweet memory?

PJ's Thoughts:

Have you visited Celestine Martin’s Freya Grove, NJ yet? It’s a mystical, magical, slightly wacky place with not your ordinary run of the mill citizens. Well, I guess they’re ordinary if that’s where you live. Running into magicians, witches, gnomes, fairies, merman, and the like at the local coffee shop is par for the course in Freya Grove. The fact that Martin’s writing brings these characters to life in the most natural, normal way is part of the reason I so enjoy her books. She makes me believe this place exists, immerses me into the lives of her characters in such a way that I don’t have to suspend disbelief to actually believe. 

Haven’t we all had moments in our lives when we wish we had a do-over? Sirena sure does and what she gets is a complete month to figure out how to get her life - and herself - together. Gus knows something feels off but can’t quite put his finger on what it is. What he knows for sure is that the entrance of Sirena into his life is pushing all his happy buttons and he wants more. 

I love these two. Their chemistry is off the charts but it’s more than that. I love the respect they have for one another, the fact that they’ve both been betrayed (though in different ways), the care they show, the family dynamics both are dealing with, the fun they have together, and the deepening feelings for one another that everyone sees but them. I like the personal growth they both experience. 

An important part of the story is the ever deepening sense of urgency that builds through the month, the tension of not knowing what the end of October will bring. Will Sirena get her kitchen witch skills back? Will she discover her path, the one that will bring her success but, more importantly, happiness and fulfillment? Will Gus finally come to terms with the baggage battering at his soul? With family expectations, his failed marriage, and the dueling parts of his personality? Can good-time magician Gus peacefully coexist with serious-minded historian Gus? So many questions. Martin takes her characters, and readers, on a deliciously delightful journey to the answers. 

If you enjoy witchy romance (Halloween is just around the corner) with an opposites-attract trope, sizzling chemistry, Black love, big-girl body positivity, quirky characters, magical beings, complex family dynamics, humor, heart, and happy endings, give Deja Brew a try. I also recommend books one and two in the series: Witchful Thinking and Kiss and Spell. Click the titles to read my reviews. 

Coming Attractions - - October 2024

 

Welcome to October! December holidays may be two months away but we have an abundance of books on this month's schedule to amp up your holiday spirit. Here's what's cookin' at The Romance Dish this month.

Wednesday, October 2 brings a review of Deja Brew by Celestine Martin. In this autumn-themed romcom, Martin takes readers back to her witchy Freya Grove (I'm a fan) with a new opposites attract romance. 

It's One Big Happy Family (maybe) in Susan Mallery's newest holiday novel. Stop by Thursday, October 3 for my review of this feel-good - but complicated - story that had me smiling from start to finish. 

I always look forward to each year's holiday book from Sheila Roberts. I'll be sharing my thoughts about her newest, The Merry Matchmaker, on Friday, October 4.

Miranda Liasson launches a new series with Take Me Home for Christmas. Join me on Monday, October 7 for a review of this heartwarming, small-town romance. 

We're revving our engines for Double Apex, a spicy, enemies-to-lovers romance by Josie Juniper set in the world of Formula 1 racing. I can't wait to dive into this one. Stop by Tuesday, October 8 for my review. 

RaeAnne Thayne takes readers back to Shelter Springs with another heart-tugging holiday romance. Don't miss my review of The December Market on Wednesday, October 9. Note: This can be read as a standalone but it does tie into - and has continuing characters from - last year's holiday book, Christmas at the Shelter Inn (click to read my review).

Thursday, October 10 brings a tour review of A Highland Family Affair. This third book in Lisa Hobman’s Scottish Highlands series is a heart-tugging journey with plenty of reasons to smile. 

 

Nancy joins us on Friday, October 11 with a review of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, a Christmas trading-places rom-com by Julia McKay. 

Santa joins us on Monday, October 14 to share her thoughts about  Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot. Don't miss her review of this annoying-customer, only-other-Jew-within-100-miles, fake-boyfriend, Hanukkah romance. 

It's time for Christmas Sweater Weather! Unless you live in Florida, like me. Then you only wish it was. ;-)  Regardless of where you live, don't miss my Tuesday, October 15 review of this new holiday, brother's-best-friend romance by Jaqueline Snowe. Ugly Christmas sweaters optional. 

Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is back with book two in her Wild Magic series. Join me on Wednesday, October 16 when I share my thoughts about Lightning in Her Hands. 

Stop by Thursday, October 17 for a review of Fall For You by Haleigh Sol. “She’s tough love and grumpy vibes.” “He’s temptation wrapped in a tux.” Sold! 

Monday, October 21 brings a tour review of The Wedding Engagement by Zoe Allison. I enjoyed Allison’s last book, The Ex-Mas Holidays, and am looking forward to reading this new one. 

We're going back in time - to Jane Austen's time - with a review of Vanessa Kelly's Murder in Highbury. Whether you're an Austen fan or not, you won't want to miss my Tuesday, October 22 review of this first novel in Kelly's charmingly cozy An Emma Knightley Mystery series. 

Christmas is All Around when Santa stops by on Wednesday, October 23 with a review of this holiday romcom by Martha Waters. 

Don't miss my review of Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates on Thursday, October 24. I have a lot to say about this newest book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series. It just may be my all-time favorite story written by this prolific author. 

Rounding out the month on Friday, October 25 is a review of Made for Mistletoe by Nan Reinhardt. A visit to Reinhardt’s River’s Edge is always cause for celebration but a Christmas story adds that extra bit of holiday magic. 

What’s on your must do/see/read list this month? Any particular books, movies, television shows? Sports? Holidays? Family events? 

Review - - The Holiday Cottage

The Holiday Cottage

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.

Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?

For Dorothy, helping Imogen offers a longed-for chance to make reparations for her own past. But as her daughter Sara keeps reminding her, it brings risks, too. Yet Dorothy knows that only a leap of courage will allow her family to grow and heal. And perhaps this Christmas, with Dorothy’s help, the new life that Imogen is slowly piecing together could be better than anything either of them could imagine…

PJ's Thoughts:

I always look forward to Sarah Morgan’s Christmas books. I can count on an emotional journey in a vividly depicted winter setting with intriguing family dynamics and significant character growth. All of that holds true for The Holiday Cottage though this one, while good, falls a bit short of the 5-star read Morgan typically provides. At least it did for me.

I had a difficult time getting into the first half of the book or feeling a connection to Imogen. The pace dragged and I found myself putting the book aside several times. I just wasn’t being pulled in as I usually am with this author. I kept going however and eventually the pace picked up as did the interest. From the midpoint on the story takes off and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half was everything I enjoy about Morgan’s writing, including a picturesque setting, Christmas tree farms, adorable children, romance, complicated relationships, and discovering the joy of the holiday season.

I enjoyed the different perspectives of Imogen, her favorite client Dorothy, and Dorothy’s daughter Sara. There are complex family dynamics that play out over the course of the book as well as significant individual growth for all three women. There is also a romance for Imogen that, while a bit quick, still left me feeling confident in the long-term stability of the relationship. There’s also a significant story thread for Imogen that’s left open-ended. I was really hoping to see on-the-page closure. Other than that, however, I was happy with the way the book concluded. Even if it’s not among my favorites of this author’s books, a Sarah Morgan novel is still a good read and well worth my time.