Coming Attractions & Giveaway - - February

 

Whew! Anybody else feel like January sped by at the speed of light while also lasting three years? I'm thankful for all the good books that kept me company. Speaking of good books, we're ushering in the month of love with more titles that made me laugh, made me sigh, and kept me up reading way past my bedtime. Here's what we'll be sharing during the month of February.

We kick things off on Tuesday, February 4 with a review of Where the Creek Bends by Linda Lael Miller. I've been following Miller's McKettrick family for many years. This newest story is set in present time but with mysterious time-bending elements. 

Hellie will be here on Wednesday, February 5 to share her thoughts about Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter. Get ready for gushing. 

Join me on Thursday, February 6 for a tour review and giveaway of A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera. This third book in Herrera's Las Leonas trilogy is a steamy, compelling, historical romance with vividly drawn characters and relevant issues that had me in its clutches from the get-go. Perfect for Black History Month (or any month) reading. 

Friday, February 7 brings a tour review and giveaway of Spiral by Bal Khabra. This interracial romance between a ballerina and a hockey player had me eagerly flipping pages. 

Sonali Dev's newest novel, There's Something About Mira, just may be my favorite of all the books she's written. I turned the final page of this heart-tugging story at 3:00 AM this morning. Need I say more? Check out my review on Monday, February 10.

Santa joins us on Tuesday, February 11 with a review of Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan. This second-chance, small-town romcom is book two in Sullivan's Rock Bottom Love series.

Stop by on Wednesday, February 12 for a review of Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift. Such a fun read!

Thursday, February 13 brings a tour review of The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick. This dual-timeline, historical fiction novel is one I'm eager to dive into. 

Stop by for more hockey romance on Monday, February 17 with Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. 

I'll be sharing my thoughts about Susan Sands' A Georgia Christmas, a new novella in her sweet, small-town Moonshine series on Thursday, February 20. This one brings a bit of mystery and a lot of heart. 

Rounding out the month on Tuesday, February 25 will be a review of Rustler Mountain by Maisey Yates. This enemies-to-lovers, good-girl-bad-boy romance launches a new series from Yates. I'm already hooked. 

That's what's on the Dish schedule for February. What books are on your reading list this month?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 5 will receive a print copy of The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas. 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 5 will receive a print copy of A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby by Vanessa Riley.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, February 5 will receive a print copy of Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - The Unexpected Diva

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren is:

LauraL

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - The Valentine Box

The Valentine Box

by Toni Blake

The Box Books - Book 3

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books

Release Date: January 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

It started with a box for collecting heart wishes…

Among the constants in Taylor Mulvaney’s life are the heart-shaped box made by her father, the mysterious hearts she sometimes sees, and her longtime crush on Luke Montgomery. The valentine box has a way of connecting her and Luke time and again – and even after Luke breaks her heart before leaving their hometown of Sweetwater, Kentucky for good, she never gets completely over him.

The box brings them back together when they least expect it.

Fifteen years later, Taylor still sees hearts. And now she even makes them, baking heart-shaped treats at the Sweetheart Bake Shop. After a rough start in life, she’s found her way. Until, that is, Luke comes home for his father’s funeral, bringing a deluge of old feelings flooding back. Before she knows it, a note dropped in her still-beloved valentine box has Taylor swept up in helping him save his family’s horse farm – and trying not to fall back in love with the guy who once left her shattered.

How will it end?

Could Luke really want Taylor the way she’s always wanted him? Can she trust in the future to turn out better than the past? The valentine box is still working its magic to draw them together all these years later, but can Taylor set her fears aside long enough to believe in a second chance at love?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a lovely story. This one really pulls at the heartstrings. I love the history of Luke and Taylor, the shared memories of their childhood, both good and bad. I like the ebb and flow of their individual growth through the years from childhood to high school, college and adulthood, the evolution of their friendship, their reunion after a fifteen-year separation, and eventually the romance that's always been just out of reach. 

I enjoy a journey that peels back the layers of a character, allowing us to go along for the ride as they sort their way through life. Blake gives us that, not only with Taylor and Luke but, to a lesser degree, with peripheral characters as well. She gives us two main characters who are realistically flawed, but with essential goodness at their core, and carrying relatable emotional baggage. It was easy to become attached to them, cheer for them, hurt with them, and be invested in their happiness and success.

There's also a bit of a mystical thread throughout this book that touched my heart, a few times even bringing me to tears. I firmly believe in signs from loved ones who no longer walk the Earth. The hearts - and horse - that bring warmth, clarity, and love to Taylor and Luke are reminiscent of experiences in my own life, adding an additional dimension to my reading pleasure. 

If you're looking for a feel-good contemporary romance with low sizzle (but deep emotion), strong community ties, complicated family dynamics, individual growth, and a second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance, check out Toni Blake's The Valentine Box. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

 

Review & Giveaway - - The Unexpected Diva

The Unexpected Diva

by Tiffany L. Warren

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: January 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Born into slavery on a Mississippi plantation, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield has been raised in the safety of Philadelphia’s Quaker community by a wealthy adoptive mother. Sheltered and educated, Eliza’s happy childhood always included music lessons to nurture her unique gift: a glorious three octave singing voice that leaves listeners in awe. But on the eve of her twenty-fourth birthday, young Eliza’s world is thrown into a tailspin when her mother dies.

Eliza’s inheritance is contested by her mother’s white cousins, leaving her few options. She can marry her longtime beau, Lucien, though she has no desire to be a wife and mother. Or she can work as a tutor for rich families. Her mother’s dying wish was for Eliza to pursue her talent and become a professional singer, but that grand vision now seems out of reach.

When a chance performance on a steamboat to Buffalo, New York, leads to a surprising opportunity, fearless Eliza seizes her moment. Within a year she is touring America, singing to packed houses, and igniting controversy wherever she goes. In a country captivated by “the Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind, Eliza is billed by tour promoters as “the Black Swan.” An unlikely diva, Eliza is tall, dark-skinned, and robust of figure compared to the petite European prima donna, but even the harshest critics can’t deny Eliza’s extraordinary gift. Menaced by racist crowds, threatened by slave-catchers who kidnap free Black people, Eliza lives a public life full of risk, but one which also holds the promise of great riches, and the freedoms those buy.

From the churches of Philadelphia to Queen Victoria’s salon in Buckingham Palace, Eliza Greenfield will blaze her own path—with a voice that no listener will ever forget.

PJ's Thoughts:

I had never heard of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield prior to reading this book. The author shares in her notes that she hadn't known of her either until stumbling upon her name while doing research for a different project. Like me, while reading The Unexpected Diva, Warren was fascinated by this extraordinarily talented Black woman in pre-Civil War America. I am grateful she chose Eliza as the focus of her first historical fiction novel.

Warren took the actual facts known about Eliza's life and filled in the spaces to immerse readers into 1850's America and what the life of a Black woman such as Eliza might have been. It would have taken incredible determination to achieve what she did. Warren breathed life into both real people and fictional characters to weave a compelling story I found hard to put down. In fact, her characters were all so vividly portrayed and seamlessly intertwined that I had to read the author's notes at the end of the book to determine who was actually real and who was fictional. Well, except for Harriet Beecher Stowe and Queen Victoria. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Unexpected Diva and learning about Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. I have an immense amount of respect and admiration for her and her accomplishments. They deserve to be known and celebrated. 

I'm eager to discover what Warren has planned next. I hope it's another historical fiction novel. I love being educated while also being entertained. Warren clearly has the knack for it. 

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction?

Had you ever heard of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield a/k/a The Black Swan?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 29 will receive a print copy of The Unexpected Diva.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Made to Love You

Made to Love You

by Nan Reinhardt

The Walkers of River's Edge - Book 4

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: January 23, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

She’s not looking for love, but a handsome veterinarian and a lost puppy have other plans…

Gorgeous and gifted,Annabelle Walkeris a force of nature. A talented architect who has brought new designs and concepts to her family’s construction firm, Anna’s happy and doesn’t feel anything’s missing from her life, even as her siblings have all fallen in love this year. And then she finds an injured puppy on a bike ride.

Veterinarian Sawyer Braxton is lost while driving to his first day at Price Veterinary Clinic. He stops to ask directions of a bicyclist on the side of the road, and discovers three things: She’s beautiful, stranded with a flat tire, and holding an injured puppy. Sawyer’s fascinated, and it feels like fate as he offers the intriguing and vibrant woman a ride to the vet clinic.

It’s a meet-cute, and Annabelle’s definitely attracted, but she’s determined that this time, she really will take a break from men. Sawyer’s as stubborn as he is sexy, and he hits on a plan for a date—they’ll both foster the pup while it heals.

PJ's Thoughts:

Made to Love You brings readers another heart-tugging visit to River's Edge. At this point, each new book in Nan Reinhardt's long-running series feels like a visit to my hometown where good friends - and a few new friends - await. As a fan of the series, it's fun to catch up with favorite characters while at the same time, Reinhardt has written each of these books in such a way that new readers can jump in at any point without missing a beat.

I enjoyed Anna's and Sawyer's story very much. Reinhardt takes them on a realistically gradual journey of growth, self-discovery, and love. It was especially satisfying to watch Sawyer - and Trixie, the abandoned puppy - help Anna slowly lower the walls around her heart that had been solidified by heartbreak and betrayal and even more so, to watch Anna confront those emotional obstacles in person and hold her own. Yes, I may have been enthusiastically, and vocally, cheering her on. 

Sawyer is such a sweetheart - kind, caring, a bit of a cinnamon roll, and the perfect counterpart for take charge Anna. I really loved these two together and am hopeful that we'll see more of Anna, Sawyer, Trixie, and Sawyer's dog, Otis in upcoming River's Edge books.

If you enjoy feel-good stories with humor, emotional depth, relatable characters, and happy endings, give this one a try. 

Review - - She Doesn't Have a Clue

She Doesn't Have a Clue

by Jenny Elder Moke

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift.

When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Santa Says:

She Doesn’t Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is a madcap murder mystery rom com because who doesn’t want a little murder intrigue dropped in the middle of a romance? I would give it four out of five stars. Our main female character, Kate Valentine, is a successful writer of Loretta Starling mysteries. Kate is surprised to have been invited to her ex-fiance’s wedding. He also happens to be her editor which has got to be awkward. But Kate shut down after their break up six months ago and has not been able to write a word and so she’s behind in getting her chapters to him. 

The surprises keep on coming as she races to make the boat that will take her to his bride-to-be’s family compound on a private island off the coast of Seattle. She crash lands on the boat knocking the wind out of the one man she never thought she would see again - Jake Hawkins. Jake is the one that ran away on trans-global adventures. He also mysteriously received an invite and they find themselves having to share a room in a huge mansion, an oddly crowded mansion. 

The mayhem ensues when Kate accidentally crashes into the gift table and the bride-to-be. Flustered, Kate settles in to hear the groom’s speech which sounds just like a speech from one of her books. She runs out of the room and proceeds to get drunk. Some time later Jake finds her in the wine cellar over the body of the bride, Kennedy,  who they discover has been poisoned. Again, life imitates art as this scenario is also from one of her books. This does not look good for Kate who some see as a jealous ex out to get revenge. 

Kate and Jake must weed out who is friend or foe. The guest list spans friends, relatives, fellow authors and business associates. They all seem a bit shady. Kate takes some notes from her heroine Loretta and sets out to find out the truth because now the hostess of the whole weekend Rebecca Hempstead has been poisoned to death. There are quite a few people who may have wanted her dead because she held tightly to the purse strings of the family. The island and expansive manor house become smaller as a whole cavalcade of characters come into play.

I found this book to be full of humor. Amid all this chaos Jake and Kate work through their attractions and feelings. It was a bit hard to follow at times when Loretta’s perspective and parts of her books popped into the story. This may have been in part due to the fact that I was reading an uncorrected digital galley and all the fonts separating the texts from the books were not consistent. 

This is also Ms. Moke’s first adult novel. She has several YA books out there. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from her in the future.

Review - - Better Than Friends

Better Than Friends

by Jill Shalvis

The Sunrise Cove Series - Book 7

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: January 21. 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Old flames reignite in Sunrise Cove in this charming enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, small-town, forced-proximity love story about family, friendships, and true love from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

When Olive Porter’s off-the-grid parents go missing, she reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, her ex and the only person she both trusts implicitly and not at all.

As a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, Noah’s used to living under intense pressure. Or he was until he got injured on the job. Now unhappily recuperating at home while being smothered by his loving but nosy family, he’d love nothing more than a good distraction.

So when Olive shows up looking like a million bucks, he has to do a gut and heart check. Because nope, no matter what, he can’t fall for her again, the woman who once blew up his entire life and never looked back. How ironic then that his own personal hell (Olive) is also his ticket out of town. The question is, will the risk be worth the reward?

PJ's Thoughts:

In my opinion, the books in the Sunrise Cove series are some of the best Jill Shalvis has written. They're a blend of women's fiction and romance with a touch of mystery in some, combining the author's quirky humor with heart-tugging emotion. Better Than Friends, the newest addition to the series, is one of my favorites. 

There are three main threads in this book: friendship, family, and romance. Let's tackle friendship first. I loved the relationship between Olive and Katie, two very different people whose bonds have stood the test of time, distance, and near tragedy. The respect, understanding, and support between these two is unbreakable, as evidenced by the fact that Olive drops everything in a heartbeat to fly across the ocean when Katie's husband is injured. I love how these women love, support, respect, and challenge one another; how they bring out the best in one another while at the same time not trying to change who they are at their core. On the flip side of their friendship is the one between Noah (Katie's brother) and Katie's husband, Joe (Noah's best friend). Shalvis captures a strong, loving, supportive friendship between two men that touched my emotions with both its strength and its vulnerability. 

Families are another important facet of this book. We have your mildly dysfunctional, extremely dysfunctional, and lovingly supportive family members, all of whom play critical roles in the evolution of the main characters and all of whom are realistically depicted by the author.

And then there's the romance between Noah and Olive, a childhood friends-to enemies-to lovers journey that is humorous, heartfelt, emotional, and helped along by matchmaking friends and one adorable little boy. I really pulled hard for these two. 

If you're looking for a book to pull you out of the mid-January doldrums, pick up a copy of Better Than Friends. The spice is light, the emotion is deep, the humor is classic Shalvis, and the ending is happy and hopeful. What more could I ask for? 

Winner - - When We Had Forever

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

When We Had Forever is:

Patricia Bennett Barber

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Dr. Alaska

Dr. Alaska

by Jillian David

Yukon Valley, Alaska - Book 1

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: January 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Grey’s Anatomy, meet Northern Exposure…

Lee Tipton, MD, takes running from her past to an extreme, hotfooting it from Georgia to a temporary position at Yukon Valley Hospital in chilly Alaska. Her newly purchased winter gear may protect her from the elements, but no amount of insulation can protect her from her deep-seated fear that a romantic partner will once again use her for personal gains. Despite the hospital staff’s matchmaking efforts, Lee swears she has no interest in the town’s cocky lead paramedic, even if his sexy smile sets off palpitations.

Maverick Steen learned his one simple rule of romance the hard way: no dating outsiders. That includes the hospital’s newest fish-out-of-water doctor, whom he finds himself paired with as they navigate critical care cases and snowmobile accidents. Yet when Lee embraces the beauty in the Alaskan interior and cottons to his sled dog team of misfits, suddenly, Maverick’s heart—and his bed—feel a whole lot warmer.

But can they say yes to love before Lee’s assignment ends?

PJ's Thoughts:

They had me at "Grey's Anatomy, meet Northern Exposure." As a huge fan of both shows (though I finally tossed in the Grey's towel a few years ago), I was already predisposed to enjoy this book before turning the first page. Happily, the story itself kept me entertained and left me eager for book two. 

I love a fish out of water story and from the first pages we are made delightfully aware that Georgia-born Lee is exactly that. Then, of course, one of the first people she encounters before even arriving in Yukon Valley is a paramedic who, well, let's just say, doesn't make the best first impression. But, dear readers, there be sparks between these two! Adversaries to lovers, anyone?

What follows is a fun, somewhat emotional, and a bit suspenseful journey that had me happily immersing myself in dogsled rides, hospital emergencies, newfound friendships, slowly rebuilt trust, complicated family dynamics, quirky matchmaking locals, and a heart-tugging romance. 

Bring on book two, please. I'm ready for a return visit to Yukon Valley, Alaska. 

Winner - - Remember When

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a hardcover copy of

Remember When by Mary Balogh is:

Mary @Bookfan

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Tour Review - - Dashiki

Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery

by Florence Wetzel

Publisher: Florence Wetzel

Release Date: January 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.

During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.

In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.

Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.

PJ's Thoughts:

Set (primarily) in Hoboken, NJ, this story follows a music journalist with a love of jazz and a police detective with little knowledge of jazz who find themselves at the center of a murder, the disappearance of a musical treasure, and an unanticipated attraction.

I really enjoyed the vibe of this story. Though set in the early two thousands, it has a distinct 1950's vibe (at least it did to me) that meshes seamlessly with the jazz influences, including real and fictional characters, who were at the height of their popularity in that time frame. 

The mystery was well crafted and though I was pretty sure I had the culprit figured out about midway through, I was still surprised by some twists the story took in reaching its conclusion. 

But what really stood out for me in this book were the characters, the music, and the atmospheric resonance of the small jazz clubs tucked into out of the way corners of Manhattan and other cities. The author brought all of them to life on the pages of this novel, immersing me in their love - some might say obsession - of jazz legends and the genius of their musical creations. The characters, primary and secondary, were unique, richly textured, and each one important to the trajectory of the story as it unfolded. 

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, jazz, or just a well-told story with a little danger, a few surprises, and a bit of mild romance, give this one a try. I'm glad I did.