Review & Giveaway - - Rules for Ruin

Rules for Ruin

by Mimi Matthews

The Crinoline Academy - Book 1

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful lord’s systematic attack on women’s rights in Parliament, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

Santa Says:

Mimi Matthews has a new book out. Rules For Ruin is the first book in her new series revolving around The Crinoline Academy. This five star read has all the hallmarks that distinguish Matthews’ writing in a wide field of romance writers out there.

The Crinoline Academy is not all it appears to be - at least from the outside. While the young ladies who attend are taught the rudimentary aspects of any young lady’s curriculum, they are also trained to ultimately bring to light and discredit the patriarchy. Euphemia Flint is summoned back from her position in Paris to do just that.

Her quary is a member of Parliament who is vehemently opposed to securing women's rights. And his voice and vote carry a lot of weight. He also harbors a dark secret from his past that would ruin him. Euphemia needs only to bring this to light and her obligation and debt to the school's headmistress would be stamped paid. Setting her up for a life of independence. 

Gabriel Royce, a St. Giles betting house owner, needs Euphemia to keep her distance. Not because he has any great need to protect this particular Lord. He needs him in his corner to bring forward thinking men of influence to help secure funding for rebuilding St. Giles into a decent place for the people around him to live in. 

Initially, Euphemia and Gabriel work at cross purposes. They end up chasing after a clearer purpose which has them skirting danger and intrigue. This really was a page turner for me. I could not wait to see how Mimi Matthews would help her characters clear obstacles and come together without compromising her characters’ natures. Pick up a copy! I know you are going to enjoy it!

Readers, have you read Mimi Matthews yet?

Do you enjoy a hero and heroine at cross purposes?

One randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 23 will receive a print copy of Rules for Ruin.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - 32 Days in May

32 Days in May

by Betty Corrello

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Nadia Fabiola wants to lose herself in Evergreen—the Jersey Shore town where she grew up vacationing with her family—and never look back at her glamorous, gainfully employed former self. After a shocking lupus diagnosis turned her life upside down, she’s desperate for a sense of control over her body, her life, and her mental health. Nadia plans on keeping her life small and boring, while continuing to ignore her sister’s relentless questioning.

Nadia’s sister isn’t the only person worried about her. When her rheumatologist not-so-subtly sets her up with his infamous former-actor cousin, Marco Antoniou, Nadia is skeptical. But Marco is gorgeous—despite carrying his own baggage from a very public burnout. After a messy (but fun) first date, they decide that a May-long fling could be just what the doctor ordered: no commitment, no strings, just one month of escape.

Their undeniable chemistry starts to feel a lot like something more and while Marco pulls Nadia deeper into his life, she is dead set on keeping her diagnosis from him. But there are only so many days in May, and only so much pretending she can do. As the stress of their whirlwind romance takes its toll on Nadia’s health, she’s forced to decide if a chance at love is worth the risk of trusting someone new.

Travel from the Jersey Shore to Rome and back in this delightfully funny, beautifully honest exploration of love, intimacy, and vulnerability while living with a chronic illness.  

PJ's Thoughts:

So many feelings. One might think that a book with chronic illness front and center might be emotionally heavy and that would be correct...to a degree. It certainly throws Nadia for a loop and she hasn't handled it well. But one would also be wrong because this story is so much more. 

Corrello has crafted two main characters - and a wonderful supporting cast - who leaped from the pages into my heart. Marco and Nadia are so wonderfully complex. I was endlessly intrigued by them both and emotionally invested in their journeys, right there with them every step of the way. 

I loved the humor that the author wove throughout the story without sacrificing the emotional heft. It gave their relationship an authenticity that added relatable layers to their characters and their feelings. There are light moments, vulnerable moments, dark heart-wrenching moments, and poignant moments. There are wonderful friendships, complicated family dynamics, lessons learned, acceptance found, hope, tenderness, and unexpected love. There's snappy banter, surprising twists, and immersive descriptions both of the Jersey Shore and Rome, Italy. I couldn't put it down. 

I thoroughly enjoyed 32 Days in May and will definitely be seeking out more books written by Betty Corrello. 

Have you read any books by Betty Corrello yet?

How do you feel about books that explore the reality of living with a chronic illness?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 21 will receive a print copy of 32 Days in May.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Paging Dr. Breakup

Paging Dr. Breakup

by Jillian David

Yukon Valley, Alaska - Book 2

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Widow Deirdre Steen has spent the last five years making sure she’s the best chief nursing officer Yukon Valley Hospital has ever seen. It cost her a personal life—and protected her heart. But now her childhood friend, Dr. Calvin Garrett—the one who got away—is temporarily lending his emergency medicine skills to their rural hospital in Alaska’s interior. The community’s relentless matchmaking network loves a challenge, which leaves Deirdre with one viable option: a fake dating pact with Calvin until the spring Breakup Festival and his inevitable departure to his regular job and his life in Seattle.

Calvin moved away years ago rather than watch his best friend marry Deirdre. Now, amazingly, she’s in Calvin’s bed and the center of his world. Yet a woman like Deirdre deserves forever—as well as a man who didn’t finish as runner-up the first time around.

Can an Alaskan spring thaw help two wounded healers thaw the ice surrounding their hearts and fulfill this second chance at love?

PJ's Thoughts:

Jillian David takes readers back to small-town Alaska with a new story in her Yukon Valley, Alaska series. This time, it's a second-chance romance between Deidre and Calvin, former best friends with some hefty emotional baggage between them.

I really enjoyed this book. Reading it was like taking a trip to Yukon Valley, experiencing all rural Alaska has to offer, and catching up with good friends. The author does an excellent job of staging, within the hospital, in the town, and in the wilderness. 

I love the foundation of friendship between Calvin and Deirdre. Even with the cracks in that foundation formed by their years of separation, it still provides a solid basis on which to build. David explores deeply emotional facets of both characters as they grapple with feelings of desire, guilt, grief, and hope without allowing the story to get too heavy. 

As with book one, the citizens of Yukon Valley play pivotal roles in this second book, especially of the meddling matchmaking type. Well meaning, yes, but also hilariously nosy in their attempts. 

If you like a story that explores second chances with the one who got away, moving forward after a spouse's death and best friends-to-lovers, all wrapped up in a charming small-town romance with humor, a bit of danger, community spirit, fake dating, hospital situations, and a hard-won happy ending, pick up a copy of Paging Dr. Breakup. It's a humorous, heart-tugging, enjoyable read. 

Review & Giveaway - - Take Me to the Wedding

Take Me to the Wedding

by Miranda Liasson

The Amazing Doctors of Oak Bluff - Book 2

Publisher: Hawthorne House

Release Date: May 9, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

How do you know who is the right one for you?

Dr. Samantha Bashar has made a terrible mistake—she let her rocky professional relationship with Dr. Caleb D’Angelo become personal – and accidentally ruined his chances to win back his first true love.

Coming from a proud line of matchmakers, she can’t let that happen, no matter how much she dislikes him. Or the fact that she doesn’t believe in true love for herself. Plus, Caleb is her best friend’s brother. And they’re in the same wedding at the end of the summer – oh, yay.

Dr. Caleb D’Angelo isn’t trying to make enemies…call him a romantic, but he’s just trying to take his chance to see if The One Who Got Away is the right one for him. While avoiding the woman who is T for Trouble at every turn—even though she “feels bad” and is determined to “help him” no matter what he says.

Except the more Samantha helps Caleb, the more his sworn enemy turns into something completely unexpected—she’s funny and kind and very kissable—and Caleb must decide if the One for him isn’t from his past at all—but is the person who’s been right in front of him all along.

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a best friend's brother romance trope. Make them co-workers and adversaries who are the last to realize all that friction between them signals something far different from aggravation simmering beneath the surface and I am well and truly hooked. Liasson uses all of the above in her newest novel, Take Me to the Wedding. 

I am loving this series. Split between the small town of Oak Bluff and the city children's hospital where Sam and Caleb work, this second book in the series is filled with the humor, heartwarming charm, and emotional depth I've come to expect from a Miranda Liasson novel. I love the family dynamics (Caleb's mom is a favorite), the strong friendships, the sweet romance, the snappy banter, and the heart tugs that come from the kids the docs work with at the hospital. It makes me even more invested in these characters.

The ensemble cast adds rich texture to the story, catching readers up with characters from book one and introducing new characters I hope we'll be seeing in future books. I feel like these characters have become friends and I'm eager to see all of them (or at least the ones I like) happily snuggled up with their soulmates. 

You don't have to have read book one, Take Me Home for Christmas (read my review) first in order to enjoy book two though there are crossover characters. I enthusiastically recommend both. 

Have you read any of Miranda Liasson's books?

Do you enjoy medical romances?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 16 will receive a signed print copy of Take Me Home for Christmas.

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 16 will receive a signed print copy of Take Me to the Wedding. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - After Paris

After Paris

by Mary Ellen Taylor

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

At twenty-five, Ruby Nevins has already endured more than most. But after two years of battling cancer, she’s warily determined to move forward. Researching a new project about a French actress, she soon uncovers an old diary that will change her life forever…

Cécile, the “it” girl of early 1940s French cinema, vanished from Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942. Sylvia Rousseau, Cécile’s dressmaker and confidante, left that same year. Working to piece together the truth behind Cécile’s disappearance and Sylvia’s extraordinary life, Ruby recognizes the women as kindred spirits. They risked their hearts and lives to aid the Resistance, and each day was a struggle to survive.

Ruby knows her cancer could come back, but she’s learning to embrace the future rather than fear it. If Cécile and Sylvia could live their lives in the shadow of death, so can Ruby. Because she knows there’s so much life―and love―to fight for.

PJ's Thoughts:

Mary Ellen Taylor has written a compelling, thought provoking, dual-timeline story that immersed me into the lives of three remarkable women - two in the past and one in the present. Opening with a harrowing scene in the days following the liberation of France, she then moves to present day, setting the stage for Ruby's story before returning to the past and the unfolding journeys of Cécile and Sylvia before, during, and after the German occupation of Paris. 

The transitions between past and present felt organic and seamless as both stories unfolded. I was equally immersed in both timelines as well as the fates of the characters. Ruby may not have been caught in the life or death consequences Cécile and Sylvia faced at the hands of the Nazis but her life or death battle with cancer was no less consequential. I enjoyed her journey and the twists that awaited her, both personally and in her professional quest to discover the fates of Cécile and Sylvia. I especially enjoyed her unexpected romance (yes, there's a happy ending).

What strength all three of these women exhibited in the face of danger. Taylor doesn't hold back in showing readers all sides of them, especially Cécile and Sylvia. Their courage, vulnerability, morally questionable actions, wants, desires, and fortitude are all important parts of their human story. 

A portion of this book with which I was not familiar was the path taken by the French film industry during WWII. I was not aware of the number of people who were compelled to work with the Germans during that time even though they were against everything the Nazis stood for, how they were forced to straddle two worlds without alienating either side. It's a fascinating part of the book. 

If you enjoy dual timeline stories featuring complex women with the courage to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, told with strength, compassion, emotional depth, and undying hope, pick up a copy of Mary Ellen Taylor's After Paris. I highly recommend it. 

Winner - - A Summer to Start Over

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

A Summer to Start Over by Sera Taino is:

Annette N

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - Can't Get Enough

Can't Get Enough

by Kennedy Ryan

Skyland - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry's rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.

She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she's facing her toughest challenge yet: caring for an aging parent. Who has time for romance? From her experience, there's a low ROI on relationships. Anyway, she hasn't met the man who can keep up with her. Until...him.

Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer's hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself.

But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?

PJ's Thoughts:

Kennedy Ryan is a force. While a book written by her is always a reading adventure, it is also an emotional, all-consuming, visceral experience. I don't just read about these complex characters, I live their journeys with them. They fill me with hope, anguish, accomplishment, fear, solid supportive friendship, chosen family, and soul-deep, enduring, hard-won love. 

I'm not overly eager to read billionaire heroes at the moment but I'll make an exception for Maverick. Ryan has crafted a self-made business mogul, ruthless when necessary and not hesitant to go after what he wants but with a tender side as well. I loved the relationship he has with his dad, the gentle care he uses with Hendrix's mother, and, hello, Black surfer? Yes, please. I love that he is not out of touch with his roots and is willing to put himself forward to offer a hand up to others as well as fight injustice. I appreciated the respect between him and Hendrix, as well as the red-hot chemistry and deepening affection. I especially enjoyed how open they were with one another. Open and honest communication and trusting enough to be vulnerable with one another can be very sexy. 

Speaking of vulnerable, Ryan digs deep with strong-willed, motivated, successful businesswoman, Hendrix. I love that she knows who she is - personally, professionally, sexually - and goes after what she wants, that she also gives of herself to help others in her community, and that she refuses to bend to societal pressure by compromising what she knows is best for her. But I also was happy to see her become open to growth and compromise in those personal relationships. Being confronted not only with a heartbreaking family situation (handled by Ryan with great writing skill and emotional care) but also an unexpected romantic one which leads to a messy business one causes Hendrix to step into uncharted waters and make difficult decisions. It's a thought-provoking process of an independent woman weighing the wants and needs of both her head and her heart. I was with her, cheering her on every step of the way. 

Can't Get Enough is the third book in Ryan's Skyland trilogy. While I'm a stickler for reading a series in order and the primary characters from books one and two feature prominently in this third one, readers new to Skyland should be able to fully enjoy Hendrix's story should you decide to read it first. Whatever order you choose, all three books have my highest recommendation. 

Content warning: Alzheimer's

Winner - - Archangel's Ascension

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh is:

Ina

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winners - - May Coming Attractions

 

The random winners from the

May Coming Attractions post are:

Patricia B

Mollie W

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - - A Summer to Start Over

A Summer to Start Over

by Sera Taíno

Finding Love in Soledad Bay - Book 1

Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

She needed help…

He needed to begin again.

Single mom Indya Linares has always been Ms. Independent—especially when her family’s hurricane-ravaged resort is at stake. But when Indya’s boat breaks down at sea, she’s forced to accept help from a handsome stranger who immediately makes her heart beat faster. Who would have imagined that he’s also her stubborn mother’s pick for a new facilities manager extraordinaire? After Santiago Pereira left Venezuela to begin again in Soledad Bay, he’s got something to prove to his family…and a mission to bring his daughter back to him. But when Santi just can’t stop thinking about his new boss, will hospitality take on a new meaning for them both?

PJ's Thoughts:

A Summer to Start Over launches Sera Taíno's Finding Love in Soledad Bay series with a Latinx, multi-cultural contemporary romance that kept me entertained from start to finish. 

Taíno knows how to immerse readers in a setting. This time, it's the upper Gulf coast of Florida, in a culturally diverse small town recovering from a hurricane. The breath-stealing sunsets, drool-inducing aromas emanating from Greek, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan kitchens, abundant fishing, fresh Gulf breezes, and Spanish sprinkled throughout give the story authenticity that had me feeling as though I was an actual guest at Indya's family's resort.

I appreciated the layers of both Santi and Indya. These two have some emotional baggage to deal with along with a relationship dynamic that's gender flipped from what I usually see (she's the boss, he's her facilities manager). The complications of their evolving relationship, not only because of past emotional wounds but also with current family dynamics and life obstacles make them seem realistic and relatable. It made me like them and pull for them even more. I also loved the instant chemistry but slow-burn romance between them, especially those boat scenes. ;-)

The supporting cast is vividly depicted, offering up humor, conflict, friendship, support, and a look into issues many immigrants currently face. I'm hoping we'll see more of them, especially Indya's two best friends, in books to come. 

Have you read Sera Taíno yet?

Do you enjoy books that offer views into cultures different from your own?

Have you ever gone deep sea fishing?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 11 will receive a signed print copy of A Summer to Start Over. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Tour Review - - Murder at the Ponte Vecchio

Murder at the Ponte Vecchio

by T.A. Williams

An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery - Book 11

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Release Date: May 4, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

An iconic bridge... 🌉

Private investigator, Dan Armstrong, lives and works in Florence and knows the world famous Ponte Vecchio well. Usually a magnet for tourists, on this occasion it is the scene of an unexplained death, and Dan finds himself involved in the intriguing case.

An uncompromising man... 😠

Dan quickly discovers that the victim, an elderly jeweller, was every bit as hard as the diamonds he sold in his shop on the bridge. Few people liked him, not even his adult children, and his business dealings look murkier than the waters of the River Arno. Dan suspects more secrets lie hidden…perhaps inside the massive safe in the old man's luxury villa…

A complex case. 💎🔍

As the evidence begins to mount up, so too do the suspects with their different motives. With a fortune in gold bullion and precious stones involved, Dan thinks the only way to catch the killer is to lay a trap, but might he be caught in the killer’s sights? Fortunately, he has Oscar, his canine wingman at his side, always eager to prove that he's as good as gold. 🐶

Can Dan and Oscar sniff out the killer’s tracks or will this case be a bridge too far?

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of British cozy mysteries with protagonists of a certain age, quirky villagers, and a twisty (usually murder) mystery to solve. Midsomer Murders marathons have been known to on occasion occupy my entire weekend. That's the same vibe T.A. Williams brings to Murder at the Ponte Vecchio. However, instead of rural England, Dan Armstrong, his British ex-pat P.I. has landed in the culturally, historically, and atmospherically rich Tuscany region in and around Florence, Italy, a setting so vividly depicted it becomes a character in its own right.

I enjoyed the dry British wit of Dan, the joyous enthusiasm of his best canine buddy, Oscar, Italian police officers who may - or may not - be hiding secrets, and an array of intriguingly colorful supporting characters, some of whom bring out unexpected, entertaining facets of Dan's character. The pace is leisurely while also maintaining the strength of the mystery and offering up several possible villains along the way. It took me a while to figure out just who the bad person was.

This is the eleventh book of the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series and while there were a few times where I felt like I was missing pieces of Dan's past, I was able to thoroughly enjoy this book without having read the previous ten books. If cozy mysteries are your jam, and you enjoy traveling to new places through the pages of a book, give this one a try.