Review - - The Lady Loves Danger

The Lady Loves Danger

by Anabelle Bryant

Maidens of Mayhem - Book 2

Publisher: Zebra Books

Release Date: May 31, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

The society of daring women known as the Maidens of Mayhem dedicate their lives to protecting London’s most vulnerable citizens from injustice. Daring and discreet, their missions lead them to people and places they least expect, often putting their lives—and their hearts—in peril . . .

Lady Delilah Ashbrook is tirelessly searching the streets of London for a boy who vanished while under her care. Suspecting the child was abducted to be sold, Delilah hopes the Maidens can help find him before it’s too late. But Delilah’s mission brings her into the crosshairs of a mysterious man who is also looking for the boy. Sebastian St. Allen certainly cuts a dashing figure. But is he hoping to save the child—or harm him?

Sebastian has his own reasons for protecting the less fortunate. He has a gift for seamlessly navigating both London’s darkest corners and its most elite circles. But nothing prepared him for Delilah, whose delicate beauty belies an independence and sensuality he finds irresistible. Sebastian knows they can help each other if only she’ll let her guard down.  And as they become entrenched in danger, they realize how strong their ties have grown—and how much they need one another . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoyed this second book in Anabelle Bryant's Maidens of Mayhem series. It's another fast-paced story with plenty of suspense, adventure, and romance. 

Delilah tugged my heartstrings from the get-go. I loved her determination, her bravery, her willingness to do whatever it took to find a little boy snatched in broad daylight. Sebastian won my heart right along with Delilah's. He was so supportive of her in her quest; determined to keep her safe by teaching her how to keep herself safe. They were likeable, well-developed characters who engaged both my interest and my emotions. I loved them individually and as a couple. I appreciated the respect that developed between them as they worked together and the slow-burn romance that deepened as they came to know one another better. I loved their chemistry, passion, and sparkling banter. 

I wish the Maidens of Mayhem had been more present in this story. I very much enjoyed them in the first book and would have liked to have seen more of them in this one. But that's a small quibble.

The secondary characters were also well developed and added to the progression of the story, as well as the conflict. Young Oliver was a special delight. 

I figured out the mystery about halfway through the book but there were still surprises that kept things interesting. And a romance to keep me flipping pages. 

Though the Maidens of Mayhem appear in both the first and second books, each can be read as a standalone and in any order. I'll be back for more of Anabelle Bryant's Maidens of Mayhem. 

Review - - Home to Cypress Bayou

Home to Cypress Bayou

By Susan Sands

Louisiana -  Book 1

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: May 31, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

It’s not true that you can’t go home again, but do you want to?

Paris gallery owner Leah Bertrand returns to her historic, moss-draped Louisiana hometown to fulfill a deathbed promise to her friend and mentor. She’s been matched as a bone marrow donor to a stranger, yet the match is so close that doctors suspect a family relationship. But how? Leah’s family has always seethed with drama, but this visit home promises secrets as deep, dark, and mysterious as the water in Cypress Bayou. And then her ex arrives, and Leah realizes the feelings and secrets she buried years ago have come back to haunt her.

Dr. Jake Carmichael returns to Cypress Bayou after years away and is shocked to see Leah, his childhood sweetheart and first love, back in town and on his patient roster. The sparks still burn, but when he tries to discuss what went wrong and perhaps rebuild their relationship, Leah refuses.

Jake’s not ready to give up on their future together. But Leah fears she has even more to lose this time…

PJ's Thoughts:

This first book in Susan Sands' Louisiana series is charming, heartwarming, and so much more. There's a multitude of layers to this story and Sands weaves them together flawlessly, strategically injecting humor, conflict, poignant emotion, romantic yearning, and more, as the story unfolds. The unexpected layers add a depth of emotion that make the characters even more relatable and had me eagerly flipping pages to discover what would happen next. There are places I laughed, others where tears flowed, and a few family scenes that are definitely cringe worthy. 

The characters are all vibrantly depicted and so realistic I forgot I was reading fiction. I love that there are no easy fixes offered to the obstacles in their relationships, whether romantic or family. Keeping it real, with character growth and work, make the resolutions that much more satisfying.

Then there's the setting, really a character in itself. Southern Louisiana comes alive in this book. I felt immersed in the music, culture, food, and sultry charm of New Orleans and the bayou country.

Home to Cypress Bayou isn't the first book I've read by Susan Sands but it's my favorite. I'm already looking forward to more stories from the bayou!

Winners - - Sunflower Season

 

The randomly chosen winners of a

Kindle copy of Sunflower Season are:

Latifa Morrisette

and

Anonymous (jcp alysap)

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - The Last Mile

The Last Mile

by Kat Martin

Blood Ties, The Logans - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: May 31, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

When Abigail Holland awakes to the sound of a nighttime intruder in her rambling Denver Victorian, she knows exactly what the black shrouded figure is after—the map she recently inherited from her grandfather. Whoever he is, the man who grapples with her, then escapes, is willing to kill for the location of a treasure King Farrell hunted for more than ten years. The Devil’s Gold has claimed hundreds of lives, and it was her grandfather’s obsession.
 
With a killer pursuing her and her own family not to be trusted, Abby decides to take up the search herself. But she’ll need help to do it, and there’s no one better than renowned explorer and treasure hunter Gage Logan. Despite the instant chemistry between them, Gage is reluctant. Innocent people have been hurt on his watch before. But when Abby shows him a genuine gold ingot she found with the map, his curiosity is piqued. Before long they’re heading into the flash floods and brutal winds of the Superstition Mountains, straight into a passionate entanglement—and the dark heart of danger.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've always been fascinated by treasure hunters, both the people themselves and the riches they seek. Martin delves into both in the newest book in her Blood Ties, The Logans series. True to form, she captured my attention in the first few pages and we were off to the races until the very end. 

Gage and Abby were intriguing characters who kept me on my toes. I loved the fiery chemistry between them. It certainly kept me wondering what - if anything - would happen personally between them in those moments when they weren't hiking through mountains, dodging bad guys, and exploring abandoned haciendas. Yes, there's a lot of action and adventure in this story, and I loved it, but Martin did a good job of not forgetting the romance too. Though, I have to admit, I didn't know which way matters of the heart would go for these two. Gage had some deep emotional baggage that kept his heart barricaded and Abby refused to be "set aside" because of another's actions. I was enthusiastically cheering her on the entire way. 

Martin kept me guessing the outcome of both the treasure quest and the romantic one right up until the final chapters and then she threw in another twist that - wow - I did not see coming, and everything was up in the air again. My advice is to not start The Last Mile unless you have a clear schedule because, if you're like me, you will not be putting it down until you reach the end. From Colorado, to Arizona, to Mexico, this one kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping pages from beginning to end.

The Last Mile is the second book of a series but the only connection between the two is the fact that the heroes of the two books are brothers. Each book is a standalone story. 

TLC Tour Review - - It Takes a Villa

It Takes a Villa

by Kilby Blades

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Release Date: May 24, 2022

Reviewed by Hellie

 

For the reasonable price of $1, Natalie Malone just bought herself an abandoned villa on the Amalfi Coast. With a detailed spreadsheet and an ancient key, she’s arrived in Italy ready to renovate—and only six months to do it. Which seemed reasonable until architect Pietro Indelicato began critically watching her every move… 

From the sweeping ocean views to the scent of the lemon trees, there’s nothing Pietro loves more than his hometown. And after seeing too many botched jobs and garish design choices, he’s done watching from the sidelines. As far as he’s concerned, Natalie should quit before the project drains her entire bank account and her ridiculously sunny optimism. 

With Natalie determined to move forward, the gorgeous architect reluctantly agrees to pitch in, giving her a real chance to succeed. But when the fine print on Natalie’s contract is brought to light, she might have no choice but to leave her dream, and Pietro, behind.

 

Hellie’s Heeds 

Part Under the Tuscan Sun and part Money Pit, this contemporary romance blends romance, humor, poignancy, and HGTV renovations into a happy beach read. Natalie, the heroine, is both starting over and fulfilling her grandmother’s dying wish, to live and thrive in Italy. She has big plans for the huge DIY project she has picked for herself, wanting to invest her small nest egg into creating a B&B out of a beloved old Italian inn. Pietro is the poor beleaguered son of his father, the mayor, of this town who has started this program of “selling” DIY renovations for one euro, giving hopeful ex-pats (or really anyone with the necessary 75,000 euros to try) a chance to create a life in Italy. Pietro is an architect who has constantly warned the council his father sits on that this program is not sustainable; and when he meets the hopeful (and somewhat desperate) Natalie who plans to renovate a huge villa all by herself in six months, his concerns only seem more validated.

 

Natalie meets other “hopefuls” in the program; and soon she finds camaraderie in all the expected and unexpected pitfalls of DIYing an old house. Pietro–drawn to Natalie despite himself–finds himself pitching in to help her, especially when he learns more about her plans for the villa and that her changes to the place are fitting for the theme of the project. They grow closer with each project, but their young relationship is threatened when one of the DIY houses’ collapses and the town council has to re-evaluate the project and then re-inspect each place and give specific instructions for tenants to repair in order to meet the terms of the agreement. Natalie finds she only has 30 days to make repairs she can no longer afford. And the man who has been helping her, Pietro, seems to have had his own agenda the whole time. It takes Pietro all his efforts–and those of the villa–to win her back.  

I think what I liked most about this book was the theme (so to speak) of looking forward and letting go of things that no longer serve you. As someone who struggles a lot with letting go, I found one of the scenes in this book particularly poignant and made me stop to think, “Ah, yes, wisdom.” I love when my romances do that. I think in nearly all the romances I’ve read, there’s at least one of those scenes. They’re why I like to read romances, really. I mean the romance is great–but the little fortune cookies of wisdom? I love that. The other thing I loved about the book was the lemons. I swear more than once this book sent me on internet searches about lemons–and I’m now determined one day, when I’m a homeowner, I will have a lemon tree. But I also just want to go to Italy and enjoy their lemons. This book felt very much a love letter to the region, which I enjoyed.  

If I had to critique–and this is probably just me–I didn’t always connect with the characters per se with their love scenes. (I tended to gloss over them or stop and try to figure out why I was glossing over them.) Again, like humor, love scenes are subjective. Or it could be that I didn’t connect with the hero and heroine so much that I was particularly engaged when their love scenes rolled around. While I like Natalie and Pietro a lot–both very thoughtful and giving characters with real flaws that I could relate to, maybe it was that I didn’t quite understand their connection. I don’t know. I just know it was the reason I couldn’t quite give this a 5 star from me. Again, I think ratings are rather subjective.  

But if you loved Under the Tuscan Sun as I did and if you are tolerant of knowing a bit too much about home renovations (i.e. it will dull any desire you may have had to DIY your own house), you will absolutely want to lose yourself in the story about the Italian coast, lemons and limoncello, and a villa who comes together for the benefit of all the inhabitants. 

 

Review - - The No-Show

The No-Show

by Beth O'Leary

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: April 12, 2022

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they're involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare. 

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth. 

These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: they’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up—Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man. 

Once they've each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go.... 

Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?

 

Hellie’s Heeds 

The premise sounded amusing–I had to wonder how the author was going to redeem a hero who looked to be stringing along 3 different women–but the reality is much different. Beth O’Leary is also the author who wrote The Road Trip (which I reviewed but didn’t care for as much as this one.) O’Leary is known for being quirky in her writing style, having complicated characters–some of which really struggled to be likable on the page, and being the sort of rom-com that is more like 4 Weddings and a Funeral rather than like When Harry Met Sally or The Lost City. They’re cerebral British rom-coms, which in my mind also means there’s quite a bit of time where I’m more depressed than laughing at any antics. But I can say: it all does work out in the end.  

As for characters, I think I may have liked Carter (the hero) least. Again, once you get to the end, you understand his behavior, but 352 pages is a long time to not really understand why a hero is behaving as he does. My favorite characters were Miranda and AJ–and for them, I would recommend the book. Jane–for me–was very relatable as a character, but others may find her weak; and Siobhan was far too diva-ish for my blood. This said: they were all very well-drawn characters that were memorable and distinct; and the book revolves through the POVs of the three women, so the pacing definitely left the reader turning the page to see what happened next.  

Turn offs for me as a reader fell to two things: First, present tense writing format a la Bridget Jones. I cannot get into it half the time and I find it too easy to put the book down. Life is too short for me to put down a book this often. I want to be immersed in the story. I want to come out of reading, wondering what day it is and melancholy that the book has ended and I have to find something else. I get that most from third person past tense style of writing. Second, I only consider it a rom-com beach read if no one dies in the book. This story failed that test. So if you happen to also be a person who does not want to combine their rom-coms with death (especially if death is not alluded to in the blurb), you have now been warned.  

After reading this you may wonder, “But, Hellie, you gave this 4 stars.” Yes, I did. For me, it would fall more into 3 ½ stars, but as far as plot, characterization, writing, pacing, et al went, Beth O’Leary is really good at what she does. It just happened to be the kind of story that I don’t prefer as much–which reflects my rating. I have a very specific classification for rom-coms, but rom-coms, I believe, fit a much broader scope than I usually like to attribute. See: 4 Weddings and a Funeral.

 

Winners - - June Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winners of a package of books are:

catslady

Martha Lawson

Ina

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Spotlight & Giveaway - - Sunflower Season

UPDATE #2: YAY! A new Amazon link has been activated. If you pre-ordered from Amazon, unfortunately that order was cancelled. Please order a new copy to download from one of these links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3aFLuM0

Universal link:

https://books2read.com/Sunflower-Season-For-Ukraine

Here's the most recent letter from the authors of the Sunflower Season anthology:

Dear Lovely Readers,

We have to apologize to you for the delay in the Amazon release of Sunflower Season. Unfortunately, our preorders at the vender were canceled. The fabulous news is that we have a new Amazon and universal link to share with you!

As authors, we are committed to raising as much money as possible for this charity. If you purchased your copy through Amazon, you were not charged for that canceled pre-order, and so we humbly ask if you would consider ordering the book again.

We’re so sorry to create additional work for you, but we want to make sure we do our part for the people suffering in Ukraine. Thank you so much for your understanding and your efforts. Being part of this reader/writer community is such a gift. For those of you who ordered from other vendors, your copy should be available now. Thank you again for your continued support.

All the best,

Writers of Sunflower Season

UPDATE: If you pre-ordered Sunflower Season from Amazon, you have probably noticed it has not downloaded to your Kindle. That's because Amazon made an error and cancelled the pre-orders. Thousands of them. More than $20,000 that would have gone to humanitarian relief in Ukraine. As of today (6/7/22), there is no link on Amazon to order this book (though it is available at other online retailers). The authors who spent six months working on this collection are heartbroken over the lost money for Ukraine and hopeful that readers who lost their Amazon pre-orders will buy the book again once it becomes available. I'll let you know as soon as I hear about a new link. 

Sunflower Season is upon us! Back in April I told you about an upcoming historical romance anthology to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Ukraine. If you haven't already pre-ordered this collection written by more than 70 authors, tomorrow is the day you can purchase it for immediate download to your e-reading device. It's only $7.99 for more than 70 stories and all money earned will go to critically necessary agencies. 

All monies earned from the sale of this collection will be split between:  

 

1. Sunflower Peace https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com provides medical and humanitarian aid to assist the paramedics and doctors in the areas affected by the violence in Ukraine. 

2. CARE: Immediate aid, including food, water, hygiene kits, support services, and direct cash assistance, prioritizing women and girls, families, and the elderly.

Only $7.99 for more than 70 stories is a small price to pay to make a huge difference in the lives of people in desperate need. Click here for e-book purchase links. 

I've already pre-ordered my copy. And to help move things along, I'll also be giving away two e-book copies. Check the end of the post for details.   

Sunflower Season

A Historical Romance Anthology for Ukraine

Release Date: June 7, 2022

SUNFLOWER SEASON is a charity collection featuring stories (some never-been-published and some old favorites) by over 70 -- that's right -- SEVENTY of your favorite Historical Romance authors. ALL royalties will be donated to humanitarian relief in Ukraine. This set will be released on June 7, 2022 and will only be available for a limited time. Preorder now and enjoy a summer of historical romance!

Featuring novellas, stories and novels by Sabrina Jeffries, Christi Caldwell, Amalie Howard, Virginia Heath, Caroline Lee, Golden Angel, Mimi Mathews, Nicole Locke, Natasha Blackthorne, Royaline Sing, Lenora Bell, Sabrina Jeffries, Amy Quinton, Janna MacGregor, Annabelle Anders, Rachel Ann Smith, Eva Devon, Sandra Sookoo, Tabetha Waite, Diana Bold, Sadie Bosque, Cheryl Bolen, Erica Monroe, Kate Bateman, Cara Maxwell, Tracy Sumner, Jenna Jaxon, Jane Charles, Eliza Knight, Mariah Stone, Robyn DeHart, Wendy LaCapra, Hildie McQueen, Madeline Martin, Amy Rose Bennett, Ava Bond, Kristin Vayden, Piper Huguley, Fenna Edgewood, Kathryn Le Veque, Caroline Linden, Nancy Yeager, Dawn Brower, Celeste Barclay, Lauren Royal, Michele Pollock Dalton, Glynnis Campbell, Rose Pearson, Erica Ridley, Sydney Jane Baily, Deb Marlowe, Rebecca Paula, Amanda Mariel, Christine Sterling, Ava Stone, Lauren Smith, Sawyer Quinn, Caroline Warfield, Jessica A Clements, Jude Knight, Anna St. Claire, Tamara Gill, Gina Conkle, Charlie Lane, Terri Brisbin, Bronwen Evans, Emmanuelle de Maupassant, Merry Farmer, Tammy Andresen, Cecelia Mecca, Meredith Bond, Christine Donovan, Lana Williams, Carrie Lomax, Eve Pendle, Bethany Bennett, Bianca Blythe, Maggie Dallen, Samara Parish, Anna Campbell and more????

Again, ALL proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian relief efforts. We are not affiliated with any charities but are only doing what we can to provide help for the innocent people who've lost so much as a result of this senseless tragedy.

~~~~~~~~

I love sunflowers. They're such sturdy, happy flowers, standing strong in the face of adversity. A field of sunflowers never fails to lift my spirits. Tell me about your favorite flowers and what makes them so. 

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, June 7 will each receive a Kindle copy of Sunflower Season from Amazon US. 

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - CONFLICTED: A Romantic Suspense Thriller

CONFLICTED: A Romantic Suspense Thriller

by Lori Matthews

Coast Guard RECON - Book 3

Publisher: Lori Matthews

Release Date: May 17, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Meet Elias Mason of the US Coast Guard’s TEAM RECON. As in reconstructed. As in broken and needs fixing.

Team RECON has a new headquarters now—Miami, Florida, which also happens to be Elias’s hometown. He’s been avoiding his past like the plague, but there are some things you can’t outrun. Like the death of his best friend, his past involvement with the local gang, and his first love, Andrea Torres.

Andrea has been on a path of vengeance for years. Now an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Andy is determined to take down Santiago, the main runner of guns, money, and drugs in Miami, and the man who killed her sister. Her current undercover assignment has her so close to caging Santiago, she can taste it.

To stay on top, Santiago has to turn to buying guns from the Russians and selling them to militia groups. Elias and Andrea will need to bury their animosity and ignore the fiery chemistry between them to run a game of deception as insiders for Santiago. 

Pretending to be the couple they once were in order to bring their common enemy to justice would work if only the Russians didn’t have other plans.

PJ's Thoughts:

Talk about conflict; this book is steaming with it! Lori Matthews continues her string of intense, tightly-woven, suspense novels with another page turner that I devoured in one sitting. 

First of all, I loved the setting. Matthews really captures the South Florida vibe, placing me squarely in the center of her lush, tropical section of town that teems with diverse neighborhoods and pulsing nightlife while barely hiding a drug-infested, life-or-death underbelly. The essence of cut-throat criminals and the agents determined to take them down led me on an edge-of-my-seat journey with my heart in my throat most of the way. And the twists. So many twists! 

Then there are the human characters. Matthews really excels at creating complex, multi-layered characters who pull me in, engaging my emotions even when I fight against it. She makes them relatable, intriguing, and gives them nuances in shades of gray. In short, she makes them feel real. I connected with Elias and Andrea almost immediately, even though they were enemies at the start, both having good reason to mistrust the other. There's that conflict again. Matthews leads them through a complicated and difficult journey, both physically and emotionally. The suspense/action/danger of their joint mission takes the lead but their emotional evolution was not overlooked. Only with growth (on both of their parts) would a reconciliation be possible. Only with communication and deep introspection could soul-baring apologies be offered...and accepted. 

This is the third book in Matthews' RECON series. All of the team members are present in this story though the teams' mission and Elias and Andrea's romance are both begun and concluded within the book. This is a series where we see all the team members in each book but each book really does stand on it's own. Although I prefer to read books in order, I do think readers would be able to start anywhere and not feel confused or as if they were missing vital information. Having said that, I do recommend all three books currently published and am already eagerly anticipating more. 

COAST GUARD RECON:

Diverted

Incinerated

Conflicted

Coming Attractions & Giveaway

 

Does anyone else feel like May passed in the blink of an eye? I sure do! Of course, the fact that I spent the month packing, moving, unpacking, and settling into my new home (still working on that) might have something to do with it. I'm dreadfully behind on my reading (but working diligently on catching up) so you might see some schedule changes as June progresses. I'll do my best to keep you all up to date on what's happening. And, hopefully, by July I'll be back to full speed! :) 

Here's what's on the schedule for June.

We kick things off on Wednesday, June 1 with a review of Unbridled Cowboy by Maisey Yates. This deeply emotional, contemporary mail order bride story launches Yates' new Four Corners Ranch series. 

Tuesday, June 2 brings Hellie's Top Dish review of A Proposal They Can't Refuse. This contemporary romance debut knocked Hellie's socks off and her review has me itching to add this one to the top of my TBR list. 

Conflicted is another high octane, romantic suspense thriller from Lori Matthews. I'll be sharing my thoughts about this third book in Matthews' Coast Guard RECON series on Sunday, June 5.

It's historical romance - and danger - in Anabelle Bryant's The Lady Loves Danger. Stop by on Tuesday, June 14 to read my review of this second book in Bryant's Maidens of Mayhem series. 

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris is one of my most anticipated books this summer. Stop by Thursday, June 30 when I share my thoughts about this diverse historical romance...set in 1889 Paris! 

Hellie takes us to Italy's Amalfi Coast with her review of It Takes a Villa by Kilby Blades. Join us on Wednesday, June 8 for this TLC blog tour review stop. 

Join us Thursday, June 9 for my review of The Last Mile by Kat Martin. This new romantic suspense story takes readers along on a danger-filled treasure hunt that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 16. You'll want to be here for my review of Never a Duke, the final book in Grace Burrowes' Rogues to Riches series and a fantastic giveaway from the book's publisher, Forever. 

Wednesday, June 15 brings another tour review. This time, it's Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne. Join us when I share my thoughts about this historical romance touted as a "historical mash-up of Dirty Harry in a kilt with Mr. and Mrs. Smith." NOTE: Publication (and review) of this book has moved to December, 2022. 

It's always cause for celebration in my house when Kate Meader releases a new book. Join us on Friday, June 17 when I share my thoughts about Jock Wanted, the latest installment in Meader's Rookie Rebels series. 

If you're a Hallmark movie fan (I am!), be sure to join us on Monday, June 20 when I review As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr. This charming rom-com had me smiling from beginning to end.

Tuesday, June 21 brings a review of Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley. An out-of-favor reality contestant and a cupcake-baking professional football player? Is it any wonder this book was on my most anticipated list for summer? 

Nancy joins us Thursday, June 23 with a review of Here for the Drama by Kate Bromley. If you enjoy England, and the theater, you'll want to check out Nancy's thoughts about this new novel.

Stop by Monday, June 27 for my review of Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson. This second book is Liasson's Seashell Harbor series features single mom Kit, her young son Ollie and an unexpected chance at romance...with her late husband's best friend. 

On Tuesday, June 28, I'll be sharing my thoughts about The Accidental Newlywed Game by Jaci Burton. This third book in Burton's Boots and Bouquets series features the pairing I've been anticipating since book one. 

Wrapping up the month on Wednesday, June 29 is a review of The Lost and Found Girl by Maisey Yates, a women's fiction novel featuring sisters, secrets, and how far people will go to protect someone they love. 

As I mentioned in the intro, this month's schedule is fluid so be sure to check back periodically for updates.

What are you looking forward to this month? Vacation plans? Books on your must-read list? 

Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, June 5 will each receive a package of books.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited