Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery

 

A moving and marvelous story told in two time periods. The tale of struggling to fit into the Martha’s Vineyard society troubles newlywed Cora in 1948. She is not of the elite set and feels oftimes below her friends. Her present day wedding brings her daughter, Hedy, and Hedy’s daughter, Mickey, to the island for the ceremony and for good-bye to the home Cora has lived in since her first marriage. The individual personalities and problems weave with memories of the house to create a wonderful novel.

The Doctor's Homecoming by Fiona Marsden

 

After leaving Kurrajong Crossing as a teen, beaten up by thugs who lived in the same commune, Saul MacDonald never thought he would return. Years passed and he reconnected with his mother and takes her back at her request. Saul is completely surprised to discover his long lost friend, Trudie, living next door.Theirs was a relationship built on survival and seeing her again brings up memories for both of them.

A novel full of complicated relationships and a path to resolution. Very engrossing and well written.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

 

A gem of a novel, enjoyable from the first chapter. Hard to put down with its wonderful characters and storyline.

A series of children’s books impacts the lives of the children who read them. The author is reclusive on his island in Maine. For four children, the island and the stories represent a way to have their wishes granted and they travel alone to the island. Now as adults, they are called back to the island for a game and a chance to win the first book in six years. The riddles in the books are modeled in the game and each player has the opportunity to win. Each one has current problems that the money from the sale of the book would solve. 

The story is really about Lucy and her wish and her deepest desire as an adult. It is just a lovely novel.

Wilder at Last by Serena Bell

 

Serena Bell is back on the pages with a spicy, spicy story of friends to lovers. It is a fun story with a ton of heavy breathing as Hanna and Easton really discover each other and it is a long way from just friends. However, he may have a better job offer than anything far away from Hanna. It may be the end of all things beautiful if it happens.

Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around by Sarah Ready

 

I loved the first Josh and Gemma novel (Josh and Gemma Make a Baby) and was excited to see a sequel. Josh and Gemma The Second Time Around did not disappoint.

Josh and Gemma's plans and lives are uprooted and spun around. Their love is upended and it seems it is lost forever. As they try to find their way back, emotions are strung out on taut lines. Both Josh and Gemma are determined to make the journey back to each other but it is a daunting task at best.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

 

More than spicy with vocabulary to match, Secretly Yours is a delectable story of wine, a woman, and anxiety. The wine-Vos Vineyards. The Woman-Halli. The anxiety-the plague of Julian Vos. Halli is impetuous and free. Julian is uptight and controlled. Somehow these polar opposites rock each other’s world. So much keeps them from a completely bonafide relationship that time holds in its hands.

Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau

 

Jackie Lau writes such engaging books. Her stories are so enjoyable. Not Your Valentine is spicy and fun. One can feel the pull of Helen to Taylor as their not really girlfriend/boyfriend relationship progresses from just friends. She, however, doubts everything and is very poor at reading Taylor’s signs. You wonder if she will ever catch on.

How to Keep a Husband for 10 Days by Jessica Hatch

 

Dilemma: if you have filed for divorce, how do you fool your best friends into believing you are still a couple? Fake is in their presence as best you can. A cute story of learning about a relationship from an alternative view-separated but longing.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

 

A soulful story of the impact one book has on individuals with sorrows, problems, trauma, and regret. The story in the book weaves its way into their circumstances with each person receiving what they truly need.

I could not put it down as it was extremely captivating and grabbed a hold of me.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

 

Everything is finally coming together for portrait artist Sadie. She has a place in a prestigious art contest which could zoom her art into space. Unfortunately, she suffers a medical emergency, brain surgery, and the loss of the ability to see faces. Her world crashes down as she cannot see the face she is creating a portrait for the contest.

It sounds like she has an imaginary disease but it is real and called prosopagnosia. For Sadie, it is her entire life in upheaval. Her inability to see faces causes situations she had never dreamed.

It is a wonderful story of a life interrupted and of learning to cope after losing one sense and growing, evolving others.

Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg

 

Such a lovely and touching story about sixteen year old Arthur. He is a gentle, thoughtful, and caring teen traversing through love, family problems, and learning about life. Guided by his philosophical brother, Frank, Arthur delves into ways to win the girl. A family tragedy derails everyone. Arthur finds compassion and healing from the women he does random chores for.

There is so much more to the story and it will bring tears and joy to you.

The Thing about Home by Rhonda McKnight

Casey Black has her social media empire implode when her husband leaves her just before their vow renewal ceremony in front of a crowded church and her followers online. Everyone is badgering her to find a way to fix the mess. Instead, she leaves New York to find her lost family in South Carolina.

Her journey is one of discovering not only family but herself and love. In doing so, she begins to reinvent herself and uncover things that she either never realized or had forgotten about in herself.

A rich story, filled with the history of Casey’s family in the South as free slaves and as brave men and women in trying times. 

 

Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee

 

The wasting away of Britain faces Arthurian legends brought back to life from the depths of the earth. Knight Kay-King Arthur’s brother- and Lancelot are called from their graves to battle the men who have denuded and polluted the land and filled the skies with poison. Fighting alongside Kay is Mariam, an activist and force of her own.

Tense moments, humor, dragons, and witches combine with Kay, Miriam and Lancelot to make an engaging tale.

Four Hidden Treasures by HL Marsay

 

Hartwell is a small town in England with little crime and lots of gossip. In this quaint town four women find new and old friendships. Each woman is harboring a secret that affects their lives. A touching novel of these women finding strength in each other through their friendship.

Last First Kiss by Stella Holt

 

Last First Kiss 4

Stella Holt

A chance for love began in Rome and ended there. A young woman was already attached to someone at home in the States and stopped anything from really beginning. Both of them held each other long in their hearts, knowing they would never meet again.

They were wrong as years later they meet again. It is a sweet and spicy story of a second chance at love with many complications and a chemistry that is too strong to stop.

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson

 

As a story about the relationship of a young woman to her home, the Tower of London, this is an informative one. As the story of a young woman falling for a royal guard, it falls short. Their interactions are few and far between. She has more connections to his fellow guards than to him.

The story picks up toward the ending but it is a long way to get there.

One French Summer by Gillian Harvey

 

A British woman’s life is upended when her husband asks for a separation and, later, a divorce. Her three friends spirit her away to France to give her relief from her “maybe we will get back together” mindset. In France, her friends aid her in rediscovering herself and maybe a chance at a different life.

Escaping Valentine's Day by Christi Barth

 

Cute and sassy meet trouble and turmoil in this second chance romance. Throw in an Italian prince and the way back to true love gets blocked. For anyone who loves second chance romances, this is for you.

Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah

 

I could not finish this book even though I tried. It read like a series of ramblings that went nowhere. There was no real depth to the characters, only light glimpses of how they got to where they were in life. Some characters felt like page fillers.

Mr. Breakfast by Jonathan Carroll

 

Such an interesting and unusual book. The story is one that you cannot even hazard a guess as to what will happen next. This is what makes the story so intriguing. The story follows the choices Graham Patterson makes after he gets an incredible tattoo. The tattoo allows him to live in two alternate lives, having to choose to live in one of the two or in his current life. An incredible novel.

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding

 

Delightful, engaging, and fun novel filled with messy situations formed from undiscovered love and feelings. The character of Emma is a whirlwind of action and adorable. A definite winning novel.

Hard Rain by Samantha Jayne Allen

 

A severe rain, a swollen river, a woman’s rescue, and two deaths are a huge mystery for young private investigator Annie. In the search for the man who rescued her friend, Bethany, Annie uncovers more than she bargained for.

Moving from one strange clue to another, the story is thrilling and well developed. There are great characters filling the pages.

Not Your Ex's Hexes by April Asher

 

A witch looking for her purpose and a demon veterinarian find themselves tangling up the sheets and making things difficult for each other. He was hexed by his teenage girlfriend and if he falls in love, he loses his human side and his ability to love. He cannot resist her at all nor can she, him. Spicy and fun novel.

Mr and Mrs Witch by Gwenda Bond

 

The wedding of a witch and a witch hunter is thrown into chaos when they find out who each one is. They were unaware of their positions until that point. It is game on for the warring factions unless a huge solution can be found. The question is whether love can truly conquer all in this engaging story.

The Valentine Project by Susan Lute

 

The sweet taste of a second chance romance is most delightful. Memories of a budding love travel through the minds of one time best friends who sealed a pact with a kiss. He abruptly left their town and for sixteen years the friendship chasm widened. Now is this the chance to rekindle love and carry out their pact?

My Montana Valentine by Elsa Winckler

 

Electricity sparks and stuns when a simple touch could start a fire. Both Vivian and Aiden are thrown by the spark-it has never happened to either of them. A relationship is out of the question for several reasons. Both their past experiences and distance throw up roadblocks.

It is a really delightful story with a spicy undertone.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

 

In the windswept, flat land of Montana, Adelaide Henry hopes to find a place to hide from the horror of her life. She finds other lonely women, all hiding from something.

A harrowing story tempered by found friendship and comradery of other women. Very deep and emotional. An excellent read.