4-8 years 32 pages Publisher Nosy Crow Publication date
July 21, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Trick-or-treat! Mouse and Bear are back in a spooky and spectacularly silly follow-up to Ross Collins’s beloved There’s a Bear on My Chair.
It’s Halloween night and Bear is determined to scare Mouse. Mouse, however, isn’t fooled by Bear’s half-hearted attempts to dress up—his ghostly wailing is just plain ridiculous and his werewolf smells like wet dog. But wait! Who’s knocking at the door now? This mysterious monster might just give them both a fright!
MY THOUGHTS
Bear and mouse are friends. Bear assures mouse he’s going to scare him, but mouse doesn’t believe him.
Bear proceeds to dress up in a bunch of different Halloween costumes that he assumes will scare mouse but mouse isn’t scared at all.
Very visually appealing children’s picture book, the pumpkins where just so cute in the book. They were spookier looking than bear.
The story had rhyming words on each page and children would enjoy having this read to them.
384 pages Publisher Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publication date Jul 21 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
A trope-filled delight of a rom com about two strangers who enter into a marriage of convenience that becomes anything but convenient.
For better or worse is just the beginning.
Lainey Davis can’t wait for the day she’ll be able to escape her tiny Wisconsin town. But she’s not even close to covering her health insurance premiums and pricey migraine medication, let alone saving up enough to start over some place new. That is, until Lainey learns that through the archaic legal doctrine of adverse possession, she’s inadvertently squatted her way into owning a marvel of modern architecture.
But Lainey owns only the house. The surrounding property, a lakeside money pit the previous owner used as a front to deal illegal reptiles, has been willed to Elliot Hodges, a D.C. architect who wants to rent out the place to fellow architecture lovers. Their assets are tied together, but neither can move forward without the other.
Desperate, Elliot proposes an unconventional arrangement: marry him for health insurance and in exchange, Lainey will allow him to buy her out. Win-win: Lainey will finally have a way out of town, and he’ll own the house designed by his idol. Married in name only and living together while fixing up the property, Lainey and Elliot find themselves unable to keep their hopes, dreams, or bedsheets from getting entwined. And as their connection grows, Lainey’s no longer sure what’s more terrifying: leaving Elliot behind or letting him in.
MY THOUGHTS
A cute summer read perfect for getting into lounging by the pool with your cool drink. You’ve heard of fake dating well this is a marriage of convenience or a fake marriage with benefits. They can’t stay away from each other as it’s a mutual reciprocation and they are both benefitting greatly from this marriage. But when it becomes more than what they need and their lives, hopes and dreams are intertwined it becomes magical. Fun and witty banter and a cute relaxation read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ellie Palmer is a lifelong lover of love stories, a carrier of the BRCA1 mutation, and a prototypical Midwesterner who routinely apologizes to inanimate objects when she bumps into them. When she’s not writing romantic comedies featuring delightfully messy characters, she’s at home in Minnesota, eating breakfast food, watching too much reality television, and triple texting her husband about their son.
I like natural decorations, nothing fancy and absolutely nothing plastic. Wooden or cloth, ceramic or metal. You will find a lot of bird decorations, especially crows, things with cats and turtles. I also enjoy country style decorations and cross stitch. Garden decorations include a bird bath, a hanging solar bird bath and various concrete outdoor decorations including a bench with a girl sitting on it holding a basket you can plant flowers in
385 pages Publisher One More Chapter Publication date October 10, 2025
ABOUT THE BOOK
❄️❄️❄️
She only packed for a flying visit. Now she’s stuck with no flights, no hotel and no plan B.
Anna Lundholm was only supposed to be in Copenhagen for a few hours. Just long enough to tie up some loose ends, grab one of the city’s famous hot dogs and be on her way. No stops, no distractions, no goodbyes.
Until a snowstorm grounds her flight.
With the beautiful city at a snowy standstill, Anna turns to Jamie – a gorgeous Scot with an open door and a raised eyebrow.
Could Copenhagen work its magic one more time?
❄️❄️❄️
A cheerful snowman stands in a snowy forest wearing a red scarf and black hat.
MY THOUGHTS
Being that this took place in Copenhagen I loved all the Danish bits and dialogue from foods to the snowy setting it was very realistic. This romance is the enemies to lovers/fake dating kind of thing. It is a bit different than the typical romance, who knew being stranded in the cold could lead to a romance but it’s exactly what happens. The past will always be with you no matter how much you try to put it behind you and our characters seem to finally realize that and come to grips with dealing with it. Enjoyed the characters and the setting. I especially enjoyed the setting it was so descriptive, the mounds of snow sound like so much fun. The Christmas story was festive and a quick read for me.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
A cheerful snowman wearing a top hat and scarf waves amid a snowy landscape
Pernille Hughes is a RomCom author and mum, with three novels published to date TEN YEARS, PROBABLY THE BEST KISS IN THE WORLD and PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (formerly published as Sweatpants At Tiffanie’s). Previously her writing has been printed in The Sunday Times and the fabulous SUNLOUNGER summer anthologies. Find out about her new books at http://www.pernillehughes.com
Pernille (pronounced Pernilla) studied Film & Literature at uni and took her first job in advertising,having been lured by the temptation of freebies, but left when Status Quo tickets was as good as it got. After a brief spell marketing Natural History films, she switched to working in Children’s television which for a time meant living in actual Teletubbyland, sharing a photocopier with Laa-Laa.
Now, she lives in actual Buckinghamshire, sharing a photocopier with her husband and their four spawn. While the kids are at school she scoffs cake and writes RomCom stories in order to maintain a shred of sanity.
Find her on Twitter @pernillehughes , on Instagram @Pernillehughes, on Tiktok at @pernillehughes or on Facebook at her Pernille Hughes Author page.
❤️ Christmas romance ❤️ Small town ❤️ Second-chance romance ❤️ Friends-to-lovers ❤️ Found family
Welcome to Port Berry, where love and Christmas miracles are just around the corner.
Alice Dipple is determined to make her first Christmas running Port Berry’s Seaview B&B a success.
But when her childhood best friend, Jamie Stark, returns after years away, the Christmas season suddenly feels a little brighter — and a lot more complicated.
Jamie was once the love of Alice’s life, until a dreadful mistake tore them apart. He’s returned to Port Berry for a fresh start, and hoping to win back the woman he’s never stopped loving.
Alice is focused on her business. But as she and Jamie are drawn back together by the cosy charm of the B&B, the warmth of the community, and their shared history, she begins to wonder if there’s a second chance for them after all.
But just when it seems like Christmas could bring them their new beginning, Jamie’s troubled past resurfaces, threatening everything they have built.
Will the magic of the season be enough to bring them together — and this time forever?
MY THOUGHTS
Sweet, cozy and festive. This is the sixth book in the charming small town Port Perry series. I’ve read most in the series. Some mistakes are made but can a second chance and reconciliation happen? The magic of the season will brighten their days and warm their nights. Romance, Christmas spirit and new beginnings make for a warm feel good story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Hello readers,
I absolutely adore writing about love with a happy-ever- after, as it’s a joy to escape into a world where miracles happen and heroes are found. My favourite genre is small- town romance because of the close-knit communities and beautiful settings. I think all the tropes are great, but I find instant attraction the most interesting. I really hope my stories help add some feel-good vibes to your day.
336 pages Publisher Ballantine | Dell Publication date October 7, 2025
ABOUT THE BOOK
Could a fake relationship with your ex over Christmas in Scotland be the perfect opportunity for revenge—or a second chance at love? One woman is about to find out in this charming holiday romance from the author of Always, in December and A Winter Wish.
Melanie hasn’t had a good year. Her work life isn’t what she dreamed it would be, her best friend has moved to the other side of the world, and Finn, the man she was sure was the love of her life, dumped her. In front of everyone. At his sister’s engagement party.
So when Finn shows up at Mel’s doorstep two weeks before Christmas, asking if she’ll help him, her first instinct is to slam the door in his face—or punch him.
But he has a proposal for her: Spend the week of Christmas with him and his family in a vacation cottage in the Scottish Highlands. His mother is obsessed with the idea of a perfect Christmas—and to make this dream come true Finn told his mother that he and Mel are dating again. All Mel has to do is come with him and pretend they’re back together.
Mel may hate Finn, but she loves his mom. So she agrees—on one condition. At the end of the week, Finn will allow Mel to publicly dump him so that she can get her dignity back and he can experience the same humiliation she felt.
It’s only a week. Mel can pretend to still be in love with Finn for one week, surely. Except as the festivities bring her closer than ever to Finn and his family, Mel starts to lose track of which feelings are fake and which are for real.
MY THOUGHTS
Who stayed up until 1:30 a.m. reading this last night? Yep, read it in a few hours and just couldn’t put it down. One thing I’ve noticed about the author’s books are they’re so darn emotional, and that’s what makes them so good. Books you can connect with, books that make you want to come back to them and definitely look forward to the next one. As far as I know the author writes one book a year and they’re always Christmas books and I’m okay with that. I love Christmas books! Maggie still has feelings for Finn, not that she’ll admit it to anyone including herself. He broke up with her though at his sister’s engagement party in front of everyone with no explanation to her and she feels made a fool of. When he shows up at her door six months later asking for a favor, she wants to punch his lights out and slam the door in his face. He proposes fake dating so his family will have a perfect Christmas, his mother is obsessed with Christmas and he’s doing it to make her happy. She loves his mom, so she agrees. This involves staying at a cabin in Scotland with his family over the Christmas holiday week. Touching is allowed only when the family is looking, sweet nicknames too. What if this brings back a flood of memories for both and they start to really fall in love all over again in this second chance at love story? Now the emotional part, there’s secrets his family is keeping from each other because they want everyone to have the perfect worry-free Christmas. When one family member’s secret becomes unkeepable how will this affect everyone’s Christmas fun? Can this be a love to stay this time or will it end after Christmas is over? Sweet, Charming and Emotional. Great read!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Emily Stone is the author of Always, in December, One Last Gift, Love, Holly, and A Winter Wish. She lives and works in the UK and wrote her first novel in an old Victorian manor house with an impressive literary heritage.
Walking through the thick fog clouding San Francisco, Maggie lifts her chin and forces a smile to her lips. “We must rebuild our lives and fight for our future, no matter what…”
San Francisco, 1893: When Maggie O’Halloran steps off the train in California, she knows she must be brave for her friend Brendan and her brother Danny. Having fled both New York and Chicago, they all have broken spirits and fear having to start again. Can Maggie find courage and strength for them all?
Maggie soon finds a boarding house that will take them in. In a lively part of town, and with a colourful clientele, it is not somewhere she ever imagined staying. Until one night when they are woken by a distressing cry, and Maggie finds herself assisting a doctor to save a young woman’s life.
Working through the night by candlelight, Maggie realises this may be her true calling. When the doctor asks if she would consider training as a nurse, she says yes immediately, hopeful she might have finally found her purpose in life. Will this now give her the courage to tell Brendan how she truly feels?
But before she can risk her heart, Brendan reveals that Danny is in trouble once more. They are leaving at dawn for Alaska to mine for gold, and Maggie is both shocked and heartbroken. Should she stay, and continue the work that has given her life such meaning? Or should she sacrifice everything, and follow those she loves even further into the unknown?
I have read this series the whole way through, this is the third and final book in it I believe. Though each book can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the series in order for a richer reading experience. The series has taken us to so many places. I can see the character growth in the characters. Starting out Danny was a little tike, finishing up he was in his early twenties. He started out scared and Maggie was essentially his mother because she passed away and their father was gone destination unknown at the time. As the series progresses, he becomes a product of his environment after arriving in America from Ireland and doesn’t always make the best choices for himself and he and Maggie as a group either. Upon arriving in America thy met Brendan who only wants the best for them and is with them for the most part throughout the three books. Maggie doesn’t have it easy, coming to a brand-new country, responsible for a young child, her brother Danny as a young person herself. Of course, she makes mistakes along the way, but she always has their best interest at heart. From the first to last book, we see her going from a scared young woman with not much experience to a more mature woman who has put up with a lot, more than she thought she could handle and her experiences have made her a stronger woman and given her gumption. I loved reading about the different traveling experiences and how they fared in each place, some better than others. The descriptions of the places and their activities were very realistic and I enjoyed them. Highly recommend all of the authors books.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Kate Hewitt is the author of many novels of both historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels have been called ‘unputdownable’ and ‘the most emotional book I have ever read’ by readers.
An American ex-pat for many years, she now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two of her five children (the others are scattered across the globe!), their two Golden Retrievers and their independent cat. Join her newsletter to receive updates and giveaways, or be part of her Facebook groups Kate’s Reads, to discuss all manner of books. Links can be found on her website, katehewittbooks (.com).
Her latest releases are A New Home for the Irish Daughter, a saga centering around an ambitious Irish immigrant during the Chicago World’s Fair, Summer Skies over Starr’s Fall, the fourth standalone in her new heartwarming series inspired by the Gilmore Girls, and Second time Around the sixtih in her Wildflower Valley’s series about modern homesteading and inspired by Little House on the Prairie. There’s something for everyone so do check them all out, and be in touch as Kate loves to hear from readers. You can discuss Kate’s books as well as others on her private Facebook group, Kate’s Reads or read her thoughts on Substack.
352 pages Publisher Thomas Nelson Publication date October 6, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
SOON TO BE A STREAMING ORIGINAL MOVIE!
All she wants for Christmas is a rejection.
Chloe Hollis is done being a people-pleaser. After one too many bad decisions–including a job that asked her to cross a line she couldn’t–she’s determined to change. Her plan? Collect ten nos before Christmas by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can think of.
It should be easy.
But then? Then she meets James.
Instead of shutting her down, the charming out-of-towner keeps saying yes–to Christmas karaoke, to small-town holiday traditions, to every spontaneous, hilarious, totally chaotic idea she throws his way. And the more he says yes, the harder it becomes for Chloe to stick to her plan . . . or protect her heart.
Because James has a reason for saying yes to everything, too–and it might cost them both more than they bargained for.
As their opposite missions collide in a swirl of festive mishaps, unexpected courage, and undeniable chemistry, Chloe starts to wonder if the biggest risk isn’t rejection after all . . . but saying yes to something real.
A warm living room decorated for Christmas with stockings, a tree, and a glowing fireplace
MY THOUGHTS
I can’t believe I haven’t read this author yet with how many books she’s written. Then I console myself by saying, well you can’t try all the authors. I sure have fun trying though. Grab your hot chocolate, cozy blanket and your pets, once you start this one you’re not going to want to stop. A cute and humorous rom com filled with Christmas joy. Of all places to meet they met at the airport. After reading a book on self-improvement she makes a pact with herself to learn how to stop being a people pleaser. What started out as a game gets confusing when she assumes he’s read the same book and is doing the same thing but learning how to say yes to things. I loved the dialogue James and Chloe had, so much fun and humor in the story. Great read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
Melissa Ferguson is the bestselling author of titles including Meet Me in the Margins, Famous for a Living, and How to Plot a Payback. She lives in Tennessee with her family in their growing farmhouse lifestyle and writes heartwarming romantic comedies.
You can find her on her socials at @ourfriendlyfarmhouse.
320 pages Publisher Bethany House Publishers Publication date July 21, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Can a jeopardized children’s library program spark a partnership that saves their careers but costs them their hearts?
When children’s librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library’s children’s programs, she’s determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library’s behalf. The bad news? She swore she’d never step foot in his office again.
Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family’s publishing empire, and now he must prove he’s ready to take the helm by turning around the company’s languishing children’s imprint. That wouldn’t be a problem, except he doesn’t know the first thing about children’s literature. So when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a bestselling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they’re forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.
MY THOUGHTS
Last year when I read, Hearts in Circulation I just knew I had to read the next in the series and this book is every bit as good as I imagined it would be. I guess because I’ve been going to libraries since I was a small child I’m drawn to books about libraries and this series is a hit with me. Martha Aldridge is a children’s librarian, she’s outgoing, personable and love creating and presenting children’s programs at her library that are wildly popular. The kids and parents alike love her. When her position is cut she and the children are devastated. Growing up her parents worked for a wealthy family doing housecleaning and gardening. She was familiar with their son, Julien King who is set to take over as CEO of his father’s business now. Back then they didn’t really have much to say to each other because of the almost ten-year age difference. I loved seeing the interaction these two had after meeting again after quite some time. Martha is curvy and I was glad to see she doesn’t let it hold her back. Instead, she is thankful for what her body can do for her. Body confidence is always a great thing. Martha and Julien come up with a plan to save both of their careers, and their relationship just blossoms from there. Now I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series next year.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
