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Secrets Among the Spires: Escape to Oxford this summer with this clean and wholesome Christian romance (The Oxford Chronicles Book 1)

282 pages Publisher Avon Publication date July 16, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can a pair of later-in-life lovebirds find their way to one another along the cobbled streets of Oxford? Or will one too many bumps along the way throw their romance off course?

Everyone at St Peter’s College, Oxford adores Reverend Clara Bennett’s speeches, but none more than chorist, Tom Hartley. When Clara speaks to her congregation about seizing every opportunity for happiness, Tom plucks up the courage to ask her out on a date. By some miracle, she says yes.

As they picnic in daisy-strewn meadows and punt down the river Cherwell, sparks fly between the pair. But when a secret from Tom’s past threatens to resurface at the same time that Clara is offered a job in Cambridge, the strength of their connection is put to the test.

Can Tom prevent his past from threatening his future? Or will Clara be pushed away from her beloved Oxford forever?

This charming, Oxford-set romance about faith and finding love where you least expect it is perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Cressida McLaughlin and Philippa Ashley.

A wooden bench with a black scarf and white cup surrounded by fallen autumn leaves in a forest path
A quiet wooden bench covered with a scarf and cup in a colorful autumn forest

MY THOUGHTS

A breath of fresh air. Such an upbeat and encouraging book. Just what I needed at this time.
Read in one day, just couldn’t put it down. Engaging characters and I was pleased with the outcome of the book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Fiona Radcliffe is a British/Danish author and journalist whose debut novel was a contender for the coveted Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Fiona holds a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, along with a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University and a PhD from Swansea University.

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How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House

  1. Reading age 12 years and up 377 pages Publisher Delacorte Romance Publication date July 21, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this spooky Summerween romance, an amateur ghost hunter and a supernatural skeptic team up for a haunted home renovation project. But is their relationship the real fixer upper?

Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs.

Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted.

Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips.

But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.

MY THOUGHTS

Our plus sized fmc is anxiety ridden when her Mom tells her they’re moving away from all she knows and her best friends right before her senior years starts. Tired of feeling like the “weird one” she knows it’s not going to get any better when they move in the towns known haunted house.
When a known teenage ghost hunter turns up at her new house ready to prove it’s haunted this nonbeliever has to put a stop to it and prove him wrong once and for all.
He seems to always be around at her house though because her mom hires his dad for the renovation job on their house.
It was great seeing a lot of different groups/types of people represented in such a natural way.
The book moved along at a steady pace and did start to get spookier vibes towards the end.
Small town fun Summerween romance before the holiday kicks off.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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MEET THE AUTHOR

About the author

Jenny L. Howe first started scribbling stories into black-and-white composition notebooks with neon pink pens when she was in junior high and never really stopped. In college, she decided to turn her love of books into a career by pursuing a Ph.D. in literature, where she spent the next few years studying bizarre and entertaining medieval romances. Now, as a professor, she teaches courses in college writing, literature, and children’s media. When she’s not writing and teaching, Jenny spends her time buried under puzzle pieces, cross-stitching her favorite characters, and taking too many pictures of her rescue dogs, Tucker and Dale. The Make-Up Test is her debut novel.

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Life: A Love Story: A Novel

Print length 191 pages Publisher Random House Publication date March 17, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

As ninety-two-year-old Florence “Flo” Greene nears the end of her life, she writes a letter to Ruthie, the woman who grew up next door to her, describing the items Flo is leaving Ruthie in her will. But as it goes on, telling surprising stories about those “little” things Flo will leave behind (What could possibly be the worth of a rubber band kept in a matchbox tied up in red ribbon?), an unforgettable portrait of the life she has lived emerges.

The letter starts off as an autobiography in things, but it turns out to do much more than that: ultimately, it will transform Flo and those around her. In the time she has left, Flo decides to take herself up on tiny dares. She encourages Ruthie to reconsider her impending divorce by sharing a startling, long-buried secret about her own perfect-seeming marriage. Flo has never had a pedicure before now, and as long as she’s going to a beauty parlor, she arranges to have a blue streak put in her hair, too. And as these adventures lead her to make new friends, Flo helps them, too, find the fulfillment that living a full life has led her to understand.

Full of Elizabeth Berg’s characteristic mix of warmth, humor, and poignancy, Life: A Love Story is a reminder that whatever your circumstances, as long as you’re alive, you can keep on investing in life. The joy will inevitably follow.

Colorful mixed flower bouquet in blue and white vase on wooden kitchen table with pastry on plate
A vibrant bouquet brightens a cozy rustic kitchen table.

MY THOUGHTS

A poignant read. Knowing death is quickly approaching a woman writes of her life as she reflects on the good times and bad. The happiness and regrets. It may make you laugh or cry. Relationships within her life are explored. Lovely read!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Elizabeth Berg is the author of eighteen novels and has more than 1.5 million books in print. Her novel, OPEN HOUSE, was an Oprah’s Book Club selection in 2000. Berg lives near Chicago, Illinois. Visit her at http://www.elizabeth-berg.net

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Which book deserves a sequel? 👀📚

What’s a book you think deserves a sequel?

I was quite disappointed when I found out the author of this book had stopped writing.

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Can a villain sometimes not be a villain? 🐲🐉👺🫯

What villain actually had a good point?

He is a deeply devoted father to Bowser Jr. and often displays surprising nobility. He has repeatedly teamed up with Mario to save the world from far greater, universe-threatening villains.

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An Ocean of Longing (Echoes of Cornwall Book 2)

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220 pages Publication date July 31, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

I will cross a hundred more years to find my way back to you…

When Tegan Penrose plunges through the time portal at Trevarron House to save her beloved William, she believes she is carrying him home to the twenty-first century. Instead, she is torn from his arms and cast adrift in 1867 – alone, heartbroken, over a hundred years from the man she loves.

Taken in by Cornish pellar Nancy Willcock, Tegan learns the Willcock women have long been custodians of the strange lines of power running through this wild coast. Then comes a rumour that chills her to the bone: a dark-eyed stranger has been arrested in Tintagel, raving that he is lord of Trevarron. Could William, impossibly, have followed her across the centuries?

With the brutal Lord Albert Trevarron now ruling Trevarron House – and terrorising his gentle wife and young daughter – Tegan must risk everything to reach William again, and to face the darkness now haunting its halls.

Perfect for fans of Outlander and Poldark, this is a sweeping timeslip romance of fated souls, buried truths and a love that refuses to be silenced by time itself, featuring:

  • Fated souls searching through the ages
  • Found family and fierce female friendships
  • Gothic Cornish setting steeped in folk magic
  • Slow-burn with steamy, open-door spice

BOOK ONE

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Echoes of Cornwall series.
Unfortunately, I missed the first book in the series but am going to make a point to get to it now that I’ve discovered this series.
The book grabbed my attention from the very first page. Time traveling is not something I read about often, but this book is gripping. The tension is there; it had me holding my breath as I read.
It’s gothic and fairytales, heat and magic, it absolutely just pulls you in. Tension, danger, a sexy story. You can feel the danger as revenge is exacted. The attention to historical detail is remarkable as these strong women and bold men from the past come alive under the author’s pen.
My only complaint is it ended in a cliffhanger, and I need the next part yesterday.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle’s nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she’s not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she’d eat it, anyway.

Find out more about Kennedy on her Facebook Author page: facebook.com/kennedykerrauthor; she is also on Twitter as @KennedyKerr5

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Purranormal Activity: A Cat Cafe Mystery (Cat Cafe Mystery Series, 10)

304 pages Publisher Minotaur Books Publication date July 28, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

Trouble is brewing on Daybreak Island. . .

Summer is in full swing on Daybreak Island, and JJ’s House of Purrs―and the new mobile cat café―has Maddie James running nonstop with on-site cat parties.

So when Olivia McAllister, her mother’s childhood best friend, returns to the island for the first time in decades―after a family tragedy drove her away―and asks Maddie to plan a birthday party for her granddaughter, Maddie happily agrees. It’s been forty years since Olivia’s aunt, Delia McAllister, vanished without a trace. Her disappearance was never solved, and the abandoned family house has loomed over the island ever since.

But when Maddie and her mom arrive at Delia’s old house, it’s empty―except for a white-and-gray cat that leads Maddie to a hidden room. There, she finds Olivia dead.

Soon Maddie learns the mysterious cat may be tied to a ghostly island legend. And as she digs deeper, she realizes she’s unraveling two disappearances, forty years apart―while someone is desperate to keep the truth buried.

Fishing boats moored at a wooden dock with white cottages and misty hills in the background
A quiet fishing village with boats docked at sunrise mist

MY THOUGHTS

A welcome addition to the Cat Cafe mystery series. Taking place on Daybreak Island, the new mobile cat cafe can’t keep up with party invitations. So, when a guest manages to book one for her granddaughter the cat cafe delivers and shows up for the party only to find the house empty. Empty except for a mysterious ghost cat leading to a secret room. It gets creepier from there as a body is found and rumor has it the ghost cate shows up when trouble is near.
Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Cate Conte, also known as Liz Mugavero, writes cozy mysteries often featuring quirky characters, small-town drama, and animals that play key roles in the stories cateconte.comcateconte.com+1. She began her writing journey with short stories and poetry before transitioning to novels, demonstrating a lifelong passion for storytelling Book Series in OrderBook Series in Order. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she pursued a degree in English and later earned a master’s in writing and publishing from Emerson College 

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The Amish Rancher’s Return: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance

206 pages Publisher Love Inspired Publication date June 30, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

His homecoming could change everything
For a widow and two little girls…

Called back home to Millers Creek after years away, Isaiah Peight needs to help care for his ill father, sell his parents’ store—and avoid Priscilla Raber. Five years ago, he and Priscilla were betrothed, but she broke his heart and married someone else while he went on rumspringa. Now widowed, she works at Creekside Sundries to support her toddler twins. And she’s not happy about the sale. Seeing Isaiah again stirs up lots of memories, especially when he bonds with her precious girls. Can they ever leave the past behind and forge a new future together?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

MY THOUGHTS

A beautiful and heartwarming story of faith, love, hope, redemption, forgiveness and second chances.
Returning after an absence causes hurt feelings to resurface. There was a misunderstanding between them, but they realize they still have strong feels for each other.
Decisions must be made and God will guide their thoughts. A second chance romance that had me cheering for our main characters and I just loved the banter between them.
The story had a strong plot and was so enjoyable.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amy Lillard is the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of over seventy books and novellas in a variety of genres. 

 

She loves nothing more than a good book. And her family…homemade tacos…and possibly nail polish. A transplanted Southern belle, Amy was born and raised in Mississippi and now lives in Oklahoma with her husband of a billion years. They have one (almost) adult son whom they are embarrassingly proud of. These days their ‘empty nest’ is rounded out with two spoiled cats who always seem to want to be fed when she’s hit her writing stride for the day. But such is life with felines. >^..^

Amy also writes sexy contemporary romances under the pen name Amie Louellen.

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A Little Chaos? 🧐💀🙃🫠

Is a little chaos actually good for us?

I think it depends on the circumstances. Chaos can be very stressful especially over an extended period of time. But in other circumstances it can kick us into gear, make us think and bring about positive changes.

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Closing Time

376 pages Publication date July 7, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Open Seat cafe is closing its doors after thirty-plus years. At the center of it all is Nora Anderson, who is saying goodbye to the life she built with her late husband, Frank. Grieving him is hard enough… until shocking revelations force her to question the life she thought she had.

As the countdown to Saturday begins, the café fills with familiar faces. Each carrying their own unfinished story. The sarcastic barista, the delivery guy, a father and his daughter, the local rock star, and a loyal regular.

Over the course of one unforgettable week, emotions run high, chaos turns into something more, and sparks fly in all the wrong (and exactly right) places. As long-buried secrets begin to surface, every life in the café is pulled together in ways none of them expected. Right up until closing time.

Two cups of latte with heart-shaped designs on a wooden table near a window with pink flowers and street view
Two lattes with heart-shaped latte art on a rustic table by a window overlooking a quaint street

MY THOUGHTS

The book was a bit different than what I expected when I started it.
A rom com with different pov’s and dealing with grief and unexpected discoveries. Friends, found family, coming together to celebrate and moving on.
A nice story getting to know the coffee shop characters and their different perspectives.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Elaine Evans has had a love of writing ever since she can remember. It wasn’t until she hit middle-age that she decided to turn it into a career. A decision that has changed her life for the better.

When she’s not writing you can find Elaine exploring her other hobbies of reading, cooking, and photography. But more than anything, it is the role of wife, mother, and dog mom to her black Pomeranian, Vinnie, that she cherishes the most. Outside of the home, she works as a pediatric Medical Assistant, a job she adores. Elaine resides in Ohio with her family.

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