214 pages Publication date March 4, 2026 Publisher Next Chapter
ABOUT THE BOOK
Dishonorably discharged Marine Mike DeFino arrives in New York with nothing but a duffle bag and a loan shark’s address. What starts as muscle work alongside a Russian enforcer turns into something completely different, as Mike is pulled into the inner circle of a rising crime boss.
As Mike proves himself—disposing of enemies, burying bodies, and enforcing debts—he draws the attention of NYPD lieutenant Frank Sasso. Sasso believes Mike is the key to toppling the crime boss, Pete Amuso, and he’s willing to bend the law to make it happen.
After the woman Mike is falling for becomes leverage, the war turns personal. Caught between a paranoid mob boss and a crooked cop obsessed with control, Mike faces an impossible choice: should he betray the man who gave him purpose, or sacrifice the only chance he has at a life beyond violence?
A story of power and survival, Daniel Kowalski’s OUR THING is a gritty, razor-sharp thriller set deep in the criminal underworld.
MY THOUGHTS
Our Thing by Daniel Kowalski is the first in a new series by the author of which a series continuation will be available later in the year. This is a high crime novel that will keep you on your toes not knowing what to expect around every corner. Don’t let them catch you in any dark alleys. With great character development I was kept spellbound as the book really takes you through the paces right along with our main character. Gritty and dark this one is all about survival of the fittest and not many can pass the test on the streets. Looking forward to the continuation of the series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
I’m a new author and I would really appreciate that, if you read my book, then please leave a review. Good reviews are the best way to get others to take a chance with their time to check out my book.
In the meantime I am working on a follow up novel that I will release later this year.
As the sun crests the indigo Lake District hills and blossom froths in the trees, midwife Zoe Padbury reaches for her boyfriend’s hand. Her life, at this moment, feels perfect. She has no idea of the storm clouds that lie ahead…
The villagers of Thimblebury know that midwife Zoe Padbury loves babies and now that she’s settled at Hilltop Farm with her boyfriend Alex, they can’t resist wondering when she’s going to start a family of her own. Yet it doesn’t feel like quite the right time. Alex is so busy and Zoe has her hands full with all her new mums to look after. Still, she has hopes for the future…
But what she doesn’t expect is to walk into her cosy kitchen and find Alex’s glamorous ex-girlfriend sitting at the scrubbed pine kitchen table. Virginia claims to be helping Alex with work but as she looks Zoe up and down and offers her a perfectly manicured hand to shake, Zoe can’t ignore a shiver of foreboding. What will this mean for her and Alex?
Zoe tries to quash the pangs of jealousy that wash over her, but with Virginia around what feels like all hours of the day, she and Alex end up in a devastating argument. And when she receives some news that changes everything, she doesn’t know if she can share her troubles… Can they find their way back to each other? Or will these storm clouds break their bond forever?
This is book four in The Village Midwife series. I’m really hoping it’ll continue after this one. Zoe Padbury is getting settled into Hilltop Farm with her boyfriend Alex. She’s around babies all of the time but the couple can’t help wondering how it’d be with their own little one when the time is right. That time never seems to come, she’s busy all the time midwifing and he’s starting up a new business plus his daughter lives with them as well. They have plenty of time though, right? When some concerning health problems keep popping up for Zoe, she’s scared and though she’s in the medical field she doesn’t want to seek a diagnosis but finally does with crushing results. Everything seems well until the stress of the diagnosis, busy life and let’s not forget Alex’s ex is back in town again and they seem to be getting on a little too well for Zoe’s comfort. Will the storm clouds roll away and sunny skies appear again? Or are things just too much for this couple to handle? Enjoying the series a lot.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop assistant, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing. She wrote a novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and hasn’t stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor.
Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014 it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her thirtieth Tilly Tennant novel. Christmas bestseller A Very Vintage Christmas was recently made into a movie for Lifetime Channel and she has had many of her books translated for readers all over Europe.
Tilly also writes young adult fiction as Sharon Sant. Follow her on Instagram to keep up with the latest news, or find the link to join her mailing list in the back of all her books.
301 pages Publisher Bookouture Publication date June 16, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Balhennie Inn is surrounded by heather-strewn mountains, with breathtaking views across the wild blue loch. But the cosy B&B is in trouble, and the only woman who can save it left without looking back years ago. Sorrel Balhennie will need to confront her past if the inn has any hope of a future…
The Balhennie family raised their six daughters on the Isle of Skye amongst early breakfast services and fully booked summers. Their inn is never short of gossip – and when eldest daughter Sorrel turns up for the first time in ten years, the island rumour mill begins.
Always the one left to corral her younger siblings, resourceful Sorrel now runs her own successful property business on the mainland. She throws herself into the repairs, praying her curious sisters will stop asking about the real reason she left home…
But Sorrell didn’t count on brooding, blue-eyed Tam Blackwood – the man she thought was her forever – supervising the works. Now they’re thrown together again, Sorrel realises just how much she’s missed him.
And with her secret in danger of tearing her family apart for good, only Tam has a plan to fix the inn and heal the rift between the Balhennie sisters. With his help, can Sorrel finally open up? Or will the inn close its doors forever?
The first in a brand-new Scottish-set series about sisterhood, secrets and second chances. Fans of Pamela Kelley, Hope Holloway and Debbie Macomber will utterly adore this romantic read!
A stunning sunset bathes the Scottish Highlands’ loch and blooming heather in warm light.
MY THOUGHTS
One thing I like about the author’s books is how descriptive her books are from the luscious scenery to the events happening you feel as though you are there. This was a pretty emotional book. There are six sisters, all grown and one left without a word or an explanation ten years ago. Though one tried to keep in touch there was never any reciprocation. Not only that she left a strong friendship with a childhood friend that was just turning into more. Now she’s back without giving her family a heads-up and they’re puzzled, shocked and hurt. The family inn is failing, and this sister is the one with the best business sense to turn things around if she’s willing to help things along. We find out she left because of family secrets that she was never meant to know about that she accidently overheard. She was deeply hurt and didn’t take the time to talk to her family just left. When she returns there are family talks but a lot of hurt as misunderstandings come to the forefront. There is the normal sisterly bickering, but all of the sisters have been hurt by her behavior. Every family has secrets and when they come to the forefront there will be disagreements and outsiders see it in a very different way than those in the family do. There’s also her special childhood friend she left behind who was so happy to see her. Can a special relationship take root now that she is back home again? I enjoyed the story a lot. It had lots of family drama but lots of talking got done and things don’t just change overnight when you’ve been gone ten years. Looking forward to more books by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET 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
A Cornish Escape When a catastrophe threatens Ellie’s business there’s a puzzling mystery to solve, and Gertie steps in to follow the clues. Love and romance are the very last things on Gertie’s mind right now. But while she’s risking her safety helping to hunt down the culprits, could she also be in danger of losing her heart?
The Little Duck Pond Cafe series are my go-to favorite novella series. In number forty-six a day of relaxation and celebration turns into a nightmare when things at the cafe take a pretty bad turn. In this one we have Gertie and Jonah who we met in the last book, so this is pretty much a continuation, they are on the case. This book is different than the others, more of a cozy mystery sort of type and I loved the turn and change of tone it has taken. What can I say, I just love this series. Maybe the author should think of doing a cozy mystery series as she has done very well with this book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Author Bio – Rosie Green is the author of the popular Little Duck Pond Café series, set in the fictional village of Sunnybrook. Watch out for lots more café drama and romance in 2026, including ‘The Secrets of Midsummer Cottage’, which will be published in July. Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88 https://www.instagram.com/rosiegreen_author/
320 pages Publisher Tiny Reparations Books Publication date
June 16, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
An irresistible delight, this hilarious and heartwarming essay collection gathers essential tales about growing up in the South, the pitfalls of date night, and why no one should ever tell a Black girl how to Black Girl.
Black women always find a place to meet: in the natural hair aisle, at Beyoncé concerts, even online in memes and catchphrases. This book is one of those places: a living room where readers can contemplate how a well-picked afro can defy the laws of physics and why boob sweat has to exist in the first place. Here, Black Girl is a verb. Here, Black women can Black Girl in every way we want to.
Amena Brown’s book Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl blends storytelling, humor, and pop culture commentary to traverse the magic and wisdom she’s gleaned from being raised by Southern Black women, and supported by the community of Black women who hold her down today. After graduating from the International Black Girl Headquarters (the renowned HBCU Spelman College), Amena has built a career telling stories and celebrating Black womanhood. In her book, she shares stories of dancing in Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope” music video and partnering with Tracee Ellis Ross to compose odes to natural hair. She imparts essential life lessons from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and tells hair tales, including wisdom on the ideal style for her first speaking gig at Essence Fest (box braids, 100 percent).
In the end, Brown shares that Black women are a whole world. A galaxy of customs, language, code, and unspoken understandings, all explored with humor and heart in this unforgettable book.
MY THOUGHTS
A nonfiction coming of age written through essays, poetry and just plain rambling thoughts. Very insightful full of nostalgia we get a trip down the author’s memory lane. From her oh so important church life that influenced everything to her hair and going natural which was almost just as important to dating and food. Whatever the author was writing about it she does it with a sense of humor and full truthfulness. You get the good, the bad and the ugly of navigating Southern Black family culture. Having read this, I have more of an understanding and appreciation and I hear your voice loud and clear!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Amena Brown is a spoken word poet, author, and performing artist whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling, rhyme and humor. A proud graduate of Spelman College and previous poetic partner for Tracee Ellis Ross’ natural hair brand, PATTERN Beauty, Amena is the author of five spoken word albums and three non-fiction books. Her new book of comedic essays, Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl, debuts June 2026 and is available for pre-order. As a stage performer, Amena takes arenas, theaters, and performance venues and turns them into living rooms where the audience and her readers can make themselves at home. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband DJ Opdiggy and their dog Kane, where she is also the Chapter Host of CreativeMornings Atlanta.
Have a wonderful evening and thank you for stopping in.
368 pages Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark Publication date June 9, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Nantucket is the perfect place for a new beginning.
Claire Shipman never imagined she’d be the single mom of a teenager, going through a contentious divorce, and unexpectedly pregnant. On the bright side, at least she’s on Nantucket, where she grew up, and where her mother and grandmother welcome her home with open arms.
For years, Claire lived an enviable Manhattan lifestyle. Until her ex had a marriage-ending affair and also lost his job and all their money. Claire’s high school friends invite her to their book club and an off-hand joke that she could sell one of her Hermes bags sparks a business idea.
Her friend’s brother, Cody, is a furniture builder with a spare storefront. He’s initially skeptical about the prospects of a “used handbag shop”.
But Claire is determined. With the support of Lily, her mother, grandmother, old friends and new, she begins to build a true second chance at a new life.
MY THOUGHTS
This is my second read by the author; I discovered her last year when I read her Christmas book. I also appreciate it being a clean read a well. The book is warm, you feel a happy, good feeling while reading it and surely want to recommend it to a friend. It’s a story of family and friends. I loved seeing the support the family gave to each other as they all lead similar yet different lives. A wife starting over in her late thirties getting a divorce and expecting a baby is not how she expected to find herself. A multigenerational read of strong women and I loved seeing how they are in each other’s lives and so supportive of each other. Even though the parents are divorcing I was happy to see the father is still there for his daughter strong as ever and wants to continue a relationship with her. I see the author has an extensive backlist for me to dive into and I look forward to it. I was given a complimentary copy of this book All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women’s fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you’d want as friends.
She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There’s also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.
Feel free to sign up for her list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available as well as extras like early bird discounts. Just cut and paste into your browser, http://eepurl.com/IZbOH
Thank you!
~Pam
Have a wonderful day and thank you for stopping in.
425 pages Publisher HarperCollins Publication date June 4, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
A secret lies behind every door…
The Dordogne, 1936
Amid tangled gardens and crumbling walls, Chateau Rousseau guards its secrets well.
Pushing open its faded door, Thirza Caruthers arrives to care for her great-aunt. She’s made a promise – unaware of what awaits.
As the skies darken above Europe, the chateau begins to reveal its secrets: stories of forbidden love, devastating betrayal, and a child who vanished years ago.
But in uncovering the truth, Thirza may lose herself forever.
MY THOUGHTS
Every book I read by the author just gets better and better! The characters are so well developed as the story didn’t feel rushed at all. I absolutely loved the setting and how it moved back and forth in time, this really explained a lot. This is really a deep story, so much going on. The story is very realistic, and I felt as though I was also there experiencing it with the characters. This is an emotional story that will have you feeling it all! Very highly recommended and I greatly look forward to more books by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dinah was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine.
As a teenager she missed the heat of Malaysia, which left her with a kind of restlessness that led to quite an unusual life. She studied Fashion Design and went to live in Tuscany where she worked as an au-pair for an Italian countess. There was even a time when Dinah lived with a rock band in a ‘hippie’ commune in Suffolk.
Although Dinah and her husband spent five wonderful years living in a small 16th Century village in the mountains of Northern Andalusia, she’s happy to say they now live close to her family in Gloucestershire along with two crazy Maine Coon cats.
259 pages Publisher Barbour Fiction Publication date April 1, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Love Is Not for Sale
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
Despite knowing her parents are getting desperate for their only child to marry and give them grandchildren, Salina Stoltzfus is weary of seeking the perfect match. Every time she thinks she has found “the one,” he marries another.
The best way to forget you are the last woman any man in Havenlee, Indiana, wants to hitch his buggy too is to find something passionate to focus on. When the area is overrun with donations after a tragic storm, Salina suggests opening a consignment shop. The deacon supports the idea and offers his visiting nephew to help set things up.
After the embarrassment of having his fiancée call off their wedding, Seth Weaver takes his mother’s advice to leave Kentucky to stay with his uncle for a while. Unfortunately, Seth knows nothing about building furniture in his uncle’s factory, which is the only reason he agrees to help ready the consignment shop next door—not because of the little chatterbox working inside.
When Salina’s parents are caught meddling in her love life, she comes up with a crazy idea that might gain her some time and space. Could it be the road to happiness is paved with good intentions and epic fails—until we cross paths when the one made especially for us?
MY THOUGHTS
I’ve read other books by the author and it’s always my lucky day when I get to read another one. I enjoyed reading Amish books with their slower paced lifestyle. This is a relaxing read. Our story is The Heart of Amish country. Our main character is being pressured to marry but she wants to marry for love and on her own terms. With compromise, compassion, faith, trust, charity and love this emotional story evolves and I enjoyed it very much.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Mindy Steele was raised in Kentucky timber country and has been writing since she could hold a crayon against the wall. Steele writes Amish Romance peppered with just the right amount of humor, as well as engaging Suspense, using rural America and the residents as her muse. Steele strives to create realistic characters for her readers and believes in engaging all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A hopeless romantic, with a lyrical pen, Steele wants her readers to find themselves somewhere within her pages. A mother of four and grandmother to a half dozen blessings, Steele enjoys hiking and gardening, coffee indulgences and weekend road trips, and is personally doing all she can to make peanut butter its very own food group.
I’ve been absent from my blog for a little bit and sadly have been too tired to read as well.
I got a job at a lavender 🪻 farm here in Pennsylvania. It is seasonal though so it won’t be too long and I’ll be able to get back to my reading. My husband and I are there picking lavender and oh does it smell good
The first day we were there were given electric clippers to cut the lavender 🪻. It cuts all of the flowers including the white buds that haven’t bloomed yet.
That’s not a good idea because you want the white buds to stay on and bloom so they’re not wasted though they can use them for essential oils.
The next day we were given scissors ✂️ and told to cut each stem individually. Much more time consuming as each bush can have hundreds of stems.
I can do about 3.5 an hour . You have to sit down on each side of the bush to trim it otherwise your back and legs are killing you from all the time bent over cutting.
Funny how after working 8 hours I felt better than when I worked the 5 hours. Guess I’m getting used to it.
We also go bundling and sorting.
Sorting is where you strip the leaves off if it already hasn’t been done throw the limp flowers and any white ones that got picked into a big tub and any leaves or unattached stems get thrown on the grass as we’re working outside.
Bundling you take the long stemmed lavender 🪻 and bundle them about 20 to a bundle and rubber band them for drying.
I’m enjoying it a lot and I’m not having the aches like I was at first, our bodies are pretty adaptable to things.
Can a no-strings attached holiday fling really just stay casual?
Olivia is a fiercely independent woman climbing the ladder of corporate finance. But when her family demands she take time off to go to her niece’s bachelorette and wedding in Nantucket, she reluctantly agrees.
On the island, she catches the eye of Connor: a handsome, cocky, playboy type—also ten years her junior. Olivia’s sisters egg her on, encouraging a summer fling, but she’s more interested in catching up on her finance reading. Except…he’s funny and sexy, and doing her ego a world of good.
As their attraction steadily grows, Connor gets Olivia to relax her tightly held control and indulge in the fling she won’t admit she needs. But too soon, the holiday is over and they’re back home, living two very different lives.
And yet, neither can ignore the intense chemistry that didn’t go away after the summer. Are they just a Nantucket fling… or something much more?
Tropes:
Opposites attract
Age gap
Summer fling
No strings attached
Single dad
MY THOUGHTS
I’m so glad the cover drew me into this story; it reminds me of New England. Otherwise, I would have never had the pleasure of reading this author. I’m not sure how I’ve missed reading this author but now that I’ve discovered her work, I have some catching up to do. This is really a lovely story. Talk about opposites attracting, he’s a single dad with big dreams, she’s a strongly driven ladder climbing career woman. She’s older, he’s giving off single playboy vibes. An island vacation before her niece’s wedding has her meeting a hot hunk, he couldn’t possibly be interested after all she’s older. Things just seem to click but being so career driven she’s not looking for a relationship, this is just a short fling for her. He falls first. He’s hiding a secret will it become curtains when she finds out? The couple have quite the chemistry going on, lots of spice. I enjoyed the progression of the story and how the couple works through problems. I’ll soon be checking out what else the author has out.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022.
With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.
Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of A Nantucket Fling (Open Internationally)
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Book 3
