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/
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)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Maggie gazes out at the new and bustling city, promising herself she will do whatever it takes to make it her home, the place where she can finally follow her dreams…
Chicago, 1892:Maggie O’Halloran knows she is lucky to have escaped New York City with her life, after a notorious gang threatened her and her brother. Now, twisting the wedding ring on her finger, she knows her friend Brendan O’Donoghue’s plan to pretend to be married is sensible. But can she really pretend to be his wife when she doesn’t love him with her whole heart?
Walking Chicago’s cobbled streets, Maggie is more resolved than ever to rebuild her life and when she secures a job at the famous department store, Marshall Field & Company, she is delighted. But when ghosts of her past appear in the millinery department, she knows her true identity could be revealed at any moment, and her dreams once more reduced to ash.
When a chance encounter leads to Maggie making hats for Chicago’s World’s Fair, her desire to become fully independent feels closer than ever. But as gossip swirls about her relationship with her benefactor, can Maggie keep her head held high in this city she now calls home?
When Brendan finds himself in a perilous situation, Maggie’s courage is tested more than ever before. With danger looming, can she and Brendan survive it together? Or will they once more need to flee their home to find safety, and a chance to begin again?
The second book in the sweeping Maggie O’Halloran series, this is a heartbreaking and epic story about the importance of finding home and following your heart. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Kristin Harmel and Jean Grainger.
This is the second book in the Maggie O’Halloran series. In the last book Maggie and her brother and Brendan end up fleeing New York because her brother was involved in a gang and they would have done him in if he stayed. This continuation is so realistic, so heartbreaking. You can feel every emotion the characters do, every sigh of relief every heartbreaking moment of crushing disappointment. Maggie and Brendan pretend to be married for proprieties sake but that seems to bring it’s own laundry list of problems. As much as Maggie struggles, she is also blessed with some freedom but that comes with problems as well. I did enjoy our main characters a lot. They really struggled, got down but they didn’t stay down they were strong, they had to be. There really was a lot going on in Chicago where they moved to, these Irish immigrants. I enjoyed reading about the Chicago Exhibition and how long it took to prepare for it. There were unexpected twists and turns I couldn’t have seen coming and I enjoyed this book so much. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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 Where The Dawn Finds Us, a dystopian novel about a woman protecting her family after a nuclear holocaust, Summer Skies over Starr’s Fall, the fourth standalone in her new heartwarming series inspired by the Gilmore Girls, and The Long Winter, the fifth 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.
A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.
Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.
But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?
MY THOUGHTS
Quite a magical book. As women we try to do it all for everyone. Our main character moves back home after time away to care for aging parents, is a single Mom and is shielding her ageing mother from the losses at her shop. This book is so empowering to women because it helps us to realize it’s okay to have our own dreams in life and that it’s not selfish to do so. Add in chocolates, magical sprinkles, a most adorable tubby dog, small town charm, lovely and quirky characters, a special vision and a magical romance. Beautifully written and definitely worth a reread in the future.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in more than fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake, Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, and several other novels. Currently, Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys creating stories about strong women facing big challenges, food, travel, and second chances at love – all with a touch of whimsy and a happy, hopeful ending.
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her website or find her on Facebook or Instagram.
When Gertie buys a run-down house ‘by accident’, she considers it the latest fail in a series of disasters! Her job at the Little Duck Pond Café and the friends she’s made there are a big comfort – especially as temporary boss Alice seems to be going out of her way to make her life difficult. But then Gertie meets the handsome Rafe – and her life takes a turn she definitely wasn’t expecting . . .
Rumours, Romance and Rhubarb Crumble is the most recent delicious addition to the Little Duck Pond Cafe series. At this point I may as well be honest. I’ve read so many of the books in this series that it’s become an addiction I’d say. I greatly look forward to each new addition as it’s published and love “meeting up with’ and having a catch up with many of the same characters each time but I’m still loving meeting the new characters in each book as well. I open the book and start reading and start smiling because, why not? I love all of the books in the series, and they are a ray of sunshine. I enjoyed the bit of mystery added in and it is a great addition definitely making it hard to put down as I just had to find out what happened. I loved Gertie’s character; she’s had a list of mistakes and not just laugh it off small mistakes. These mistakes have cost her money, like accidently bidding on a house. Now she’s stuck with it and the repairs it needs are plenty. Thank goodness for her job at the Little Duck Pond Cafe and her new boyfriend, the handsome Rafe. He’s come along at just the right time, when her previous relationship ends and he’s oh so supportive of her needs. Attentiveness and looks, what could go possibly wrong? If only her temporary boss at the Little Duck Pond Cafe was friendlier and didn’t act so strange at times. Things are running pretty well and when some unexpected things start happening, we have a bit of a mystery thrown in and I was all for it. Loved it and already looking forward to the happenings in the next book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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 ‘A Cornish Escape’ (out in May) and ‘The Secrets of Midsummer Cottage’, which will be published in July 2026. Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88 https://www.instagram.com/rosiegreen_author/
The kind that starts with dreams of opening a café… and ends with discovering your boyfriend kissing your best friend!
Heartbroken and with nowhere else to go, Dolly accidentally-on-purpose borrows her now-ex-boyfriend’s campervan and drives until the road runs out. This leads her to Thimblenouth, a picture-perfect Yorkshire Dales village where life moves more slowly and the kettle is always on.
After literally bumping into gorgeous local builder Reece Sterling, Dolly begins to feel something she hasn’t in a long time: safe. She also rediscovers her love of baking, filling the campervan with the scent of warm scones and freshly brewed tea. And Reece is always around to share a lemon pie or two…
When Dolly has an idea to open her own pop-up café, Reece is all too happy to help. And as the summer sun begins to warm everything it touches, Dolly wonders if she’s finally found a place to call home… maybe even with Reece.
But can she really build a future on borrowed wheels?
A warm, uplifting story of fresh starts, village kindness, and finding love where you least expect it — best enjoyed with tea and cake.🍰
One of my favorite rom com authors. If the author has a new book releasing, you better believe I’m there for it. Her books are always such a ray of sunshine and give me just the lift I need. In this one our mfc is done dirty. Her best friend and boyfriend start a relationship. Well, there goes the best friend idea. But what she does next is unexpected but serves her Ex-boyfriend right. I chuckled my way through the whole book because it was fun and funny. Realastic and not realistic at the same time this book really is just what I needed. Our mfc shows such character development and growth, trying new things and showing a great way of getting back the confidence she had lost. A new relationship starts in the most unexpected way, and I was there for it. I was rooting for the underdog the whole time and loved this book. Looking forward to many more books by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Bio –
Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her new series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.
Pack your bags and get ready to fall in love with The Hotel by the Sea—your next romantic getaway awaits!
Rebecca needs to escape. After making a complete fool of herself watching the man she’s secretly loved for years run off with someone else—she jumps at a temporary job at the family-run Quinta do Mar hotel. Sun, sea, and a fresh start sound perfect.
What she doesn’t expect is Felipe Rebelo.
Charming, infuriatingly confident, and always ready with a flirty quip, Felipe seems to have life sorted. But beneath his carefree exterior lies a man carrying the weight of his entire family. The last thing he needs is another responsibility. Especially one who challenges him at every turn, makes him laugh, and is dangerously easy to fall for…
Escape to Portugal’s stunning Algarve coast in this uplifting summer romance about finding yourself, choosing happiness, and discovering that love isn’t about being needed—it’s about being seen.
I really enjoy the author’s books and have read quite a few of them. All take place in such a fun and new location. Fun and romantic escapist read. An exotic location read, fun, flirty and oh so charming. This one welcomes a newcomer to beautiful “Portugal’s stunning Algarve coast in this uplifting summer romance about finding yourself, choosing happiness, and discovering that love isn’t about being needed—it’s about being seen.” I just loved this one, it made me so happy while reading this feel-good book. Loved the characters, so warm, outgoing and friendly. They make our newcomer feel right at home and part of the family. The setting sounds so tropical and wonderful like a perfect vacation spot that welcomes you in and you just want to forget about home life and stay there. So glad I got a chance to read this, and I look forward to reading many more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
A note from Julie Caplin
“My books are definitely not created by AI – apologies for the very human error that crept into the first few pages during the production process. I’m very sorry but as we’re all human, mistakes can happen. I’m sad but but there are worse things in life. “
About Julie Caplin
Jules Wake aka Julie Caplin is an internationally bestselling author with over 2 million sales over twenty five books including the highly successful Romantic Escape series which has been translated into over 24 languages. Her books have topped the charts in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
After reading English at university, Jules Wake worked in PR where she honed her fiction writing skills on press releases and swanned around Europe taking journalists on gastronomic press trips. These visits inspired the locations of many of her books. She’s now a full-time author and what better job is there than making stuff up! It certainly beats housework.
As an avid romance fan, she’s written in several genres including historical romantic fiction, contemporary women’s romance fiction and romantic comedy.
The perfect new cozy-up-with-a-pumpkin-spice-latte read that’s meant for fans of Laurie Gilmore and Rebecca Raisin!
Professional pastry chef Blaire Reese is blindsided when her beloved Aunt Rachel dies, leaving her the Sugar and Spice Pastry Cafe in Willow Grove. Returning to her hometown, Blaire discovers her beloved family business is in trouble, and—to make things worse—its most-cherished recipe is missing.
Her first love and former summer crush, Evan Hadley, is also back in town, having traded a corporate career to help manage his family’s Heath Acre Farm, famous for its autumn Hay Daze corn maze. Grown up – and with rugged good looks – he’s only charming when he wants to be. Like when he’s not tangling with someone over business matters, the way he is with Blaire after she cancels a large order for organic pumpkins.
Her sunshine is disappearing under his grumpy storm clouds, until he accidentally learns the truth about her situation. Now, he offers to help save her aunt’s legacy and her family’s pastry cafe. As they work together in secret, the ingredients for a very different recipe develop— one simmering with romance—but an unexpected turn of events melts their growing attraction into a mess.
Will Blaire save the beloved cafe and find the lost recipe that means so much to the pastry café’s customers? And can she save this last chance at love with the first boy she ever kissed?
Sugar and Spice at the Pumpkin Corner Café invites readers to dive into its cozy autumn escape this fall—for fans of grumpy x sunshine, small town romance, Gilmore Girls, pumpkin lattes, sugar and spice and everything else that’s nice about this magical season!
I cannot even tell you how much I enjoyed this book. This is my first read by the author but they are on my radar now. Taking place during Autumn, a time period I love to read about it has all the warm fuzzy cozy vibes and then some. Blaire Reese is a busy young woman, dreaming of becoming a professional pastry chef, she’s well on her way. She has lovely memories of her Aunt Rachel, helping her bake at her sweet cafe and holiday visits. She really needs to visit more often especially now that her aunt is so sick, but time just seems to get away from her. Then the news comes, her aunt has passed away and not only that left her business, the Sugar and Spice Pastry Cafe in Willow Grove to her. I absolutely loved the characters such a warm small-town feel and such well-developed characters. I’ll admit this was a tear jerker along with being a heartwarming tale as well. I loved seeing how the community rallied around Blaire and the cafe, expecting Blaire in a way to show the same kindness Rachel has. Everyone adored her. I felt sad when something vital to running the cafe turns up missing as it will really affect how the cafe is run. Cozy Fall vibes and the drinks sounding so delicious. The lead up to the parade, everyone’s support of the cafe, holiday baking. A possible second chance at love and Blaire needing to make some very important business decisions. I’m all in and looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Bio – Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.
Lizzie Bennet, new recruit at the Little Duck Pond Café, is well used to people teasing her about her name. Actually, she rather likes the fact she shares it with one of author Jane Austen’s most popular heroines. But when life weirdly starts to imitate fiction, it’s suddenly a very different matter. With two potential heroes appearing over the horizon, it’s obvious which one Lizzie should go for – isn’t it?
MY THOUGHTS
I’m not a Jane Austen fan but I am a huge fan of Rosie Green and her Little Duck Pond Cafe series. Now that I’ve read the latest book in this series, it does have me intrigued to start a Jane Austen book. I’ve read none of them and don’t even know where to start. The regency fair and the reenactment really had me intrigued to keep reading. I enjoyed how our characters worked together to solve a mystery as well. I’ll admit I love the characters in the series. The meeting of new ones in each book and the familiarity of the old standbys. I laughed out loud several times at some of the scenes, oh my. The whole thing, the beautiful setting, the characters, their personalities, so realistic. I just loved it all and as always look forward to more in this lovely series!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Purchase Links
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 ‘Rumours, Romance & Rhubarb Crumble’ (out in March) and ‘A Cornish Escape’, which will be published in May.
‘You must find her, my darling girl.’ Lily’s mother whispers, pressing a small brass key into her palm. ‘You must find my twin sister, before it is too late…’
Paris, 2011: Lily Tremaine’s hands shake as she opens the envelope addressed in her mother’s hand. The faded letter inside reveals the long-buried family secret that her mother had a twin she was separated from during The Second World War. A tear slides down Lily’s cheek, knowing the loss of a sister caused her mother so much heartbreak. And now, after all these years, her mother needs Lily to find her…
As Lily begins to piece together the fragments of her mother’s story, she meets Julien, a photographer whose research contains the clues she needs to unlock the past. As they pore over faded black and white photographs together, a warm feeling begins to stir in Lily’s chest. But she knows she can’t bury her own recent heartbreak just yet, not until she has fulfilled her mother’s wish.
When the truth of what happened to the young twins is revealed, it is more shocking than Lily could have ever anticipated. And with her mother’s health failing, she is running out of time to find her mother’s missing sister. Can Lily piece together long-buried family secrets from the war in time to reunite the lost twins of Paris before it is too late?
This heartbreaking and page-turning novel in the Paris Sisters series tells a story of resilience and hope in the face of the darkness of the Second World War. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy.
MY THOUGHTS
This is the fourth book in a row now I’ve read by the author. I am very impressed by her writing style and very obvious love of writing, research and getting the word out about the courage so many women displayed during WWII, very many behind the scenes that we’ll never know about. As with many historical fiction books this one taught me so much about the time period. I’ve read many WWII books but never fail to learn new and interesting facts each time I read one. A dual timeline, many WWII books focus on men and their part during the war, but I really enjoy the author giving women the credit they so rightly deserve for their risk taking and courage. A focus on the arts, this time through ballet and though the theater was taken over by the Germans the show must go on. From crew members to seamstresses to the ballerinas who led a secretive double life doing what they believed was right. Tragic sadness, twins separated through no fault of their own, a lifetime of searching. A journey never ending. A beautiful ending, I just loved reading this book. Through all the trials and darkness, you could feel that spark, that beating of hope. Just waiting, sure to come. I will be reading many more books by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.
