❤️ 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.
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.
288 pages Publisher Revell Publication date July 7, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
She finds sisterhood in the Amish Widows Club–but will she risk loving again?
Leanna Mast never imagined she’d be a widow at forty-one, but it seems God had other plans. After mourning her husband for a year, she realizes it’s time to start living again. But her community expects her to remarry, and after living on her own, she’s not eager to start cooking and cleaning in another man’s home.
When she’s invited to join the Amish Widows Club, she discovers a place of belonging she didn’t even know she needed. In this group of women who support one another through sharing books, stories, and companionship, Leanna immediately feels welcome. She’s sure her life as a widow will bring her the fulfillment she craves . . . until handsome, kind Evan Keim comes calling. As their relationship deepens, her heart becomes involved. But how could she possibly leave the widows club for a dream that might be too good to be true?
MY THOUGHTS
I have several favorite Amish writing authors, and this is one of them. I was so excited to see a new series she has put out of which this is the first one. The Amish Widows Club is pretty self-explanatory. Widowed Amish women are invited to join the club. Here they get support as they are grieving and make new friends, some just need the support for a short amount of time and then remarry. Some believe in a once in a lifetime love and don’t want to remarry. The widows in the club are of all ages. I enjoyed meeting forty-one-year-old widowed Leanna Mast, childless she expected to have a lifetime of marriage, but it was not to be. Evan Keim is a widower with three sons and grandchildren. Leanna has known him a long time but hasn’t expected him to come calling and she’s not looking to remarry. God has other plans for this couple though. Such a beautiful, uplifting, encouraging story filled with faith and letting God lead the way. Faith, family, friendship and eventually more. Very enjoyable story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my won.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
323 pages Publisher Boldwood Books Publication date July 15, 2026
ABOUT THE BOOK
Every book in the Blue Crescent Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
A gossipy small town. A billionaire in need of a fake wife. An autumn love story for the ages. 📖🍂
Fleeing her wedding and a toxic relationship in her white gown, Peyton jumps on the first bus out of town—and straight into billionaire Liam Rockwood. Literally. Distracted by her search for a place to stay, she steps into the street and sends the town’s most eligible bachelor crashing off his bike!
Liam is furious. His suit is ruined, he’s late for an event at his hotel, and now the runaway bride responsible is trying to check in. Worse, the small-town rumor mill quickly decides Peyton must be his secret new wife.
When Liam’s father arrives ready to celebrate the “happy couple,” Liam makes Peyton an offer: a temporary marriage of convenience. She gets protection against her vindictive ex, a home, and a fresh start. He gets the wife his family expects.
As crisp fall days turn into cozy nights, they carve pumpkins, steal kisses in the corn maze, and share secrets in the dark. Suddenly, their fake marriage starts feeling dangerously real. But falling was never part of the plan…
MY THOUGHTS
Fall for Me was an absolute blast to read. Though I haven’t read anything by this author before this and that this is the second book in the Blue Crescent Harbor Series I loved it and easily jumped right into the series. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes to read about though we all know how it usually ends up. Predictability is okay in this case. I loved Liam and Payton’s story. They had such fun dialogue, and the book was funny for the most part, these characters had a great sense of humor and got along peachy. She skedaddles away from her own wedding, but she has a very good reason. She was smart it was for the best. She meets Liam in the most unusual way. And let the fake dating begin, it wasn’t even arranged and happens by accident. Though not totally realistic the book kept me laughing and you’re in for a wild ride that you’re gonna love if you read it. Searching for the first book in the series now.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you’re a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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 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.
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
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.
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.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 Order. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she pursued a degree in English and later earned a master’s in writing and publishing from Emerson College
361 pages Publisher Avon Publication date October 24, 2023
ABOUT THE BOOK
New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde’s delightful Twilight, Texas, series continues with this sparkling Christmas novel. A reality TV show producer returns to her hometown of Twilight in this lovers reunited story filled with holiday spirit and perfect for readers of Susan Mallery and Jill Shalvis.
She was the one who got away…
Noelle Curry has returned to Twilight to plan the most spectacular double wedding the town has ever seen—and do it on national television. But the woman known as “The Wedding Whisperer” is knocked speechless when she notices her teenage crush, Gil Thomas, is about to plunge into icy cold water wearing nothing more than a pair of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer swim trunks. He is the sexiest guy participating in the annual polar bear plunge and seeing him pushes all thoughts of white lace and rose blossoms right out of her mind.
He was the man who decided to stay…
Single dad Gil doesn’t regret giving up his dreams of big-city singing stardom for small-town life. But seeing Noelle—who’s blossomed from the once-gawky teenager to West Coast beauty—has him thinking of days—and nights—a whole lot hotter than his plunge in the lake. And even though he knows she’ll be heading out as soon as her work is finished, he can’t help hoping the magic of Christmas in Twilight will get her to change her mind and stay in town—and by his side—forever.
A two-tiered winter wedding cake with seasonal decorations
MY THOUGHTS
Will this wedding planner soon be planning her own wedding? She has planned on returning to Twilight, Texas at Christmas time to prepare for a spectacular televised wedding then immediately leave afterwards. What she hadn’t planned on was seeing an old flame looking better than ever, oh the memories come alive at just the sight of him. Seeing her brings it all home for him but he has a daughter now to think of and her opinions matter and she’s looking for a new Mommy. Though I haven’t read a book in the long-standing Twilight, Texas series in several years it’s just as good as I remember. The author brings the characters alive with that special Christmas magic sprinkled in.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the author
BIO
Lori Wilde is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 110 works of romantic fiction. Her writing has won numerous awards and her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than ten million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her series The Wedding Veil Wishes inspired six movies from Hallmark starring Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reese, and Alison Sweeney. The movies broke viewing records for Hallmark. Her first NYT bestseller, The First Love Cookie Club, was made into a Christmas movie also with Hallmark called A Kismet Christmas.
Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University, along with a Master in Liberal Arts from the same university. She holds a certificate in forensics, a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA and she is also a certified yoga instructor. A sixth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World.
