Book Review: "All's Fair in Love and Pizza" by Lane Hayes

Y’all, this book had me at PIZZA BAGELS. I enjoyed a lot about the story—the chemistry between the characters, the competition, the banter—but it was all about the pizza bagels for me.

Mateo has been working at his family’s pizzeria for as long as he can remember. Since his father and his uncle died, Mateo and his cousin run Boardwalk Pizza. It’s an institution in the college town of Haverton.

When Mateo and his crew learn that the empty space next door is going to be taken over by a bagel shop, they’re somewhat excited. The shop will be run by Rob Vilmer, Mateo’s football teammate in college who had a great pro career.

Rob remembers having a huge crush on Mateo back in college, but since Rob was closeted nothing ever happened. He’s excited to see Mateo again—until the two of them butt heads when Rob reveals his plan to make pizza bagels. How can this guy just come into town and start selling pizza bagels next to a pizzeria?

Mateo gets angrier and Rob loves egging him on. Rob’s business partner suggests the two stores have a bake-off that will last through football season. And when the heat of competition bubbles over to the bedroom, both have to decide whether to trust their heart to their rival.

This was fun, steamy, romantic, and hunger-inducing. It’s been a while since I read a rom-com by Lane Hayes, and I’ll be back for more!!

Book Review: "Second Helpings" by Dylan Morrison

Y’all, this book had a dog named Pastrami! I thought this was really sweet, but it had me at Pastrami.

Sam has been a part of Silverman’s Deli, his family’s restaurant, for as long as he can remember. It’s been an institution in Cleveland for 75 years. He’s now the manager and he loves every aspect of the job.

But things have been dicey since the restaurant got a scathing review by a well-known columnist. Sam and his staff question the authenticity of the review, because there are a lot of criticisms that seem completely false. Regardless, the number of customers who have been coming in has reduced sharply, and Sam isn’t sure he can keep the deli afloat for much longer.

To top things off, one day Jake walks into the deli. Jake was Sam’s high school boyfriend until a tragedy ripped them apart. They’ve not seen each other in 12 years, and although their first few encounters are awkward, they quickly realize how much they’ve missed one another.

Having Jake around helps Sam’s anxiety about the deli, and Sam gets to cook for him, which is definitely one of his favorite things. But as they draw closer, they need to confront the event that tore them apart, and there are other secrets that Jake needs to share.

I enjoyed another book by Dylan Morrison so I had a feeling I’d like this one too. I’m a big fan of second-chance romances and I thought that Sam and Jake had great chemistry. And now I’m going to lament that there are no good delis around here…

Book Review: "Dolly All the Time" by Annabel Monaghan

Annabel Monaghan is an absolute auto-buy author for me. Her characters are always so well-drawn, and her books have such an emotional richness to them. I’ve loved every one of her books, but Dolly All The Time may be my new favorite.

When a small fire occurs one night in her childhood home, Dolly and her teenage son Gus leave their lives in Boston and head back to her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island. Ever since her mother left their family when Dolly was 12, she’s been the one who has taken care of everything—for her father and her two younger siblings.

Dolly loves being back in Whitfield and quickly assumes the caretaking role once again. One day after working at the family’s fish house, she comes across Stewart Whitfield, the handsome heir to the Whitfield fortune. (Their hometown is named for his family.) Stewart’s car has a flat tire and he has no idea how to fix it. Dolly shows him how, and the press takes an impromptu picture of them, as Stewart’s engagement has just ended in a scandal.

Stewart is desperate to close the deal on his becoming the company’s new. The one drawback is that his parents think he’s too much of a workaholic to succeed. So Stewart asks Dolly to be his fake girlfriend, a challenge she accepts. Suddenly she is attending benefits and client dinners, and bringing out a whole different side of Stewart.

I’ve read tons of romances and rom-coms that have fake dating at their core. Even though the approach is familiar, the way the relationship between Dolly and Stewart unfolds is just lovely.

I absolutely loved this book. Not only were the main characters totally appealing, but the supporting characters rocked also. There was banter, steam, self-discovery, happiness, sadness, and humor. It was exactly what I needed!

Book Review: "The Hitch" by Sara Levine

This was one of the wildest, most creative books I’ve read in some time. I'll never look at corgis the same way again!

Rose is an anti-racist, secular Jewish feminist eco-warrior, a believer in eating healthy foods, and the owner of an artisanal yogurt business. She’s unmarried and doesn’t have children of her own, but she dotes on her six-year-old nephew Nathan and her beloved Newfoundland, Walter.

Rose is one of those people who knows everything about everything. She has an article, a study, a program to back up all of her opinions. And one of her opinions is that she should get to spend more time with Nathan, but her brother and sister-in-law don’t necessarily think she’s the best influence on him.

However, when her brother and sister-in-law take a vacation to Mexico, they agree to leave Nathan in Rose’s care. Rose is so excited; she has her spare bedroom redone for him, and has outlined a vegan meal plan for the week. But only one day into her caregiving stint, disaster strikes. When Rose, Nathan, and Walter are in the park, Walter attacks and kills a corgi.

Walter has never acted aggressively before. And when Nathan starts acting strangely, Rose figures it’s his reaction to the incident. But then Nathan tells Rose that the corgi’s soul is living inside him. And this dog is a troublemaker. If Rose can’t fix this, she’ll never be trusted to care for Nathan again.

Although the concept of the book sounds silly, it’s actually quite moving and thought-provoking. Rose is not the most likable character but she does grow a bit by the end, and she really does love Nathan. I’ll be thinking about this for a long while!!

Book Review: "Dead Money" by Jakob Kerr

My first read of 2026 was a twisty thriller-ish mystery about the multibillion-dollar machinations of the tech industry and the double crossing that occurs in the thirst for power and money.

Mackenzie Clyde is more than a fixer. A trained attorney, she’s worked her way up to be the director of investigations for one of the biggest venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. She makes problems—and problem clients—disappear before they harm the firm’s investments.

But then Trevor Canon, CEO of Journey, one of the hottest startups, is found murdered and his assets are frozen. It just so happens that her boss and his firm are the biggest investors in the startup, so getting answers ASAP is crucial. Mackenzie gets a role as an “advisor” to the investigation, which means she has to collaborate with the FBI, who aren’t the most forthcoming.

Everyone’s a suspect—the other executives at Journy, other venture capitalists, even organized crime. Because the murder—and the motive behind it—is about more than money. And Mackenzie doesn’t know whom to trust—or if she’ll be left out to hang when the truth is uncovered.

“It was much simpler, she thought, to see the world for ‘what it could be’ if you never had to actually experience the world as it was. It’s a lot easier to be a visionary when you’re at the top of a skyscraper than when you’re battling for elbow room on the street.”

This is an interesting read which gets a bit technical from time to time. There were definitely lots of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing. I would’ve liked a little more action, but I still couldn’t stop reading.

Book Review: "Saving Face" by Mansi Shah

The CEO of a global skincare company, Ami Shah is a role model. Raised in Singapore, she had to break down a lot of barriers to get to where she is, and convince many that despite her gender and the color of her skin, she’s a businesswoman to be reckoned with. Her company, Amala, is about to merge with a Fortune 500 company.

Her nomination for the Global Changemakers Award is unprecedented. This prestigious award has only gone to white men; she is the first woman of color to be nominated. If she wins the award, it will increase the value of Amala and cement her legacy.

While she should be beside herself about this honor, Ami would prefer to withdraw her nomination. All of the publicity makes her nervous—not because she’s shy, but because she’s not who she says she is. Ami (whose real name is Monica) was an orphan raised in a convent in Singapore. But since orphans in her country never had a chance to amount to much, she decided to steal a former classmate’s identity and move to London, which is where her new story began.

But as the merger details are finalized and the award ceremony draws closer, Ami starts getting threatening text messages promising to expose her lies if she didn’t confess. She knows if the truth comes out, everything she built will fall apart. To figure out who is blackmailing her, she must go back to where she vowed she’d never return: Singapore.

“She wanted to prove that just because a girl had been abandoned, it didn’t mean she had to carry that weight with her forever. She could find purpose, and through that, she could find herself.”

This was such a thought-provoking, emotional book. Mansi Shah created a story that seemed so plausible, and even though it’s a bit of a slow burn, it was tremendously compelling.

Book Review: "Battle of the Bookstores" by Ali Brady

“For better or worse, my library has always grown faster than my social circle.” (Do you not feel that quote in your soul?)

Josie is the manager of a Boston bookstore that specializes in “serious” literature. She loves a good chunky book and loves recommending books to her customers.

Ryan manages a romance bookstore just down the street from Josie. He hates it when people denigrate romance as a genre or dismiss the books as frivolous.

Both bookstores are owned by the same person. Josie and Ryan are thrown when their boss tells them he wants to combine both of their stores into one—and only one of them will run the new store. He’ll decide after a three-month period in which the two stores will compete against each other for the highest sales.

The idea of competing with one another turns Ryan and Josie into enemies, and it seems as if neither can say anything to the other without sparking animosity. Of course, the chemistry between the two is so intense—but they’re too busy fighting one another to notice.

The more they get to know each other, they realize how good they are at running their stores and each has secret wounds they’re keeping from one another. Who will win the competition? Will enemies turn to lovers? Ali Brady knows how to weave a story with romance, steam, emotion, and humor. I absolutely loved this!!

Book Review: "A Love Like the Sun" by Riss M. Neilsen

I can’t seem to get enough romances with fake dating and friends to lovers tropes. And this book had both, so how could I resist?

Laniah and Issac have been friends since childhood. They’re kind of like family but at the same time, there’s an indisputable pull between them that tempted them once when they were teenagers.

Now, as adults, Issac is a famous influencer and brand spokesperson who has gained notoriety for both his art and his videos about relationships. Laniah is still in their hometown of Providence, running a natural hair products store with her mother. As much as Issac is a presence online, Laniah couldn’t be more private.

When Issac returns to the East Coast for the first time in a long while, he is surprised to learn that Laniah’s business is failing. He offers to bail her and her mother out financially, but she categorically refuses to take his money. So he mentions on his social media that they’re dating, and that’s all it takes.

The minute Issac mentions Laniah, business explodes. She reluctantly agrees to a fake relationship for the summer, so she can get her feet back under her financially and perhaps find an eager investor. But when the lines between friendship and love get blurred, how can you separate real from fake?

This book has been on my stack for a while but I’m so glad I read it. It’s beautifully written, emotionally evocative, and it has such well-drawn characters I couldn’t stop rooting for. This kind of relationship always melts my heart.

Book Review: "Every Tom, Dick & Harry" by Elinor Lipman

What a fun, bighearted book this was! I think I might have had a smile on my face from start to finish.

“I’ve been estate-sale adjacent since I could add and give change, spending weekends at a table, wrapping and bagging purchases.”

Emma moved back to her small hometown of Harrow, Massachusetts, where her parents still live. She helps out with their estate-sale business, and when they decide to retire to Cape Cod, Emma takes over the business (which she renames “Estate of Mind”) and their house.

She hears about a large house being put on the market, so she quickly reaches out to see if the owners would let her handle the estate sale. It turns out that this wasn’t just any house—it was a bed and breakfast as well as a brothel. (The customers used different sets of stairs.) Given all of the furnishings and other tchotchkes in the house, Emma expects quite a windfall, but she doesn’t count on the stress that dealing with the madam, her ex-husband, and their daughter will bring.

There are many other things going on in Harrow. Emma begins a secret romance with Luke, the chief of police, whom she went to high school with. Her boarder, Frank, a retired high school teacher, begins dating Luke’s widowed mother. And then there’s all the craziness related to Frank’s late wife…

Elinor Lipman’s books always have complex and memorable characters, and often are quite humorous. There’s a lot going on here but it’s just such a sweet, fun read. And boy, given all that’s going on in the U.S., it’s exactly what I needed!

The book will publish 2/11/2025.

Book Review: "I Think They Love You" by Julian Winters

Julian Winters is one of my auto-buy authors, so when I saw he had a new book coming out I was definitely excited. And as much as I’ve loved all of his YA books, learning this would be his first adult novel was even more exciting!

As the son of the CEO of 24 Carter Gold, Atlanta’s most prominent event planning company, Denz has always been expected to make a good impression. He’s tremendously conscious that someone is always watching him, which as an adult has translated into social media success for the company.

When his workaholic father announces his retirement and a search for the company’s new CEO, Denz decides to become a candidate. His family questions his seriousness and his commitment to things, so he tells them he has a boyfriend to prove them wrong.

Of course, now he has to find a boyfriend, or at least someone who’ll pretend to be one. The person to fill the role is the last person Denz is expecting: Braylon, his college boyfriend, who took a job in London after graduation and broke his heart. (Braylon needs Denz’s connections, so it’s not a one-sided fake relationship.)

As Denz jumps through hoops to try and prove his worthiness to be CEO, he and Braylon go all in on fake dating. Of course, there’s always some truth in every pretend relationship, but can either of them admit their true feelings before it’s too late?

I loved how much heart this book had. It’s not only a story about second chances; it’s also about family, friendship, ambition, fear, and trying to figure out what you want out of life. This is a sexy, romantic, emotional story, and proof that Julian Winters succeeds no matter what genre he’s in.

Book Review: "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at this book and thought about reading it. The cover cracks me up every time, so I took the plunge.

This is a creative book that is wacky as hell. Charlie used to be a happily married business journalist. Now he’s a divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in his late father’s house, which his siblings would like to sell from under him. He dreams of taking over the neighborhood pub—if only he can get $3.4 million.

Then he learns that his Uncle Jake, whom he hasn’t seen since he was 5, has died. There are lots of people who are happy he’s dead (once they’re sure he’s not faking it). It turns out that Uncle Jake was a billionaire, but his fortune wasn’t entirely legitimate.

Charlie suddenly finds himself in charge of his uncle’s super-villain empire. Now, he’s the target of all of those who wanted Jake dead. Figuring out what to do isn’t easy, but he can’t just hide out in his uncle’s secret volcano lair, can he? Luckily he has intelligent cats who can type, unionized (and foul mouthed) dolphins, and a few dangerous masterminds on his side.

“A stupid villain threatens, Charlie. A smarter villain offers a service.”

The book started out fairly normal but it gets crazier and crazier as the plot unfolds. I’m always amazed at the creativity of writers who can think of wild stories like this. I enjoyed it—although at times I felt like it was trying too hard—and thought it was a great change of pace from the heavier books I usually read.

Book Review: "Something Close to Nothing" by Tom Pyun

“Adulthood isn’t a fairy tale; long-term relationships don’t play out like a Hallmark movie. Relationships are primarily about having shared goals, like creating a family. You have to be in it for the long haul.”

Winston (Wynn) and Jared have been together for a number of years now. Jared is the responsible one; Wynn recently quit his corporate job to become a hip-hop dancer. But they’re about to take a major step: flying to Cambodia for the birth of their baby girl via a surrogate.

The thing is, Wynn isn’t so sure he wants to be a father. Jared may already be planning for their second child, but Wynn can’t imagine being tied down, forced to take care of a baby and give up his dreams. As they get ready to board the plane, Wynn flees, leaving Jared alone with no explanation.

Jared can’t believe that Wynn didn’t tell him sooner that he didn’t want a baby. But Jared desperately wants to be a father, so he makes the trip on his own and his mother meets him in Cambodia, where they await the birth of his daughter.

As Jared deals with the rigmarole of surrogacy in a foreign country and then settles in back at home in San Francisco with his new daughter, Wynn is trying to find himself and get started on his new dance career. Jared devotes himself to fatherhood while Wynn auditions for a singer’s comeback tour and teaches dance in different countries. Both think the other is self-centered and wonder if they made a mistake, but try to get on with their lives.

Neither character is entirely likable, but you can see how they are both right and completely wrong for one another. This is a book about what it feels like to realize you need to grow up, and how you don’t have to give yourself up to be with someone else. It’s both a funny and sad story, and very thought-provoking.

Book Review: "Shell Games" by Bonnie Kistler

Whoa. This book had me hooked from the very first page, and I barely moved from the couch in the few hours it took me to read it!

Kate Sawyer was a force to be reckoned with. She was a multimillionaire, a shrewd real estate developer, and well connected in both Florida society and state politics. She always did things her way—and that didn’t make life easy for her daughter, Julie, who felt like she was always living in her mother’s shadow.

When Kate marries her high school sweetheart Charlie, 50+ years after they first dated, it appears that she’s finally getting the happy ending she deserves. But on their wedding night, Charlie admits that he was behind one of the most notorious crimes from several decades ago. Horrified, Kate calls the police.

When Charlie’s alibi from back then checks out, no one is sure what has occurred. Charlie says he never admitted anything to Kate; Kate thinks Charlie is gaslighting her and trying to prove her mentally incompetent; and Julie’s husband Eric thinks Kate is in the early stages of dementia.

Julie worries about her mother, whose behavior becomes much more erratic since her wedding night. She isn’t sure what to think. Is her mother starting to lose her mind? Is Charlie trying to get Kate’s money by questioning her mental state? And why is Eric involved? Julie starts to wonder about her own marriage as well.

I love books when you can’t figure out whom you should trust, or how things are ultimately going to unfold. I kept waiting to see what the truth was and which characters I should be rooting for, and while Julie was an annoying character for a part of the storyline, I could find justification for her actions. This one kept me guessing!

Book Review: "Marshmallow Mountain" by A.J. Truman and M.A. Wardell

An M/M romance that’s part of a series called “Big Boys, Small Spaces,” and the characters are both Jewish? I couldn’t have loved this any more than I did.

Marshall and Marshall (aka “Data”) were together for eight years, when Marshall unceremoniously ended their relationship, saying he needed time and space. Marshall is an aspiring comedian and Data is an accountant.

The two haven’t spoken in six months, so Data is shocked to get a phone call from Marshall. He suggests the two of them travel up to Maine to pack up the cabin they co-own, so they can sell it. Data is still angry and hurt, so he’s determined to pack everything up over the weekend, and then he won’t have to see Marshall again. But of course, neither of them are counting on a snowstorm which strands them together at the cabin.

“I’m not good. I’m stuck in a cabin with my ex who broke my heart six months ago and is now attempting to pick his way inside to do more damage by having amazing sex with me multiple times before we pack up and sell the damn place. I should write a country song.”

Between multiple rounds of breakup sex, the two talk about where things went wrong; each of their anxieties about life, work, and family; and keep getting distracted from finishing the packing. But how could you not root for two guys with the same first name?

Both Truman and Wardell are great authors in their own right, but this first collaboration hit the spot. It’s super steamy, emotional, romantic, and funny, and you can bet I’m ready for Book 2 in the series!

Book Review: "Don't Go Bakin' My Heart" by Shane K. Morton

Like I could resist a book with this title? This was as good as I hoped it would be.

Foggy Basin is a quintessential small town in California, not too far from San Francisco. Many of the businesses in town have existed for years, but recently a resort developer has been trying to convince the owners to sell, so a gigantic resort and golf course could be built. And they’re not above making offers that would allow the owners to live quite well.

Percy grew up in town, and his parents owned a bakery called Don’t Go Bakin’ My Heart. When they were ready to retire, Percy left his job as a pastry chef at a Michelin-starred hotel in Europe to buy the bakery from them. It’s hard keeping a business going, but the bakery is in his blood.

Percy and Ben grew up together, and became very close, until Ben became afraid of his feelings and proceeded to treat everyone, especially Percy, cruelly for four years of high school. Ben couldn’t wait to leave Foggy Basin and never look back. He’s on the verge of becoming partner at the development company where he works, but his promotion depends on him convincing the business owners of Foggy Basin to sell and make way for the resort.

Percy can’t believe Ben has returned after 10 years. Their feelings for one another still burn intensely, but Percy has to get over his resentment of how Ben treated him in high school. As they draw together again, there’s one little secret—the reason Ben has returned—that can tear them apart for good.

Did I guess how the book would go just from the description? Yes, but did it matter? Nope. This is a sweet, emotional, sexy love story with more than a touch of pastry, and the characters were just terrific. I’m looking forward to a return to Foggy Basin!

Book Review: "Book of the Month" by Jennifer Probst

This was a fun summer read as the season ends, meteorologically, at least. My thanks to Jennifer Probst, Get Red PR Books, and Blue Box Press for the complimentary advance copy.

Aspen’s first novel was an overnight success. But after writing two more books, all readers can still talk about is her first. Is she washed up already? Destined to be a one-book wonder?

What made her first book so good and so meaningful was that it was based on her own heartbreak and anguish and rage. But since she has barely dated since the breakup that inspired her to write, her subsequent books haven’t connected emotionally with her readers. She needs to write another hit. Fast.

Hoping a change of scenery will help, she travels to the Outer Banks to stay with her sister for the summer. Aspen believes that if she can find a man to romance her and then break her heart, she’ll tap into her literary mojo once again. And she finds the perfect man: Brick Babel, a handsome local with a reputation for hot sex and then emotional destruction. (There’s even a support group for women dealing with the aftereffects of dating him.)

Despite the fact that everyone—including her sister—warns her about Brick, she’s determined. It doesn’t help that he rejects her every advance. But when she offers him money to save the tour business he inherited, in exchange for some love and heartbreak, he reluctantly agrees. Yet when the sparks start flying for real, it becomes more difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.

I love fake dating romances, so this hit the spot. I didn’t always love Aspen’s character, but Brick and the supporting characters were so good, even Dug the dog. Crazily enough, I’ve yet to read any other of Jennifer Probst’s books, so I’m ready for more.

The book publishes 10/22.

Book Review: "Blood in the Cut" by Alejandro Nodarse

If you are a vegan or vegetarian, or if detailed descriptions of butchering might make you feel squeamish, you’ll probably want to skip this book. You could also skim those scenes as I did, but there are more than a few.

Iggy Guerra is released from a Florida prison and returns home to chaos. His mother has died, his father is healing his grief through alcohol and mysterious activities late at night, and the family butcher shop, La Carnicería Guerra, is in financial trouble. Iggy’s father doesn’t want him around, but he promised his mother he’d try to be patient with his father, so he’s doing the best he can.

It’s not long before Iggy discovers there are threats from all sides. There’s a new high-end restaurant/butcher shop scheduled to open just down the block, his father is in debt to a dangerous big-game hunter in the Everglades, and there’s an animal rights vigilante looking to make people pay for their wrongdoings.

The last thing Iggy wants is to go back to prison, but he keeps finding himself in situations that test his patience, his hunger for revenge, and his need to protect the family business. Orin, the big-game hunter, wants Iggy to take over the business deal he had with his father, a deal that is not only illegal and unethical, but immensely dangerous. But what will refusing Orin lead to?

This is a raw, tense, brooding book, with moments of surprising emotion among the violence and suspense. It definitely has glimpses of S.A. Cosby’s books in the ways it looks at how flawed people are forced into decisions they don’t want, but might be compelled to make.

Blood in the Cut is Alejandro Nodarse’s debut, and I definitely look forward to seeing what he does next. The pacing is a bit uneven, but I found Iggy to be a fascinating character I couldn’t help rooting for.

Book Review: "Beneath the Surface" by Kaira Rouda

Rich people behaving badly and family dysfunction are always signs of an entertaining read. When I saw that a second book in this series was recently published, I figured I’d pick up the first.

Richard is the billionaire CEO of his family company. As he has been getting older, both of his sons are wondering what Richard’s plans are for the company’s future. So when each gets an invitation to join Richard and his fifth wife, Serena, on his new yacht for a weekend trip to Catalina Island, each thinks that Richard is ready to name them his successor.

When both Ted and John arrive at the yacht with their wives, they’re less than pleased to discover that the other has been invited. So now the challenge is for each brother to outmaneuver the other and prove to their father that they’re worthy to run the company.

No one can count on the tricks and surprises Richard has up his sleeve, or just how rough the water is during the trip. And when his estranged daughter Sibley arrives, she wreaks havoc in different ways.

This is one of those books where everyone has secrets, everyone has grudges against others, and even the wives want a piece of the pie. Who will walk away with what they want? And what does Richard have in store for his family?

There isn’t a likable character in the bunch, so I wasn’t rooting for anyone. The twists come fast and furious—some were surprising and some were predictable—but it was a quick and entertaining read, and I’ll be interested to see what Rouda does in the sequel.

Book Review: "Kilt Trip" by Alexandra Kiley

I am a sucker for a Scottish accent and a man in a kilt, so of course I bought this as soon as I spotted it in the bookstore!! And after reading the book, Scotland remains near the top of my travel bucket list!

Her work as a travel consultant has given Addie the opportunity to travel all over the globe. But when her next assignment—to help a struggling family-run tour company—sends her to Scotland, a country she has been avoiding because of painful memories, she puts a smile on her face and prepares to do her job.

Logan is ready to fully take the reins of his family’s tour company when his father retires. Ruggedly handsome (especially when wearing a kilt), he looks like he stepped off the set of Highlander, and he excels at getting tourists excited about the magic of his home country. But unfortunately, the company hasn’t been turning a profit, which is where Addie comes in.

Sparks fly between Addie and Logan immediately, but that’s doesn’t mean he’ll be receptive to her recommendations, especially if it means adding more touristy stops to their tours. But when he realizes that Addie has avoided Scotland all this time because of its ties to her late mother, he’s determined to help her find those connections.

The harder they fall for one another, the more Addie realizes what she’s been running from for so long. She also is inspired by Logan’s ideas to bring the tour company into more modern (and profitable) times. Can they trust each other enough to let their hearts go? And can Addie convince her boss to buy into Logan’s vision for the company?

I always love banter in my romances, and there’s some good stuff here. Throw in some sexy steam, some unresolved grief, and enjoyable supporting characters, and you get a fun, sweet, and sexy debut!!

Book Review: "The Same Bright Stars" by Ethan Joella

That feeling when an author whose two previous books have been on your best-of lists writes a new book that surpasses them all. Thank you, Ethan Joella, for leaving me smiling, sniffling, and utterly in awe about how easily your stories pull me in.

Schmidt’s restaurant has been a fixture in Rehoboth Beach for three generations now. Jack Schmidt has been at the helm for years, running the place his grandmother and father devoted their lives to. And Jack has done the same—put the restaurant and its staff above everything else in his life, including relationships, travel, even simple relaxation.

The DelDine group has been purchasing family-owned and small restaurants all over Delaware, and they’ve cast their sights on Schmidt’s. Jack has absolutely no intention of selling his family’s legacy, but the more tired he gets, the more he wonders if maybe he deserves to put himself first for once.

As he ponders the decision, he thinks about the paths he could have taken, the chances he passed up, and the regrets he has. He worries about his employees and whether DelDine will honor their promise to take care of them if he sells. And when he learns of a secret hidden from him for years, he wonders if this is the sign he needs to act.

The richness of this story, the depth of the characters, the emotions and images it evokes, all blew me away. This is a gorgeous story about family, friendship, love, loyalty, regret, hope, and possibility. I will never get enough of how well Joella tells a story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Scribner Books, and Ethan for the advance copy! The book will publish 7/2.