The Snowbirds: a couple heads south for the winter and finds themselves at a crossroads

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is a story of a couple who flees the Midwest winter in Palm Springs and finds their relationship at a crossroads. For thirty years, Kim and Grant had a great “separate but together” partnership, raising their twin daughters together. However, when the realities of middle age have reared its ugly head, flying south for the winter seemed to be the perfect solution. Kim immediately feels at home at the Le Desert community while Grant struggles. When Grant goes missing while on a hike, Kim faces two possibilities: Grant is truly lost or he has finally left her. As the search for Grant proceeds, Kim searches their life together and asks the question what does it take to truly commit to someone for a lifetime. Will Grant be found? Is their life together over? 

In The Snowbirds, Ms. Clancy sets out to explore “the redemptive power of finding ourselves and being found” with “compassion and humor” starts out great and what it means to truly commit to someone. However, while the story started out great, as the story jumps into the search for Grant and flashbacks to their life together, it quickly falls flat as Kim and Grant are hard to relate to and even unlikeable, especially in the story’s flashbacks. It is hard for me to relate to the “separate but together” partnerships, which can happen in unmarried and married couples. Overall, I was bored. I didn’t really care for Kim and her search for Grant. While I may not be the right reader for this type of story, there are readers out there who might connect with the characters and their relationships. 

The Snowbirds will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on February 4, 2025

Chasing Valentino: romance and old Hollywood

Chasing Valentino is the first book in the Hollywood by the Sea series by Julie Carobini. Greta grew up knowing that her great grandmother, Elizabeth, had starred with Rudolph Valentino in the 1921 film, The Sheik. She also wondered why she gave it up for a less-than glamorous life. When a 100 year old postcard arrives in the mailbox, new questions arise. As her life is currently at a stand still, she decides to head to California and trace her great-gran’s footsteps. Unfortunately, when she arrives in the fabled Hollywood by the Sea. she didn’t expect her grumpy neighbor, Dr Zac Holt, to insult her at their first meeting. Zac has developed a sour attitude but he can’t help but be drawn to Greta’s warmth and curious nature. His attempts to make amends are met with caution as Greta didn’t come looking for love but for answers. Can her search into the past heal them both and give a future…together? 

Rudolph Valentino was the first heartthrob and with his sudden death sent shockwaves through the world and into Hollywood history. Chasing Valentino is a love letter to the old Hollywood and the power of discovering yourself in the past. At first, Greta and Zac were hard characters to love as they had their own hurts and struggles and yet their subtle but sweet romance was endearing to read. I wouldn’t call it a grumpy-sunshine romance, more like grumpy-grumpy romance as they both had been jaded by love. However, as they spend time together, following the path of her great-grandmother, they find just a bit of hope in love again. I loved their friendship with mutual neighbors, Helen and Gus. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Chasing Valentino. I enjoyed the look into the early days of Hollywood, the myths and legends surrounding Hollywood’s first heartthrob and that romance wasn’t over the top. If you love old Hollywood and romance, I recommend Chasing Valentino. 

Chasing Valentino is available in paperback and eBook

Simon Peter: the man who is an example of God's forgiveness and restoration

The first words Jesus said to the fisherman, Simon, were “Come, Follow me” (Mark 1:17) and his last words were “You must follow me” (John 21:22). Simon had heard Jesus speak before this invitation as his brother, Andrew, would bring him to listen to speak. While Simon would stumble, he never failed to follow. He was an ordinary fisherman going about his ordinary day when his life and world would drastically change. He would become a new person with a new vision and a new purpose. However, he would be far from perfect. We may wonder what Jesus saw in Simon, and I’m sure even Simon wondered what he saw in him as Jesus would rename him Peter, the rock. Simon was hotheaded and impulsive, far from the steady rock he was supposed to be. His impulsivity would become boldness as he preached Jesus and his gospel. 

The Sea of Galilee was a large lake with approximately 30 fishing towns along its shores, Capernaum was the largest. As a fisherman, Simon didn’t shy away from hard work and long days. Along with his brother, Andrew and their friends, John and James, son of Zebedee, he spent hours on the waters of the Sea of Galilee, casting large nets in order to gather large amounts of fish. He was a strong man with many accomplishments as one of Jesus’s chosen twelve. He became a recognized leader among the disciples and one of the inner three with John and James. Simon Peter would be there to witness the Transfiguration and get a glimpse of the glorified Jesus. He was the great voice of the gospel before, during and after Pentecost. He may have given Mark the information he needed to write his gospel. He was also flawed and the gospels are filled with his weaknesses and shortcomings. Simon Peter often spoke rashly, brashly and without thinking. He would deny Jesus three times as Jesus predicted, despite Simon Peter’s adamant statements that he never would. He also had a hard time accepting that Jesus’s message was for all: Jews and Gentiles alike. Traditions hold that Peter was crucified upside down as he felt unworthy to die as his Lord did. 

While tradition holds that Peter gave John Mark, a fellow follower of Jesus, his account in order to write the Gospel of Mark, Peter did write his own letters to believers. 1 Peter is a letter to encourage those Christians who were suffering. He had known suffering. Peter had been persecuted, brought in front of Sanhedrin and imprisoned by the Romans for preaching the gospel. He wrote in 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed where his glory is revealed.” 2 Peter was a warning against false prophecies and false teachers. False teachers will tell people anything for money (2 Peter 2:3). It is a warning that believers today need to heed as many false teachers have profited off believers’ faith and reverence for teachers. False teachers will “introduce destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1) and will exploit believers for their greed (2 Peter 2:3).

There are lessons we can learn from Simon Peter’s life. First, enthusiasm for the gospel has to be backed by faith and understanding. It is not enough to believe in the gospel and have faith in it; we need to know it, by reading it and studying it. Second, God’s faithfulness can compensate for our moments of great unfaithfulness. Peter had one of the greatest moment of unfaithfulness when he denied knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, and John 18:17,25-27) after swearing that he would never deny him (Matthew 26:33.35 and Mark 14:29,31). When Jesus appeared after the resurrection, He would offer forgiveness by having Peter profess his love three times (John 21:15:17). By professing his love three times, Peter is forgiven and restored. Third, it is better to be a follower who fails and gets back up than one who fails to follow at all. Peter is a follower who failed many times. He was often rebuked for speaking rashly. He started to sink in the water as he took his eyes off of Jesus. But he was a follower who got back up after each failure and became a revered figure. Jesus doesn’t need us to be perfect. He needs us to believe and follow. 

As a disciple, Simon Peter is considered a saint and therefore perfect. He was far from perfect. He was a flawed man, a working man, chosen by Jesus and his impulsivity became boldness for the gospel, becoming a great leader of the early church. However, it is important for us to remember he wasn’t perfect, even as he walked with Jesus, he was ruled by his emotions, spoke his mind even when he should have been listening and often acted before he should have. Remember, God doesn’t want perfection. He wants us to love Him with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds (Matthew 22:37). Simon Peter is an example for us that when we fail, God is there to forgive and restore us when we repent. We will make mistakes, but what is important is to turn to God when we do. 

I highly recommend You Will Be Peter by Jerry Lathan with Steven Manchester. It is a great emotional account of who Simon Peter was and how he became the Bible figure we know today. It is available in hardcover and eBook

Good Dirt: one woman's emotional journey into the past to find her future

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson is the story of one woman’s journey to piece together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom and finds herself in the process. When Ebby Freeman was ten years old, a gunshot shattered her family and a priceless heirloom as her beloved brother, Baz, lying on the floor and the centuries old jar in pieces next to him. As the case goes unsolved, it remains a point of interest for the public as the Freemans are one of the only Black families in a very well-to-do neighborhood of New England. As Ebby’s fiancé leaves her at the altar, the family’s history is once again a source of public talk. To escape the scrutiny and heal her wounded heart, Ebby flees to France. As she begins to process her family’s suffering and her own heartache, she discovers the key to her future is in the handcrafted pottery, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. 

After reading Black Cake, Charmaine Wilkerson’s beautiful debut, I knew I was in for an emotional journey with the characters of Good Dirt. And Good Dirt did not disappoint. Without knowing the full history of the jar, my heart broke when I read how it shattered and it broke more as the stories involving the jar were revealed. I loved how Ebby finds her future in the stories of her family’s past and finds strength of her ancestors within herself. Ms Wilkerson beautifully tackles grief, racism, the importance of our ancestries, mental health and trauma. I especially loved her portrayal of how deep and complex grief can be even years after the events. Good Dirt has a bit of mystery woven with history, romance and drama. It is a book that you will need to take your time reading, especially after the highly emotional chapters, in order to really absorb and digest what happened. I highly recommend Good Dirt. 

Good Dirt is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Realm of Ice and Sky: a time of innovation, discovery and tragedy

Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue by Buddy Levy is an in depth recounting of the untold stories of the Arctic exploration. Walter Wellman was an Arctic explorer and visionary whose public image has been one of a self-promoting egomaniac known for catastrophic rather than his successes. In truth, he was a courageous innovator who was willing to push boundaries and was one of the many on the road to the ultimate conquest of the North Pole. Author Buddy Levy sets out to show that Wellman wanted to get to the North Pole by airship. Along with Wellman’s innovative plans, there were many men who claimed to be the first to the North Pole, leading to successes and tragic failures. One of those men was Italian explorer Umberto Nobile. Backed by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, a journey would end in disaster, death that launched one of the greatest rescues and horrifying accusations.

In an age of exploration and travel innovation, brave and curious men thought of different ways to explore the unknown. In a thrilling narrative of polar exploration, Buddy Levy brings light to the use of the airship in the exploration and the men who blazed the trail and sacrificed everything in order to make history. Most know the famous Sir Edmund Hillary and Robert Peary as they explored a path to the poles. However, Realm of Ice and Sky opened the history book to bring to light to the other men who also strived to make it to the arctic. I had never heard of Walter Wellman and his airship or the tragedy and aftermath involving Umberto Nobile. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the men who risked it all. Author Buddy Levy takes history and makes it an interesting and thrilling read. If you enjoy history, innovation and those who braved to explore the unknown, I highly recommend Realm of Ice and Sky. 

Realm of Ice and Sky will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on January 28, 2025

All Good Things: images may not be as they appear

All Good Things by Amanda Prowse is a story that reminds us that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Daisy Harrop envies the seemingly perfect family next door. However, one weekend of drama could shatter the image forever. Daisy feels she lives in the background as her family’s home is the shabbiest on the street, especially next to the well-taken care of Kelleway home. Winnie Kelleway is proud of the family she and her husband have built. As the family gathers to celebrate their milestone anniversary, the cracks start to show and as one revelation starts a domino effect of other revelations, things start getting out of control. Daisy and Winnie both are about to learn that looks can be deceiving. 

Amanda Prowse books are known for emotional stories and life lessons. I was looking forward to the same in All Good Things. The story started out great as Daisy laments about her life compared to her neighbors. However, as readers meet the various neighbors, we can see that Daisy doesn't really know them at all. There are different points of view for various chapters and the chapters were far too long that they dragged. The characters were unlikeable and the one of the “shocking” revelations is almost too cliched at this point that it isn’t so shocking to me anymore. Overall, the story was okay. Not one of Ms Prowse’s best but I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. 

All Good Things is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Lies We Tell Ourselves: a psychological thriller where all may not be as it appears

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Steena Holmes is a psychological thriller where all may not be as it appears. Lies twist, taunt and tear apart lives. Paige Fischer hates lies and how destructive they are, at least on the surface. Deep inside, she is living the biggest lie of them all and she can feel it all falling away. Twelve years ago, Jessica, her identical twin sister, disappeared and Paige is to blame. As an adult, Paige is working to right the wrongs as best as she can and she can’t really move forward with her life. There is a dangerous cat and mouse game being played by someone close to Paige. Every step now needs to be taken carefully as one lie, one phone call, one twisted truth and lives could be in danger. 

I have read Ms Holmes’s books in the past and they have been compelling and intriguing. The book opens with an unidentified woman, badly beaten in the hospital, and takes readers into the past. Back and forth between Paige’s point of view and the woman in the hospital, readers are presented with the mystery as to her identity. Who is she? Paige presents the circumstances around Jessica’s disappearance and the present day events. Unfortunately, the story is not as gripping as I had hoped. The woman in the hospital was easy to figure out after a few chapters. There also were way too many minor characters in and out of the story and the “who did it” was anticlimactic. The ending felt rushed. Overall, I did not enjoy Lies We Tell Ourselves and I do not recommend it. 

Lies We Tell Ourselves is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

An Unexpected Love Story: a second chance romantic comedy

An Unexpected Love Story by Ellie Hall is a part of the Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com series. Catherine Kittredge has always played it safe when it comes to love. Preferring book boyfriends to real ones even though she dreams of love, marriage and a family. It doesn’t help when a ghost from her past appears in her path. Kellan Connolly, her nemesis and former love of her life, is the newest client at the publicity firm where Catherine works as a coffee-girl. When her roommate finds her old Boyfriend Book, she makes a dare with Catherine: go on five dates and pick one to be her Valentine. Catherine reluctantly agrees. However, each date fails to be her one true love and Kellan won’t go away. In fact, he has a secret. When he writes her a love letter, she has a decision to make. Will she take a risk and give him a second chance? 

I love second chance romances and I loved this book’s cute cover, so I was looking forward to a cute, sweet romance comedy. However, from the first chapter, I could not stand Catherine. I thought she was whiny and childish and it didn’t get better. Even with her “growth” by the end of the novel seemed off. The mystery to why she disliked Kellan dragged on for far too long that by the time it was revealed, I didn’t care anymore. While the reveal should have been emotional and an “oh my gosh” moment, it just wasn’t there. Even Kellan’s character was lacking and I couldn’t see why Catherine would care so much. Overall, I was bored and did not care for the characters or their love story. It was not the rom-com I was expecting. I will not be reading the other books in this series. I do not recommend An Unexpected Love Story. 

An Unexpected Love Story is available in paperback and eBook

Where We Belong: the power of friendship and the courage to pursue one's dreams

Where We Belong is the first book in Kellie Coates Gilbert’s new Teton Mountain series. Charlie Grace Rivers is a divorced mother who works hard on the family ranch and juggles with small town life in Thunder Mountain, Wyoming. In a gusty movie, she decides to create the Teton Trails Guest Ranch where tourists come and see a working ranch and the beauty of Wyoming. Only her grouchy father seems to question every decision and oversteps when he hires her cheating ex-husband, Gibbs, to work on the ranch. With the support of her three best friends, Charlie Grace takes each challenge head on. When Nick Thatcher, one of her first guests, catches her eye, she can’t help but think there is a chance for love again. However, there is a problem. Nick is a part of the production team for a television show being filmed nearby and won’t be staying. 

A heartwarming journey of the courage to start over, with the power of friendship and the dreams of something more, Where We Belong is an incredible story of one woman’s journey to buck all expectations and follow her heart. Charlie Grace is a woman who is not afraid of hard work and is determined to make her new dream a financial reality, regardless of the opposition she gets. Relatable and inspiring, Charlie Grace is a character worthy to root for. I loved her friends. Capri, Reva and Lila, all who have their own issues and struggles and yet are there at the drop of a hat for each other. There is plenty of drama as a community member throws her weight around and I loved the scene where she gets shot down. The romance between Charlie Grace and Nick is sweet. If you love stories of community, friendship and pursuing one’s dreams, I highly recommend Where We Belong. 

Where We Belong is available in paperback and eBook

Snowflakes and Sparks: a cringey small town second chance romance

Snowflakes and Sparks is the first book in the Old Pine Cove series by Sophie-Leigh Robbins. When Suzie is asked to temporarily manage a store during the busy Christmas season, she jumps at the chance. However, the store is in the small town of Old Pine Cove. The one place she swore she would never set foot in again. The last time she was in town, she created a disaster so embarrassing, Suzie knew the town would never forget. With a promotion on the line, she has no choice and is determined to do her job as quietly as possible. When she discovers that Alex Denverton lives next door, the only person she hoped never to see again, her plan becomes harder to do. Will Suzie be in for a truly magical Christmas or one more disaster she’ll never live down? 

I enjoy cheesy Hallmark style Christmas romance stories. The quick, feel good, life changing type of romances that are very popular. However, Snowflakes and Sparks is not just cheesy but cringey as well. I understand embarrassing moments and the desire to move past them. Suzie from the moment she arrives in town, she doesn’t act like she wants to keep a low profile. She jumps into situations that would only lead to embarrassment because she didn’t stop and think. She also was not likeable at all. She’s supposed to be in her late 20s but talks and acts like a teenager. I did not sympathize with her and her situation. Alex was okay and the town just didn’t have the small town vibe. Overall, I did not like the characters or this story. I do not recommend Snowflakes and Sparks. 

Snowflakes and Sparks is available in paperback and eBook

Something Old: a fresh start in a new town

Something Old is the first book in The Second Chance Shop series by Ev Bishop. Madeline’s world came crumbling down when she lost her husband, daughter and sister in a fatal car accident. Tired of the limbo of grief and loneliness, she decides to move to a small town and open a second hand shop. A dream that she shared with her daughter. She doesn't know if it will work but she is determined to make it work. As opening day gets closer and closer, she finds that there is hope in life after all. She finds herself with friends again, laughing and even adopting a moody old cat. Could there even be a second chance for love? Can she find the strength to fully embrace life again? 

I love stories about finding the strength and courage to move forward after a tragic event. I looked forward to reading Madeline’s new life in this small town. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to really connect with Madeline or the people she meets along the way. I admire her determination to start living again and feeling a fresh start in a new town was her only option. There was very little conversation other than surface communication. I feel the conservation really didn’t get deep enough especially on such hard topics as loss and grief. There are a lot of silent musings and internal dialogues that slowed the story down. Overall, the story was okay; however, I will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy second chances for life and love, you may enjoy Something Old. 

Something Old is available in paperback and eBook

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows: an enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is the first book in the Kingsmen Football Stars series by Piper Rayne. Lee Burrows may be the Kingsmen’s star quarterback with the legendary arm. He may have six-pack abs and kissable lips. But to Shayna Kudrow, Lee Burrows is the man who broke her heart in college. She has spent the years since recovering from his actions and worked hard to become a sport therapist for a professional team. However, her new job is with the San Francisco Kingsmen. Determined to be the cool professional, Shayna won’t give him the time of day. Unfortunately, Lee refuses to take the hint. He is also determined. Determined to apologize for what happened in college and convince her for a second chance because what they had going then is still burning bright. 

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance love story filled with fun banter, laughs and steamy, sweet romance. After reading the prequel, False Start, last year, I could not wait to dive into the Kingsmen Football series. You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows does not disappoint. I loved Lee’s determination to explain and redeem himself to Shayna. It is evident that the torch still burns bright for him. I also loved Shayna’s resolve to not let their past keep her from her dream job as she fights to acknowledge her feelings for Lee are still there. When the barriers are finally broken, it is romantic, sweet and very touchy. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you love romance and football, I highly recommend You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. I also recommend False Start, although you do not need to read it to enjoy You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows. 

You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

False Start is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Looking for Love (Sort Of): a second chance romance at a high school reunion

Looking for Love (Sort of) by Meg Easton is a second chance romance. High School Reunions are either exciting or dreaded. Chloe is reluctantly going to her ten year reunion, which is going to be strange. The old high school has been turned into a hotel and event center. Imagine sleeping in a room that used to be an old classroom. What she wasn’t expecting was her high crush to walk through the door. Chloe is certain he didn’t even know she existed so it shouldn’t matter if he was there or not. Josh Trevorrow was very aware of Chloe in high school and even harbored his own crush. Will he use the opportunity to get to know Chloe now? Or will old high school haunts keep them apart? 

As someone who does not attend school reunions, I always find reunion stories interesting as if to live vicariously through the characters. This novella is short, sweet and oh so fun! Chloe and Josh were great characters. They hit it off so well at the reunion that I could totally see them as a couple in high school. If only they spoke up! And what is a high school reunion without a bit of drama and little misunderstanding? But it all works out as the final romance scene of the book was so fun and left me grinning from ear to ear. It was so sweet! If you are looking for a fast paced, short read for an afternoon of romance and laughs, I highly recommend Looking for Love (Sort Of). 

Looking for Love (Sort Of) is available in paperback

The Secret Year: a romance no one knew about and a grief he could not express

The Secret Year is a young adult romance by Jennifer R Hubbard. Colt Morrissey had a secret relationship with Julia for an entire year and no one had a clue. They seemingly had nothing in common. Julia comes from the country club world and Colt is from the other side of the tracks; but it didn’t seem to matter to them. Until one day when Julia dies in a car accident and Colt pays a price for their secret. He can’t mourn her in the way he wants to and is even tormented with his possible role in her accident. When Julia’s brother hands him a journal Julia wrote to “CM,” Colt relives their time together as he tries to move on as if he never knew her. Can her words help him move on? 

Advertised as a mixture of Romeo and Juliet and The Outsiders, I was looking forward to a drama filled story about two teens and a secret love. However, it was disappointing. The author does a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing.” It is horribly cliched with the rich girl and the poor guy, the homophobic family and the stereotypical high school characters. And Romeo and Juliet meets The Outsiders is misleading. Romeo and Juliet is not a romantic story and the boy and girl from opposite sides of town whose parents aren’t really forbidding their romance aren't the same. Also, The Outsiders is a beloved favorite of mine and this story just doesn’t not compare! Colt is weak and has no growth throughout the story. I do not recommend The Secret Year. 

The Secret Year is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Finders, Keepers: a modern day Cinderella story with humor and spice

Finders, Keepers is the prequel to the Helios series by Chloe Holiday. When Farrah Day catches her boyfriend, Justin, getting very hands on with a model at a company party, she runs. She ends up in a bad part of town after dark, she ducks into a bar where straight-laced Caleb Hirsch steps up to be the hero. With an impulsive move, she decides to go home with Caleb for a round of revenge sex. It is amazing but when Justin texts an apology, swearing nothing happened, she feels guilty and sneaks out. She strives to do better but she can’t get Caleb out of her head. When Caleb wakes up alone, he is determined to find her again and his only clue to the mitten she left behind. Will he be able to find her?

 Finders, Keepers is a fast paced novella with a sexy modern day Cinderella twist and plenty of humor and spice. This story is sweet, although I did not care for the revenge cheating aspect. However, Farrah does get a taste of what she is missing in her relationship with Justin and it is one of the reasons she can’t get Caleb out of her head. I loved Caleb as the modern day Prince Charming determined to find Cinderella and return her missing mitten. I also loved that he remembered things Farrah talked about her hobbies and used that information to try and bump into her again. I enjoyed the set up for the Helios series and l look forward to reading the series. If you enjoy fast paced stories with humor and spice, I recommend Finders, Keepers. 

Finders, Keepers is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Little Something Sweet: a second chance romance with not so secret matchmakers

A Little Something Sweet is the first book in the Caribou Falls series by Laura Ashwood. Megan Turner never wanted to return to her hometown but her mom is sick and needs her help. Making the most of the situation, she restores a local bakery and makes it her own. What she didn’t count on is the handsome contractor to be her ex-high sweetheart, the one person she was hoping to avoid. Jake Sullivan lost the love of his life to a stupid mistake that broke Megan’s heart and left him a divorced single dad. Now, he just focuses on raising his son and building his business. When he is hired to do the renovation of Megan’s bakery, he is determined to keep it professional. But can a town filled with matchmakers ignite the spark again? 

A Little Something Sweet is a sweet second chance romance that is great for an afternoon of reading. It is a clean romance with no spice and a happily ever after. A fast paced story that kept me engaged and rooting for Jake and Megan. I loved both characters. They were both relatable, engaging and easy to love as they struggled with their lost love and hopes for a brighter future. Their interactions were great from cool indifference to obvious attraction. I loved watching the ice thaw between them and they acknowledged their remaining feelings. I also loved all their supporting characters and look forward to seeing a few of them with their own stories. If you love sweet romances with a happily ever after, I highly recommend A Little Something Sweet. 

A Little Something Sweet is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Collar Me Crazy: ordinary people, canine companionship and extraordinary life experiences

Collar Me Crazy is the second book in the Dragonfly Cove Dog Park series by Kay Bratt. Emily Dixon is a ghostwriter while dreaming of writing her own stories. After the urging of her friend, she reluctantly adopts a puppy named Daisy. She is unsure if she is cut out to be a dog owner but one fateful day at the local dog park puts her life on a path she could never imagine. All Emily wanted was to wear out Daisy and clear her head. Marigold “Mari” Sanchez has a very sick puppy and something about her story doesn’t sit right with Emily. Along with Officer Kuno Fischer, Emily embarks on an investigation into some nefarious activities and along the way, fighting an undeniable attraction to her new puppy and the handsome officer. 

The Dragonfly Cove Dog Park series is a heartwarming set of books, each written by amazing authors from Kay Bratt, Tammy L Grace and Barbara Hinske, that blend ordinary people, canine companionship and extraordinary life experiences. Collar Me Crazy is a heartwarming story with a hint of suspense and romance. There were moments which I held my breath, moments which broke my heart and moments that I smiled and sighed. I enjoyed Emily as she finds a new purpose in life with friends and even romance. I loved Kuno as a cop with heart. The animal characters are sweet and full of hijinks as well. I am looking forward to the rest of the stories in this series. If you love heartwarming stories with animals, I highly recommend Collar Me Crazy. 

Collar Me Crazy is available in eBook