The Marine's Marriage: a grumpy-sunshine romance with faith, hope and healing

The Marine’s Marriage is the first book in the Fuller Family in Brush Creek series by Liz Isaacson. After retiring from the Marines, Tate Benson has arrived in Nowhere, Utah in order to fix up his late grandfather’s house and join the local police department. Wren Fuller has her days filled with running the family’s cleaning company. While Tate calls and needs a maid for that morning, Wren decides to clean the house herself. She discovers that Tate is her new neighbor and behind his rude exterior hides a kind heart and a wounded soul. As Tate keeps his cool exterior, he and Wren can’t help but be drawn to each other. The Marine and the maid seem to be a match made in heaven. Can their new relationship weather the storms of past wounds and look to the hope of the future? 

The Marine’s Marriage is a grumpy-sunshine romance with hope, healing and faith. It is a fast read, fairly short. A perfect book for an afternoon of reading. I enjoyed the introduction of Wren and Tate. Wren is the quirky member of the Fuller clan who wears the shirts that irritate her mother. And Tate is the man carrying more than physical wounds. Their first meeting was funny with great banter as Wren goes toe-to-toe with grumpy Tate. The romance between Wren and Tate was good and I enjoyed their happily ever after. However, the sheer number of secondary characters was overwhelming and keeping track of them all was difficult. Overall, the story was good; however, I was not intrigued enough to read the rest of the series. If you enjoy stories of hope, healing and faith, I recommend The Marine’s Marriage. 

The Marine’s Marriage is available in paperback and eBook. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy: one birthday wish, a man with no memory and a web of danger

Her Unexpected Cowboy is the first book in the Unforgettable Cowboys series by Danae Little. Sydney hides out on her goat ranch, clinging to her loneliness and refuses to ask for help. While making a birthday wish, a handsome stranger shows up at her door, wounded with no memory. Sydney is torn between allowing him to stay in her barn or sending him on his way. When Jameson woke up on the side of the road, he came to the first house, he was struck by the beautiful woman who answered his call for help. As he struggles to restore his memories, he makes excuses to stay, to help her around the house all the while ignoring the warning ringing in his head. That is until the local sheriff comes to the ranch, Jameson recognizes his voice and a web of danger begins to close in. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy was my first book by Danae Little and I enjoy a good cowboy story. The beginning of the story was intriguing. I liked Sydney from the beginning. I liked her courage, strength and hard working attitude. She is lonely with only her pets and the goats on her ranch. She loves her life, the ranch but something is missing. Jameson was a man with no memory and the mystery around him was interesting. However, the story was slow. The suspense was okay. The resolution was a bit predictable. The author’s attention to detail was admirable but slowed down the story’s flow. The romance between Sydney and Jameson was sweet and their happily ever after was good. Overall, the story was okay; but, I will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy cowboy romance with a bit of suspense, you may enjoy Her Unexpected Cowboy. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy is a available in paperback and eBook

The Relationtrip: a vacation, friends to lovers romance

The Relationtrip by Elana Johnson asks the question: what do a reclusive author from Wisconsin and an outgoing real estate agent from Pittsburgh have in common? The answer is simply nothing. Logan Murphy is Sloane’s accidental best friend when one fateful choice brought them together on vacation five years ago. Every year since then, Logan and Sloane take an annual trip together. This year’s trip is to an adults only resort in Belize. When Sloane sees Logan at the airport for the final leg of their trip, she feels something, something that hasn’t happened for a very long time. However, Logan is hiding a secret as Sloane doesn’t know what he does for a living and she doesn’t know how he truly feels about her either. He wants more than a once-a-year trip with his best friend. He wants to be in her life every day. How will she react when she learns the truth? Will it be the end of their friendship? Or can it be the beginning of a happily ever after? 

The Relationtrip is described as a standalone, slow burn travel romance similar to Beach Read and The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Layover by Lacie Waldon, and The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. While I have not read the mentioned books, I know they are highly recommended. I was looking forward to friends to lovers romance; however, the story fell flat for me. Sloane is way too jaded about love and marriage for me. Her fiance left her at the altar and her parents ended their 33 year marriage, so her jadedness makes sense; however, I couldn’t connect with it. Also, I did not like her reaction to Logan’s secret about his real job or his true feelings for her; despite her own feelings. However, I did like Logan. He really tried to have a relationship beyond their current arrangement; but Sloane made it difficult. Overall, I was bored and not interested in their love story. However, if you enjoy the books mentioned above, you may enjoy The Relationtrip as well. 

The Relationtrip is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

James, the son of Alphaeus: an example of how working in the background is still working for the Kingdom of God

James, the son of Alphaeus, is a quiet disciple. There is not much said about him in the gospels. There is no record of his occupation or any characteristics. The major event of his life is becoming a disciple of Jesus and there is no record of Jesus saying anything specific about him. Does that mean he is not worthy of study? By no means. He is an example that God calls us all for a purpose. Some have great and public purposes like Peter. While others are called to have great and private purposes like James. Who was James in the gospels? What example does James give us? What does it mean to be called to service God?

The only time James is mentioned by name is the lists of the disciples (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13). However, there is some information we can gather about him. While his hometown is unknown, he was likely from Galilee and most likely spoke Aramaic as well as Greek and biblical Hebrew (Tate, 2021). He was probably in his late teens but no older than early 20s (Tate, 2021). While he is not mentioned outside of the list of disciples, he was present during Jesus’s teachings. He saw his miracles and was sent out to preach, baptize and perform miracles (Matthew 10, Mark 6:7:13), Luke 9:1-6). He fled at Jesus’s arrest. He saw the resurrected Christ and was given the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-18). James was there to witness Jesus’s ascension into heaven (Mark 16:19:20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:9). And James is there as the disciples begin their mission in Acts. 

James is our example of someone who worked for the kingdom of God without the limelight. He was so quiet and observant that he is not written about in the Scriptures and becomes obscure in the early church. However, James is proof that we do not have to be Peters or Matthews or Johns and go down in history as the greatest for God. We are all given different gifts from the same Spirit, different acts of service but the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). There is one body, many parts with each part having an important function for the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). No member is superior over another and there is a unity in the diverse functions (verse 25). As someone who is more introverted, being a public speaker is terrifying. I feel God has called me to use my talents in a private setting and use my research and writing skills for his kingdom. My desire to study the Bible and write about the lessons and insights I have learned and write about them on this blog can be used to bring God’s Word to individuals across the country and maybe even the world. 

Many people think being called is to work in a church ministry. However, our ministry does not need to be a church. Our calling is to use our gifts and talents for the kingdom out in the real world. For example, if you are a cashier at a local retail store, you can still be a steward for the kingdom of God. 1 Peter 4:10 says to “use whatever gift he has received to service others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” We can also look for opportunities, big and small, to use our gifts to make a difference. For example, if you are a good baker, you can bake a welcome gift to a new neighbor. Or if someone is sick or injured, offer your services to help. The important thing to remember is to put faithfulness first. “Faithfully give what you have to God, and let him take care of the rest” (Barnett, 2021). Remember we are working for God so that God may be glorified (1 Peter 4:11). Colossians 3:23 tells us that “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” 

In conclusion, the silence of James, the son of Alphaeus, is an example to us that we can work in the background and still do good work for the kingdom of God. We are called according to God’s purpose and given gifts to use in the kingdom. We can serve God and the kingdom in every moment of every ordinary day. Look for opportunities to serve as Jesus served. You never know how an act of kindness or service can open the door to share the gospel. Whether it is serving in the limelight or quietly in the background, our impact for the kingdom of God can be greater than we will ever know or imagine. 

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References

Barnett, Tim (July 29, 2021). Looking for Your Role in God’s Kingdom? Start Here. Stand to Reason. https://www.str.org/w/looking-for-your-role-in-god-s-kingdom-start-here. Retrieved September 10, 2025

Tate, David (November 7, 2021). The Life of James, son of Alpheus. Now Let’s Be Honest. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/JMUHwd_y0G4?si=wB67mSYaUgKaFC8V. Retrieved September 2, 2025.

Last First Kiss: a second chance romance after loss and the uncertainty of the future

Last First Kiss is the first book in the Legacy of the Maguires series by Stella Holt. The Maguire family is particularly law enforcement royalty in her hometown. Sadly, law enforcement makes Charlotte Maguire James a young widow when her husband is killed in the line of duty. In order to distract herself from her grief, Charlotte throws herself into work creating promotional campaigns. When her new boss is Caleb Kincaid, a blast from her past. Still gorgeous as ever, Caleb awakens something in her; but, she is afraid to love and lose again. Caleb is a survivor and is no stranger to second chances. Now that his path has crossed with Charlotte again, he is determined to fight for her this time. Knowing they can be great together, but can he promise a future when he is unsure himself? 

I love second chance romances. So I was looking forward to this story. From the beginning, I liked Charlotte. She was a strong woman trying to find herself and sees her promotion as a way to escape the constant reminder that her husband is gone. I liked Caleb as a man who views every day as a second chance for life and seeing Charlotte again, he wants to take the opportunity to finish what they started so many years ago. It started as a great story; however, I wasn’t as invested in the story as I would have liked. I felt as if I started in the middle of the series with references I didn’t understand. Overall, it was a good story but I wasn’t as connected to the characters as I thought I would be. If you enjoy second chance romance, you may enjoy Last First Kiss. 

Last First Kiss is available in paperback and eBook

On the Rocks: an age gap, small town romance

On the Rocks is the first book in the Becker Brothers series by Kandi Steiner. Noah Becker has a reputation as being nothing but trouble. Ruby Grace Barnett was warned by her mother to stay away from Noah. In their small town, the brothers went wild after their father tragically died. She is reminded of the fact that he is nothing but trouble as she walks into Scooter Whiskey Distillery to buy a wedding present for her fiancé and he is there. Yes, he is trouble. Dirty, sweaty, rude trouble. And no matter how hard she tries, Ruby Grace just cannot escape Noah. He infuriates her and yet he sees what no one else else does: the real her. The person she isn’t allowed to be, the dreams and desires she wishes to accomplish before settling down. But she is the mayor’s daughter, raised to be a politician’s wife and fulfill the family legacy. What does she do with the man who makes her question everything in front of her? 

On the Rocks is an age gap, the wrong side of the tracks romance. I am usually wary about age gap romances, which aren’t usually my cup of tea. However, this age gap is about nine years which is a difference but not as big as some age gap romances I’ve read. That being said, I did not like this story. I did not care for Ruby Grace. She is way too young to be married. I don’t care if it is “family legacy” or “family expectations,” she’s too young. She is not even “mature for her age” young. Noah is supposed to be the bad boy all women secretly want; however, he has a big chip on his shoulder about the past, the elites of their small town and known to sleep around town. Overall, I was bored. I did not like any of the main characters or their supporting characters. I did not like this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend On the Rocks. 

On the Rocks is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Guest in Room 120: a bit of mystery, history, romance and haunting

 he Guest in Room 120 by Sara Ackerman is a story of the mysterious death of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University. 1905, Jane Stanford is a woman with an iron will and has her share of enemies. After an attempted poisoning attempt in her San Francisco mansion. With medical advice for warmer climates, she flees to Honolulu with two companions to the new Moana Hotel. On the island, Iliahi Baldwin is a young girl working at the hotel as she takes care of her younger brothers. She forms an unlikely friendship with the intimidating Jane Stanford and witnesses events that would expose the truth. 2005, Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who attends a writer’s conference at the Moana Hotel. She soon begins to experience mysterious dreams and events which puts her on the path to discover the shocking events which occurred at the hotel one hundred years ago. 

I did not know anything about Jane Stanford before reading this story. I knew she and her husband created the university to honor their late son. I was intrigued as her death remains a mystery to this day. From the opening chapter to the final page, I was pulled into a story that was a bit of mystery, history, romance and a haunting without being overbearing or too much of one over the others. The story is told from the perspective of all three women as readers see the events leading to Jane’s death, the immediate aftermath and the experiences which lead Zoe to investigate. The haunting aspect was not scary or terrifying. I enjoyed reading about the island in 1905. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is a story of betrayal, secrets and a death that echoes and connects three women across time. I highly recommend The Guest in Room 120. 

The Guest in Room 120 is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Cup of Autumn: when love wasn't a part of the plan

A Cup of Autumn is the third book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Keaton Andrews has always dreamed of becoming a tenured professor at an elite university. His plans come to a halt when he learns that his department has been cut and his contract has been terminated. With time on his hands, he heads to Silver Falls to spend time with family and focus on his options. One morning, at the local cafe, he takes a risk and orders something other than his usual coffee. Raine Hanover has been running on empty, trying to find reliable staff for her increasingly busy cafe when she is “volunteered” to organize the town’s annual Boo Bash. She has no time for romance and she especially has no time for a charming smile even if it is a nerdy yet handsome professor. When Keaton offers to help her organize the event, it takes long before the sparks fly. 

Silver Falls is a small town that I wish I lived in. The sense of community, friendship and family is heartwarming. I love this series and I was eagerly waiting for the nerdy professor’s story. Right off the bat, I loved Keaton and Raine. They were honest with each other about their expectations and plans for the future. He still had no plans to stay in Silver Falls and Raine wasn’t leaving. However, sometimes you can’t help it when you fall in love and are faced with a painful decision. Does one follow their long standing dream? Or do they embrace a new one? It is a sweet story and I couldn’t not put it down. I read well into the night as I wanted to see Keaton and Raine’s happy ending. I am looking forward to the final book in the series and the final Andrews sibling to have their story. I highly, highly recommend A Cup of Autumn. 

A Cup of Autumn is available in paperback and eBook

Every Reasonable Doubt: a legal suspense thriller

Every Reasonable Doubt is the first book in the Vernetta Henderson series by Pamela Samuels Young. Vernetta Henderson comes off a victory in a case which yielded the biggest verdicts of her career. While looking forward to some downtime, Vernetta is quickly partnered with Neddy McClain to take on the defense for the biggest murder case of their careers. The two women aren’t thrilled to be working together; however, they must put aside their strained relationship for the case. Their client, socialite Tina Montgomery, is charged with the brutal murder of her husband, Max Montgomery, a high profile businessman. As Vernetta prepares for trial, she feels the pressures from all areas of her life: home, career, and public opinion. What she doesn’t count on is the new bond formed with Neddy. Can they prove Tina’s innocence beyond every reasonable doubt? 

Every Reasonable Doubt is my first book by Pamela Samuels Young and it starts off running. The opening prologue readers witness the brutal murder and it leads into a fast paced whodunnit. I liked Vernetta from the start and the initial conflict with Neddy was tense. I liked Neddy as well. Her no nonsense attitude makes her a great character. The suspense was good. I was constantly questioning if Tina really did kill her husband or not. There were plenty of suspects to cast doubt on the case. I liked that there was enough legalese to inform readers about the process without bogging down the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to more cases with Vernetta Henderson. If you enjoy legal suspenseful thrillers, I highly recommend Every Reasonable Doubt. 

Every Reasonable Doubt is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Foundation: a grumpy-grumpy romance

Foundation is the first book in the Brady family series by Lainey Davis. Zack Brady doesn’t do relationships. He does cold, hard calculations. When his family engineering firm sends him to investigate a sinkhole at a client’s house, Zack meets the one who threatens to shake his entire world. Nicole Kennedy is loud, crass and has no time for nonsense. She has no time for the marathon relay she is being forced to run by her boss and she definitely does not have time for the sinkhole in her yard. From the moment they meet, Zack and Nicole clash; however, as they pour over the engineering plans something shifts. Can they put aside their differences and rebuild a foundation of love and happily ever after? 

Foundation is described as a grumpy geek romance; however, a more accurate description would be a grumpy-grumpy romance. The story lacked a sense of flow. It felt choppy and more time was spent on the technicalities of the engineering plans than the characters’ romance. I couldn’t stand Nicole from the very beginning. Even though she is described as crass, Nicole was way too crass for my taste and I can tolerate a lot. Her attitude to her friend, who is happily married with children, was irritating. All she did was complain. She complained about having to run the marathon and her vibrator not working like jeez really? Zack wasn’t much better either. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I will not be continuing the series. 

Foundation is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The One Who Got Away: is there a chance for love or will she forever be the one who got away?

The One Who Got Away is the first book in the Second Chance Fire Station by Tara Grace Ericson. Bryce Storm and Krystal Daughtry were best friends in high school but Bryce had deeper feelings and he thought she felt the same. However, she left their small town of Minden to pursue her dreams in Hollywood. He stayed in town, joined the local fire department and rose to the rank of Captain. After years away, Krystal comes back to town for a few weeks and is recruited to help him with the department’s auction fundraiser. In order to curb the town’s matchmaking schemes, Bryce proposes a fake relationship, which Krystal agrees to. However, the sparks become all too real but she’s leaving again...right?. Can they take this chance for a first love? Or will Krystal forever be the one who got away? 

I have been looking forward to this story for a long time. I love firefighter stories. I love second chance romances. So I eagerly opened this story. It is a clean romance. I liked the character of Bryce right away and his faith. However, once Krystal comes back to town, there’s no real conflict or drama. However, I kept going and I am so glad I did. I could not put it down. I truly love the faith aspect and the internal struggles of Bryce and Krystal as they struggle with their torn desires between fulfilling their dreams and the new dream of being together. Overall, I enjoyed the story . I also enjoyed that the story leads into the next book in the series, so I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend The One Who Got Away. 

The One Who Got Away is available in paperback and eBook

Reckless Memories: a friends to lovers romance with angst, forgiveness and suspense

Reckless Memories is the first book in The Wrecked series by Catherine Cowles. Bell Kipton has loved Ford Hardy from afar for a long time. He was her older sister, Violet’s boyfriend but he was her friend and confidante. But a tragic accident tears everything apart. Her sister is gone and Ford leaves Bell behind to pick up the pieces alone. Now, eleven years later, she has created a new life without him. However, now he has come home and every wall and defense she has built comes crumbling down. As they both deal with the past, their guilt and their mutual passion, they fight feelings that they are betraying Violet. However, little do they know, a shadow moves in the dark. Someone who holds them responsible. Someone who wants them both gone. Can they discover who is determined to hurt them both before it’s too late? 

Catherine Cowles is my go-to author for steamy romance with angst, deep emotions and suspense. Reckless Memories is a page-turning slow burn friends to lovers romance that fits that bill. There is plenty of drama and sweet moments between the characters. It is a story of forgiveness, trust and love. I loved Bell and Ford from the very beginning. Their pain and feelings of guilt breaks your heart. They fought the growing feelings between them until there was no denying them any longer. When they finally confessed their feelings, it was heartwarming. Their doubts and worries about appearances felt very authentic. The suspense kept me on my toes and I was shocked when it was revealed who was out to hurt them. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I could not put this book down! And I look forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Reckless Memories. 

Reckless Memories is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Already Gone: a young adult drama about two sisters and the fight for their future

Already Gone by Bridget E Baker is the story of two sisters and the events that tear their lives apart forever. Lacy Shelton and her sister Hope are only eleven months apart, aka Irish Twins. However, they couldn’t be more different. Lacy is captain of the debate team, a possible Valedictorian, and eagerly awaiting the admission letter from Yale. Hope is the captain of the swim team and happy to go to community college in the fall. According to Lacy, Hope has taken everything she has ever wanted and now she has had enough. She is determined that Hope will not take the handsome new guy in school and she won’t let her ruin her chances with Yale. When a shocking death changes everything and Lacy is now stuck in court-mandated therapy, she is forced to relive the events leading up to the tragedy for a chance at a future.

Already Gone alternates between Lacy’s and Hope’s points of view in a puzzle of sisterhood, betrayal, and teenage mistakes in order to find forgiveness and purpose for the future. I was ready for a great story of teenage sisters, angst, and a story to keep me on the edge of my seat. However, that is not what happened. Yes, Lacy and Hope are stereotypical teens filled with attitude and spite. So much so that I had the urge to shake some sense into both of them. I had a hard time relating to them as I was not this kind of teen growing up. The recommended ages are between 12 and 18. I don’t see a 12 year old understanding this story, definitely high school age readers. The ending was anti-climatic and a bit disappointing. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. However, if you enjoy young adult drama, I recommend Already Gone. 

Already Gone is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Noble Intent: a steamy friends to lovers romance with lots of fun banter and heavy emotions

Noble Intent is the first book in the Rapturous Intent series by Cadence Keys. Trent Bridger is the lead singer of Rapturous Intent, a chart topping rock band, and lives the rock and roll dream. However, something is missing. Then he runs into Becka Edmonson, a woman he knew as a child and she knows him and they easily fall back into their childhood friendship. Soon, Trent realizes that Becka is everything he has been looking for but he is not willing to sacrifice their friendship. After one night of passion, he finds himself choosing between the friend who has grounded him and the woman who lights a fire in him. Even when Becka acknowledges she has always hoped for something more, can they take that chance? Could he have both a friend and a lover? Can his noble intent to keep his distance mean he is also making a biggest mistake? 

Noble Intent is a steamy friends to lovers romance with sweet memories. The story also deals with heavy topics of addiction, parental abandonment and feelings of inadequacy with lots and lots of emotions. Connected to the author’s other series, the LA Wolves, Noble Intent grabs readers from the opening chapter and leads them on a wild ride of emotions, personal growth and romance. I loved Trent and Becka. Their playful banter was fun and the chemistry between them was undeniable. I wasn’t expecting the emotional topics but it added depth to the characters’ past and their present choices. My heart broke for both characters as they discuss their past and deal with how those events inform their present. It was definitely something I could relate to. I enjoyed the connectedness with the other series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Noble Intent. 

Noble Intent is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Find Me in California: the many sides of love and family, secrets and destiny

Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale is a novel about chance meetings, buried secrets and the many sides of love and family. Julie Hope has never been without love as she was raised by her passionate and free-spirited grandmother, Ruby Rose. Now her grandmother suffers from dementia and lives in an assisted living center as she is in her final days. Julia struggles with the idea of being alone. A thousand miles away in New Mexico, Matt Gatlin has successfully avoided his coldhearted grandmother, Liza Holloway. However, she needs him now. Still filled with resentments, Matt heads to California. Over six days, Julia and Matt’s fates intertwine as they discover an old diary exposes a long-lost love tragedy and long buried secrets come to light. Julia and Matt soon realize that sometimes life can be both heartbreaking and heartwarming, mysterious and beautiful as destiny brings people together. 

Kerry Lonsdale is an author who delves into the darker stories of life, love and family. When I got the opportunity to read Find Me in California, I jumped at the chance. While the story started off interesting; however, it quickly fell into confusion. I had a hard time connecting with the characters especially Ruby Rose and Liza and their stories. The pacing was choppy with weird moments that had me confused and took me out of the story. Ms. Lonsdale is known for stories with elements of magical realism and usually it is a great addition to the story. However, in Find Me in California, the magical realism didn’t work for me. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. However, if you are a fan of Kerry Lonsdale, I recommend reading Find Me in California. It may speak to you in ways it did not speak to me.  

Find Me in California is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Lakehouse Promises: a woman starts over and discovers true friendship and love

Lakehouse Promises is the first book in the Laurel Cove series by Jodi Allen Brice. At forty years old, Carolina Johnson had a life that everyone wanted. A solid marriage of twenty years, a gorgeous house in a beautiful neighborhood, country club friends and yet she feels something is off. It wasn’t until a party with friends when she got the surprise of her life. She discovers that her husband has been having an affair with a girl half his age and she is pregnant. Now divorced with literally her clothes, a paltry alimony and a house on a lake. When she arrives at the house, she realizes that the house is in desperate need of repairs, adding a neighbor who doesn’t like her, no friends and her ex-mother-in-law who suddenly appears on her doorstep. Carolina learns what true friendship and love looks like while finding the strength to stand up for herself and confront her past. 

Lakehouse Promises is a clean women’s fiction story with mild romance. From the very beginning, I was rooting for Carolina. I knew something was up with the husband from the minute he appeared on the page; however, my jaw dropped when his affair was revealed. Carolina takes her life after her life and is determined to find a way to rebuild her life. She meets each challenge and setbacks with a few tears but determination to find a solution. I loved the residents she met including the nasty neighbor and the grumpy repairman. The story was so fast paced that I could not put it down. I also loved how Carolina turns to the Bible for inspiration as well as guidance. Bible verses were used in a way that it wasn’t browbeating the readers. It felt natural and not overwhelming. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly, highly recommend Lakehouse Promises. 

Lakehouse Promises is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Wish You Were Mine: a slow burn professor-student hidden romance

Wish You Were Mine is the third book in the Kings of Eden Falls series by Judy Corry. Lucy Archibald is in her final semester at Eden Falls University. While balancing the pressure of being a Division 1 gymnast along with the heavier weight of her high-society family’s expectations. She is the good girl who never breaks the rules. However, during a snowy New Year’s Eve party in the Hamptons, Lucy is ready to lose a bit of that polish. She ends up kissing a handsome stranger in a hot tub. Feeling bold, she is ready to tackle her last semester. Until she walks into her chemistry class the following week and sees the handsome stranger standing at the front of the classroom. Professor Owen Park knows better than to get involved with a student. As a first year professor, he is currently applying for research grants with hopes of a promotion. However, he finds himself drawn to Lucy’s sharp wit and easy smile. They are determined to keep their relationship as professor-student; however, staying away from each other is something they cannot do. 

I love Judy Corry romances and I couldn’t wait for the newest addition to the series. However, when I heard that it was a professor-student forbidden romance, I was weary. Since I love Judy Corry’s stories and characters, I was willing to give it a chance. I am happy I did. It was a great slow burn romance with great stolen glances and secret touches. The banter was flirty and swoon worthy. Both Owen and Lucy are great characters who understand there is more at stake than their mutual attraction. The one aspect of the story I didn’t understand was the constant worry about their age gap which is about seven years. To me, a seven year age gap isn’t as concerning as some age gaps in other romances. However, Ms. Corry handled it wonderfully and Owen and Lucy were characters that I rooted for until the end when I cheered. Overall, I loved this story. There are no steamy scenes, just great romantic moments. I am looking forward to more stories in this series. I highly, highly recommend Wish You Were Mine. 

Wish You Were Mine is available in paperback and eBook