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

Cut Off from Sky and Earth: a suspenseful psychological thriller and the strength to carry on from a painful memory

Cut Off from Sky and Earth by Melissa F. Miller is a psychological thriller where feminist fairytale retelling becomes a real-life nightmare. Emily Rose is staying at a remote cabin in order to finish her book, a retelling of a fairytale about a princess and her lady-in-waiting imprisoned in a tower with a modern feminist twist. She has spent years dealing with the trauma from the night she found her roommate brutally murdered. When her husband, Tristan, suggests a writing retreat at an isolated property, she jumps at the chance. When she arrives, Emily meets Alex, a woman with her own secrets, and the two become trapped by a sudden and fierce storm. A series of frightening events begin to happen, Emily and Alex realize someone is watching them and they must work together in order to survive from a very real and dangerous individual hiding in the shadows. 

Interspersed with passages of Emily’s work-in-progress, Cut Off from Sky and Earth is described as “a chilling exploration of the weight of memory, the burden of trauma and the courage it takes to break free,” It is an intense psychological thriller as I rooted for Emily as she is dealing with a very damaging memory and wanted to see her become stronger and grow. The psychological suspense was intense and kept me guessing, while there was some information that was easily “figured out” which I believe was by design as the author is teasing readers like a cat with a piece of string. The work in progress interjected in the action was a bit distracting but I saw the pattern with the fairytale and the events of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed the ending. I recommend Cut Off from Sky and Earth.

Cut Off from Sky and Earth is available in paperback, eBook and hardcover 

on September 2, 2025