Escape to Starshine Cove (Starshine Cove #1) by Debbie Johnson

5* 

Escape to Starshine Cove (Book #1) is a beautifully-written story that, at its heart, is about the many faces of grief and the power of a loving community coming together selflessly and without judgement to nurture and help wounded souls heal. In true Johnson style, though, it’s also full of laughter and light, quirky characters, romance, and vivid descriptions of the setting. On the surface, Starshine Cove on the Dorset coast is like something out of a fairy tale with its cobbled streets, thatched roof cottages, a beautiful beach surrounded by turquoise waters, and the magical cave full of colorful stones. 

 

Ella Farrell flees her home after discovering her partner of 13 years in bed with his assistant. It’s the final straw, but it’s the miscarriage she suffered three years prior and endless hours working at the hospital during the pandemic that have left her broken. When her car breaks down, she discovers a magical place with handmade fairies in the trees and a welcoming community of kind and caring citizens.  It is, as Ella says, “wild and beautiful and free – it is the absolute image of the happy place I have spent so many hours conjuring up...” Like Ella, it seems to be a place where lost souls find themselves again, many of whom are struggling with their own profound grief. 

 

One of these is Jake Hennessey, aka Pub Daddy, the owner of the Starshine Inn. As Ella and Jake spend more time together and start to share the reasons they escaped from their previous lives, Ella begins to confront her trauma and start the healing process. One step is to accept the townfolk’s offer to become their new doctor. However, when faced with a near-tragedy she blames herself for, she flees Starshine Cove and her budding romance with Jake. As she says, “I’m a doctor who can’t cope with stress, who can’t cope with caring, who can’t cope with life-threatening situations. A doctor who can’t even control her own mental health, never mind her patients’.” It will take a miracle (or maybe just some long overdue therapy) for her to find her way through her grief to acceptance and the embrace of her newfound family.

 

Johnson is an exceptional writer who captures the essence of the human experience by illustrating the many types of grief while showing that, despite the pain, there are still many moments of loving, laughter, friendship, and wonder. There’s always the chance the talk of the pandemic will quickly date a book, but I applaud the fact that Johnson doesn’t shy away from illustrating the profound effect it had (and continues to have) on both the physical and mental health of healthcare workers. I highly recommend this heartwarming, magical story that is the first in a series. 

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

 

4*

Laurel Grant has always struggled to find her passion and her place in the world. She also has an unfortunate habit of engaging in workplace romances which invariably go bad, the most recent of which left her homeless and jobless. So when her best friend suggests she apply for a social media position at Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio magazine and website, she gives it a shot and is offered the job. The only hitch? Her new boss Gilbert, who she’s at no risk of falling for, thinks she’s a successful farmer thanks to the Meadow Rise Farm Instagram account she moderates for her twin sister Holly and her husband Darius. Fearful that the job offer will be rescinded if she sets him straight, she keeps up the ruse by writing a monthly column highlighting her life on the farm as a fabulous cook, custom furniture maker, and goat tender. So when Gilbert invites himself for their traditional Christmas Eve Eve dinner, she conspires with Holly to switch places, complete with playing Mom to her niece and nephew. How hard could it be to pull off?

Turns out it’s a lot harder than Laurel thinks when her nemesis, Max Beckett, shows up at Holly’s invitation to play her husband. When a blizzard turns an evening’s dinner into a weekend gathering, it’ll take a Christmas miracle to pull it off, especially since she’s hated Max ever since Holly’s wedding when she overheard him trying to convince Darius to call it off. Is it possible that she’s misjudged the grumpy, Christmas-hating killjoy who’s doing his best to help her fool her boss since she has no clue how to cook or milk a goat or why she suddenly finds herself fighting an attraction?

This sweet slow-burn, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, fake relationship Christmas romance is the perfect recipe for a holiday treat. Combining plot elements from the classic movie Christmas in Connecticut with The Parent Trap, blended together with favorite Christmas songs and movies, Winfrey offers up a great escape for readers looking for a heaping helping of holiday cheer. 

I received an ARC from Berkley Books through NetGalley for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

 

4*

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a cute, Hallmark-worthy, sweet romance with a cast of characters that runs the gamut from a precocious little boy and curmudgeonly, eccentric old man to a burly, Southern mountain man, a wide swath of quirky NYC denizens, and the adorable, kind couple at the center of it all.

At its heart, this is the story of chosen family in a quaint West Village neighborhood that annually welcomes the Tolliver family when they set up their Christmas tree stand. Since patriarch Jock has suffered a heart attack, recently-unemployed art director Kerry is roped into taking her father’s place with her older brother Murphy. What starts out as begrudging acceptance turns into a life-changing experience as she befriends 5-year-old Austin and starts to fall for his kind and handsome dad Patrick. While not interacting with customers, she’s busy rediscovering her creative side by fashioning elaborate wreaths and illustrating a story imagined by Austin. Aiding in the process is the mysterious Heinz who appears daily to offer constructive criticism of her drawings and add his own artistic touches. As weeks pass, Kerry begins to feel more and more like she may have found a place she belongs. Will she be brave enough to open her heart and trust in her art?

Although most of the action centers around the corner Christmas tree lot and the rundown, vintage camper she and Murphy use as their temporary housing, it’s Heinz’s story that really grabbed my attention. When he falls ill and fails to show up for a few days, Kerry searches the neighborhood trying to find this man who is either homeless or just really good at hiding. When he is found, the story that unfolds is heartbreaking, fascinating and ultimately redemptive. It’s a capsule in time that, in my opinion, overshadows the central love story.

If you’re looking for a Christmas romance that warms your heart and leaves you yearning to be warmly embraced by family, both by blood and by choice, consider this novel. You won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Wish by Lena Gibson

 

5*

Blending elements of romance, magical realism, mystery and science fiction, Gibson has crafted a unique story that grabs your attention right from the start and never lets go. 

Autistic-coded Elizabeth Bergstrom has suffered from selective mutism for 2 years following the death of her abusive ex-husband in a car accident she survived. She met him shortly after her ex-boyfriend Brandon broke up with her and married him on the rebound. As the story opens, we meet Brandon’s brother Christopher who works with her at the Portland Museum of Natural History where he takes pleasure in charmingly goading her, in the hopes he’ll get her to talk. Soon after, she learns that Brandon died many years before and wishes for a do-over. Be careful what you wish for because she wakes up five years in the past. Almost immediately, Elizabeth begins to see past events from a different perspective, but she also has to decide what actions she’ll take to rewrite her future. Surprisingly, she’s still mute, but when she reconnects with Christopher to try to save Brandon, she learns that he can read her thoughts and believes that she’s from the future, making the entire process easier. 

There’s never a dull moment in this story, from the ex-husband who is so much worse than she ever knew to her sister who acts as if Elizabeth is incapable of rational thought because she can’t speak (and makes selfish, damaging decisions as a result). The reason behind Brandon’s coma reads like a combination of science fiction and a bloody, psychological thriller, but there’s also a beautiful romance and a few dashes of magical realism with an invisible cloak, time travel, and mind-reading. Gibson also sensitively tackles grief, guilt, scientific ethics, ableism, and domestic violence without these heavy topics weighing down or stalling the narrative.

If you’re looking for a complex story that will keep you riveted and at the edge of your seat, pick this one up. This would be an excellent choice for a book club given how much fodder there is for discussion. I only wish that a major publisher was behind this book because it deserves a wider audience. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer

 

4*

Avital Cohen, granddaughter of Chayim Cohen, is the manager of her family’s kosher Brooklyn bakery, Best Babka, a role she has reluctantly assumed after being diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, a painfully chronic condition that forced her to shelve her budding photography career and move home with her family. Ethan Rosenberg is the orphaned grandson of Moishe Lippmann, wealthy owner of a hugely successful commercial baked goods company, who has demanded that Ethan go undercover at Best Babka to steal the recipe for Chayim’s famous pumpkin spice babka in retaliation for how Chayim wronged him over many decades. It goes against Ethan’s moral code, but he feels he has no choice if he has any hope of gaining his grandfather’s approval and affection, an impossible task given that Moishe is pure evil as evidenced by the severe verbal abuse he has heaped on his grandsons in the 12 years since their parents’ death. When Avi and Ethan meet at his interview, there’s an instant attraction although neither of them recognizes it in the other. It doesn’t take long for Ethan to realize there’s no way he’ll be able to follow-through on the plan given his growing affection for Avi and every reason to believe there will be no future for them if, and when, the truth of his deception is revealed. 

 

There’s so much to unpack in this novel and a slew of triggers readers need to be aware of, including trauma, death, grief, chronic pain, suicidal ideation, and traumatic brain injury. There is intense focus on Avi’s condition and the way the medical establishment dismisses patients either by minimizing their pain, not investing sufficient money for research into finding a cure or failing to offer ways to alleviate their suffering. As a result, many end up taking their own lives because they can’t see a future free from the pain. At one point, Avi even talks about how chronic pain can steal your life, and people acting like you’re still the same person you were before your diagnosis is a form of ableism.

 

Although not mentioned in the story, I think it’s worth drawing comparisons to what’s happening today. In the wake of Covid, there are millions of patients suffering with Long Covid who are being villainized for masking and demanding precautions in healthcare settings, being denied coverage, minimizing their suffering or dismissing their problems as anxiety, and finding that there are very few doctors who even understand their conditions. As Avi says, “The worst part of chronic pain had never actually been the disease…it was the lack of hope.” Millions of sufferers (an ever-growing number) are facing systemic ableism that smacks of eugenics and are dying, either from their illness or by their own hands. 

 

As Ethan learns of the challenges Avi’s illness presents, he is compelled to help her find solutions. So, he approaches his pothead brother Randy for answers, which leads the couple to visit a dispensary and learn from the Rabbi Jason, the unconventional owner, all about the benefits of medical cannabis and the elevated role women and intimacy in the Jewish faith. It’s a deep, but illuminating, journey for Meltzer’s readers.

 

As much as Avi is dealing with physical pain, the emotional pain and guilt Ethan suffer is also a focus and the thing that ultimately binds them together. As an excuse for Moishe’s intense cruelty towards his grandsons (which is referred to it as “bad behavior”), Meltzer gives this explanation: “the by-product of transgenerational trauma. Expulsion. Pogroms. The Holocaust. In every generation, some villain rose up, seeking to destroy them. And sometimes, the parents came home – and collapsing under all those generations of bloodshed, antisemitism, and disrupted family units – traumatized their children, too. It was the dirty little secret of the Jewish world. Abuse.” In her author notes, Meltzer even mentions the growing anti-Semitism today.

 

Although Meltzer’s Kissing Kosher is, at its heart, a romance between star-crossed lovers, it goes well beyond a simple love story by tackling everything from chronic pain to transgenerational trauma, the role of intimacy in Jewish relationships, medical cannabis, the mysteries of the Jewish faith, unimaginable grief, and even verbal abuse and neglect. At times, it’s difficult to read, but it’s ultimately about hope and joy, managing physical and psychological pain, and finding support from chosen family.

 

One final note? A better title would have been “What the Heart Kneads” (which becomes obvious near the end of the story).

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from MIRA through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Knockout by Sarah Maclean

 

5*

Knockout, the 3rd in Maclean’s Hell’s Belles series, is the story of the unlikely, forbidden romance between Lady Imogen Loveless, a possibly autistic-coded, curvy genius with a passion for homegrown explosives, and growly Detective Inspector Tommy Peck, introduced in Book One (Bombshell) when Imogen blew up a jail cell to free Caleb, her colleague Sesily Talbot’s lover. Peck is inadvertently responsible for the name given to this foursome of intrepid social crusaders who are waging war against the British aristocracy and misogynistic patriarchy at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign with the goal of bringing down the evil men who prey on women, the poor, and other defenseless people.

It's clearly a case of love at first sight (that readers have been witness to since the beginning of the series), but Tommy fights against his attraction and fascination with Imogen, not only because he doesn’t feel worthy of her given he’s from the wrong side of the Thames and she’s Mayfair, but also because he wants to protect her from the same men the Belles are trying to destroy, and he knows any association with her will ruin his chances of begin promoted to Head of the Detective Branch. However, when all signs point to a tie between corruption at Scotland Yard and the criminals the ladies are trying to bring down, he must make a choice about where his loyalties lie.

The romance between Imogen and Tommy is mutually-protective, often chaotic, incendiary, flirtatious and brimming with witty banter, but the friendship between the four Belles is equally as compelling, each drawing on their strengths and loyally supporting and encouraging each other. Maclean is a masterful storyteller who weaves mystery and romance together without watering down either. Each book is billed as a standalone, but I encourage you to read them in order because the series builds the story of the four Belles and the vast network of courageous women who defend and protect the innocent. They’re proof that women should never be underestimated. Can’t wait for Book 4 when The Duchess finally meets her match! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese

 

5*


In this 2nd book of the Wilmot Sisters series, Liese gives her readers a delightful, modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Christopher Petruchio suffers from chronic migraines and anxiety and has spent 20 years (since his parents died in a car accident) trying to keep himself from letting anyone else too close for fear of losing more people he loves. His neighbors, the Wilmot family, pretty much adopted him, but it’s Kate Wilmot, six years his junior, who really captured his heart, although he masks his feelings by acting like she’s the bane of his existence practically from the moment she was born.

Kate, the youngest of the three Wilmot sisters, has ADHD and has always felt like she doesn’t quite belong. Her parents have a loving relationship, her older twin sisters have each other, and Christopher is the son they never had. However, her feelings for him have never been brotherly, despite the animosity between them that escalated once they both reached adulthood. She’s convinced that Christopher hates her when all he ever wanted was for her to hate him, to keep her at a distance. Unfortunately, after years roaming the world as a photojournalist, she’s home indefinitely and is being forced to face the feelings she ran away from years before. Is it possible for two people, who have seemingly hated each other and purposely kept their distance, to mend the rift while still protecting their hearts?

Liese, who is neurodivergent herself, is a master at writing feel-good romances featuring characters dealing with chronic illnesses, neurodivergency, or both, proving that they are able to find their happily-ever-afters despite their disabilities. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Claiborne

5*


The title would seem to indicate that this is Georgie’s story, but, in my opinion, it’s Levi’s. After losing her job and housing when her celebrity boss decides to retire, Georgie heads home to try and figure out what she wants to do with her life. However, replacing this “blankness” she feels with a man or by completing a bucket list she wrote in 8th grade seems lame. Conversely, Levi’s story is complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately much more redemptive than Georgie’s. Yes, they need each other to find fulfilment, but Georgie’s journey pales in comparison.

I’ve marked this lower because I just can’t get past the fact that Levi is clearly autistic and Clayborn should have acknowledged that. What’s worse is that his autism is used to villainize him, and it takes ten years of his continued suffering and self-recrimination before those who should love him unconditionally make amends. If it weren’t for Georgie’s presence, he might have lived the rest of his life in a small metaphorical cage he created to keep himself and those around him safe.

Despite these flaws, this grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, small town romance ranks higher than most in the genre. Clayborn has a gift for storytelling, with the talent for imbuing her characters with richness and depth and painting a physical landscape that takes on a character of its own. She doesn’t rely on tired, manufactured conflicts due to poor communication to drive the plot, but also doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that human frailty and insecurities can throw up roadblocks that make the path of love anything but smooth. The romance between Georgie and Levi is a beautiful demonstration of how two mature, empathetic, fallible people can successfully navigate a relationship. 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

5*

On his first day of work in the ER, Jacob Maddox is dubbed “Doctor Death” by the nursing staff after he loses 7 patients. If that isn’t bad enough, his severe social anxiety leads to some faux pas that give everyone, especially Dr. Briana Ortiz, the impression that he’s rude as well. In Briana’s eyes, his bad reputation is cemented when she’s told by her superior that her presumed promotion to Head of Emergency Medicine isn’t a guarantee since the new guy is now in the running. So, imagine her confusion when more than one friend tells her she’s misjudged him and that he’s one of the good ones. Who would have thought Jacob’s letter of apology would be the start of a beautiful friendship?

In less talented and superficial hands, this might have been just another simple enemies-to-lovers workplace romance. However, Jimenez gives us LAYERS. Although Jacob struggles to be understood and to navigate social situations, he is one of the most empathetic and altruistic characters ever written, and it’s this care and concern for others that leads him to donate a kidney to Briana’s younger brother. In return, she offers to be his fake girlfriend through the minefield created when his ex-girlfriend and younger brother decide to marry, his family withholding their acceptance of the new relationship until they’re sure Jacob is past his heartbreak. As the weeks pass leading up to the wedding and the transplant surgery, feelings between them begin to grow, but the inevitable misunderstanding gets in the way. Briana doesn’t trust men or her own judgment after being abandoned by her father as a child and her ex-husband in the worst possible way, so is there any chance that they’ll ever have a future together?

In one of the most poignant scenes in this touching romance, Briana says of Jacob, “He let me look into his soul.” Jimenez, with her gift for crafting complex characters navigating some of life’s hardest challenges, has given her readers that same glimpse into the souls of both main characters. In so doing, she has left us with an indelible impression of the power of selfless, harmless, enduring love. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

 

5*

Who would have ever thought that this wonderful writing duo could ever equal or perhaps top Love and Other Words or Roomies, but they’ve done it with The True Love Experiment. This isn’t just a mature, friends-to-lovers romance between feisty, sexy, unapologetic romance author Fizzy Chen and the absolutely perfect book boyfriend, sexy, British, and reluctant dating reality show producer Connor Prince, but also a loving dedication to the romance genre, its writers and fandom as well.

Fizzy, who is the best friend of Jess, the heroine in The Soulmate Equation, is 37 years old and, despite having published several best-selling romance novels, has never experienced love and is facing severe writer’s block. Connor, a documentary filmmaker and single dad, has been told by his boss that he has to pivot and produce a reality dating show or risk losing his job. After admiring Fizzy from a distance in a bar, he serendipitously discovers her books on his ex-wife’s shelves and is inspired to create a show where she is the heroine. Fizzy’s initial reaction to the offer is a solid ‘No’ followed by an agreement to do it if he casts romantic hero archetypes to compete for her affection. As they spend months together, first on ‘joy excursions,’ then on set and in intimate post-episode confessionals, they struggle to fight their feelings and the scorching chemistry between them. However, with Connor’s livelihood on the line if their growing attraction were to be exposed, can they take the chance?

This has all the elements that Christina Lauren does so well: humorous banter, undeniable chemistry, well-developed personalities, strong family dynamics and friendships, and a cast of secondary characters who add depth and color to the story. The archetypal contestants are a hoot, Jess and her husband River feature prominently, and their daughter, precocious Juno, meets her match in Connor’s daughter Stevie. It’s so affirming to read a solid defense for the romance genre as well. If you’re looking for a captivating, feel-good romance with an intensely satisfying, steamy as hell, well-rounded relationship with a low degree of angst, pick up or download this one today. Very highly recommended! 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.