Silverton Shores

 Silverton Shores

Mandy Magro

Reviewed by Helen

Another beautiful story with such a gorgeous setting from one of my favourite authors Mandy Magro this time we are up in North Queensland where the coast meets the farming lands, could Jess Sabatini and Morgan Savage finally find their HEA?

Jessica is busy planning her marriage to the love of her live Morgan it has been a very busy time but the day has finally arrived but hours before the event tragedy strikes, unable to cope and lean on Morgan Jess runs to the other side of the world to Florence Italy and her Nonno, here she starts a new live meets Salvatore discovers she is pregnant and marries, has a beautiful daughter, Chiara but soon finds herself divorced and a single mother, now nine years later she is going home for the wedding of her best friend and her brother, uncertain of how she is going to cope being around Morgan and the secret she holds.

Morgan was totally devastated when Jess left him, he believed that she would return but sadly no he needed to forget her but that is not easy she will always hold a piece of his heart and now she is returning to Silverton Shores for her brother and his best friend’s wedding and she will be staying on his property in the cottage that they were to call home all of those years ago, will his heart cope?

Soon they are spending time together and both realise that they have never stopped loving each other but both hold secrets that could change everything again, will they be able to put the past behind them and look to the future? Will the passion reignite?

This is a lovely story with fabulous characters, Jess and Morgan make the perfect couple and I loved them both, this one is very emotional and very moving and one that I would highly recommend.

My thanks to Harlequin HQ and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

October 1, 2024 by HQ Fiction

Christmas Belles

 Christmas Belles

A Belles of Blueberry Lane Novella

Mel Hammond

Reviewed by Helen

This is a lovely story of second chance romance between and older couple, they were teenage sweethearts, Frederika Belle and Richard Buchannan but they were pulled apart by family, thirty years ago, both married but are now single, these days Rika Belle with her three daughters Pom, Grace and Ali run a highly successful company and Richard is also a wealthy businessman, can they go back and find the love they had?

Rika and the girls are holding their Belle’s Annual Christmas Charity Auction when the last person Rika expected to see is her teenage love Richard who had donated a bottle of Erika Whiskey to the auction this whiskey comes from Belle’s family distillery, Rika needs to get away, she must, but Richard has other ideas.

With the girls they plan a day out and Richard insists that if they get through the day that they spend the night together, which then turns into a very sensual evening, that not only brings back memories but makes more, but in the morning a newspaper report turns everything upside down again, can they really get over the past and move to a future together?

This is a well written story that is a fabulous romance I really loved Rika a strong and courageous heroine and Richard is a fabulous hero, there are fabulous characters in the story and a very sensual romance and I look forward to more stories in this series, I do highly recommend this one to any romance reader who loves a good quick and witty story that is sure to leave you smiling.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

November 3, 2024 by Amazon Digital Services

Catching a Christmas Cowboy

 Catching a Christmas Cowboy

Grit and Grace #2

Leah Vale

Reviewed by Helen

This is a beautiful, emotional Christmas story set in Last Stand Texas and we are back with the woman on the Grit and Grace Roughstock Company this time Emma Barrett just might find her HEA.

Noah Halliday has been in Special Forces he decided that was what he wanted not working for the billionaire oil company run by his family and there are reasons for that, but now after being injured Noah has to re-think his life and decide what he wants, returning back to The States he wants some time on his own so he makes his way to his brother’s ranch in Last Stand Texas, no one is there but when he arrives late at night and goes into the first bedroom he finds, he climbs into bed with a beautiful woman, maybe he needs a new plan.

Emma had been pushed around by her brother but as she grew she found that riding on a bucking bronc she found her thing and was on a reality TV show for a while now she is helping to run a company with her partners from the TV show, what she didn’t expect was to wake up in bed with a man’s hand on her late at night.

It is not long before Emma and Noah are working side by side firstly with a stubborn bronc and then planning and building the Last Stand Gingerbread display for Grit and Grace’s Open Christmas day, Emma lacks a little confidence at times even though she is strong and knows she can do all that she wants and Noah has a lot of decisions to make about his future and finding love was not on the cards that is until he climbed into bed with Emma.

This is a beautiful story I loved seeing Emma and Noah find their HEA and the trip to the Colorado was just so gorgeous this is one that I highly recommend, especially if you love a Christmas story.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

November 4, 2024 by Tule Publishing

Wish Upon a Christmas Star

 Wish Upon a Christmas Star

Elle Douglas

Reviewed by Helen

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas romance, this one is set in the Canadian Rockies there is snow and family Christmas parties just the thing to make you feel Christmassy, fabulous characters and of course a beautiful romance come along and meet our hero and heroine.

Attorney Jeannie Carmichael is looking forward to spending Christmas with her beloved grandparents Sue and Duke at their Butterfly Lodge the night before she is meeting up with workmates at the pub, here she ends up chatting to one of the band members he gives her his number but Jeanie is hoping for an invite to a New Year’s Eve party from one of her colleagues, the phone number is forgotten for now.

Everett McCarthy is disappointed that he never got a date with the beautiful Jeannie and is shocked when she rings him and asks him and his band to play at her family’s Christmas Eve party in the Rockies, the night ends up being very good with lots happening and then being snowed in which means more time spent with Jeannie but he has yet to convince her that a date would be good, even after a midnight stroll through the forest and snow to watch the Northern Lights and opening up to each other he is fast losing his heart to Jeannie if only he can convince Jeannie to do the same.

Christmas kisses, wonderful food and a fabulous party all go hand in hand with the start of a very beautiful journey to a HEA for Everett and Jeannie with a little help from Sue but will Jeannie re-think her life and what she really wants to be with Everett and Everett what a hero kind caring and loving after all he has been through the perfect man for Jeannie.

I did love this story and highly recommend to any romance reader it left me smiling and looking forward to Christmas.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

4 stars

October 29, 2024 by Tule Publishing

Texas Healer

 Texas Healer

Wishbone Texas #4

Ann B Harrison

Reviewed by Helen

Book four in this fabulous series and I a loving getting to know the Wilson family, this time we meet Cody Wilson, who is a veterinarian he has a dream of being top in his field with race horses and has been away in Kentucky working hard but when he loses a horse the owner sends him packing he arrives home to the joy of his Mama, maybe it is time to re-think his future.

Rebel Phillips has chosen not to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a doctor, for her caring for animals is what brings her joy and she has started an animal rescue centre after using an inheritance to purchase a ranch, money is tight and she is in desperate need of a veterinarian, when she hears that the guy who broke her heart in school is back in town, Cody, can she put the past behind her and ask for his help with her needy animals.

Cody agrees to help Rebel and soon that have worked out an agreement that suits both of them and soon Cody is starting to see what he really wants in life and maybe race horses are not top of the list and Rebel is bringing the best out in him for Rebel she has never forgotten Cody and the more they work together the more her heart is opening up to him, can they work through their past history and look forward to a beautiful future?

I loved this moving story two caring and loving people and what more can you want than all of those gorgeous animals that need help and some love, this is one that I highly recommend, and I love the thought that there are more to come in this series.

5 stars

January 29, 2022

Outback Reunion

 Outback Reunion

A Bunyip Bay Novel #6

Rachael Johns

Reviewed by Helen

It was wonderful being back in Bunyip Bay with so many old friends and new ones when the circus comes to town, this is a fabulous story come along and get to know Mark Morgan and Gabriela Jimenez and join them in a journey filled with lots of ups and downs, they had one very sensual night together eight years ago, never thinking they would meet up again but when they do the spark is still there.

Mark had moved on from that beautiful night together he concentrated on his AFL career and was doing exceptionally well, he put Gabriela behind him and married but never forgot Gabriela, but when an injury cuts short is footy career, his wife decided moving to Bunyip Bay and spending her life on a farm was not for her, and moved on with someone else, Mark was not in a good place when returning home, but the circus is in town and the one person he never thought to see again is here in Bunyip Bay.

Gabi has been with the circus forever and the owners have bought her up as their own since the death of her mother, living with Dante heir to the circus Gabi is now a mother to seven year old Luna and also a widow, the circus arrives in Bunyip Bay and Gabi is looking forward to having a sort of holiday while doing her high wire act, the last person she expects to see is the man she has never forgotten the man who showed her what making love was really like, but Gabi cannot get close to him there is so much going on in Gabi’s life.

This is a beautiful romance filled with emotion as Gabi and Mark get reacquainted with each other neither start out looking for a future together it can only be while the circus is in town but the more time they spend together the harder it is going to be to say goodbye, for Gabi Mark is such a caring, sexy and gorgeous guy but she has Luna and their future to think of and Mark is struggling with losing his career but he soon realizes that being with Gabi is what he needs can he convince her that being together is what they both need and want?

Rachael Johns has again taken me on a fabulous journey, she never disappoints and I loved this one, I do highly recommend this one, a must read story filled with fabulous characters and I do love Bunyip Bay.

My thanks to Harlequin HQ and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 30, 2024 by HQ Fiction

A Husband for the Holidays

 A Husband for the Holidays

Dani Collins

Reviewed by Helen

I think this one might be my most favourite read from MS Collins yet, I loved it so much, come along and meet Eloise Martin and tycoon Konstantin Galanis, she is his best friend’s sister and should be off limits that is until circumstances change but stepping in to help just might change his life forever, a billionaire for Christmas or forever?

Konstantin works and works hard he keeps to himself mostly, he has lost his best friend the only person he ever felt close to but when on a cold and snowy evening he sees the sister of his best friend Eloise dressed as a Christmas Elf looking very bedraggled he is shocked to see her like this after all she is an heiress and he is determined to get to the bottom of why.

Eloise’s life changed when she lost her brother and her step-father is determined to marry her off in a loveless marriage and Eloise might be tiny but she is not going to let that happen even if it means living poverty, when she runs into Konstantin the man she has had a huge crush on since she was young and it appears that her heart still feels the same way even if her brain says otherwise.

Konstantin steps in to what he should have years before and help Eloise and her mother, he is determined to get to the bottom of what is happening and if giving Eloise a ring and offer a fake engagement to do so then so be it one thing he didn’t expect was the his heart would open to Eloise, yes he had always had feelings for her but he never lets himself love and Eloise will she be able to spend time with him without showing him what her heart feels?

This is a beautiful story one that I loved Konstantin and Eloise are such beautiful people and I loved journeying with them to their HEA, an emotional story and a very sensual romance, I do highly recommend this one, it is sure to leave any romance reader smiling.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 24, 2024 by Mills & Boon Modern

Made for Mistletoe

 Made for Mistletoe

The Walkers of River's Edge #3

Nan Reinhardt

Reviewed by Helen

Looking for a fabulous Christmas story filled with emotion then this is the one to pick up, although part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone, it is a heart-warming and beautiful story, a must read.

Teacher and artist Harper Gaines lost her soldier husband two years ago still grieving, Harper packs up her house and travels around to see if she can find herself again she soon finds herself in River’s Edge with her two aunts, will his be the place that will see the real Harper return, maybe when she meets Cameron Walker.

Cameron has lived in River’s Edge all of his life and he loves it and his job as a carpenter and cabinet maker he loves everything Christmas and is well loved by everyone, he is searching for an artist to help him finish the gift he has made for his Mum for Christmas, when shown some samples of the niece of good friends he knows that she is the one to do the artwork, that is if he can convince the shy and sad Harper, but Cameron never gives up.

As they get closer Harper seems to be opening up and Cameron is showing her all of the Christmas functions around town, can Harper put her husband to rest finally and find love again or the fact the Cameron is a reservist soldier put a spanner in the works, as for Cameron he has never felt a pull so strong before and he will do everything he can to win her heart.

I loved this beautiful story so much, filled with emotion as Harper and Cameron find their way to such a beautiful HEA and it is a gorgeous Christmas story, fabulous characters it left me smiling.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 24, 2024 by Tule Publishing

Texas Crooner

 Texas Crooner

Wishbone Texas #3

Ann B Harrison

Reviewed by Helen

I loved this one in this fabulous series, getting to know the Wilson family is awesome and this time it is Ella’s story the only girl with seven brothers, come along and feel a part of Ella’s story.

Ella’s life has always been easy and loving but when she goes on a fun weekend with some girlfriends her life changes when she is trying to get away from a couple of men she bumps into a stranger who steps in and helps, they click straight away and before she knows it she is married, but waking up the next morning there are serious doubts that she will make a good wife to the famous country singer Travis Read, she runs but he is always in her heart.

Travis Read has made a name for himself after growing in the system his life was not the best he has been making something of himself since he was sixteen, when he meets the beautiful Ella he feels like he has come home at last, but after a beautiful couple of days and a marriage he wakes and she is gone, hurt and disappointed he continues with his life but then a few months later Ella arrives on his doorstep ensuring him that she loves him and they should be together, could it be possible?

This really is a gorgeous story and I loved my visit back to Wishbone, filled with emotions that I felt all the way through, I loved Ella and Travis and the love and caring they not only have for each other but the other people in their lives, a must read, one that I highly recommend, and lucky me I still have a few more visits to make to Wishbone.

5 stars

First published September 17, 2020

Emerald Secrets

 Emerald Secrets

Saltwater Romance #2

Rhonda Forrest

Reviewed by Helen

Another beautiful story in this series, this one set in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands and Ireland two totally different climates and one Aussie hero and an Irish heroine, come along and get to know them and see how they get to a gorgeous HEA with a few ups and downs along the way, I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

Lachie, grew up on Stradbroke Island with his loving parents, who we met in the first book with his siblings his life is filled with love, surf, fishing the best life, he is now living on Emerald Island in the Whitsundays an island the family owns it is a holiday resort and he loves his work and life, he likes thing to run smoothly and easily, but when an Irish backpacker arrives on the island for work, Lachie feels himself falling for this beautiful woman, has he found love?

Kat also comes from a loving family in Galway, Ireland she has a very close relationship with her Granny and is encouraged by her to travel, to visit Australia, off she goes with a ring and hopes for a fabulous trip that is if she can stay away from some of Australia’s scary animals and insects and the burning sun. Arriving on Emerald Island she starts working in the bars and kitchens and cleaning, always willing to work but then she meets the boss Lachie and there is an instant attraction but an overheard conversation and a couple of cousins arriving put a spanner in the works and Kat is shocked that Lachie has trust issues.

Will they work things out between them, the love is there but these are two different people, and trusting is not always easy but time spent away makes the heart grow fonder they say and when Kat goes home, to Ireland will Lachie follow?

I loved this one so much and cannot highly recommend it, a beautifully told story of love, caring trust it had me turning the pages, smiling cheering them on, I felt every emotion that they went through and the settings are just gorgeous, I loved my trip to both parts of the world, so many fabulous characters that added to the story and catching up with Evie and Chris was fabulous, a must read, thank you Rhonda for another awesome tory I look forward to more in this series.

My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

Expected publication October 12 2024