Enemies at the Royal Altar (Unsuitable Royal Matches Book 1) by Natalie Anderson

 Reviewed by Nas Dean

Enemies at the Royal Altar by author Natalie Anderson is October 2026 release by Harlequin Presents. 

I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and the royal setting made this one even more entertaining. The sparks between the characters and the tension in their relationship kept me interested in seeing how things would turn out. 

If you enjoy royal romances with a bit of drama, plenty of chemistry and two people who have to overcome their differences to find love, you might enjoy this one too. Definitely worth adding to your reading list!

I enjoyed Enemies at the Royal Altar by Natalie Anderson. 

This was a fun royal romance. 

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Code Blue Christmas

 Code Blue Christmas

Yukon Vally, Alaska Hospital Series #4

Jillian David

Reviewed by Helen

We are back in the Yukon Valley and it is just about Christmas time, it is dark most of the day and it is cold and as usual the matchmakers of this small town are looking for people they can help find love could it be lab technician Reggie Price and local Veterinarian April Katz turn?

Reggie has moved here to train to race his dog sled team in the North Pole race and Mav is coaching him and he is also loving his job at the hospital, Reggie runs on spreadsheets and timing everything must run to timetable for him and with the race so close nothing can distract him from what he wants. Running into April brings back lots of memories for Reggie ones he would rather forget.

April is working in her father’s veterinarian surgery she is all lights and sparkle especially at this time of the year her and her little dog Alpo come as a team but April has decisions that she must make will she follow her dreams or her father’s? Then she runs into Reggie Price when he brings one of his race dogs in for a check she has never forgotten Reggie and the times she spent as his teach at college years ago and it appears that he can still push her buttons.

So when April goes out to check Reggie’s dogs and a blizzard hits they are snowbound in his cabin and talking is not all they did but can this lead to anything more, Reggie is so set on his ways and April still has decisions to make, can they set everything aside to find love and happiness?

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip back to the Yukon Valley the setting is fabulous and the characters and dogs who all have their own personalities kept me turning the pages in this steamy romance, it is one that recommend to keep you warm on a cool night.

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

4 stars

October 6, 2026 by Tule Publishing

Burrabinda Dawn

 Burrabinda Dawn

Burrabinda #1

Heather Reyburn

Reviewed by Helen

The start of a new series from one of my favourite authors and it didn’t disappoint, come along for a trip to outback Queensland and meet some wonderful characters.

Burrabinda is a large farm with cattle and sheep and has been home to the Westman family for generations but sadly farming is not an easy business and with drought, floods and the cost of fuel and fertilizer running Burrabinda is getting harder and Charlotte has come up with a plan to bring tourism onto the farm and keep it going by giving people the chance to experience farming for themselves, the doors have opened to this sprawling and beautiful land and the very welcoming Westman family, Anthony, Charlotte theirs sons Oliver and Nathan and Roy and Sylvia, Anthony’s parents and Charlotte’s cousin Heath.

Their first visitors are Stella Lewis and her eighteen year old daughter Evie, Stella is a single mum and a hairdresser but while house-sitting her parents home a terrible incident brings back past memories for Stella and shatters her confidence, her parents suggest a holiday and young Evie is very keen for this to happen.

Evie has also had a re-think about her future after a weekend away with her girlfriends goes wrong, so they decide on a trip to the outback they find themselves driving to Winton and Evie is stoked at the dinosaur’s museum and she is sure she has found what she wants her future to be and then they arrive at Burrabinda for a two week stay.

Staying at Burrabinda is what will change their lives, they really open up with the help of the Westman family and discover secrets that had been kept for many years and now the future is theirs to own and the happiness they have both found is what they needed and deserved.

I loved this one from start to finish and cannot highly recommend it enough, a beautifully told story of friendship, and of finding yourself, I loved all of the characters in this one and of course my trip to the outback was amazing, and I am really looking forward to more in this series and another visit to Burrabinda and the Westman family.

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

5 stars

Expected publication October 14, 2026

Harvest Magic

 Harvest Magic

The Enchanted Village #8

Annie Seaton

Reviewed by Helen

It is summer in Lower Thistlewick and there is a lot happening, the filming of Dimity’s book Shadowlands has started in which Alf the publican has a part, it is harvest time, someone new has arrived in the village, Harvey Alf’s nephew, will he stay and then there is the wedding of Hugh and Joanna an exciting time to be there and the residents are their true selves with knowing looks and total understanding of what people need in this enchanted village and of course the flowers are blooming for everyone, it is a very busy time.

This is a lovely series with a fabulous setting and wonderful characters, the village is very special when people arrive the village knows what they need and want and goes about ensuring that it all happens, If you are looking for short moving stories then this is the series to pick up.

4 stars

August 25, 2026 by ASA

The Treasure House

 The Treasure House

Amy Matthews

Reviewed by Helen

This is just the most gorgeous of stories, it was recommend to me by a friend and I dived into it and didn’t want to put it down, when Zoe single mum to Florence who is nearly twelve decides that after the life she has had growing up she wants a home of her own for her daughter a house that will give them a yard and separate bedrooms and when Zoe discovers what they call the treasure houses she searches madly for one that she can afford and of course Flo has her say one where this house should be, after all these houses are very affordable for a reason, they are not in big cities and they are sold filled with junk and when they find one on the coast in Maine they make the trip and decision to move.

They need to pick up the key from neighbour Jake who owns the hardware/lobster shack store and he is not only good looking but he is grumpy and when showing them around the house that is filled to the brim with junk he is doing his best to talk them out of buying it but that does not deter them and soon Zoe and Flo are the owners of a treasure house.

It is the end of summer and Zoe has her work cut out for her cleaning up the place to make it livable before the colder weather sets in, the things they discover along the way are amazing not all of it is junk and Jake is becoming a great handyman and friend as well as the other residents of this very small town, but Zoe has found lots of things that belong to Marley who apparently was the previous owner but no one is giving her much information about her but she is discovering a lot about her as she cleans up and feels a closeness to her.

So many things are coming together for Zoe in this beautiful coastal town her heart is opening up, Jake and her are really getting closer and her and Flo have settled in with cats and so much more, but when her past arrives could this destroy it all or has this town and the people here as well as her foster family helped Zoe see her future better?
I loved this book so much I highly recommend it, it is witty, heartwarming and heartbreaking in so many ways there were many tears from me, smiles and laughter along the way as Zoe, Jake and Flo make a HEA together, learning about Marley and Jake’s connection and the past lives of the people who lived in this house had me turning the pages, this is a story not to be missed it is fabulous.

5 stars

September 1, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Australia

The Cowboy's Forever Promise

 The Cowboy's Forever Promise

The Westons of Montana #6

Elsa Winckler

Reviewed by Helen

Carson Weston is really enjoying being a part of the bigger Weston family after joining the ranches together, he is kind of messy at home and layback he loves ranching and he loves photography, and looking or finding someone to settle down with and love is not in his future after the life he had as a kid with a controlling mother that is until he is in Spokane and he meets the most beautifulest woman and spends one night with her no names it is one night only.

Abby Swanson grew up in foster care and as an adult planning and order are her life and she runs a successful business in Seattle her best friend June has now moved to Marietta and is happily married to Dylan but that future is not on the cards for Abby she really needs to be on top of everything but on her way to visit June she stops in Spokane for a night and goes to a bar, not like her to do and she meets a man that has her acting out of her usual box and spends the most glorious night with him but no names were agreed to and the next morning she is on her way.

Arriving in Marietta Abby is shocked to find out that the man she spent the night with is none other than June’s brother in law and the spark and heat between them sparks up again and with the Weston family happily playing matchmaker do they have any chance of sticking to their life plans or will they realise that love and happiness is for them both together?

If you enjoy a steamy romance then this is one to read, I did very much enjoy this one and it was a good ending to the Weston’s of Montana series having them all together was good.

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

4 stars

September 1, 2026 by Tule Publishing

A Little Taste of Home

 A Little Taste of Home

From the Outback to the Seas #2

Jacinta Peachey

Reviewed by Helen

We are back in Dolphin Cove for another delightful and fabulous story I love this little country and seaside town and the characters we have met so far, this time we are going to spend time at the Dolphin Cove Hotel with Emmie and Cam, come along and meet them all.

Emmie Hewitt is a single mum to four year old Teagan and when her father Keith and mum Fay are ill she takes up the mantle and leaves her event planner job in Perth to take up the reins of the crumbling family hotel, what she discovers is a bully of a chef, Greg the food is terrible and the place needs lots of work but her father has never listened to her before about how they can make things better so she knows her job is not going to be easy and raising a daughter on her own takes a lot of work. Then on a really bad day in the kitchen a hero walks in.

Cameron McCracken is a three hat chef but a breakdown has seen him leave all of that behind to travel around Australia in his van and surf and it has been fabulous so far, that is until he is camping in Dolphin Bay and has his van and everything he owns stolen, he arrives at the Dolphin Cove Hotel in his wetsuit just as the chef is going off his head in the kitchen Cam can’t help but step in and help and then step in again to offer to be chef till Emmie can find someone else is this what he really wanted?

Emmie and Cam don’t get off on the right foot Emmie finds this chef full of his own ego and he wants to change all the food and that is not going to happen because of her father but soon Emmie can see that everything is improving in the kitchen and he also is getting along really well with Teagan but can Emmie and Cam work together and change things around at the hotel and really make things better after all both of them are only there temporarily?

Soon Cam and Emmie cannot ignore the spark and pull that is happening but both have been through a lot and when Cam is offered a top job in Melbourne Emmie is caught between wanting him to take what he really wanted but wanting him to stay, will he leave Emmie, Teagan and the friends that he has made or will he stay?

This is a fabulous story so much fun, moving, emotional oh and the food wow, of course I can’t not mention The Lacey Ladies or The Shedders who help to make this story what it is, I loved it from start to finish Emmie and Cam and Teagan are so good, I do highly recommend this one and am very eager for the next book in the series, will it be Nina’s story?

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

5 stars

September 15, 2026 by Tule Publishing

The Featherwood Beekeeper

 The Featherwood Beekeeper

Fiona McArthur

Reviewed by Helen

Fiona McArthur has taken me back to Featherwood one of my favourite places to visit catching up with the friends I already knew was awesome but meeting the newcomers to the small town was magical, I loved this one so much came for a trip to Featherwood to meet everyone.

Birdie Vaughan has just turned eighteen and has been living in foster care for twelve years, she has just finished school and is all set to attend university in the new year studying to be a midwife but first she needs to find her brother Marty she has just received a birthday card from him no address but is was posted in a town called Featherwood, so with her little campervan the one she saved for she is off on an adventure.

Natasha Yarrington is bee scientist and is setting out to discover why the bee hives around Featherwood are surviving so well when around the rest of the state they are not doing so well. She is going to visit a property Hidden Valley where the owner, Isaac Stevens lives totally off-grid but his hives are thriving and Natasha is determined to find out why.

Molly Rogan is newly married and very pregnant and at forty three she is thrilled, Molly loves people and cooking and has a real knack for helping people, she runs a small B&B and when a young woman is sent her way to rent it for a few days Molly is thrilled to have Natasha stay, a friendship grows and Natasha and her husband Richard have a real love of wines.

The story comes from the point of view of Birdie, Molly, Natasha and Isaac as we see all four people discover things that will change their lives, Will Birdie find Marty, what will Natasha finally discover is a way that is a shock and Isaac will he finally be able to put the past behind him and Molly her love of people will bring her such joy with these newcomers to town.

MS. McArthur has also researched bees so well and I learnt a lot about beekeeping, so much I didn’t know.

Oh I loved this one so very much I think it just might be MS. McArthur’s best yet I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to stay in Featherwood and I have my fingers crossed that we will be back there one day, this story has so many emotions running throughout it, I smiled and yes I cried happy tears, it is a beautiful story, one that I highly recommend, a must read.

My thanks to Penguin Books Au for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

September 15, 2026 by Penguin Books Australia

Rushworth Country-Tilly

 Rushworth Country-Tilly

Rushworth Country #1

Laurelle Cousins

Reviewed by Helen

Tilly Ferguson has lived all of her life in the small Victorian country town of Rushworth, known to the residents as Rushy her family have owned and run the service station for many, many years but Tilly has always had a dream to do interior design and this was encouraged by her mother but when her mother suddenly passes away, Tilly steps up to help run the service station with her father, yes it is run down and needs a little work and Tilly does have plans but they never seem to happen, life moves along as normal, until a stranger arrives in town.

Nate Hunter arrives in town with his flashy ute and is immaculately dressed, he has worked for his grandfather’s company since leaving school and he is ready to take over the business, you see the family company plans to build a new service station right next door to the Ferguson’s but when he comes up against the very stubborn Tilly and Kevin the emu and the community that rally around Tilly, maybe it is time for Nate to re-think his life.

There is a spark between Tilly and Nate from the start but aren’t they supposed to be against each other? This is a fabulous tory that had me smiling, cheering them on and tearing up with happy tears, I loved Nate what a hero and Tilly strong determined and a bit stubborn and Kevin the emu he is so good and what can I say about the community of Rushy, Saul, Pearl they are all so good and help make this story one not to be missed, come along and see what happens with Nate and Tilly, I loved it and highly recommend it, can’t wait for book two.

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

5 stars

September 12, 2026 by LCP

Heir For His Taking

 Heir For His Taking

Annie West

Reviewed by Helen

I am a big fan of Annie West’s stories and I love Greek heroes and Annie has given me a beautiful story filled with emotion, wonderful settings and characters that I found very easy to love, come along and meet Panos and Dido.

Dido Jones is an event planner and is on an island planning an elite wedding she is with the bride this event, she is hoping that will launch her in this business, she is yet to know who the bridegroom is and when he arrives it is none other than her estranged husband, the wedding is called off and Dido loses her job, she makes her way back to London worried about how she will manage and more worried about Panos finding out about her secret.

Panos is totally stunned to find Dido on the island he had ended all contact with her three years ago when he discovered she was a gold digger and that there marriage was not valid, but the spark between them appears to be still there and he goes to London to track her down and what he discovers is life changing for him and he is determined to take his heir but he realises that Dido must come as well, but will their time together on his island increase this pull that it there and he is sure Dido is feeling it as well.

They cannot ignore the spark and soon they are back in bed together and opening up to each other, will Panos finally listen to Dido about the truth of what happened before and can Dido show Panos that he can trust and love after the life he has spent since childhood convinced that people only want him for his money?

I loved this one so much, Panos and Dido are fabulous and they deserve to find love and happiness together and MS West has given them that and so much more in this sensual and beautiful romance that had me turning the pages, a must read and one that I highly recommend to any lover of a beautiful romance.

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

5 stars

September 15, 2026 by Mills & Boon Modern