Cinderella's Outback Boss

 Cinderella's Outback Boss

Michelle Douglas

Reviewed by Helen

This is book one in the Outback King’s Quartet and it was fabulous, I loved it from start to finish, the setting is so good the characters are wonderful and the story had me sighing come along and meet the first of four King Brothers who grew up in the Kimberly’s on a huge cattle station, Kings Reach you will fall into this one.

Tom King is widowed with a five year old daughter Bea, he is a finance guru and runs a very wealthy financial business he now lives in Sydney after the King family fractured many years ago but there is a ball in his late mother’s honour and for the first time in many years all four boys are home for it but when his father, Fraser drops a bombshell on them will they join together as they were when children or will this pull them apart? Tom will do his best to pull them together, even if it means staying on in The Kimberly’s.

Charlie Ashwell grew up on the property next door to the Kings, Melaleuca Downs, she is a strong and very capable woman who is no cowpat but she is after some proof of what Fraser King has done to her family and when Tom King offers her a job to be Nanny to young Bea she takes it but soon she is having feelings that she did not want, she has sworn off city boys after she was burnt by her ex but the more time they spend together the more her heart opens, the pull is too strong to ignore for long, where will this end?

This story is truly the best I think it might be might favourite of MS. Douglas’s so far, I loved Tom and Charlie and Bea is so lovable, the sensual pull, the emotion in this story had me turning the pages and not wanting it to end I really wanted to stay with them for longer, but love won out and left me feeling so good. I can’t wait to read the other three books in this series and get to know the other brothers better.

I do highly recommend this one to any lover of an awesome romance, I loved it.

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

5 stars

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Taming the Wild Cowboy

 Taming the Wild Cowboy

Bad Boys of Rodeo #1

Jeannie Watt

Reviewed by Helen

Do you love a cowboy romance, with a fabulous setting and wonderful characters then this is the one to pick up, first in a new series and I loved it come along and meet Maclyn and Trev.

Maclyn Kane is going through some hard times she is an equine specialist and needs a job badly after losing her last one, she has two horses of her own and a dog that she needs to care for so when an opportunity arises on a ranch in a town she loves she needs to be strong and try for it, even though she has history with this cowboy not any romantic history but they do have a past that caused problems will he give her the job?

Trev Mathews is back on the family ranch after his uncle broke his leg and needs help ordinarily, Trev works in IT but ranching is his first love and being back on the ranch he sees that even more but they are short handed and they need staff and quick and when Maclyn arrives asking for the job he is reluctant after what happened all those years ago but needs must and soon Maclyn has settled in well and he is having feelings that he probably should not but at least he now knows what really happened back then, could there be a chance for them?

Time spent together sees them both opening up, love and a relationship is not what either of them wanted but love grows and there is no denying it for long, this is a beautiful romance and one that I highly recommend I loved Maclyn and Trev and they both deserve happiness, thank you MS. Watt for a fabulous story, I look forward to Jordan’s story.

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

5 stars

April 28, 2026 by Tule Publishing

Now and Always in Hope Creek

 Now and Always in Hope Creek

Hope Creek #3

Alyssa J Montgomery

Reviewed by Helen

Book three in this fabulous series and we are back in Hope Creek and this is Morgan’s story, Morgan is an RFDS pilot and she is feisty, determined and so very caring about everything, she has been burnt by her last relationship a RFDS doctor and she has no intentions of finding a relationship again especially with a work colleague so when new doctor Matt Carter arrives Morgan is staying strong and not being very friendly with him how will this all turn out?

Morgan has been living with the Richardson family since she was nine years old, she lost her parents in an accident then her uncle Craig became her guardian, he too was a pilot delivering mail to the outback but when his plane goes down and he is presumed dead Morgan begins a new life with the Richardson’s and Stella and Callie, where she has been very happy, while on a clinic run an old ringer makes some comments about her uncle and what he was really doing while delivering the mail and Morgan sets a course on finding out the truth about what happened all those years ago.

Matt Carter has always wanted to be in a rural community and has planned his training well to be a good RFDS doctor and now he has come to the place that he wants to stay and meeting the team is good expect maybe the reaction he is getting from Morgan, she is very standoffish with him and he can’t understand that but one thing he does know is that he is very drawn to this feisty beautiful woman, will she let him get closer but what about his own past will that pull them apart?

Soon they have become friends and Morgan has uncovered some facts that she is determined to get the answers for and being Morgan she goes ahead and soon is in danger and Matt is by her side to help and keep her safe but it appears that maybe Matt’s family connections might be related and as danger looms very close will they come out the other end safe?

I loved this one so much I think it might be my favourite of the three so far, MS. Montgomery has pulled together a wonderful romantic suspense with such fabulous characters, people who were very easy to make friends with, Morgan is strong and feisty and Matt is so caring, this one is moving and filled with emotion and a must read, I do highly recommend this one the series, thank you for a fabulous story.

My thanks to Escape Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

May 1, 2026 by Escape Publishing

The Home Paddock

 The Home Paddock

Forrest Gully #2

Laurelle Cousins

Reviewed by Helen

We are back in the best country town, Forrest Gully this time the author is telling us about town favourites Hughey Chalmers and Meg Sommers, we did get to know them in the first book and I was eagerly awaiting their story and I was not disappointed.

After Hughey lost his butcher shop in that terrible fire, the town has got behind him and Hughey has kept his business going sharing a space in Lexie’s bakery but he is now re-building a new shop but with big plans to make it a Providore and he has high hopes that the girl he has always loved, Meg Sommers, the best barista there is will join forces and move her café into the new shop, but can he get her to break down the walls she has built after all that happened with their parents and tomato sauce all those years ago?

Meg loves her café and her coffee machine and she loves this town but one thing she feels she has to do is keep Hughey at arm’s length because of the hurt his parents caused hers, with both sets of parents not residing in Forrest Gully anymore, she is happy to make coffee for Hughey and she knows how caring and helpful he is and she does know how hard it is to keep her heart safe against the feeling she truly has for this man the one who has been a part of her life since childhood, her friend but he can be no more than that.

Things are moving fast for Hughey and his Providore and Meg is determined to hold her own in her café not with Hughey but then things change for her and with parents arriving back in town the pressure is on, how will Meg make things work could she do her own tomato sauce or was that going too far, add to that the arrival of a cat never seen before but he befriends both Hughey and Meg and seems to want them to get closer, will it happen?

This is another wonderful story in this series, I loved catching up with Gus, Kate and Riley as well as the other CWA ladies and residents, and as usual from this author the food delights are amazing, I am sure I gain weight reading these books, this is a story that I highly recommend, a visit to a small country town with all of the support that abounds in these towns, don’t miss this one and as always I look forward to the next one.

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

4 stars

May 4, 2026 by LCP

Where There's Smoke

 Where There's Smoke

Karly Lane

Reviewed by Helen

If you love a good second chance romance then this is one to pick up, come along and meet Kenzie and Ewan, this is one sure to keep you turning the pages, I Loved it.

Mackenzie (Kenzie) Knight lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland she is a single mum to four year old Poppy and runs a very successful event planning business and she is exceptionally good at wedding planning, all is going so good, until the man she had a one night stand with five years ago walks into the room with his bride to be, Kenzie is stunned to see the man who she thought had left the country to go home all those years ago and the man who fathered Poppy, what will she do now?

Ewan Campbell arrives to be at this wedding planning meeting even though he is busy but this meeting is going to upend his life forever when the wedding planner turns out to be the woman that has stayed in his mind for all of these years he never really forgot her and when he discovers that he is a father Ewan has some choices to make.

A meeting between Kenzie and Ewan is not easy and now Ewan is not getting married and Kenzie needs to get away for a bit and takes Poppy on a trip to her mother and step-father’s farm and Ewan comes along to get to know Poppy and soon they are talking lots and thinking about how life is going to be for the three of them, Ewan suggests a trip to his family’s property in South Australia and road trip is planned that turns out to be fun, and all is going well when they spend time at Laire-Mor their relationship is growing, Poppy is loving having a daddy and another family and then something happens that will upend everything again, will they overcome this and find love and happiness?

I loved this one so much Karly Lane has again bought her readers a story to fall into with wonderful characters and settings I loved Kenzie, Ewan and Poppy and I highly recommend this one, it hit the spot beautifully, moving, emotional and awesome.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 28, 2026 by Allen & Unwin

Delivering Secrets

 Delivering Secrets

Delivering #2

Fiona McArthur

Reviewed by Helen

This is a beautiful and moving second chance at love story that had me turning the pages as I got to know Ellie and Luke as they are reunited after ten years apart.

Elle diamond has been through a lot in the ten years since she left Bell’s River at seventeen, she promised to return in five years after she has done her nursing and midwifery to Luke the one person she loved but a phone call five years ago changed all of that and she ended up married, widowed with a four year old son but Ellie decides that it is time to return to give her son Josh a good start but starting work for Luke as he midwife and working two shifts at in the maternity ward at the hospital bought them back together and her heart grew even more for Luke.

Dr. Luke Farrell, obstetrician is stunned when Ellie arrives back in town with a son he has never forgotten her or the message that was passed onto him all those years ago but the minute she is here he knows that he must do his best to convince her that they need to be together that there is still so much love there, but it is not going to be easy to convince her to see his way and open up her heart again to him.

In this small town Ellie is soon becoming very popular which in turn sees her keeping secrets that could end up causing a big problem between her and Luke and he is slowly breaking down those walls that she has built, can they find their way forward and let the past go and find the love that will keep them together for always?

I loved this one and highly recommend it to any lover of a good medical romance, MS. McArthur has again bought characters to life made them easy to be friends with, and happiness abounds in this fabulous story.

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

5 stars

April 15, 2026 by Fiona McArthur Author

Filthy Rich Redemption

 Filthy Rich Redemption

Filthy Rich Billionaires #2

Rachael Stewart

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this series and this one is steamy, hot and fabulous, we know Axel and Taylor from book one and how determined they both are that love and marriage will never be on the cards for them even though they have both seen Theo and Sadie find their HEA but it is not for them.

It came as a shock to Taylor at the wedding of one of her best friends, Theo and her sister Sadie that she wanted a baby a no strings attached baby no father she wanted to do this alone but she wants her best friend Axel to be the father, when she asked he was shocked but he said yes under his rules that it happened in bed not in a clinical situation it had to be his way, OK she can do this, get pregnant and he would walk away but the moment he touched her things changed and she could feel her life changing.

Axel was not born to be a father after the way he grew up and being asked to be the father Taylor’s baby came as a big shock could he do this, would this be his chance to get close to Taylor the way he had always wanted to, without opening up to Taylor, yes but his way only and just one touch told him that he had lost his heart more than he thought he ever could, when she walks away he will break into many pieces.

This one is a fabulous story so very sensual could Axel and Taylor find their HEA open up to what has been in their hearts for such a long time. I loved it and loved catching up with Theo, Sadie and Lottie and I do highly recommend this one to any romance reader who loves a steamy romance but it is a good idea to read book one first and I can’t wait for the next one in the series, thank you MS Stewart for another beautiful story.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 4, 2026 by Boldwood Books

Delivering Promises

 Delivering Promises

Delivery #3

Fiona McArthur

Reviewed by Helen

MS. McArthur really knows how to pull at the heartstrings with this beautiful, moving and emotional story, come along and meet Dr. Stuart Kramer and Amanda Edwards and the other fabulous characters in this one.

Stuart is waiting for the train to arrive from Brisbane with the sister-in-law and niece he didn’t know he had he has been estranged from his brother for many years but with his death Stuart and his ill mother will be taking guardianship of little Sophie, but when the train crashes, Stuart meets his sister-in-law holding a young child for the first time but he soon discovers that she is not who he thinks she is and life is going to change very quickly for this man who has no intention of loving again.

Amanda has left Brisbane to start a new life in Sydney after her break-up with her fiancé, pregnant she is determined to start a new life but a train crash changes all of that she awakes in hospital with only the memory of the very handsome, blue-eyed man who saved her and that her baby, a daughter has been delivered and is in NCIU and needing lots of care as her memory slowly returns so does her heart open up to her daughter’s doctor and the man who saved her, could this be what love really is?

I loved this one so much I loved Amanda and Stuart and their journey to a HEA they had a lot to overcome mainly the walls both had built around their hearts, but love will win through and see them all start a new life as a family filled with love. I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a fabulous romance.

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

5 stars

April 19, 2026 by Fiona mcArthur Author

Something in the Air in Pelican Crossing

 Something in the Air in Pelican Crossing

Pelican Crossing #8

Maggie Christensen

Reviewed by Helen

We have gotten to know Rhana Black throughout this wonderful series and this is her time to find her HEA but will she be able to let go of the past to do so? Rhana has lived a fairly solidary life breeding her Spaniels she find the dogs better company than humans mostly, her best friends Livvy and Erica have found their second chance at love but Rhana can’t see that happening to her. But her life changes firstly when she finds a young girl who is appears in need of help and before she knows it Rhana is offering young Tiffany a place to live and then when she finally meets her neighbour who she refers to as The Birdman because of his Hot Air Balloon flights, life just might be moving in another direction for Rhana after all of these years.

Steve Morton moved to Australia years ago he loves the quiet life and is happier keeping to himself he loved once and has no intention of loving again, he is happy, he has made a good life for himself here in Pelican Crossing, but when he finally meets his neighbour there is a stirring of something he thought long lost and soon they are spending time together, could there be a chance for these two loners?

This is another beautiful story in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it, to see these two lovely people journey through to a HEA that they both deserved and of course I loved the dogs and catching in up with the other friends that I have made throughout the series, Maggie Christensen has again written a beautiful story with older characters and it is one that I highly recommend.

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

4 stars

April 2, 2026 by Cala Publishing

April Blossoms

 April Blossoms

The Enchanted Village #5

Annie Seaton

Reviewed by Helen

Lily Morison has decided that it is time to visit her brother-in-law Hugh and her niece Emma, it is four years since her sister Sarah passed away and Lily is determined to ensure that Emma is well since Hugh is seeing Joanna, she arrives in the village of Lower Thistlewick in The Cotswolds, with determination on her mind Lily is renting Primrose Cottage for one month.

But when Lily arrives at the cottage she find it freezing cold and all of the plants are shriveling, you see what Lily doesn’t understand yet is that this village and the cottages are enchanted, magical and Primrose cottage will not tolerate anger, or unkind thoughts, it will do it’s best to teach Lily what she really wants and to do its best to get her back to the person she was before losing her sister, of course the wonderful residents of the village play a big part in helping lily as well.

Soon Lily is learning that grief can do many things to a person and Lily must learn to see that life goes on and that by sharing all of that love she had for her sister with others especially Emma, Hugh and Joanna, making new friends is part of the change she needs, soon she is helping with the planning of the May wedding and Lily’s heart is re-opening and she is again smiling and loving life, enough to decide to move permanently to Lower Thistlewick and its enchanted cottages and the true friends that she has made here.

Another beautiful, heart-warming and uplifting story in this magical series, I do highly recommend them to any reader who wants something that will lift your spirits in a quick lovely story, it left me smiling.

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

5 stars

April 15, 2026 by ASA