Contemporary Romance Reviews

The Puck Stops Here

The Karma Club #3

Rachale Stewart

Reviewed by Helen

Book three in this absolutely fabulous series and I fell into it from the start, after four young woman meet at a snowed in airport in Chicago, they decide that their ex’s need to be taught a lesson and the Karma Club is formed and this time it is Astrid’s time to get, some karma on Sienna’s ex Aiden Carter NHL NY Titans hockey star, but Aiden has a twin Blake, how is this going to turn out?

Journalist Astrid is hired to do a piece on the twins this is going to give her a way in to get to Aiden, the only problem is Blake, bad boy Blake who Astrid feels such a pull to this is not going to be easy when it is Aiden she is after and Blake seems to be drawn to her as well, let the fun begin.

Things are not turning out the way Astrid planned and things are heating up, the last thing she wants to do is let her new best friends down and lose her own heart, love is not what she is looking for and she didn’t think Blake was either.

I loved this one so much, sensual, emotional, witty fun, oh and the ice-hockey, I loved Astrid and the characters that have I become friends with in this series, truly this is one that I highly recommend to any lover of a good romance it is sure to keep you smiling, I was cheering them all on and I can’t wait for the last one in the series, bring it on. Thank you MS Stewart for another awesome story.

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

5 stars

June 17, 2025 by Boldwood Books

Queen by Royal Command

Annie West

Reviewed by Helen

Annie West never disappoints with one of her sensual, beautiful stories, she takes her readers on journeys to beautiful places with fabulous people, and this one is set in Prinzenberg, come along and meet Benedikt and Annalena, it is sure to leave you smiling.

Benedikt has just been made King and he is working hard to put right what his father has pulled part he was always about himself not the people and it is time to change that, but when Princess Annalena arrives apparently without an appointment she drops a bombshell that could change everything.

Annalena has grown up in another part of Prinzenberg, orphaned and bought up by her beloved grandmother, the past King has agreed to a dam in her province and Annalena sets out to stop it and she will take extraordinary lengths to make sure her wishes are kept. She will not let the new King have his way.

Their first meeting sends heat through them both and Annalena’s ultimatum rocks him, he knew how bad his father was and he will never be like him he insists that she stay here at the palace till this is all worked out, Annalena is not happy, when Benedikt decides that marriage and joint ruling is the answer, how will she cope this is the last thing she wants.

This is such an awesome story enemies to lovers, the sparks fly and the electricity grows, will they get their HEA, will they make a formidable team not only in ruling but in love and happiness? I do highly recommend this one, I loved reading it so much and getting to know Benedikt and Annalena.

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

5 stars

June 19, 2025 by Mills & Boon Modern

The Cowboy's Best Friend

The Careys of Cowboy Point #4

Megan Crane

Reviewed by Helen

Book four in this wonderful series and I think it is my favourite so far, I do love a good friends to lovers troupe and with them being best friends for so long and the self- control that Boone used throughout those years was what made him seem like an angel and Sierra it took her some time, a bad marriage and a good look at her self- esteem encourage by Boone to see that her love for Boone was strong and true, I loved Boone and Sierra so much, this one is filled with emotion and is a heart-felt romance, one that I highly recommend, awesome characters, beautiful setting, big on family relationships and a fabulous read, don’t miss this one.

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

5 stars

June 5, 2025 by Tule Publishing

Letters in Blue

Outback Skye #1

Heather Reyburn

Reviewed by Helen

Another beautiful story from Heather Reyburn who is one of my favourite authors, this one is set against two time lines and the Australian outback and the beautiful Isle of Skye in Scotland over thirty years in time has passed but can love still find its way?

2024 nurse Ingrid Sloane has not had a holiday for a long time and her dream has always been to visit the Isle of Skye, birthplace of her grandmother, she is loving it here and when she meets Fergus a local sheep farmer and his handsome nephew Callum, her and Callum soon find themselves solving a thirty year old mystery of where Lucy Pellegreen is the young Australian woman Fergus fell in love with thirty four years ago, will they find her?

1990 Lucy has left Australia for a long awaited for trip to Europe but when she lands on the Isle of Skye she knows she has found a place that she could call home and then there is Fergus the handsome young farmer who has won her heart they make plans for a future when Lucy is called home after her mother has had a stroke but before she can tell her family about Fergus and make plans to return to Fergus a terrible accident changes her life and she must move forward and live for the day.

Both Fergus and Lucy had kept their aerogram letters all of these years and these form the start of Ingrid and Callum’s search, Ingrid returns home and with her mother’s help the search begins will she find Lucy and the more that Callum and Lucy talk on the phone the more she realises that he has won her heart, will there be two HEA’s in this beautiful story?

I loved this one from the start MS Reyburn has combined a beautiful romance (or two) with a mystery in such a fabulous way, it is heart wrenching and heart- warming at the same time and yes there were tears from this reader, an emotional journey and one that I highly recommend, don’t miss this one and the start of a new series, awesome.

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

5 stars

June 24, 2025

The Rancher's Heart

Strawberry Ridge #3

Susan Lute

Reviewed by Helen

Book three in this series and a friends to lovers story a troupe I really enjoy, we have met Jonas Lohman in the first two books the eldest brother and lawyer the brothers have been working hard to save the families Triple L Ranch and now it is time for him to leave Denver and return home, but will he ever find the happiness that his brothers have found.

Sloane Michaels is a mechanic and a good one she works hard at her garage but she wants love and happiness it is time for her to find that and seeing as her BFF Jonas has no intention of marrying then she decides to join a dating app, with high hopes even though she knows that her heart will always belong to Jonas.

Things change when Julianne arrives in town she dated Jonas a couple of times and wants to marry him but Jonas wants nothing to do with her and decides to tell her he is engaged to his BFF Sloane, this starts him really thinking about what he wants and is that Sloane?

This is a fabulous story that ties the series up really well (or is there another one to come) I loved seeing Jonas realise his love for Sloane and with the all that is happening in both of their lives they finally find that love and happiness, fabulous characters a beautiful setting and this is one that I highly recommend.

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

4 stars

June 3, 2025 by Tule Publishing

Illicit Italian Nights

Melanie Milburne

Reviewed by Helen

It has been a while since I have read a Melanie Milburne story and I was thrilled when I heard about this one and rightly so, I loved it, it is sensual, moving and fabulous come along to Italy and meet Addie and Vic.

Addison (Addie) Featherstone has grown up in the shadow of her famous mother never feeling good about herself she loves her job as a Vet Nurse animals are much easier than humans, so when her brother’s brother in law, Vic Jacobetti rings and needs her to come with him to his villa in Lake Como to help care for their niece and goddaughter she is not sure how this will work out you see she has got a little crush on the playboy.

Vic knows that Addie is off limits and as the days of babysitting grow and he learns more about Addie that grows stronger but he cannot help but think what it would be like to kiss this beautiful woman, and the chemistry grows and soon Addie wants to learn all about the sensual side of life, will his heart come out at the end of their time in Italy?

This is such a great story, both Addie and Vic carry a weight from their pasts that have made them who they are today, can they together break those hurts and look to the future, together I am sure they are made for each other and the heat and sensuality grows. I loved both Vic and Addie and I loved this beautiful story, I highly recommend it, to any lover of a good romance.

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

5 stars

July 1, 2025 by Harlequin Presents

Tempted By Her Best Friend Billionaire

Michelle Douglas

Reviewed by Helen

I am a huge fan of Michelle Douglas, her stories fill me with happiness all the time and this one is no different and the cover I love it and reading the book he is truly Blake, do you love a friends to lovers story, I do, then this is one to read, don’t miss it.

Blake Carlisle and Nina grew up living next door to each other in a smallish town in Victoria, best friends forever they said but years later life changed for Blake and he left, yes he kept in touch with his beloved grandmother, Iris his best friend Nina and her mother Jo, Blake was in London building his company but when he needed to come home he couldn’t, he has a good reason why but that changed everything, Nina and he were not best friends anymore, but now he is home for his grandmother’s funeral.

His grandmother has left letters for both Blake and Nina with strict instructions as to what she wants them to do and one thing is a Mediterranean cruise together, Blake is happy to do this and soon Nina arrives to start the cruise on a luxury yacht, this cruise brings them closer together and while Nina makes Iris’s wishes come true (with her challenges) they work on becoming best friends again.

Before long the pull between them grows and maybe a holiday with benefits is what they both need both agree that at the end they will go back to being just best friends, but can they ever be just best friends again after the trip they have just had, the sensual heights they have discovered as well the opening up of their hearts?

Oh Michelle Douglas you have taken me on the most beautiful of journeys through the Mediterranean, you have pulled at my heart stings in so many ways, you made me cry, you made me smile and you had me cheering, I loved this one so much Blake and Nina are the best, thank you for another awesome story. I highly recommend this to any romance reader.

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

5 stars

June 18, 2025 by Mills & Boon Forever

Cupid Country Challenge

Cupid Country #2

Cathryn Hein

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this awesome series and it rocks I loved it, totally opposites Niamh O’Connor loves numbers, the piano and is a perfectionist and Olly Braithwaite hippie organic waterfowl farmer, is there a chance that they can find what they are both looking for, well their friends Tom and Amber think they can and push them into taking a chance.

Their first meeting at the local country show is eye opening for Niamh, yes she enjoyed herself but there is no way they will ever go further they are way too different, so she says thank you and moves on but Olly decides that this beautiful nerd and he can make something together and he pushes for her to give it another go, Niamh gives it another go and visits Olly’s farm meets the Geese and Ducks and soon Niamh is feeling very different.

One night of passion and sensual fun sees Niamh buzzing with what is happening to her, is there a way this will work because in Niamh’s eyes Olly is fun, caring and the best, can Olly convince Niamh that she can get over her quirks and that together they can find the love that is there.

This is another quick and fabulous read told in true Cathryn Hein style with feeling, emotion, it is witty sensual and the best, I can’t wait for book three and see how Eden fares .

I do highly recommend this one it is sure to leave you smiling.

5 stars

May 28, 2025

Cockatoo Cove

Maya Linnell

Reviewed by Helen

I always am happy when there is a new Maya Linnell book out, her stories are fabulous, it is like she can transport me to a rural location and I just feel comfortable getting to know the characters she has created to make me smile and feel all the emotions as we follow their story and Fergus Abernathy is a favourite of mine and seeing him in a new story had me cheering come along for another visit to The Limestone Coast and see how Fergus fares.

Maggie West is a divorced mother of two, after marrying young she has worked hard to prove to everyone that she is a capable and independent woman, she runs a successful cattle stud, breeds border collies even though her family run a big cray fishing company, she comes from a well off family but has made her own way in life, but her teenage daughter is causing a few problems at the moment and Maggie is doing her best to keep her on track, they have been through a rough time.

Fergus, who we have met before is a Scottish winemaker, a very successful one at that, but he has always wanted a wife and children like his brothers back in Scotland but he has yet to find the love of his life when he meets up with the West family especially Maggie he feels something, could she be the one for him, then there is news that rocks him and changes everything in his life.

Maggie and Fergus are soon working closely together, a weekend away in the Barossa Valley is what they both need but then everything is turned upside down again, scammers, secrets unfolding and stress play a big part in keeping them apart, will they both get through all of the dramas and ups and downs and find the love that they both deserve?

I loved this one so much, MS Linnell has set this one in such a beautiful setting, the beaches, the rural setting the food and the fabulous characters, I loved Fergus and Maggie, Izzy and Lenny. I do highly recommend this one, it was hard to put down, it is a page turner, and thank you MS Linnell this one goes straight to the keeper shelve.

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

5 stars

June 3, 2025 by Allen & Unwin

Reckless with the Cowboy

The Westons of Montana #2

Elsa Winckler

Reviewed by Helen

We are back in Marietta, where I love to be, and the second Weston, Beckett may just get his HEA if he can put the past behind him, look to the future and do what he loves to do best and convince newcomer to town Ellie Campbell that he is not the person many people make him out to be.

Yes Beckett knows he has a reputation with woman and for him for someone who does not want to marry life is good, very busy though with working on the ranch with his family and doing what he loves best doodling pictures of his three dogs looking after his social media account and coping with grief his way, but when Ellis falls into his arms one afternoon things start to change for Beckett.

Ellie has moved to Marietta to start a new life, for her it is a pit stop before she travels more, but opening her yarn shop and meeting and making new friends maybe it would be a place to stay for a while anyway, buying her own home and getting a cat, like most spinster woman because there is no way she is marrying, but when bad boy Beckett literally catches her maybe a fling might just be what she needs if only she doesn’t lose her heart to him.

This one is a beautiful moving and emotional romance, that shows how friends and community can be there for each other, I am loving the Weston family and Beckett is a great hero and Elle what a beautiful heroine, I do highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good romance, I am looking forward to the next one.

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

4 stars

May 27, 2025 by Tule Publishing