The Romantic Fiction Shelf

An Unsuitable Heiress
Jane Dunn
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804835357, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 318pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-unsuitable-heiress-jane-dunn/1143106018

Synopsis: Do you realise, Corinna, just how hard it is for a young woman of=
irregular birth, without family, fortune or friends in the world? Marriage=
is the only way to get any chance of a life.'

Following the death of her mother, Corinna Ormesby has lived a quiet life i=
n the countryside with her cantankerous Cousin Agnes. Her father's identity=
has been a tantalising mystery, but now at nineteen Corinna knows that fin= ding him may be her only way to avoid marriage to the odious Mr Beech.

Deciding to head to London, Corinna dons a male disguise. Traveling alone a=
s a young woman risks scandal and danger, but when, masquerading as a youth=
, she is befriended by three dashing blades, handsome and capable Alick Wol= fe, dandy Ferdinand Shilton and the incorrigible Lord Purfoy, Corinna now h=
as access to the male-only world of Regency England. And when she meets Ali= ck's turbulent brother Darius, a betrayal of trust leads to deadly combat w= hich only one of the brothers may survive.

From gambling in gentleman's clubs to meeting the courtesans of Covent Gard= en, Corinna's country naivety soon falls away. But when she finds her fathe=
r at last, learns the truth about her parentage and discovers her fortunes = transformed, she must quickly decide how to reveal her true identity, while=
hoping that one young man in particular can see her for the beauty and Lad=
y she really is.

Critique: Especially recommended for Regency Romance fans, "An Unsuitable H= eiress" by novelist Jane Dunn is an extraordinarily, impressive, and entert= aining story from beginning to end. Elegant, eloquent, and just plain fun, = this large print paperback edition of "An Unsuitable Heiress" from Boldwood=
Books is a welcome pick for community library Historical Romance Fiction c= ollections.

Editorial Note: Jane Dunn (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/7608/= jane-dunn) is also the author of Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queen=
s; Moon in Eclipse: A Life of Mary Shelley; Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell=
: A Very Close Conspiracy; and Antonia White: A Life. She is a fellow of th=
e Royal Society of Literature, is married to the linguist and writer Nichol=
as Ostler. She currently resides in Bath, England.

The Cowboy's Treasure
Jill Barry
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851151, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 258pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cowboys-treasure-jill-barry/1143106025

Synopsis: "The Cowboy's Treasure" by Jill Barry is the story of Katie, a yo= ung governess who leaves Yorkshire to take over her aunt's teaching post at=
a small country town school in America. Not long after she arrives, she me= ets Ben, a young cattleman who is also new in town. On riding in, Ben had h= appened upon an old man who had been attacked. Although unable to keep the = stranger alive, he learned a secret from him: one linked to Katie's aunt!

Critique: A clearly gifted writer, with the publication of "The Cowboy's Tr= easure" author Jill Barry's skills as a novelist are on full display. An in= herently interesting, impressively original, fully entertaining, and emotio= nally satisfying blend of romance and mystery, this large print paperback e= dition of "The Cowboy's Treasure" from the Linford Romance Library collecti=
on is highly recommended pick for both personal reading lists and community=
library Romance Fiction shelves.

Editorial Note: Jill Barry (https://www.jillbarry.com) has been writing for=
publication since the year 2000 and became a member of the Romantic Noveli= sts' Association a few years later. Since then, she has attended numerous w= orkshops, meeting with other writers, as wellas reading and writing as much=
as possible.

The Dolphin's Kiss
Dawn Knox
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851137, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 308pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/Dolphin's%20Kiss

Synopsis: Born 1790; in Sydney, New South Wales, to wealthy parents, Abigai=
l Moran is attractive and intelligent, and other than a birthmark on her ha=
nd that her mother loathes, she has everything she could desire. Soon, she'=
ll marry handsome, witty, Hugh Hanville. Abigail's life is perfect. Or is i=
t?

A chance meeting with a shopgirl, Lottie Jackson, sets in motion a chain of=
events that finds Abigail in the remote reaches of the Hawkesbury River wi=
th sea captain, Christopher Randall. He has inadvertently stumbled across t=
he secret that binds Abigail and Lottie. Will he be able to help Abigail co=
me to terms with the secret, or will Fate keep them apart?

Critique: Romance and intrigue combine to provide the reader with a compell= ing novel, "Dolphin's Kiss" by talented novelist Dawn Knox who writes with =
a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelli=
ng that fully engages her readers. This large print paperback edition form = the Linford Romance Library series is and unreservedly recommended pick for=
the personal reading lists of Historical Romance fans and community librar=
y Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Dawn Knox (https://www.facebook.com/DawnKnoxWriter) has bee=
n a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for 2017 and 2020, Readers' F= avorite Book Awards 2018 and Independent Author Network Book of the Year Aw= ard 2018. Dawn has also written two plays about the First World War, which = have been performed in England, Germany and France.

The Cafe at Beach End
RaeAnne Tahyne
Canary Street Press
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781335652836, $30.00 HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cafe-Beach-End-Summer-Sanctuary/dp/1335652833

Synopsis: When Meredith Collins was a child, the little beach town of Cape = Sanctuary lived up to its name. Spending summers there with her grandmother=
, Meredith finally felt safe and loved.

Now she's returning in disgrace. Her late ex-husband swindled investors out=
of millions of dollars and made Meredith a figure of scorn -- even though = she knew nothing about his scheme.

But she still has the beach cottage she inherited from her grandmother and = half ownership of the local cafe. It's a place to work and earn a little mo= ney. That's if her cousin, Tori, will let her through the door. Once, Tori = and Meredith were as close as sisters -- until Meredith chose her neglectfu=
l parents' expectations over their bond. Now widowed with a teenage daughte=
r, Tori isn't setting out a welcome mat for the woman who let her down so b= adly.

While Meredith tries to make a fresh start, she is drawn to a mysterious wr= iter renting the cottage next door. Liam Byrne's kindness is a balm, though=
she worries he might not be so friendly if he knew who she was. But Liam h=
as his own secret and a mission that will help Meredith confront her past -=
- and maybe, claim a surprising future...

Critique: The newest addition to novelist RaeAnne Tahyne's 'Cape Sanctuary'=
series (Summer at the Cape; The Path to Sunshine Cove; The Sea Glass Cotta= ge; The Cliff House), "The Cafe at Beach End" is another original, deftly c= rafted, fun and heartwarming story that will have a very special appeal to = readers with an interest in Contemporary Romance fiction. Especially and un= reservedly recommended for community library Romance collections, it should=
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cafe at Beach End" is also r= eadily available in a paperback edition (9781335458162, $17.99), in a digit=
al book format ($11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Black= stone Audio, 9798212658980, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note, As a novelist and storyteller, RaeAnne Thayne (www.raeannet= hayne.com) finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where=
she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including s= even RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Ac= hievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.

Double-Decker Dreams
Lindsay MacMillian
Alcove Press
34 West 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.alcovepress.com
9781639102822, $18.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Decker-Dreams-Novel-Lindsay-MacMillan/dp/1639= 102825

Synopsis: American consultant Kat is staffed on a six-month project in Lond=
on and has two very small, very reasonable ambitions before returning home:=
get promoted to partner and fall in love with a handsome English aristocra=
t. No problem, right?

But work is a grind, and the British men she meets are a far cry from her r= oyal ideal. Then one morning, she sees a man on a double-decker bus and jus=
t knows that he's the person she's been looking for. But when Kat finally m= usters the courage to board the bus and introduce herself, he turns out to =
be very different from the Prince Charming she expected.

Can Kat open herself up to a love that's not like the movies, or is she too=
imprisoned by her rom-com expectations? And just as importantly, will she =
be able to see that success isn't about landing a C-suite job, but rather l= iving a life that's aligned with her soul?

Critique: Unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community=
library Romance Fiction collections, "Double Decker Dreams" by gifted nove= list Lindsay MacMillan is a deftly crafted and modern love story offering r= eaders with an interest in fun, memorable, contemporary romantic comedies.

Editorial Note: Lindsay MacMillan (https://www.lindsaykatmacmillan.com) is =
a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and business leader. She graduated magn=
a cum laude from Dartmouth College and was formerly a vice president at Gol= dman Sachs. Double-Decker Dreams is her second published novel. She wrote t= his book in London tea shoppes while watching double-decker busses pass by.

Unorthodox Love
Heidi Shertok
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639103768, $18.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Unorthodox-Love-Novel-Heidi-Shertok/dp/1639103767

Synopsis: Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but=
being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she's rarely matche=
d with the cream of the crop -- or even skim milk two weeks past its expira= tion date. Matchmakers either set her up with men twice her age or those wi=
th serious mommy issues. At this point, she might as well wear a sign aroun=
d her neck that says "professional virgin."

As if things weren't bad enough, her sister Libby then shares a terrible se= cret: her husband's failed businesses have already put strain on their marr= iage, and now they might also lose their family home. Penina is desperate t=
o help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for=
a fake marriage, it feels like kismet. Who needs true love anyway?

Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also... Penina's n=
ew boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a b= eautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they b= oth can't ignore. Will Penina follow her heart and find true love, or will = she stick to the traditions she knows best?

Critique: Original, funny, and of particular appeal to readers with an inte= rest in a Jewish take on romantic comedy, "Unorthodox Love" by Heidi Sherto=
ck will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to communi=
ty library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the per= sonal reading lists of dedicated rom-com fans that "Unorthodox Love" is als=
o available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and=
unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666641462, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Heidi Shertok (https://www.heidishertok.com) is an Orthodox=
Jewish wife and mother of three. When she isn't writing, she can be found = walking her eight pound attack dog, admiring other people's gardens, or hik= ing in high heels.

One Tough Cookie
Delise Torres
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639103782, $19.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/One-Tough-Cookie-Delise-Torres/dp/1639103783

Synopsis: All cookies are made with love -- even if twenty-seven-year-old K= arina Cortes doesn't believe in the concept. For her, a simple life with no=
attachments is a good life. And her life is indeed good -- even though her=
biggest accomplishment is passing the GED exam.

Karina is able to secure an incredible and well-paying job at Singular Cook= ies, Inc., a small family-owned cookie manufacturing plant in Fort Pierce, = Florida. And although the founders of the company treat her like family, Ka= rina insists she doesn't need or want one. Not after her mother chose a man=
over her own daughter, pushing the young Karina to move out and make it on=
her own.

And she couldn't be happier with her single life, unlike her friends, whose=
lives revolve around men.

But work and play collide when she meets the company's hot new mechanic, Ia=
n Feliciano, who stirs up feelings she tends to avoid. Karina knows she sho= uldn't date him, but she's strong; she'll never turn pathetic like her frie= nds or, especially, her mom. And with a looming plant inspection and trying=
to break up the CEO's new romance, Karina has enough to distract herself.

As the inspection draws near and Karina battles her heart, she'll have to d= ecide whether to continue holding on to deeply ingrained beliefs that keep = everyone at bay, or learn that love is not as dangerous as she fears and in=
the end, it is our history (our singular recipe) that shapes how we live.

Critique: A simply riveting, fun and funny read from first page to last, "O=
ne Tough Cookie" is all the more impressive when considering that it is aut= hor Delise Torres' debut as a novelist. With a special appeal to readers of=
rom-com novels, "One Tough Cookie" is an unreservedly recommended pick for=
personal and community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be n= oted that "One Tough Cookie" is also available in a digital book format (Ki= ndle, $13.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Delise Torres grew up in Puerto Rico, watching telenovelas = and re-enacting scenes with her Barbies. Once she outgrew her dolls, she tu= rned to daydreaming, and it wasn't until her late thirties when she finally=
put her own stories to paper, and her passion for writing was born.

She has a PhD in Food Science and former work experience as a quality assur= ance manager in the food industry. When not writing, you can find her tryin=
g to time-manage her life, singing, reading, and streaming shows and movies=
.. She lives in Germany with her daughter and German husband. One Tough Cook= ie is her first novel.

In the Shadow of the River
Ann H. Gabhart
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800741723, $16.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-River-Ann-H-Gabhart/dp/0800741722

Synopsis: In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to=
kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded d= uring the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Pal= ace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends=
to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to le= ad.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palac=
e, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and da= ncers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfa= ther she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years,=
but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life (and the c= ryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past) is always there, lurking =
in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions = demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the a= nswers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time f=
or him and Jacci to have a future together.

Critique: A deft blend of historical romance and mystery, "In the Shadow of=
the River" by gifted novelist Ann H. Gabhart is a riveting and entertainin=
g read from cover to cover. While also available for personal reading lists=
in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "In the Shadow of the River" is=
an especially recommended pick for community library Historical Romance co= llections. It should be noted by librarians that there is also a large prin=
t hard cover edition of "In the Shadow of the River" available (Center Poin=
t Pub., 9781638087878, $38.95, 500pp).

Editorial Note: Ann H. Gabhart (www.annhgabhart.com) is the author of many = novels, including Where the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appala= chian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister.

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels
Livy Hart
Entangled Trade
c/o Macmillan
www.macmillan.com
9781649373922, $16.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Planes-Trains-Feels-Livy-Hart/dp/1649373929

Synopsis: As the black sheep of the family, choreographer Cassidy Bliss vow=
ed she'd do anything to get home in time to help with her sister's wedding = and avoid family disappointment -- again. She just never expected "anything=
" would involve sharing the last rental car with the jerk who cut her off i=
n line at the airport this morning. But horrible times apparently call for = here-goes-nothing measures.

Driving across the country with Luke "life can be solved with a spreadsheet=
" Carlisle must be a penance for some crime she committed. Because the seco=
nd he opens his mouth, it's all she can do to not maim him with her carry-o=
n. But somewhere between his surprisingly thoughtful snack sharing and his = uncanny ability to see straight to the core of her, her feelings go uncheck= ed.

Suddenly, their crackling chemistry is just one more thing they have to nav= igate - and it couldn't come at a worse time. But after a lifetime of letti=
ng the expectations and needs of others drive her life, Cassidy must decide=
if she's ready to take the wheel once and for all.

Critique: A riveting, rollicking, and fun read from cover to cover, with th=
e publication of "Planes, Trains, and All the Feel", author Livy Hart demon= strates her genuine flair for, and mastery of, the Contemporary Rom-Com gen= re. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Con= temporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal = reading lists of all dedicated rom-com fans that "Planes, Trains, and All t=
he Feel" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99)=
..

Editorial Note: Livy Hart (https://www.livyhart.com) has two children, too = many Funko Pops, and a husband who's workin' on the railroad -- literally. = She currently resides in Dallas, Texas where she enjoys long walks on the c= oncrete and people-watching at malls so big they have their own zip codes. = When she's not writing romance novels, she's bickering with her KitchenAid = stand mixer, road-tripping to her sleepy Florida hometown, or sipping espre= sso on her Nonna's porch.

The Comeback Summer
Ali Brady
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593440179, $17.00, PB, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Comeback-Summer-Ali-Brady/dp/059344017X

Synopsis: Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited fro=
m their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are d= evastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless -- until =
in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agenc=
y. Her business could solve all their problems -- but there's a catch. Whoe= ver works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her "Cr= ush Your Comfort Zone" program.

Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is chall= enged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period c= ramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to com= pete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping L= ibby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister's behalf. They'r=
e both making good progress -- until Hannah's first love rolls into town, a=
nd Libby accidentally falls for a guy she's supposed to be setting up with = her sister.

Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sis= ters question the one relationship they've always counted on: each other. W= ith their company's future on the line, they can't afford to fail. But in t= rying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing thems= elves down the wrong path?

Critique: A deliciously fun rom-com by a master of the genre, "The Comeback=
Summer" by novelist Ali Brady will also be of genuine appeal to readers wi=
th an interest in stories about family life in genral, and women domestic l= ife in particular. "The Comeback Summer" is ideal for summer vacation readi=
ng lists -- and for any other time of the year! Highly recommended, especia= lly for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be no= ted for personal reading lists that "The Comeback Summer" is also available=
in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Ali Brady (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/22622= 36/ali-brady) is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Go= dfrey. The Beach Trap is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago=
and works as a VP creative director at an advertising agency. She's the au= thor of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives with her = family in Utah, where she works as a physician. She's the author of the psy= chological thriller Imposter.

And Then There Was You
Nancy Naigle
Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250794178, $18.00, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Then-There-Was-You-Chestnut/dp/125079417X

Synopsis: Reeling after falling prey to a Romeo con-artist who just waltzed=
away with the better part of her belongings, Natalie Maynard works closely=
with the detective assigned to her case, only the few leads have led nowhe= re.

Detective Randy Fellowes can't promise Natalie restitution, but he's determ= ined to find the culprit and serve up justice. Married to his work, he's ca= ught off guard when Natalie has his thoughts wandering to more than the cas=
e.

Natalie soon seeks refuge in the one thing she still owns -- an old fishing=
cabin in the mountains of Chestnut Ridge. She quickly falls in love with t=
he town and the eccentric people who are teaching her so much about the are=
a and its heritage.

Through these people, and the determination of Detective Fellowes, she redi= scovers her courage, self, and a reason to risk love again.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted, = clean and wholesome contemporary romance novels, "And Then There Was You" b=
y Nancy Naigle is a fun and heartwarming read from cover to cover. The stuf=
f of which Hallmark Channel movies are made (and several of her earlier nov= els have been), "And Then There Was You" is unreservedly recommended for co= mmunity library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for pe= rsonal reading lists that "And Then There Was You" is also readily availabl=
e in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Nancy Naigle (https://nancynaigle.allauthor.com) whips up s= mall-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. Several of Nancy's novels=
have been made into Hallmark movies, and most recently The Shell Collector=
was adapted as the first Fox original movie to stream on Fox Nation.

Heart's Choice
Tracie Peterson, author
Kimberly Woodhouse, author
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764238987, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Choice-Jewels-Kalispell/dp/0764238973

Synopsis: After witnessing a wrongful conviction as a young girl, Rebecca W= hitman (the first female court reporter in Montana) is now determined to de= fend the innocent. During a murder trial, something doesn't sit well with h=
er about the case, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian wi=
ll listen to her.

Librarian Mark Andrews's father sent him to college hoping he would take ov=
er the business side of the family ranch, but Mark would rather wrangle boo=
ks than cows. When a patron seeks help with research in hopes of proving a = man's innocence, Mark is immediately drawn to her and her cause.

In a race against time, will Rebecca and Mark find the evidence they need (= and open their hearts to love) before it's too late?

Critique: Christian historical romance fiction at it's very best, "The Hear= t's Choice" by romance novel and veteran co-authors Tracie Peterson and Kim= berley Woodhouse is clean, wholesome, fun, and unreservedly recommended for=
community library Historical Romance Fiction collections. It should be not=
ed for the personal reading lists of the legions of co-author Peterson and = Woodhouse fans that "The Heart's Choice" is also readily available in a pap= erback edition (9780764238970, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle=
, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestsell= ing author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with = more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement = Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research re= sonates in her many best selling series.

Editorial Note #2: Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an a= ward-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction boo= ks.

With Every Memory
Janine Rosche
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800744663, $29.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Memory-Janine-Rosche/dp/0800744667

Synopsis: After a tragic accident robs her of the last nine years of memori= es, Lori Mendenhall comes home to a family completely different than she re= members. As her memory returns and past secrets resurface, it will take all=
of them to repair what's been broken and find a new future together.

Critique: Eloquent, original, memorable, compelling, "With Every Memory" by=
Janine Rosche will hold a special interest to fans of contemporary Christi=
an romance novels. entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking, this pap= erback edition of "With Every Memory" from Revell is an especially recommen= ded addition to community library Contemporary Romance collections. It shou=
ld be noted for personal reading lists that "With Every Memory" is also rea= dily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Prone to wander, Janine Rosche (http://janinerosche.com) fi= nds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to c= hase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into ea=
ch of her rustic romance novels in the Whisper Canyon Romance series and th=
e Madison River Romance series. When she isn't writing or traveling, she te= aches family life education courses to college students.

Her Only Wish
Shelley Shepard Gray
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800741686, $16.99, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Her-Only-Wish-Season-Pinecraft/dp/0800741684

Synopsis: Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get=
out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list -- a l= ife list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pin= ecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for l= essons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions -- b= eautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like =
no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, h= e's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they= 'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it = safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life (an=
d love) requires a fair amount of risk.

Critique: Of special and particular interest to fans of Amish romance novel=
s (of which author Shelley Shepard Gray" is a complete master), "Her Only W= ish" is the second volume in novelist Shelley Shepard Gray's 'A Season in P= inecraft' series and a welcome, unreservedly recommended addition to commun= ity library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the pe= rsonal reading lists of the legions of Shelly's fans that "Her Only Wish" i=
s also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). For libraries th= ere is also a Library Binding/Large Print edition (Thorndike Large Print, 9= 798885788700, $35.99).

Editorial Note: Shelley Shepard Gray (www.shelleyshepardgray.com) is the au= thor of more than 100 books. She is a two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion=
and a Carol Award finalist.

A Knowing One
Judith Hale Everett
Evershire Publishing
https://evershirepublishing.com
9781958720981, $15.99, PB, 340pp

https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-One-Branwell-Chronicles/dp/1958720984

Synopsis: Just when Tom Breckinridge has decided to propose marriage to Dia=
na Marshall, a rival has come out of the woodwork: Reginald Popplewell, a c= hildhood neighbor of Diana's, and now heir to a viscountcy. Diana's father = much prefers Reginald, but Tom believes Reginald has something to hide.

When Mrs. Marshall invites Tom to a house party at their home near Brighton=
, Tom finds even more to dislike about "dear Reggie," but Diana won't hear =
a word against him and goes so far as to wring a pledge from Tom that he wi=
ll make a friend of Reginald. Knowing just how risky it can be to befriend =
a con man, Tom will discover to what lengths he is willing to go to win Dia= na.

Critique: A classic Regency Romance by an author with a complete mastery of=
the genre, Judith Hale Everett's latest novel, "A Knowing One", is a deftl=
y crafted, fully entertaining, and truly memorable work of historical ficti=
on and one that is unreservedly recommended for community library Historica=
l Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the persona reading l= ists of dedicated Regency Romance fans that "A Knowing One" is also readily=
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Judith Hale Everett (www.judithhaleeverett.com) is an award= -winning author who writes tongue-in-cheek traditional Regency romance in a=
n immersive style and with emphasis on delightful language and historical a= ccuracy. As one of seven sisters, Judith grew up surrounded by romance nove= ls. Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen were staples, and formed the groundwork=
for her lifelong love affair with the Regency. Add to that her obsession w= ith the English language and you've got one hopelessly literate romantic. S=
he was a finalist in the 2022 Wishing Shelf Book Awards for her third book,=
Forlorn Hope. She can be found on Facebook, and Twitter.

Tranquility
Maggie Durst
https://maggiedurst.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639887859, $16.99

https://www.amazon.com/Tranquility-Maggie-Durst/dp/1639887857

Tranquility is the story of an ordinary woman, Taylor, whose predictable an=
d peaceful life trajectory is altered by co-worker Greg, who is charismatic=
, successful, and on the fast track to success in his career. Tasked with j= oining forces to create a luxury resort, Taylor and Greg find their persona=
l attraction nearly impossible to set aside in favor of their jobs as proxi= mity and adversity throws them together to test their dreams.

Author Maggie Durst creates a romantic story that contrasts the different l= ives and perceptions of characters that are as driven by their work as they=
are drawn to one another. Taylor's "impending feeling of doom" lends an an= ticipatory tension to the evolution of these coworkers as each tests the bo= undaries of propriety in an impossible relationship that should never have = come to pass. The chemistry between the two is "exquisite" - but is it enou=
gh to change everything in their lives?

Durst's story walks a fine line between a crushing romance and a tale of co= -workers who both utilize their attraction to strengthen their business obj= ectives and realize that their fantasies may be creating a new reality that=
risks their current relationships on many different levels. The psychology=
of these choices and their impact on existing life trajectories is well do= ne, drawing readers into the scenario of an evolving couple that enters int=
o dangerous territory fully cognizant of both their emotions and what they = should and should not be doing with one another.

Libraries and readers seeking romantic interludes in stories that evolve on=
complex levels of entanglements and business relationships will find Tranq= uility an absorbing study in revised possibilities and behaviors and choice=
s that evolve from dreams to interrupt reality: "Taylor is wondering why th=
is is happening now, and how this happened in the first place."

Summer People
Corinne Labalme
Wild Rose Press
https://wildrosepress.com
9781509243273, $11.28 Paper, $3.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-People-Corinne-Labalme/dp/1509243275

The Cape Cod-based romance and atmosphere of Summer People will appeal to a=
wide range of readers, whether or not they are familiar with Cape Cod's ic= onic atmosphere.

As the story opens, Rick has his eyes set on married woman Jessica, who has=
opened an art gallery on Cape Cod and has suddenly set her wedding ring as= ide, creating an unexpected question in his mind. Jessica has just set asid=
e the negative force that husband Max represents in her life. His rigidity = comes from a privileged Boston childhood that no longer works well for Jess= ica's ambitions and vision of a life on Cape Cod, and she's honing her own = powers in the course of forging a new life for herself. However, old habits=
are hard to break, and as she falls into relationships that test her deter= mination and ability to maintain her independence and focus on her heart's = desires, Jessica discovers that Cape Cod may just be the perfect place for = either a fulfilling romance or a disaster that repeats patterns of the past=
..

Rick is adept at casting spells on even the most powerful of women - so, do=
es Jessica have a chance at the kind of romance that can support rather tha=
n overwhelm her ambitions? Intrigue enters the picture when an art piece in=
her collection invites dangerous attention that also portends disaster. Ca=
n Jessica navigate matters of love and larceny at the same time?

Not entirely a romance, more than a story of an adult woman's growth, and f= lavored with the suspense of mystery, Summer People will please readers who=
come to it from many genres. It may thwart those who seek steamy sex scene=
s, step-by-step detective whodunits, and readers who anticipate the story w= ill be entirely about love in the art world; but that's the attraction of i=
ts multifaceted presence, which defies pat categorization. A warm, rich sto=
ry replete in growth opportunities and romantic realizations, spiced by the=
atmosphere, estate sales, and motivations of competing art sellers, Summer=
People makes for an engrossing story especially recommended as a beach rea=
d or for a dark night with a glass of hot chocolate by the fire.

Libraries seeking contemporary romance stories that excel in historical and=
art world explorations will find Summer People an excellent attraction.

My Goodbye Girl
Anna Gomez
Rosewind Books
c/o Vesuvian Media Group, Inc.
https://vesuvianmedia.com
9781645482086, $16.95 Paper, $4.99 ebook

https://vesuvianmedia.com/my-goodbye-girl

Practical scientist meets romantic. What could possibly go wrong, and what = connects them? My Goodbye Girl probes a love that evolves against all odds,=
despite the fact that Tessa Talman and Simon Fremont are worlds apart, bot=
h physically and mentally. Long-distance love doesn't tend to work. It is s= aid that proximity lends to deeper relationships, but in Tessa and Simon's = case, perseverance and strange attraction play a part in keeping them linke=
d even though they reside distantly and think very differently.

Perhaps appropriately, these disparate individuals first meet in an airport=
.. Coming and going becomes the routine of their lives, with goodbyes just a=
s common as hellos. Anna Gomez explores a romantic encounter in which the c= haracters are each successful, in pursuit of their own ideals of life, and = have cause to resist the attraction that keeps pulling them away from their=
previously-set goals. Just as Tessa begins to think seriously about settin=
g aside her freedom in favor of the kind of commitment that would eliminate=
the constant farewells, changes again test the couple's resolve, ideals, a=
nd individual strengths. Many "cease to be strangers and turn into friends.=
" Rare are those connections which become deeper when distance is involved.

As readers follow Tessa and Simon's odd journey, they will enjoy the changi=
ng perspectives that reinforce each individual's viewpoints and passions. S= imon follows Tessa around the world, but comes to resent her globe-trotting=
ways: "Simon had so much going through his head. He was happy to see her. =
He wanted her. He couldn't go on like this. She kept her distance. He was a=
n idiot for showing up on impulse.

Another one for the books. The Year That Simon Lost Himself." Gomez's speci=
al brand of inspection draws important and compelling connections between i= ndependence and love. The jealousies and misunderstandings which arise from=
the clash between a jet-setting lifestyle and one which values settling do=
wn are particularly well depicted through dialogues that pinpoint the chasm=
s between them: "Can you blame me? Can you blame me for always feeling left=
out? I'm the one who keeps on having to find you!"

She really didn't understand what she had done wrong. She traveled around t=
he world for a living. He should know that. And be okay with it.

"You knew this was my life. You knew this is who I am. I like to disappear.=
I like to be free to come and go. It has nothing to do with the way I feel=
about you!" Key questions about disparate lifestyles, commitment, and love=
drive a plot that eventually embraces a tragedy that further tests Simon a=
nd Tessa's values and what they truly want for themselves and in a relation= ship.

Libraries and readers interested in stories that hold lessons about growth = within and outside of passionate relationships will find My Goodbye Girl th= ought-provoking, while book clubs looking for fiction about creating and an= choring past, present, and future possibilities will find plenty to discuss=
as Tessa and Simon confront seemingly impossible differences and a love th=
at grows against all odds.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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