Where Fiction and Reality Meet
Title: Second Story Series: Second Chance School: Book Three Author: Con Riley Publisher: Self-Published Length: 316 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Second Story is an impeccable ending to this set of books at Glynn Harber School. I can’t imagine any better way to get from “Once Upon a Time” to... Continue Reading →
Title: Rules for Ghosting Author: Shelly Jay Shore Publisher: Dell Length: 384 Pages Category: Literary Fiction, Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: If you enjoy literary fiction that does a deep dive into what motivates its characters, what tears them apart and reunites them, and how families can be both those we're born into... Continue Reading →
Title: Make the Season Bright Author: Ashley Herring Blake Publisher: Berkley Length: 367 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: I loved and appreciated the diversity in this story, the friends who were more than just set dressing, and the happy ending for all the characters who got one. Reviewed... Continue Reading →
Reading used to be my refuge. Books were the unreality I escaped to, my heart wide open, my senses attuned to the characters and their journeys. I could ignore the outside world for a while, guilt free. Now, it feels like my favorite pastime has come to a screeching halt in favor of paying attention... Continue Reading →
And here we are readers, the last, but never least, favorite reads of the year. It was an embarrassment of riches, one I appreciate more than I can say. May we all find the same in 2025. Best of 2024 ~ PART II A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee: This novel is in... Continue Reading →
Title: The Christmas Curse Author: Avery Cockburn Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 175 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: Watching Anthony and Martin connect through shenanigans, compassionate moments, kindness, the mutual love of dogs (and cats), and uncompromising attraction to each other translates into a holiday romance that teaches a sweet and... Continue Reading →
Title: Once Upon a Lullaby Lane Series: Once Upon a Holiday Story Collection (various authors) Author: K. York Publisher: Amazon/ Kindle Unlimited Length: 125 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: It's the shocking truths and healing along the way that drive this story to its ultimate destination—the connection that builds between... Continue Reading →
Title: Loser of the Year Author: Carrie Byrd Publisher: Ylva Publishing Length: 361 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Loser of the Year is a little sweet, a little spicy, and gave me a couple to cheer for when the going got tough. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Mattie Belman’s life has... Continue Reading →
Title: His Until Christmas Series: The Christmas Collection: Book Three Author: Con Riley Publisher: Self-Published Length: 190 Pages Category: Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Heart-felt and heartful, His Until Christmas is the perfect book at the perfect time for the perfect feelings it stirs. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: "What do... Continue Reading →
Title: Christmas on Stardust Lane Author: Garrett Leigh Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 246 Pages Category: Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Christmas on Stardust Lane is magical, radically tender and heart-felt, a genuinely beautiful romance. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Tam Dubois is used to being alone. With a body that bears... Continue Reading →
Title: Second Shot Series: Second Chance School: Book Two Author: Con Riley Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 302 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Discovering little gems of warmth and gentleness is a hallmark of the many things I love about Con Riley's writing. This fictional world, in particular, is rife with... Continue Reading →
Title: The Paper Boys Author: D.P. Clarence Publisher: Self-Published Length: 384 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: D.P. Clarence delivers a sweet and angsty romance amidst a brewing government scandal, in a book filled with humor, conflict, and colorful and supportive family and friends. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: In the cutthroat... Continue Reading →
Title: Double Exposure Author: Rien Gray Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 174 Pages Category: Contemporary Romantic Suspense, F/NB Romance Rating: 3.5 Stars At a Glance: Double Exposure would have benefitted from more character backstory. Overall, a good if not perfect diversion. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Love always shows your true face.Jillian Rhodes lies to everyone she... Continue Reading →
Title: Check Me Out Authors: Jordan Castillo Price, Clare London, Dev Bentham & Kim Fielding Publisher: Self-Published Length: 201 Pages Category: Anthology, Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Check Me Out gives good feels and has a little something to please every reader. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurbs: THE PRICE OF HAPPINESS by... Continue Reading →
Title: Strawberry Moon Series: Summer Nights Prolific Works Giveaway (Ends 8/8/2024) Author: Lily Morton Publisher: Self-Published Length: 95 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: Morton had me rooting for Clem and Harry all the way through, and I loved that she did so with little fuss and no bluster. Strawberry Moon... Continue Reading →
Title: My Darcy Series: (originally appeared in the Heart2Heart charity anthology) Author: Lily Morton Publisher: Self-Published Length: 66 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: This little morsel of a romance hit the spot, made me smile, and warmed my heart a bit too. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Freddie Evans is flamboyant,... Continue Reading →
Title: Second Song Series: Second Chance School: Book One Author: Con Riley Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 312 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Con Riley delivers a patently beautiful story in Second Song, about two men who get a second chance to love themselves. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Do first times... Continue Reading →
Title: A Shot in the Dark Author: Victoria Lee Publisher: Dell Length: 310 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance, Drama Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: I love that this book reads so deeply personal even though I wasn't attuned to it in ways I've experienced personally. The empathetic bond Victoria Lee builds between her characters and... Continue Reading →
Title: Curio Author: C.S. Poe Publisher: Self-Published Length: 60 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: Curio is chock-full of warmth and smiles. It's a short, sweet, and utterly charming story that shines—not despite its length but because it packs so much heart into so few pages. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: Llewellyn... Continue Reading →
Title: Shelter in Garnet Run Series: Garnet Run Author: Roan Parrish Publisher: Self-Published Length: 181 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: Shelter in Garnet Run falls faithfully into the heart-warmer category, and Roan Parrish delivers with a Holiday Romance that gives the gift of good feels. Reviewed By: Lisa Blurb: River... Continue Reading →
Title: We Only Kiss at Christmas Series: Christmas Collection: Book Two Author: Con Riley Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 203 Pages Category: Holiday Romance Rating: 5 Stars At a Glance: My love for a Con Riley romance is in the little things: the sincerity, the complexity, and the way each detail serves a lusher, richer, and... Continue Reading →
Title: French Fancy Series: The Model Agency: Book Two Author: Lily Morton Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 396 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: There's nothing here that will stand out as unique to this author's fans, which is not at all a slight but an assurance that if you love Morton's... Continue Reading →
Title: The First and Last Adventure of Kit Sawyer Author: S.E. Harmon Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Length: 326 Pages Category: Fantasy Adventure, Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: The First and Last Adventure of Kit Sawyer is equal parts playful and dramatic, cute and cutthroat. It's meant to entertain, and that it does, without... Continue Reading →
Title: In the Case of Heartbreak Series: Fern Falls: Book Two Author: Courtney Kae Publisher: Kensington Books Length: 317 Pages Category: Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 Stars At a Glance: While I felt some of the writing, particularly the dialogue, was a bit overly formal, it's Ben and Adam and their story that kept me turning... Continue Reading →
The Novel Approach Reviews 