Author: Diane Barnes
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Romance
Source: Lake Union Publishing ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: In their attempts to have a child, a husband and wife must contend with personal desires, crossed boundaries, and broken trust as they reimagine what it truly means to be a family.

Nikki and Kyle Sebastian have a loving and healthy marriage. It’s only missing one thing they want—children. When the couple is diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and endures several failed rounds of IVF, Kyle, for both their sakes, is unwilling to bury them deeper in emotional and financial debt.

Desperate to have a baby, Nikki betrays Kyle’s trust in an attempt to try IVF one more time. The choice fractures their once-stable union. Now burdened with suspicion, resentment, and further grief, their little family is falling apart.

Picking up the pieces of their broken home means reassessing their dreams for the future—dreams that Nikki’s not ready to give up. If she can’t find a way to forge a new path forward with Kyle, she may find herself alone at the end of the family tree she longs to help grow.

Ope’s Opinion: This is not your typical IVF story, it is much better. There are many twists and turns, some I saw coming, some I did not. They felt realistic and happened naturally.

The characters were relatable and I was rooting for each of them to end up happy – whatever that was suppose to look like for them. They each made mistakes and had to deal with the repercussions, then figure out where to go from there.

The ending was good. It made me go look to see what else Diane Barnes wrote. I am interested in reading more of her books.

Goodreads: From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny and What She Knew comes the terrifying story of what can happen after all your dreams come true

Be careful what you wish for…

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool.

Nicole is devastated. Tom is her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident or was it something worse? And is her life in danger as well?

I hope to read this one soon!

Author: Mary Hollis Huddleston & Asher Fogle Paul
Publisher: Harper Muse
Genre: Romance
Source: Harper Muse ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Sweet Home Alabama meets Emily in Paris in this hilarious romp through the world of extravagant southern weddings.

When floundering and unlucky-in-love twentysomething Lottie Jones lands a new career as a wedding planner at a top-tier boutique event firm, she begins navigating a cutthroat workplace specializing in over-the-top details, unlimited budgets, and a broad spectrum of taste. Whether planning for parachute landings or wrangling intoxicated groomsmen, she has her hands full at every million-dollar wedding she helps organize.

After her boss announces he’s opening a new office, Lottie sees her chance to finally carve out her place—and earn an income that justifies her dating app subscription fees. The weddings get bigger, the clients get wilder, the mishaps get funnier, and the stakes get higher. And Lottie’s forced to discover what she’ll risk for love and how far she’ll go to find herself.

Set against the glamorous, ruthless world of high-end Southern weddings and inspired by real events in the authors’ lives, Without a Hitch is a hilarious romp about taking ownership, facing fears, planning your ex-boyfriend’s wedding, and choosing a happy ending that wasn’t what you once expected.

Ope’s Opinion: This was a cute, quick read. The weddings were over the top, as were the people involved. It was just a light, humorous look at some outrageous weddings that you would love to attend to watch it all happen.

I liked to see Lottie learn to be more confident and sure in her abilities as she was working on the weddings. I actually would have wished she had not cared so much about the romance in her life. It would have been better to see the romance happen naturally and her focus be on her own growth.

…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read….

Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Goodreads: Can a small-town waitress capture the heart of a world-famous heartthrob? For Heather Gordon, life in her small North Carolina town has always been simple and uneventful. Until one night when a rowdy food fight breaks out in her family’s restaurant where she’s a waitress. The culprits? The internationally famous rock band, Kirwan. And when Alex Kirwan, the charming and enigmatic lead singer, wants to make amends for his brothers’ (and bandmates’) behavior and invites her to attend one of their concerts as a guest of the band, Heather’s world is turned upside down . . . and sparks fly. Alex has always loved music, but his rock star life isn’t all glamorous people and parties. It’s also paparazzi and online tabloids, a new city every week, and the loneliness of touring—even if he has his brothers with him. But with Heather things are different, and he’s instantly smitten and determined to get to know the sweet, pretty woman who has absolutely no interest in his fame. If only he can convince her to take a chance on his crazy life. Once Alex leaves for tour, he and Heather begin exchanging messages and calls. Despite the distance between them, they find themselves learning they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. But even while Heather and Alex’s relationship deepens, they must face the harsh realities of fame and the pressures it puts on their personal lives. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges that come with celebrity, or will the rigors of distance and Alex’s life on the road tear them apart? Filled with heart and the intoxicating allure of possibility, Starstruck is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of finding love in surprising places.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!

Author: Sara Richardson
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Romance
Source: Forever ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Fans of Lori Foster and Maisey Yates won’t be able to put down this heartwarming, multi-generational story about three sisters’ search to reunite their family and the love they find along the way.

The Buchanan sisters share everything—including their inherited Juniper Inn. But when their mother won’t let go of a decades-long feud with their Aunt Sassy to attend the inn’s grand re-opening, the sisters decide a family reunion is long overdue.

Youngest sister Rose is determined to put together an extravagant celebration. Only she needs to convince a certain surly hardware store owner to help finish the inn’s renovations.

After a heartbreaking end to her marriage, Dahlia and her kids are just starting to rebuild their lives. Dahlia’s even considering opening herself up to love again, but will that upset the stability she’s worked so hard to give her children?

Sassy McGrath has never stopped missing her sister, Lillian, and though they’ve both been too stubborn to reconcile, some shocking news might finally change everything. As family bonds are tested, will these two very different generations of women find the strength to believe in themselves and each other?

Ope’s Opinion: I always enjoy a story of sisters – this was another good one. It was the second one in the series. It read just fine on it’s own, but I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I had the first one.

I do really like that the sisters relationships to each other and between the aunt and mother are the center of the story and the romance is secondary. It is a feels good story. I do hope there will be another part to the series.

Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romance
Source: Won it

Goodreads: Can this wedding be saved?

Up-and-coming floral designer Cara Kryzik is about to score the wedding of a lifetime—one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for Savannah society nuptials. The only problem is, life seems to be conspiring against her. Cara’s implacable father, “The Colonel”, doesn’t believe in Cara’s business savvy and is about to call in his twenty-thousand-dollar loan. Then, on the morning that someone steals her dog, Cara’s refrigerator goes on the blink, turning twelve thousand dollars’ worth of gorgeous blooms into road kill. And if that’s not enough, the dog-napper, Jack Finnerty, turns up at her latest wedding and then mysteriously leaves her stranded on the dance floor.

All this turmoil will be solved if Cara can pull off the lavish Trappnell-Strayhorn wedding. The payday will solve all her problems—even the looming problem of a celebrated florist named Cullen Keane who is moving into her turf from Charleston. But the wedding is in six weeks, the bride is acting strangely (even for a bride) and the stepmother of the bride is becoming Cara’s biggest headache. What Cara needs is to focus, but that’s not easy when Jack is turning up at every wedding in Savannah (the man seems to know everybody), with Cara in his sights and seduction on his mind.

When Brooke Trappnell spirals into a shocking crisis and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must come to the rescue and figure out what she really believes in. Is it love? Is it her own strength? In the end, for everyone, “Save the Date” has more meanings than one. Told with Mary Kay Andrews’s trademark wit and keen eye for detail, Save the Date is one you won’t want to miss.

Ope’s Opinion: This was a stand alone book. It had a lot of detailed descriptions about flowers, about the flower shop, about the people involved and about Cumberland Island. There were many weddings and each one you got to know the people, their venue and their flowers.

Cara ( MC ) was very involved with her brides. She had so many struggles, it sort of got old after a while. I do enjoy reading about someone who starts out with some difficulties and works their way out of them. This one just kept having more difficulties piled on the whole time.

Cara had a relationship that went through some hard times, then suddenly everything was forgiven and all was better at the end without them working through anything. It was a long book with a rushed ending.

This puzzle comes in such a nice container.

The poster is small, but still helpful.

This went faster than I expected.
It was a lot of fun!
I always enjoy when I can combine my love of reading
and the enjoyment of puzzles.

Author: Cindy Dorminy
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Romance
Source: Red Adept Publishing ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: Shelby Williams has never had a boyfriend worthy of her parents’ approval. The ones she dated were either not rich enough, not well bred enough, or just not good enough. Her luck changes when she meets Tommy Edwards. With an IQ of about a billion, a sexy smile, and a personality as sweet as the treats he bakes, he’s a guy even her parents will have to accept.

Between the pressure of graduate school and a needy ex-girlfriend, Tommy Edwards has had enough stress to last a lifetime. But when he meets Shelby, his plans to stay unattached go up in smoke. Shelby makes him laugh, and the passion she stirs in him is hotter than an oven. She’s the only girl he’s ever met who likes him for who he is rather than just for his intelligence.

When Shelby’s parents take a shine to Tommy, she blurts out that they are engaged, even though they’ve only been dating for three weeks. Tommy is furious, but before she can set everyone straight, both families go into full-blown nuptial mode, including hiring a wedding planner and shopping for a dress. Tommy and Shelby need to figure out how to tell their families the engagement was fake without ruining what’s real.

Ope’s Opinion: This is a quick, easy read with a predictable ending. If you are looking for something light to take to the beach or take your mind off life in general you could pick this up. It will not stick with you in the long run, but I don’t think it was written for impact, just escape.

My biggest issue with the whole story line was that Shelby and Tommy met, ten minutes later they were kissing and three weeks later they were fake engaged ( not spoiling anything – it was in the synopsis ). All the lies that came with it just didn’t really feel real ( not even fiction real ).

The happily ever after ending just sort of happened – puff – all their problems are solved and everything is great between them.

Author: Hannah Grace
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Romance
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.

A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.

No exceptions.

Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.

When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.

The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?

Ope’s Opinion: This book was Not for me. I kept reading and I should have stopped after the first chapter, maybe after the first page. This book was all about who was hooking up with who and who else they were hooking up with. The foul language was continuous. There was not a sentence without the “f” word in it. I would love to edit this book and add some other adjectives.

I feel like the cover was a bait and switch. It looks like a sweet romance with skating at the center. Instead it is a bunch of hook up scenes with skating on the side. There was not much plot to this story at all. It drug on and did not improve.

There were too many characters being set up for future books, that I will not even attempt to read.

Author: Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Romance
Source: Montlake ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a tale of a strong-willed dancer exercising her independence and the rich biker she can’t let go.

Salena Barone has broken free of her family and moved into an apartment above the D’Angelos’ restaurant, where she works as a manager—without a husband, thank you very much. But even on a restaurant salary, she soon finds herself strapped for cash. Salena’s never been afraid of living on the wild side, though, so she takes on a side hustle that’ll raise big bucks…and eyebrows, if anyone finds out.

Tattooed biker Ryan is the youngest of the wealthy Rutledge wine family and has never dreamed of rings, forever, or continuing the family business. He’s perfectly happy living his own life and helping out hardworking folks in his own way.

When these two independent singles spot each other at a Rutledge-D’Angelo wedding, the attraction is instant. But as their friendship with benefits evolves into something more, the secrets Salena’s keeping—from family, friends, and Ryan—threaten the happily ever after she never knew she wanted.

Ope’s Opinion: This is the fourth in a series. I have read two of the series before and really enjoyed them. This one did not appeal to me at all. I did appreciate that Salena was very independent. I like strong woman characters. I couldn’t relate to her attitude about sex, men, or her parents. She seemed to have a chip on her shoulder and money was very important to her.

I know that this is a romance, so I do expect some steamy parts, but I felt like that was all Salena’s and Ryan’s relationship was about. I like a slow build of a relationship – this was not one of those.