The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews

 

The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews is number six in the Somerset Stories, and could be read as a standalone. If you have read the other books in the series, you will enjoy visiting with past characters and catching up.

Beatrice Layton is a governess who has had a rough time. The final straw is losing her position on the ship she is sailing on to England from India. Colonel Jack Beresford has been serving in Her Majesty’s Army until he was injured severely and is now coming back to England though he is still hotly pursued by women for his family’s wealth and status. The two decide an engagement of convivence may help them both while on the ship.

The Governess and the Rogue was a beautifully written story and I was very invested in the characters. Beatrice and Jack had amazing banter, wonderful chemistry, and romantic tension. I loved how they helped each other to see the best in themselves. The historical details in the story painted a picture of the time and helped me to immerse myself in the book. I was so drawn into the story and my only complaint was that the story and series ended.

There is nothing quite like a Mimi Matthews story to bring you joy, help you believe there is good in the world, and appreciate sweet romance. This clean story is one you do not want to miss. I highly recommend The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews.

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

Mimi Matthews is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances. Her critically acclaimed works include The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee.

Mimi’s novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, BookPage, and Shelf Awareness, and have been mentioned in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, Oprah Daily, Parade, Elle, and Marie Claire. They have been translated into ten languages. 

When not writing historical romance, Mimi authors nonfiction books and articles on all aspects of nineteenth century history—from animals, art, and etiquette to fashion, beauty, feminism, and law. Her work has been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, the Costume Society UK, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.

 

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

 In Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan Abigail and Alexa’s kids are getting married.  Alexa is from California and Abigail is from Connecticut. They were not sure if they even like each other until they need to take over wedding planning for their kids Penny and Chase.

This was the book I needed to make me smile!  The story is smart, funny, and the characters were so engaging!  The story alternates between Abigail and Alexa’s point of view which makes it extremely interesting.   I enjoyed learning their backstories, hearing their thoughts on life, and how much they loved their kids.  I laughed out loud several times and pretty much decided that I want to be Alexa when I grow up!  It was a fun twist on a wedding story.  

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan  is a feel-good story that had me laughing out loud. This will be one of my favorites reads this summer. I highly recommend this delightful story! 

I was given a complimentary copy, but not required to write a positive review.  

Lian Dolan is a writer and talker. She’s the USA Today Bestselling author of The Marriage Sabbatical, a People Magazine Best Book of the Week, published by William Morrow in April 2024. Her other books are Lost and Found in Paris, The Sweeney Sisters, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife- all LA Times bestsellers. She’s written regular columns for O, The Oprah Magazine, Pasadena Magazine and Working Mother Magazine. She’s also written for TV, radio and websites. In 2024, she was inducted into the Vroman’s Walk of Fame for her contributions to the literary and philanthropic life of Pasadena. Her next book, Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding, will be published in May 2025.

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck is a sweet romance that is perfect for summer or any time of year. Emery Quinn is trying to figure out what comes next in her career and decides maybe living in Sea Blue Beach as the editor of the Sea Blue Gazette may be the right fit! She has to work through memories of her mother and first love Caleb Ransom. Caleb has moved back to Sea Blue Beach and did not expect to reconnect with Emery Quinn.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dual POV alternating timeline story. The characters had great chemistry, banter, and friendship. The story moved seamlessly between the two-time lines giving me a richer experience as a reader. I loved Emery and watching her journey forward in her faith, family, and relationships. Caleb was endearing and I enjoyed watching his growth as he defined what he was about. Both families played a significant part in each character’s life-giving depth to the story and showing us there can be beauty in brokenness. The faith element was beautifully woven in the story and touched my heart.

The engaging characters, themes of redemption, and sweet romance drew me in. I was lost in the beauty of the story and enjoyed my time on Sea Blue Beach. I highly recommend The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauk.

I was given a complimentary copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie. Her novel, The Wedding Dress, has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio

She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and sits on the Executive Board of American Christian Fiction Writers..

A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.

Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Join her NEWSLETTER for exclusive monthly content.

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner

 

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner is a love story.  Addie Atwater-Elwyn has come back to her mountain home town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado after many disappointments in Washington DC.   Wes Hobbes was our high school love who left her at the altar.  She wants to forget him, but that is hard when his face is everywhere since he is running for president.  It can only get worse when he shows up back in town. 

I felt like this was a very well written second chance love story.   Wes and Addie had grown up enough to reconnect in a believable way. Their characters were well developed, had great chemistry, and wonderful banter.  There were many light moments between the heavier ones which made for a funny, but meaningful story.  I enjoyed revisiting with everyone is Adelaide Springs, Colorado and seeing their reaction to Wes and Addie after so many years. 

I absolutely loved Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner.  The author is an auto buy for me, and this could be one of my favorite stories she has written.  I read this quickly and happily embraced losing sleep to read.   I highly recommend and this will be a 2025 favorite. 

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review. 

Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany now writes pop culture–infused rom-coms for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. She lives in Southwest Colorado with her husband, whom she met in the nineties in a chat room called Disco Inferno. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked out pretty well in this case, and they are now the proud parents of two grown sons. Text Bethany any time at (970) 387-7811, or connect with her across social media @seebethanywrite, where she clings to the eternal dream that John Stamos will someday send her a friend request

The Romcom Remake by Jen Atkinson

 

The Romcom Remake by Jen Atkinson is a sweet romantic comedy. Fran Fairchild is looking to romcoms to lead her in romance. That is only working so well. Callum Whitaker is a professional soccer player who is off his game and not really about love. What can one kiss do to change that?

This is my first book by Jen Atkinson and it will not be my last. I really enjoyed it. Fran and Callum were lovely characters who had chemistry, interesting back stories, and I really wanted to them to be my friends in real life! I appreciated how the author created their backstories through their friends and family. I enjoyed my journey with each of them as they changed and grew. It was fun to take a walk down memory lane with the romantic comedies that Fran loved and revisit Pride and Prejudice.

I enjoyed the Callum’s soccer team and am hopeful we will get to know more of his teammates in other novels. This delightful romantic comedy will make you smile and thankful for love stories and good family. I highly recommend the Romcom Remake by Jen Atkinson.

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a review.

Jen Atkinson has been dreaming up love stories and writing them down since she learned her ABCs in elementary school. While Jen has written a variety of genres, from romantic suspense to laugh out loud romcoms, all of her novels contain three things: a love story, a happily ever after, and all are sweet, closed-door reads! If you want to feel all the feels and get a little light head from swooning over cinnamon roll heroes grab one of Jen's books.

When she isn't writing... or editing... or creating fun graphics about books to share online, Jen is dating her husband, hanging out with her children, and teaching elementary kids.

To learn more about Jen, follow her on Instagram at @authorjenatkinson.

Plays by the Book by Carolyn Miller

Plays By The Book by Carolyn Miller is book number five in the Northwest Ice series, but is also a standalone novel. Britta Johnson, the librarian, considers herself very ordinary, but is comfortable in her own shoes. Mitchell Reilly is an intimidating hockey player who is a little bit sacred of Britta Johnson when she gives out her best librarian looks. Mitch is hopeful she can help him with choosing romance books so he can impress his girlfriend.

Britta Johnson is the librarian that you want to be when you grow up. Mitch is a great hero who is so loveable and the real deal. Both charming characters had wonderful banter, chemistry, and a solid believable love story. I LOVED Britta’s sisters and family and it was fun to visit with past friends from the hockey Bible study. The faith narrative was seamlessly integrated into the story, and brought depth to the characters.

It was wonderful to visit St. Paul, Minnesota and hang out with the Minnesota Wild hockey team. I loved the humor, wonderful characters, faith, and sweet romance in Plays by the Book by Carolyn Miller. The story had all the feels and was such an engaging read! I highly recommend Plays by the Book and this will be a 2025 favorite for me. #britt&mitchforever

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

Carolyn Miller is an Inspirational Regency romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

She loves reading, music, films, gardens, art, travel and international food, and really enjoy creating worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love.

Her Regency novels include the award winning The Elusive Miss

Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss

DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop, Miss Serena's Secret, The Making of Mrs Hale, and A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh, all published by Kregel Publications.

Carolyn is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube agency.

Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep

I loved meeting Michelle Griep last weekend at the Columbus Book Festival. I enjoyed hearing her share about her newest book Of  Silver and Secrets. 

Review: Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep is second in her Time’s Lost Treasure series. The book can be a standalone. Eva Inman is running her family’s crumbling estate, trying to make ends meet and take care of her blind sister. When she believes there is treasure on her land, she takes the found items to Cambridge and accidently sees her old childhood friend, Bram Webb. They did not part on good terms, but is something still there?

I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic suspense novel set in Victorian England. Eva had my heart from the first page as I walked through life with her. She was an endearing character who learned to trust God, forgive herself, and grow into a wonderful woman. Bram was a dashing archaeologist who had a certain Indiana Jones mystique and it was a pleasure to watch his journey of growth. The story had many twists and turns and good prevails in the end.

Of Silver and Secrets is a wonderful, mysterious, adventurous journey that you will be so glad you signed up for! The author beautifully weaves in faith threads with engaging characters to bring deeper meaning to the story. I highly recommend!

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

Michelle Griep is an award-winning author who pens historical romances like a tea-sipping time traveler—full of heart, rich with adventure, and always with a mischievous glint in her eye. She’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas, and these days crafts stories that transport readers to richly drawn pasts—each one brimming with mystery, romance, and redemption.

Her stories have picked up their fair share of shiny gold stars—including a Christy Award for 12 Days at Bleakly Manor and a Carol Award for The Doctor’s Woman. She’s also landed finalist spots for the INSPY Awards with fan favorites like The Thief of Blackfriars Lane and The Captive Heart.

When she’s not wrangling wayward plotlines or swooning over her own heroes, Michelle can be found in her proper English garden battling armadillos and pretending her to-do list doesn’t exist. She lives in Missouri, where she’s always dreaming up her next story—and often crafting twists that lead her characters to hope, healing, and happily ever after.

You can follow her escapades by signing up for her newsletter or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.