Charlie and Her Sweet Escape by Kaylee Baldwin

 Charlie and Her Sweet Escape by Kaylee Baldwin is a wonderful romantic comedy and part of the Enchanted Forresters series, but can be read as a standalone novel. Charlie desperately wants to go on a wilderness reality show to earn money pay her mother's medical debt. The show only accepts couples which is great when you are getting married until you are not getting married and have to find another husband. Bennett Forrester has been friends with Charlie through his sister for a long time. He would love to help his business improve with the money he could earn on the show. The answer is to marry Charlie, help his business and then return to business as usual. This marriage of convenience may only be a problem if people fall in love. What are the chances?

I was all about Charlie and Bennett! This was a delightful story with engaging characters told in a dual POV. I appreciated the depth of the characters, the humor, and watching them fall in love with each other. The reality show survival setting allowed me as a reader to get to know the characters well as they literally tried to survive while spending time together. The wilderness setting was fascinating. Since my motto is better dead than camping the fact that I was so engaged, enjoyed learning survival skills, and momentarily wanted to go camping says quite a bit. It was great to visit with the Forrester family and others in the town of Winterhaven.

I was very invested in the story, characters, and setting of Charlie and Her Sweet Escape by Kaylee Baldwin. The book will simply make your day, and will be a 2026 favorite for me. I thrilled for Jude’s story and cannot wait for it to publish. I highly recommend!

On Kindle Unlimited.

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

 Kaylee Baldwin’s love of all things books and reading led her to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in English. She writes romantic comedies with tons of heart (and literary references, because she’s a book nerd in her soul.) She lives in Arizona with her family, and likes to travel, find gluten-free recipes that are actually delicious, and pretend she’s actually going to read all the books she buys.

        

Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh

 Hearts on the Fly: A Christian African American & Black Hockey Romance of Forbidden Love and Friends to More by Toni Shiloh is a great sports romance novel.  Val’s friends set her up on a blind date on Valentine’s Day.  She reluctantly shows up and is shocked when it is Jabari Hall, her sister’s ex-boyfriend who the family will not even speak about.   Their story gets complicated when they realize they enjoy spending time together, Val becomes Jabari’s confident with his new diagnosis of deteriorating eyesight, and they start fall in love.

Jabari and Val were two great characters I enjoyed rooting for!  Val’s kind heart, sweet spirit, and beautiful faith made her so endearing.  Jabari matured, found faith, and was the kind of guy you wanted to buy his hockey jersey and root for!  This character driven story was told in dual POV, the characters had great banter and chemistry, and was filled with sweet romance.  I enjoyed learning more about hockey and the world of sports management.  The story was a win for me!   

Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh was a delightful novel with sweet romance, a wonderful faith integration, and the great setting of the hockey world.  The author did a marvelous job keeping the novel fun while exploring deeper family and personal issues.  I highly recommend Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh.

I was gifted a copy from the publisher and not required to write a positive review. 

Mail Order Baroness by Misty Beller

 Mail Order Baroness by Misty Beller is the second book in the Lords of Rockies series, but can be read as a stand-alone novel. James Balfour is the son of an English Duke living and working on a Montana Ranch. He has fond memories of his childhood friend, Rose.    Rose Prescott has had a rough time since leaving the ranch and has been forced by her step-father into singing in saloons.   She flees when she sees an ad for a housekeeper placed in the paper by James.  But, can James keep Rose safe from her complicated past?

I adored this book.  It had all the things I love: English aristocracy, a Montana ranch, frontier time period, charming characters, sweet romance, and subtle faith themes.  James and Rose were engaging characters who rekindled their childhood romance.  I was very drawn to Rose and wanted her to find loves with James and have a new beginning. James was a great hero whose tender heart, great work ethic, and charm was so endearing.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mail Order Baroness by Misty Beller. I loved the redemptive theme of this character driven story.  This will be a favorite for me this year.  I cannot wait for book number three in the Lord of the Rockies series!  I highly recommend.

Available on Kindle Unlimited

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

Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard: A Memoir by Ken Rideout

 

Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard: A Memoir by Ken Rideout is one of the best memoirs I have read this year. I sat down to page through the book and ended up reading all of the book after dinner one night. I was absolutely engrossed in the story.

Ken shares about the challenges of his early life, his addiction, his time as a Wall Street Trader, healing, and his amazing story of running and being the fastest 50+ runner in the world. For me at the heart of the story is a man who was willing to change and transform to not let his past define his future. I was very inspired by Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard by Ken Rideout and highly recommend. This will be a book I will not forget and a favorite of 2026!

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

Ken Rideout is the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty and a former prison guard, Wall Street trader, and opioid addict. His life story has been chronicled in such publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Outside. Since getting sober more than a decade ago, he has won some of the world's toughest races, including, at age fifty-two, the Gobi March—a 155-mile, self-supported race across the sweltering Gobi Desert in Mongolia—and a few months later, the Masters (50+) Marathon World Championships.

In addition to his many running victories, he has completed more than ten Ironman triathlons. In 2018, Ken founded capital solutions firm Camrock Advisors. More recently, he founded talent agency Rideout Sports and Entertainment.

He lives in Nashville with his wife, Shelby, and their four children.

Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen

Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen published by Bethany House is wonderful historical regency romance with mystery. Anne Loveday is the daughter of a surgeon and believes being single is her best option. To leave her stepmother and have a new adventure she accepts an invitation to Painswick to see an old friend, and agrees to become the nurse for, Lady Celia, who hurt her sister in the past. In residence at Painswick court is lady Celia’s daughter, two adult nephews, a new lady’s maid and two doctors who often stop by. This leaves you with many suspects who may be trying to kill Lady Cecilia. 

This was a dreamy Regency novel with mystery, romance, and a lovely English Village setting. The author does an incredible job immersing you in time period as she gently explains the nuances of Regency England while you walk through the story. I was fascinated learning about medical practices of the time, village life, and. tried to solve the mystery along with Anne. I loved the themes of redemption, forgiveness and second chances which made for a satisfying read.

I was enchanted with the story and hoping for a happily ever after for Anne Loveday. I was not disappointed. The depth and beauty of the book makes this one you will not want to miss. I very highly recommend Whispers at Painswick Court by Julie Klassen. It will be a 2026 favorite for me.

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

 

Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books Paperback by Melissa Ferguson

Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books by Melissa Ferguson is a delightful book. Penelope Mae DuPont is the personal assistant to a mystery writer. She organizes a luxury cruise for seven writers. Everything goes well until Hugh Griffin ends up dead, the cruise ship security is incompetent, and she is beginning to suspect everyone in her party. Nash, the dreamy Western author, offers to help her as they try to untangle the mystery and solve the crime.

 
Without a Clue filled me with joy and may be my favorite Melissa Ferguson book to date. I laughed out loud and finished this one quickly. I loved Penelope and watching her grow and change during our story. Penelope and Nash had great chemistry, banter, and it was fun to watch their relationship. The mystery added some intrigue to the story. I also loved how the author kindly roasted the different genres of authors and readers. The book cover will clue you in.

Without a Clue: A Rom-Com, Cozy Mystery Book about Books by Melissa Ferguson is fantastic. It has mystery, romance, humor and will make you smile as a reader. I highly recommend Without A Clue!

Without a Clue publishes February 17.   Pre-order today.  

 I was gifted a copy and not required to write a review

Melissa Ferguson is a bestselling author of romantic comedies and cozy mystery rom-coms, including Meet Me in the Margins, How to Plot a Payback, On the Way to Christmas, and The Perfect Rom-Com. Her debut picture book, Our Friendly Farmhouse, introduced young readers to her signature warmth and charm beyond the rom-com page. Two of her novels are currently being adapted for film with Melissa serving as Executive Producer.

Come join over one million followers as she shares glimpses of farmhouse life with her husband and five children and bookish joy at @ourfriendlyfarmhouse.

Instagram: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse

TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus

 The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus is a beautiful historical fiction novel.  Isabel’s circumstances have been reduced and she moves to Cornwall to occupy a small cottage.  The people of the town remember her as the girl from sea who was found soaking wet one day and adopted by an admiral and his wife.  The village has created stories around Isabel and her appearance from the sea.  She meets Jack.    Isabel is learning to make a life, deal with smugglers, revenue officers, and the calling of the sea.

I was truly enchanted by the story of Isabel and Jack who have wonderful chemistry and banter.  Their complicated lives make their love story so interesting, fun and endearing.  I was drawn into the small village of Cornwall and fascinated by the local legends, people and history. I truly adored this book!  

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus is an enthralling book filled with romance, adventure, and Cornish folklore.  This marvelous story drew me in and I did not want to leave my new friends.  I very highly recommend The SeaChild by Linda Wilgus and this will be a 2026 highlight for me. 

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

Linda Wilgus grew up in the Netherlands in a house full of books and has lived in Italy, Belgium and the United States before settling in the UK. As a child she wanted to be an explorer, a traveller or a writer and she considers herself very lucky that, writing historical fiction, she gets to be all three. A graduate of the University of Amsterdam, she worked as a bookseller and knitting pattern designer and her short stories have been published in various literary magazines, including Zone 3, J Journal, Reed Magazine, Kestrel, Yemassee and The Fourth River.

Linda lives near Cambridge with her husband, three children and dog. She visits Cornwall and Brittany as often as she can and when she’s not writing, she enjoys taking long hikes, as well as learning about local history and folklore. The Sea Child is her debut novel.

Linda is represented by Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency.

She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.