Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk

 

Is a fake boyfriend really just for Christmas?

One fake romance. One magical Christmas. One chance to fall in love.

Laura was all set for a quiet solo Christmas – just her, a bottle of wine, and flat-sitting for a stranger. But when the stranger’s parents mistake her for his mystery girlfriend, she’s swept off to the snowy Scottish Highlands with Callum and his whole family.

Between the cosy sleeper train, charming pubs and breathtaking views, this could be the no-strings-attached Christmas of Laura’s dreams.

But stranger Callum is hot, hilarious and their ‘fake’ chemistry is off the charts.

So is this just a Christmas fling? Or the start of something more?

Pick up your copy here...

Christmas Fling: Kelk, Lindsey: 9780008758745: Amazon.com: Books

Lindsey Kelk is the internationally bestselling author of romcoms for adults including Love Me Do, The Christmas Wish, the I Heart series, and the fantasy series, The Bell Witches.

As well as writing, Lindsey co-hosts Tights and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network, and hosts and produces the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage.

Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and two cats.

My Thoughts...

This was my ninth Christmas book so far this year and it was a bit different from all the others. It is also my first book by this author. I love finding new authors. Set in the Scottish Highlands also a first for me for a Christmas book. So, a lot of firsts with this book. that's always a good thing.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Last Day I Saw You by Ruth Mancini

 

“I need to report a crime. My baby has been stolen.”

All Lauren wants is a new life in Spain. She’s suffered an unimaginable loss, but at last she has found a home in the pretty seaside town of Mantilla de Mar. Everyone deserves a new start, and Lauren needs to put her past firmly behind her.

Hope has everything: an interesting career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a dream home in the countryside - and, finally, the baby she always longed for. Sam. Her beautiful boy.

But Sam has gone missing.

So when the police tell her that a woman has been found in Spain with a child matching Sam’s description, Hope thinks that her nightmare might be coming to an end.

But Lauren is insisting Sam is her baby. She even has his passport and birth certificate to prove it.

So what really happened to Baby Sam? And who still has secrets to hide?

One child. Two mothers. And a past that won’t let them go.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Day I Lost You: A Novel: 9780063340596: Mancini, Ruth: Books

Ruth Mancini is an author and criminal defence lawyer. Her background as a solicitor adds authenticity to her crime and psychological fiction. She has spent two decades representing those accused of crimes, navigating courtrooms and police stations. Her storytelling prowess and legal background combine to create thrilling reads that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Ruth was born in London and now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.

Her fifth thriller, THE WOMAN ON THE LEDGE was published by Penguin (UK) and HarperCollins (US) in January 2024 and was a Sunday Times bestseller. Her sixth, THE DAY I LOST YOU will be published in July 2025.

My Thoughts...

This book was a little bit different than Ruth's last book. But all in all I read it really fast she kept me turning the pages. Thanks for my review copy Harper Perennial.

The Tragedy Of True Crime by John Lennon

 The Tragedy of True Crime is a first-person journalistic account of the lives of four men who have killed, written by a man who has killed. Lennon entered the New York prison system with a sentence of 28 years to life but after he stepped into a writing workshop at Attica Correctional Facility, his whole life changed. Reporting from the cell block and the prison yard, Lennon challenges our obsession with true crime by telling the full life stories of men now serving time for the lives they took.

These men have completely different backgrounds ― Robert Chambers, a preppy Manhattanite turned true crime celebrity; Milton E. Jones, a seventeen-year-old coaxed from burglary into something far darker; and Michael Shane Hale, a gay man caught in a crime of passion ― and all are searching to find meaning and redemption behind bars. Lennon’s reporting is intertwined with his own story, from a young man seduced by the infamous gangster culture of New York City to a celebrated prison journalist. The same desire echoes throughout the lives of these four men: to become more than murderers.

A first-of-its-kind book of immersive prison journalism, The Tragedy of True Crime poses fundamental questions about the stories we tell and who gets to tell them. What essential truth do we lose when we don’t consider all that comes before an act of unthinkable violence? And what happens to the convicted after the cell gate locks?

Pick up your copy here...

The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us: Lennon, John J.: 9781250858245: Amazon.com: Books

John J. Lennon is serving his twenty-fourth year behind bars, currently in Sing Sing Correctional Facility. His writing has appeared in the New York Review of Books, the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Esquire, and New York magazine. His work has been anthologized in the Best American Magazine Writing, and he’s twice been a finalist for the National Magazine Award, in feature writing and reviews and criticism. His feature essay “The Apology Letter” was part of the Washington Post Magazine’s special issue that won the National Magazine Award. He will be eligible for parole in 2029.

Bees in June by Elizabeth bass Parman

 It's 1969, and the town of Spark Tennessee, is just as excited about the moon landing as the rest of the country. Rennie Hendricks is grieving and trying to heal from the unimaginable loss of her infant son. She had hoped a child would repair the cracks in her marriage to her husband, Tiny, but the tragedy has only served to illuminate his abusive character. Trying to relieve some of the financial stress that inflames Tiny's anger, Rennie accepts a position cooking at the local diner. Hidden away in a kitchen making delicious food, she rediscovers the joy she finds in cooking for others, and as she spends more time with her new boss, she realizes there are more options for women than she thought possible.

One of the benefits of her new job is that she can bring meals to her beloved Uncle Dixon, the man who practically raised her along with her late Aunt Eugenia, a woman unkindly labeled as a witch by most of the town. What those people didn't understand is that Eugenia was a healer and connected to power they couldn't grasp.

Rennie thinks her elderly uncle is confused when he talks about communicating with his bees, but then she starts to see them glow, leading her toward safety time and time again. Could it be that these bees, discovered long ago by her Aunt Eugenia, are magical and trying to tell her something? And what about the new neighbor, Ambrose Beckett, who seems to understand the bees too. Is he being truthful about why he has moved to Spark, or is there more to him than meets the eye?

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Amazon.com: Bees in June: A hope-filled historical novel set in a 1960s small town and infused with magical realism: 9781400342600: Parman, Elizabeth Bass: Books

Elizabeth Bass Parman grew up entranced by family stories, such as the time her grandmother woke to find Eleanor Roosevelt making breakfast in her kitchen. She worked for many years as a reading specialist for a non-profit and spends her summers in a cottage by a Canadian lake. She has two grown daughters and lives outside her native Nashville with her husband and maybe Maltipoo, Pippin. She can be found at www.elizabethbassparman or on Instagram at @elizabethbassparman.

Henry is an Artist by Justin Worsley

 Henry is a dedicated artist, a master sculptor, and . . . a dog. Each day on his walks to the park, he leaves his new "art" for people to admire. But his sculptures keep getting tossed in the garbage without even being noticed! That is until, one day, when someone quite unexpected falls in love with his work and at last Henry has his moment to shine.

This tongue-in-cheek and truly unique picture book about creativity, perseverence, and, well, poop, is a hilarious ode to undiscovered artists everywhere.

Pick up your copy here...

Henry Is an Artist: Worsley, Justin, Worsley, Justin: 9780593695043: Amazon.com: Books

Justin is an author/illustrator from the UK, he grew up in the English Lake District and graduated from The University of Northumberland with a degree in Design for Industry. Before becoming a picture book maker he worked as a toy designer in London, Hong Kong, New York and Barcelona. He currently works from his home studio on the edge of the South Downs in Lewes, East Sussex.

Justin graduated in 2023 with a distinction from the MA Children’s Book Illustration course at Anglia Ruskin University. His primary medium of choice is paint and he gets excited by the sometimes unexpected results that fluid materials produce. He strives for simplicity in his image making, combining this with texture and energy through mark making. His playful style is influenced by his experience of toy design and a love of creating characters, both human and animal.

Justin was the winner of the Sebastian Walker Award 2023 and the Batsford Prize for children’s illustration 2022.

Island Endgame by Rebecca Hodge

 

An isolated island. A grieving nurse, struggling to heal. Three desperate fugitives taking hostages.
Can she outwit them and survive?

Guilt-ridden over the drowning death of her nine-year-old nephew, Kenzie Adams flees her nursing job at a major city hospital to work at a primitive but picturesque island summer camp. Hopefully a few low-stress months away from the city will help steer her life back on course. But before the campers arrive, Kenzie’s second chance takes a turn to real-life terror. Three determined fugitives invade the island to search for a rumored treasure, and they threaten to kill Kenzie and the staff, including the caretaker’s young son.

Their captors have a plan … until Kenzie seizes an opportunity to escape. But with no weapons, no communications with the outside world, and mounting danger from increasingly desperate men, she’ll have to tap into unexpected strengths to save everyone before the captors deliver on their ultimatum—find treasure or die. Kenzie must learn to trust herself again, or she’ll relive her greatest nightmare, failing to save yet another child.

Pick up your copy here...

Island Endgame - Kindle edition by Hodge, Rebecca. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Rebecca Hodge is an author of fiction, a veterinarian, and a clinical research scientist who lives and writes in North Carolina. Fiction writing is the space where her creative side comes out to play, and her writing centers on characters who discover that life is not a spectator sport. She has three grown sons, one amazing grandchild, one crazy dog, and one patient husband. When not busy writing, she loves hiking, travel, and (of course) curling up with a good book.

'Wildland,' her debut novel, received a STAR award for debut fiction from the Women's Fiction Writing Association and a Nautilus award honoring 'Better Books for a Better World.' Her second novel, 'Over the Falls' is now available. .

If you’re a member of a book club and want Rebecca to visit in person (local) or via Zoom, go to her website (rebeccahodgefiction) and send her a message. She’d love to meet your group.

A Scheming in Parliament by Erica Vetsch

 

Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.

Pick up your copy here...

A Scheming in Parliament (Of Cloaks & Daggers): Vetsch, Erica: 9780825448638: Amazon.com: Books

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can learn about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspirationalregencyreaders where she spends way too much time! 

I was looking for a good romance that had some suspense and a little mystery and this book really hit the spot. This is book two in the series Of Cloaks and Daggers, but it can be read as a standalone.

A good 4 star read to enjoy on a nice fall evening.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Girl Lost by Kate Angelo

 Luna Rosati found acceptance and a family during childhood, but when she became pregnant at seventeen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has left--the teenage daughter she's never met. Her mentor, Stryker, promises to reveal her daughter's identity, but first Luna must meet him in the old neighborhood, the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.  

  

Special Agent Corbin King changed his surname to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together toward a greater mission. But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.

Pick up your copy here...

Girl Lost: A Christian Romantic Suspense Thriller with CIA Intrigue and Second Chance Romance (The King Legacy): Kate Angelo: 9780800746636: Amazon.com: Books

Kate Angelo is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Selah Award winner, and Amazon Top 100 bestseller from Southwest Missouri. She writes fast-paced romantic suspense novels where her characters confront trauma and find faith and healing.

When she's not putting fictional people through the wringer, Kate works alongside her husband, Jerry Angelo, as the co-founder of their nonprofit ministry dedicated to strengthening marriages and families. Whether she's helping people survive in fiction or thrive in real life, Kate is passionate about helping others discover their happily ever after.

For exclusive updates, free books, giveaways, and wild stories from her life—including the one about her pet lion—subscribe to Kate's free newsletter on her website.

My Thoughts..

 This is a new to me author. She out did herself. I love a good suspense read. and I was not disappointed. I read this book so fast I was really sad to read the last page. 

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…

London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.

Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.

As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.

Pick up your copy here...

The Secret Book Society: A Novel - Kindle edition by Martin, Madeline. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.

She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), two incredibly spoiled cats and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

Check out her website for book club visits, reader guides for her historical fiction, upcoming events, book news and more: https://madelinemartin.com

The Good for Nothing Puddle by Jana Jackson

 

In this powerful picture book about a girl experiencing loss, The Good for Nothing Puddle helps children explore the nature of grief and loss and leads them to find hope and redemption from pain.

When a girl loses the thing she loves the most, her tears gather into a puddle around her feet that follows her everywhere she goes. At first, she tries her best to make it go away, but it is inescapable. She even cries out to God to take it away. Eventually, a puppy, a farmer, and an artist stumble upon the girl and her puddle. Each one finds the puddle extremely useful in their own way and slowly the girl begins to understand that her “good for nothing” puddle might just be good for something after all! As she learns to accept her grief, she begins to find happiness again. Filled with moments of sorrow and joy, The Good for Nothing Puddle is a powerful metaphor for dealing with difficult emotions and navigating grief while holding onto faith.

The Good for Nothing Puddle:

• Is for children who have experienced loss of any kind, big or small
• Was reviewed and endorsed by a Christian counselor specializing in child therapy
• Teaches children as well as adults how to find hope in darkness
• Is filled with lively and dramatic illustrations

• Is great for families as well as Sunday school classes and church libraries, and anyone struggling to find God amid sadness

Pick up your copy here...

The Good for Nothing Puddle: Finding Hope When You're Stuck in Sadness - Kindle edition by Jackson, Jana, Jartos, Abby. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Jana Jackson is an author, speaker, and collector of stories surrounding the nature of grief and redemption of pain.

Today, Jana lives in Georgia along the Chattahoochee River where she writes children stories to help the child in us all untangle life's complexities.

During the day, she creates content and environments that aim to be irresistible to the heart of a child as a Program Director for Upstreet, one of America's largest children ministries with outposts across Georgia and throughout the nation.

Jana doesn't mind being in the spotlight, but her passion is helping children discover they should be there, too.

The Burial Place by Stig Abell

 

A beautiful landscape . . .

It began as the project of a lifetime—a group of archaeologists, uncovering the remains of a Roman settlement on a picturesque hill in the glorious English countryside.

A looming threat . . .

But, the idyll is shattered when they begin receiving threatening letters. Former city detective Jake Jackson, now enjoying a quieter life in the local village, is pulled in to investigate.

A killer closing in . . .

Soon, threatening letters are the least of their problems, when a murderer strikes. Now, the race is on for Jake to find the mysterious culprit, before they kill again . . .

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Burial Place: A Novel (Jake Jackson, 3): 9780063463806: Abell, Stig: Books

No author headshot

Stig Abell believes that discovering a crime fiction series to enjoy is one of the great pleasures in life. His first novel, Death Under A Little Sky, introduced Jake Jackson and his attempt to get away from his former life in the beautiful area around Little Sky, followed by Death in a Lonely Place and The Burial Place. Stig is absolutely delighted that there are more on the way. Away from books, he presents the breakfast show on Times Radio, a station he helped to launch in 2020. Before that he was a regular presenter on Radio 4’s Front Row and was the editor and publisher of the Times Literary Supplement. He lives in London with his wife, three children and two independent-minded cats called Boo and Ninja (his children named them, obviously).

If I'd have known by Savannah Carlisle

 

Gigi Franklin is planning her best friend’s wedding, and long-time friend Austin Beckett is trying to help her keep the private event top secret. As Gigi and Austin work together, sparks begin to fly, but Gigi’s too busy building her law practice to make time for dating.

If the wedding wasn’t enough to manage, she’s also tasked with finding the rightful heir to the local Salty Breeze B&B. Then, newcomer Simon Ridley arrives in town, throwing a wrench in the process.

As Gigi races against time to uncover the truth about the B&B’s ownership and pull off the perfect wedding, an old journal surfaces that might change everything she thought she knew about love.

A moving beach read that will have you yearning to take walks along the coast and craving the beachy splendor of island living. Look no further if you’re searching for a feel-good, small-town coastal romance!

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: If I'd Have Known: A Heartwarming, Charming Romance (Big Dune Island): 9781963483345: Carlisle, Savannah: Books

Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels with idyllic beach settings. Her stories transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where friends feel like family. So, if you’re ready for a mental vacation, you’ve come to the right place!⁠

Savannah jokes that she's living her own Hallmark movie because she's a former big city corporate attorney who now lives in the small beach town of Fernandina Beach writing romance novels.

When she isn't busy at her laptop writing her next book, Savannah enjoys putting her feet in the sand with a good book in hand. She lives on Amelia Island in Florida with her husband, German Shepherd, and three cats.

Carlisle writes beach reads that touch you. And make you feel all the feels. I laughed; I cried, I could not put this book down. This is one of the best summer beach read series. It can be read as a standalone but why would you not read them both with great writing and a storyline like this one.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Janice Thompson

 A Wildfire Races toward the Hadley Ranch

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book three of a new cozy mystery series.

It’s less than a week until Christmas in Mabank, Texas, and just a few days away from RaeLyn and Mason’s wedding on Hadley ranch. Unfortunately, a wildfire with mysterious origin is rapidly traveling across several counties and headed right for the Hadley acreage. Fire fighters rush to put it out before the family homestead goes up in flames, taking the business and the old red truck with it. Their perfect wedding may be ruined, and RaeLyn and Mason are determined to find the source of the fire.

Pick up your copy here...

Mistletoe and Mayhem: Volume 3 (Red Truck Mysteries): Thompson, Janice: 9798891511729: Amazon.com: Books

Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of inspirational author Janice Hanna Thompson, where romantic comedy rules the day! I hope you love to laugh, because I make it my goal to tickle your funny bone at every turn in my light-hearted tales.

Whether you’re looking for inspirational romance, quirky cozy mysteries, light-hearted historicals or fun books for younger readers, you will find it between the pages of my novels and non-fiction books.

Why do I focus on the light-hearted stuff? Because life is hard! My readers lead busy, chaotic lives and need those special “Calgon, Take Me Away!” moments! Providing “Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters” brings me great delight. Lest you think it’s all fluff, think again!

Woven between the lines of each cheerful tale you will find the ultimate love story, one guaranteed to stir your soul and get your heart fluttering. Talk about a real happily ever after! There’s something for everyone in my stories, so settle back in your chair, grab a cup of hot tea, and get ready to discover a light-hearted approach to life!

Read Janice's books or follow her baking recipes at https://outoftheboxbaking.com/. 

This will read as a standalone. But read all the books. You can thank me later. All I had to see was firefighter to know I had to read this one.
I have really enjoyed my time in Mabank Texas. Thompson has given us a cozy mystery to remember.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner

 Recent Afghan refugee and young mother Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. At the insistence of Sabera's closest friend, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search just in time for a video of Sabera to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.    

Frankie quickly notes there's much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl's short life, may be a terrible curse.

When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes she must crack the code of this family's horrific past. Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option.

When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Frankie is about to find out.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Kiss Her Goodbye: A Frankie Elkin Novel (Volume 4) (Frankie Elkin, 4): 9781538765104: Gardner, Lisa: Books

A self-described research junkie, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of internationally recognized novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and rescue animals.

Lisa's latest series features Frankie Elkin, an everyday average woman who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge from finding a disappeared Haitian teen in Mattapan (BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED), to a vanished hiker in the wilds of Wyoming (ONE STEP TOO FAR), to a possibly kidnapped younger sister of a serial killer on a remote island in the Pacific (STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE) to a missing Afghan refugee in the broiling streets of Tucson (KISS HER GOODBYE).

Her other series include the FBI Profilers, Detective D.D. Warren and PI Tessa Leoni. When not writing, Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

The Rules of Falling For You by Mollie Rushmeyer

 

She thought she knew the rules of love. Turns out, love makes its own.

The perfect match can't be far--certainly not at a Regency-themed singles' retreat--or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to tag along on the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe's methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her checklist for the man of her dreams might be holding her back, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

Pick up your copy here...

The Rules of Falling for You: A Regency-Infused Contemporary Rom-Com with the Brother's Best Friend Trope - Kindle edition by Rushmeyer, Mollie. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Mollie Rushmeyer writes whimsical romance with heart and humor. She has a deep and abiding love for all things British, bookish, and filled with history and mystery. A modern girl herself—she wouldn’t want to go a day without modern plumbing and central air!—she’s always felt a special connection to the past and anything with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets, was a finalist for a 2023 Carol Award. A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two spunky, beautiful daughters.

Her Jane Austen-inspired contemporary rom-com, The Rules of Falling for You with Bethany House Publishers, releases September 2nd, 2025. Pre-order now to reserve your copy!

Don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for vintage recipe reboots, tea and book pairings, behind-the-scenes info, exclusive content and giveaways, and a FREE short story rom-com, Love or Dare.

She’d love to connect through social media! Follow her on Instagram and

Facebook: @authormollierushmeyer

This was a fun read and great trope! I really liked the characters. I recommend this one. I love finding new authors.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.