Archives for October 25, 2026

* Review * A COWBOY IN UNIFORM by Amy Vastine

October 25, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A COWBOY IN UNIFORM by Amy Vastine

A Cowboy in Uniform by Amy Vastine
Series: The Bluegrass Blackwells #5
Published by Harlequin Heartwarming on October 27, 2026
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It starts with a lie…

Could it lead to love?

Returning to Kentucky for Thanksgiving, military veteran Caleb Blackwell is eager to reconnect with his young son. But when his ex leaves four-year-old Nolan in his care for three weeks, he feels like a green recruit running drills. Not only that, but his family is relying on him to rehabilitate their prize racehorse after a doping scandal. New farmhand Brielle Lawson’s kindness adds a little sunshine to the struggling single dad’s days—even if she doesn’t know one end of a horse from the other. And she’s finding a place in his guarded heart. But when he learns her true reason for getting close to his family, can he forgive her secrets?

A sweet addition to this heartwarming series! Caleb Blackwell is home and falls for a sly reporter who is schmoozing her way onto the ranch for a story. Brielle isn’t as bad as she sounds … just dubious in her pursuit originally. She turns out to be a sweetheart who really adores his son. I liked the characters wholehearted, but both of them could have used a bit more development to know backgrounds a little more. The storyline was attention grabbing and built on the series quite well. I look forward to see how it all plays out with the final book coming next month. As always, I adore the Blackwells!

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a family centric love story filled with a background cast that puts a lot of heart into the story.

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * BIG SANTA by Kat Baxter

October 25, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Big Santa by Kat Baxter
Series: A Big Wood Christmas #1
on October 23, 2026
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MAVERICK
I don’t need a wife. I don’t even want one after my last disastrous marriage.
What I do need is a mother for my four-year-old son. Someone warm and dependable. Most of all, someone who’ll stay. Someone completely different than my ex-wife.
As a billionaire developer, I know how to make a deal. So I approach my next marriage as a business arrangement: marry me and help me raise my son until he turns eighteen. In return, she’ll never have to worry about money again. No love, no messy emotions, and no one gets hurt.
Then Noelle Hines rolls into Big Woods with sunshine in her smile and enough Christmas spirit to make the North Pole look underdecorated.
Suddenly, thirteen years feels like a very long time to keep my hands off my wife.

NOELLE
My fresh start was supposed to involve leaving my tiny hometown and finally figuring out what I want.
It was not supposed to involve marrying a gorgeous, grumpy billionaire and becoming an instant mom to his adorable four-year-old. But Maverick Kane’s completely bonkers marriage contract comes with a home, a little boy who steals my heart, and a husband who looks unfairly good when he’s glaring at me.
The rules are simple:
Be a good mother.
Stay until his son turns eighteen.
...And absolutely, positively do not fall in love.
Except I’m falling for his son, for Big Woods, and for the life the three of us are building together.
And my big, grumpy husband? Well, he’s making that last rule almost impossible to keep…

Short, sweet and oh so sexy! The first book in the delightful multi-author Big Wood Christmas series is a marriage of convenience storyline delivered by Kat Baxter. Since the book is novella length, there isn’t nearly the relationship development that we would expect from a full length story, but the depth Baxter puts into each character is spot on. Shiloh will steal everyone’s heart, and Noelle and Maverick don’t do so bad themselves. Fun characters to get to know, an interesting take on a meet cute and lots of goodness to love!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * LOVE ME WICKED by Melissa Foster

October 25, 2026 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * LOVE ME WICKED by Melissa Foster

Love Me Wicked by Melissa Foster
Series: The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #8
Published by World Literary Press on October 28, 2026
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Tattooist Aria Bad has mastered the art of hiding in plain sight. Her art is her only safe place. Crowded rooms make her panic. People’s eyes burn too hot. Except his. Zeke Wicked has been the steady presence she’s leaned on since he tutored her through high school. He’s a loyal, protective Dark Knight biker, the kind of man who sees everything and the one man who could unravel her without even trying. Every year he takes her to see her family for the holidays, but this year she’s harboring a secret and needs to go alone.

Years ago, Zeke swore to protect, and never touch, Aria, but that didn’t stop his heart from staking claim to her. Lately she’s been secretive and has been pulling away, and now she’s determined to make their annual trip without him, but his instincts won’t let her go alone. When a storm strands them, boundaries blur and buried feelings rise to the surface, unearthing a passion neither can deny. But as the storm clears, they discover two dangerous truths—one that ties them together and one that threatens to tear them apart.

Foster weaves her magic every time! With the next book in The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside series, we finally get Zeke’s story and it’s the ultimate best friends to lovers storyline! His family is well developed throughout the series, but I would have enjoyed a little more depth to his personal past to lay the groundwork of him a touch more. Aria was my favorite! She’s lovely and easy to like. The storyline was intriguing and watching them fight their attraction added a fun side to it all. I felt like their story was quick and maybe would have enjoyed seeing them out enjoying life a bit more once they were truly together, but what’s not to love when a Wicked and a Bad join forces? I’m looking forward to seeing more of both families!

Filed Under: Book Reviews