Review: Something in the Air in Pelican Crossing

 

Rhana Black has always been content with her quiet life in the Pelican Crossing hinterland, where she spends her days breeding spaniels. Following a traumatic incident at her school formal and weighed down by her own insecurities about her appearance, Rhana has shied away from any romantic relationships. That is, until a chance encounter with a hot air balloonist changes everything.

Steve Morton has been struggling to move on after the tragic death of his pregnant fiancée. In search of solace, he finds himself in Pelican Crossing, where he rediscovers his love for flying and starts offering hot air balloon rides and scenic helicopter flights along the coast. When he meets Rhana, he is taken aback by the intense emotions he feels towards her.

As Rhana and Steve navigate their complicated pasts and undeniable chemistry, they must decide if they are willing to break their self-imposed barriers and take a chance on love. But with their old wounds and deep insecurities threatening to keep them apart, can they be able to overcome their fears and find happiness together?

Review - 

In between intrusive thoughts that you're about to die and the thundering roar of the bellows, balloon rides offer an intimate space for an awfully meet cute. Two neighbors who have hovered near each other without ever interacting find that freedom and connection is one perilous journey away. 

Overall, the story is charming. There is a respect for people with deep feelings and profound trauma - the writer doesn't rush them toward love or pretend that one person can fix a lifetime of hurt. She does a good job demonstrating, however, that pain is lessened through connection. Their story feels real and honest. The character growth is earned. It's a lovely, happy story about the power of human love.

Maggie Christensen writes lovely serial drama. This book is the 9th in the Pelican Crossing series about love in an idyllic seaside town. You don't need to read all of them to appreciate this story, but you may miss out on some of the cute interactions with past characters. 

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/somethingPC

Author Bio –

After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.

From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/maggiechristensenauthor
https://twitter.com/MaggieChriste33
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120020.Maggie_Christensen

https://www.instagram.com/maggiechriste33/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maggie-christensen?list=about

https://maggiechristensenauthor.com/

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Review: Lighthouse by the Sea

 

His love might be the light she’s looking for

After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.

Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.

As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.

If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.

♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge - Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone.
♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.

Review - There is a lot of fantasy rolled up in one book. Rock-hard Scottish abs. Isolated lighthouse. An attraction too flamey to resist. None of that is a negative - the author knows her audience. 

It's a standalone book that's part of a series based on this island. You will run into characters that were obviously introduced elsewhere. If you love diving into a community and not just a book and don't mind some steam, this could be a series for you. 

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/lighthousebythesea

Author Bio –

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

Social Media Links –

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://ko-fi.com/margaretamattauthor/shop

Review: A Perfect Devon Manor

 

What if becoming the perfect wife meant losing the woman you used to be?

Christina Pemberton – born plain Tina Miller – may be a skilled restorer of antique silver, but to her husband’s old-money family, she is still tarnished goods. They won’t quite let her in to their rarified world, and it's tearing her marriage apart.

Desperate to prove herself worthy, Christina makes a decision that weighs heavily on her conscience. But then a secret from her past threatens to resurface, and Christina faces an impossible choice between the world she aspires to join, and the life that shaped her.

This is a warm, gripping tale of family, legacy, love, and second chances, set in a beautiful house on the rugged North Devon coast, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Tilly Tennant, and Sue Moorcroft. A Perfect Devon Manor is a warm, emotionally satisfying midlife romance set in an enchanting Devon manor. Expect a marriage in trouble, self-rediscovery, second chances, and falling in love again, with high-stakes family drama, village intrigue, a glimpse into the rarified world of antique silver restoration, and a life-affirming happily ever after.

Review

I can tell from the start that the author is writing what she knows. From the discomfort of being in a life that doesn't quite fit to the pure joy of finding one that does - she brings the facts into this work of fiction. 

This story goes beyond the luxury romance to the reality that hits once the kids come and life gets less passionate. Hamish and Tina are struggling to make their worlds stay collided. Tina is struggling to deal with unethical requests from manipulative bad actors. I love a messy middle book. Romance is fun, but marriage is work. Hamish and Christina have to work through some pain to decide if their romance deserves an "ever after" or if the real work of adulthood is falling in love with the person you really are.

This is part of a series but I didn't find that off-putting. It was an easy read-alone full of beautiful landscapes and a host of characters, some you love and some you hope fall off a cliff. Fans of Debbie Macomber will really love this one. 

Purchase Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FG81Y869

About the Author

Hi! I’m Debbie. Once upon a time, I was a perfectly respectable London professional – a chartered accountant with a law degree, a Blackberry (remember those?), and too many sensible shoes. Then common sense prevailed, romance called, and I swapped London’s Zone One for Devon’s Zero Signal.

These days, I know the real price of life’s essentials: a good haircut, a great friend, and the joy of a proper night’s sleep. I write love stories for grown-ups – warm, witty, stuffed with second chances and the kind of relationships where affection and exasperation create irresistible chemistry – for better for worse.

I divide my days between the page, the garden and long walks along the Devon coast – usually accompanied by two determined dogs with strong opinions about pacing and biscuit breaks.

 

Social Media Links –

> Website - www.debbiemorrison.co.uk

> facebook - Debbie-Morrison-Author

> instagram.com @debbiemorrisonauthor

Cover Reveal: The Secret Castle in the Highlands

 

Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer…

Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other
ideas.

With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their
legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.
Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian
drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that
something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Castle-Highlands-feel-good-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FT1S9NHY/

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Castle-Highlands-feel-good-heartwarming-

ebook/dp/B0FT1S9NHY/

Publication Dates

30 th August 2026 for Ebook and 10 th September 2026 for paperback

Author Bio –

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to
write feel-good romance.

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies.
Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.
She has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper.
The Secret Castle in the Highlands is Julie’s fifteenth novel.

Social Media Links –

Julie Shackman Author
Julie Shackman (@G13Julie) / Twitter
Julie Georgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos
(2) Julie Georgina Shackman | Facebook

Book promo: The Teacher's Noble Heart

 

In Regency Cornwall, governess Miss Wilkins has always survived by being sensible, capable, and self-reliant. When she dares to take a bold step toward independence, she has no intention of complicating her life—or her heart.

Her encounters with James Pentarrant, the steadfast captain of the Delabole slate quarry, are marked less by romance than by spirited disagreement. Self-contained and disciplined, James challenges her views at every turn, even as he respects her resolve. What begins as wary sparring and mutual resistance gradually deepens into an understanding neither expected nor sought.

Alongside their unfolding story, a young heiress newly returned to Cornwall hides a calling that defies convention. When a moment of danger on the moor—and the inevitable gossip that follows—forces her into an unintended engagement, assumptions harden and emotions become dangerously entangled. Her growing affection for her own sparring partner, a gentle country doctor with the manners of a true gentleman and a secret of his own, only further unsettles what society is determined to set in place.

Set against the rugged beauty of Cornwall’s coast, quarries, and windswept moors, The Teacher’s Noble Heart is a tender Regency romance of intertwined lives, mistaken conclusions, and love discovered in spite of every sensible intention.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Teachers-Noble-Heart-Cornwalls-Double-Dilemma-ebook/dp/B0GHST6WCH/

 

Author Bio –

Susanne Dunlap started out a historian, became an award-winning historical novelist with fourteen published novels for adults and teens, and is now the author of the Regency romance series, Double-Dilemma Romance. She lives and writes in a converted textile mill in Biddeford, Maine.

 

Social Media Links –

https://www.instagram.com/susanne_dunlap/

https://www.facebook.com/SusanneRomance

https://www.tiktok.com/@susieregency

Review: All for Love

 

Book blurb: 

When Covent Garden burns to the ground, her friends think Sarah Siddons has lost everything. But the great theater's destruction is only the latest loss in a life spent fighting for the one thing that mattered most: her family.

At fifteen, Sarah captivated audiences across England with her family's traveling theater company. That life—performing alongside those she loved, the stage and home intertwined—was all she ever wanted. But when her rising fame attracted dangerous attention, her parents sent her away to become "respectable," tearing apart the only dream she'd ever had.

Marrying William Siddons was supposed to bring it all back: the stage, family, belonging. Instead, it brought grinding poverty and impossible choices. With babies to feed and a husband who couldn't provide, Sarah became the sole breadwinner, performing through pregnancy, through grief, through exhaustion. Her every act was not a quest for glory, but for survival.

Based on the true story of Sarah Siddons, the most celebrated actress of the Georgian era, All for Love is a powerful portrait of a woman who sacrificed everything—her dreams, her happiness, her very self—to keep her family alive.

Review: 

Jen Johnson has a strong, recognizable voice in Regency fiction. She is well-known for her attention to historical detail. In this novel, she takes on the Georgian theater scene with a historical fiction based on the life of Sarah Siddons. Sarah defied the odds by becoming a stage legend while raising a family and despite the rigid gender structures of her time.

The writing is well-done. The author's research shines in this novel. Sarah is well-drawn and relatable. The fictional aspects are nuanced enough to be believable. I have mixed feelings about using the first person in biographical fiction, but the writing is immersive. Johnson's love for theater is woven through the novel in well-placed quotes from theater and literature. This is the kind of story that can become heavy-laden with history, but Johnson keeps the tone breezy and comfortable. Real life doesn't come in a comfortable 3-act structure, so there are some bumps in the pacing that make the plot feel uneven. It didn't take from my ability to enjoy the book, however. I loved how he book started with Sarah's first moment on the stage and ended at her last. The theater itself was the love of her life.

Overall, a strong entry in marketable historical fiction. The book explores both the joys of family and the challenges of rigid gender roles.  It does not have a primary romance, which may surprise the author's fans. Instead, it focuses on how one woman becomes a superstar in spite of her struggles.

Purchase link: https://www.cedarfort.com/collections/new-releases-1/products/all-for-love 

Check out more of the author's works at: https://jengeiglejohnson.com/ 

Thanks to Cedar Fort for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review.

Review: A Dowager is Done In

 

A mysterious summons. A fatal hot chocolate. And a duchess who never expected mourning to be this dreadfully dull.

 

Hampshire, 1891. Six months into widowhood, Alice, Duchess of Stortford, is restless. Black gowns and seclusion in the country have their limits, so when Clarissa, Dowager Countess of Romley, sends a personal summons asking for her discreet assistance with a troubling matter at Lawrence House, Alice seizes the excuse for a change of scene.

But what begins as a family gathering to welcome home the Dowager’s once-disgraced son ends in shock. Clarissa is discovered dead, her passing swiftly dismissed as a heart attack. Alice knows better. The Dowager had been afraid — and had trusted her to uncover the truth. Someone silenced her, but why? Was it to do with the announcement she made over dinner, or something even more dangerous?

Now everyone in the house is a suspect: the resentful heir, the returning prodigal, the mysterious guest with a too-familiar face. With her sharp-witted maid Maud, steadfast footman George, and her reluctant ally Lord Rushton at her side, Alice must act quickly. If the Dowager was murdered to keep her secrets buried, the killer will not hesitate to strike again.

The Dowager is dead. The clock is ticking. And the duchess is about to discover that country house parties can be murder.

Full of clever twists and a heroine who won’t give up until she finds out the truth, A Dowager is Done-in is the perfect escape for fans of historical mysteries wrapped in wit and warmth.

 Review

Another delightful story by Helen Golden! With the good humor of Miss Marple and the twists of Hercule Poirot, cozy mysteries fans will find so much to love in this series. I reviewed a book previously and I'm thrilled to say that I found this one even better than the first! 

Helen Golden has collected a cast of characters that make you wish your butler were found foot-up in the pantry. I was having so much fun that I didn't really try to figure out the mystery. The ride was as delicious as scones with cottle cream and jam at afternoon tea.

I do have one last thing to say in this review. Lady Alice may say that it's the small things that matter in solving a mystery, but I have gained more appreciation for the large things in life -- such as a large print edition that doesn't leave me with a stress headache. Deep appreciation to Helen Golden for being aware of us readers who have entered our bifocal era. So, no matter your age, find a cozy blanket, some shortbread cookies, a pot of your favorite tea and spend the afternoon with Lady Alice and her mystery squad.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dowager-Done-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FNR838B8/

https://www.amazon.com/Dowager-Done-Duchess-Stortford-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FNR838B8/

About Helen Golden

Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.

With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.

Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.

If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.

 

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