BOOK REVIEW: Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly

January 9, 2026 / Jen / 0 Comments

Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
With her brother’s grumpy best friend—and her longtime nemesis—as Beth’s flight instructor, her pilot lessons could be a plane disaster or their first-class ticket to forever.

Mayday. Mayday. Engine failure.

When flying with George Bunsen, the last thing Beth Lundberg wants is to be horny in the cockpit. But when her first ride-along dives toward disaster, the perpetually stoic George is forced to execute a skillful emergency landing, and Beth is horrified to find herself with an adrenaline-fueled crush on the pilot. She’s even more shocked when her brother’s best friend offers her discounted flight lessons—possibly out of guilt for almost killing them.

And despite George’s annoying habit of departing any room the moment Beth enters, she really wants to accept. No matter that it’s an egregiously expensive hobby, or that her waitressing wages go right toward her mother’s medical bills, or that she’s already in debt up to her eyebrows. Flying is Beth’s dream, and she could use her private license to earn real money.

The more time they spend navigating the sky, the more the turbulence between George and Beth dissipates. But Beth has seen the burning wreckage that comes from mixing business with pleasure—plus, she’s been keeping a secret that, once revealed, will send all her relationships into a tailspin. Can she really take a risk on romance when her pilot career isn’t even off the ground?

Review:

PS I Hate You is one of my top favorite books ever. So I went into this story thinking I’d at least like it, oh how wrong I was. While the beginning had me hooked, as the story unfolded I struggled to like Beth. She assumed and judged more than I could handle. When you add that to her internal thoughts being depressing, it was impossible for me to connect to her. Plus some of her decisions had me struggling, and I hated how she cared what other people thought who didn’t have her best interest at heart. Beth was someone I couldn’t find myself rooting for.

The guy could compete at an Olympic level in the sport of pretending I don’t exist.

I truly wish there was a different heroine, because I loved George. As her brother’s best friend, he was everything! I loved trying to figure him out and watch as he slowly started to open up. He was kind, caring, thoughtful, and saw so much. Plus I adored her brother too, he was a golden retriever that was impossible not to love! So while the epilogue was fabulous, I just couldn’t find it in my heart to care. Love in Plane Sight was a huge miss for me, BUT I will definitely try another Connolly book because I still constantly think about PS I Hate You all the time. This one just not for me.

“Sometimes the things you love are scary.”

BOOK REVIEWS: A Christmas Spark (Pride & Pranks #0.5) by Cindy Steel & The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole

December 18, 2025 / Jen / 2 Comments

A Christmas Spark (Pride & Pranks #0.5)
by Cindy Steel
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Snowed in at a cabin with the most infuriating man in the world. I may take my chances with the wolves...

When my best friend found out I’d be alone over Christmas, she hooked me up with a week stay in her family’s cabin in Idaho. I was on a publishing deadline for my latest book and was really looking forward to a cozy week by the fire, cuddled up in flannel pajamas with my laptop and hot chocolate.

Alone.

So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cabin during a blizzard, and found it already occupied. By an all too familiar face and a fine pack of chiseled abs. Even though it had been ten years since I’d last seen Chase, he had no problem picking up exactly where we left off. I had a big problem with it.It didn’t matter what he threw at me—the old nickname, the teasing, his charming grin, or even those chiseled abs (did I already mention those?), I refused to let him get to me after…the incident. Nope, not me. I was made of stone.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to understand that when you strike Chase against stone…you get sparks.

★A Christmas Spark is a closed-door romantic comedy full of heart, sizzle, witty banter, and one tiny swear word, but swoony kisses are as steamy as it gets!

This is a supplemental novella in the Pride and Pranks Series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but you will see character crossovers!

Review:

Christmas Spark was a snowed in, brother’s best friend, forced proximity holiday romance that was fun to listen to. I adored Penny and her thoughts, she cracked me up. And Chase, oh I wanted to hate him. His actions from the past bothered me, so I was happy to watch him slowly redeem himself. With ice fishing, kissing, and lots of teasing, I enjoyed listening to this one, and I’m excited to read more in this series!

“You’re it for me. Even after all this time, I still want what I wanted in high school. I’m not messing around here. I want us to be together. And I’m pretty damn sure I love you.”

The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
An enchanted Christmas dress brings two generations of women together for the magic of the season in this delightful holiday story from New York Times bestselling author Courtney Cole.

One Dress. Two Women. The Magic of the Holiday Season.

When hopeful fashionista Meg Julliard must return to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father’s apartment building, she thinks her dreams of making it in the fashion business are over. Add in her father’s eclectic roster of tenants who all need Meg’s attention (ASAP!), a host of building related disasters, and a handsome handyman she keeps embarrassing herself in front of, and this has all the makings for the worst Christmas she’s ever had.

Ellie Wade, one of the building’s longtime residents, is also not feeling the Christmas Joy this year. She is preparing to move into a nursing home (reluctantly), and is in the process of sorting through her belongings to downsize. Every corner of her apartment holds memories, some good, some bad. But there’s one dress she hesitates to pack up as it represents both the best and worst night of her life.

Ellie and Meg strike up an unlikely friendship and the story of Ellie’s dress comes out. Ellie gifts the gorgeous dress to Meg, hoping that it will bring her more luck, on the condition that she wear it to the building’s Christmas party.

The dress magically fits, and while it eventually leads to the best night of Meg’s life, it also acts as inspiration for Meg to follow a life-long dream of her own, a dream that will help save the crumbling Parkview West, and restore it to its former glory, and keep it as a safe home for all of the current tenants.

The dress and the magic of the holiday season helps both Meg and Ellie find their own happy endings.

Review:

The Christmas Dress was a holiday romance that was sweet, charming, and took us on an emotional and leisurely journey. Meg felt so alone. After losing her father, she had no family left. Leaving her job, and moving to another state, she was overwhelmed with the work that needed to be done to the building she inherited. But watching her journey, as she slowly started to find not only friendship but love too was a beautiful thing.

“You’re not alone, Meg,” Logan says quietly, and his blue eyes drill into mine with a fiery intensity. “You’ve got everyone at Parkview in your corner. And you’ve got me.”
He’s so serious, so sincere, that I almost allow myself to believe it.

With what felt like magic in the air, she was given a second chance at life and happiness. And so were those around her too. I adored watching Meg grow, and it was incredible seeing how far she had come from that first page. Yet I wasn’t a huge fan of a twist later in the story, but I was grateful for how it played out, and I loved the epilogue at the end! This one left me smiling, happy, and I even shed a few tears.

“Grief is a powerful emotion, Meg. It’s okay to feel it however you feel it. It’s not linear. It can come and go. That’s fine, too.”

PS While Logan was my favorite, I didn’t understand how he basically worked for free???

BOOK REVIEW: Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine

December 15, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this internationally bestselling debut by Victoria Lavine.

Beloved romance author Margot Bradley has a dark secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. Not for herself, not for her readers, and not even for her characters, for whom she secretly writes alternate endings that swap weddings and babies for divorce papers and the occasional slashed tire. When her Happily Never After document is hacked and released to the public, she finds herself canceled by her readers and dropped by her publisher.

Desperate to find a way to continue supporting her chronically ill sister, Savannah, Margot decides to trade meet-cutes for murder. The fictional kind. Probably. But when Savannah books Margot a six-week stay in a remote Alaskan resort to pen her first murder mystery, Margot finds herself running from a moose and leaping into the arms of the handsome proprietor, making her fear she’s just landed in a romance novel instead.

The last thing Dr. Forrest Wakefield ever expected was to leave his dream job as a cancer researcher to become a glorified bellhop. What he’s really doing at his family’s resort is caring for his stubborn, ailing father, and his puzzle-loving mind is slowly freezing over—until Margot shows up. But Forrest doesn’t have any room in his life for another person he could lose, especially one with a checkout date.

As long snowy nights and one unlikely trope after another draw Margot and Forrest together, they’ll each have to learn to overcome their fears and set their aside assumptions before Margot leaves—or risk becoming a Happily Never After story themselves.

Review:

Any Trope but You was a slow burn, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity romance set in beautiful Alaska. With a memorable meet cute and only one tent, this story was an adorable winter read. I enjoyed the play on tropes, the characters were memorable, and the happily ever after was so wonderful!

“Do not give me a cute nickname!” she warns, pointing a pillowy mitten in my face like it’s a deadly weapon. I only chuckle and grip her tighter, thinking maybe romance tropes are underrated after all.

Margo was beyond jaded and didn’t believe in HEA’s anymore, even though she wrote romance. When a file of her characters happily never afters, where she gave her characters truly miserable endings, was leaked to her fans, Margo’s sister booked her on an adventure to Alaska. Being able to focus on writing and stepping away from the world for 6 weeks was just what Margo needed! Yet….that wasn’t exactly what she found in Alaska.

“Wait. You’re telling me we’re literally getting snowed in right now?”
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Your favorite trope?”
She snuggles back into my chest with a contented hum. “It definitely is now.”

Margo was a fish out of water who could be so grumpy, but her interactions with Forrest had me cackling with laughter. He was the owner’s son, who had come home to help take care of his father. And while they both wanted the other, they also had their reasons for why neither of them wanted to go there. As the reader though, falling for Forrest was so effortless. He was kind, had an adventurous heart, and learning about his tortured past just made me love him more.

“She’s the end of me but also the beginning. The liability I never wanted but always craved. And when she pulls my shaking body down to hers, kissing my face, she’s all the comfort I never knew I needed.”

Every single time a new trope would appear between Margo and Forrest, she would absolutely lose it. It was hilarious! They kept stacking miles high with only one tent, snowed in, Forrest carrying Margo yet again, and so many more. We got to hear this story in both of their POVs and while the story did meander at times, it was definitely entertaining. Any Trope but You was heartwarming and steamy romance that had a fabulous happily ever after. I’m excited to see what Lavine writes next!

BOOK REVIEWS: My Darling December by Lauren Asher & The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler

December 5, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

My Darling December by Lauren Asher
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Catalina
Playing the part of my sister’s maid of honor is easy even if she’s marrying my ex.
But playing nice with the best man? An impossible task given our history.
Sure, Luke Darling may be suspiciously kind, incredibly handsome, and stubborn to a fault, but regardless of how hard he tries to make me see otherwise, I’m not interested.
It’s on me to remind him that he’s my ex-boyfriend’s best friend.
And the one I’m secretly starting to wish I met first.

Luke
My job as the best man is a simple one, except for one minor issue.
I’ve spent so much time avoiding my best friend’s ex that I didn’t consider what could happen if I started craving Catalina Martinez’s company instead.
She is only in Lake Wisteria for the winter wedding, but her January departure date won’t stop me from pursuing her.
Getting her to date me would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle, but I’m determined to make her mine.
‘Tis the season to fall in love…even if I’m the only one taking the risk.

My December Darling is a 50,000 word, Christmas-themed romance between a grumpy maid of honor and an outgoing best man who chases after what he wants.

Review:

My December Darling was an ex’s best friend, reverse grumpy sunshine, workplace holiday romance that had a lot of heart packed into the pages! This novella was chock full of Lego building, coffee drinking, and cozy winter nights. I adored the sisterly relationship that needed some work, especially since her speech at her sister’s wedding made me cry. And the duet narration was effortless to listen to and got lost in. I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a quick and steamy holiday audiobook! And it’ll make you want a Doctor Darling of your own!

The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sienna Naples's family has taken care of their wild Idaho land for generations and Sienna can't imagine any other life. But at Christmastime, with her parents gone and her painful marriage finally over, it's full of memories...and incredibly lonely. Until a tall, handsome stranger and a little girl walk into her life and suddenly the holidays are alive again.

When single father Guy Maple shows up as the result of an ad meant to be a joke, the handsome Montana construction worker isn't joking. Money is tight this Christmas, and Guy's four-year-old daughter Emma has stage-five chronic kidney disease. She needs a kidney transplant, but if Guy can't prove that he can afford Emma's anti-rejection medications, his daughter isn't going to stay on the transplant list. Guy's willing to do anything, including marrying a stranger, to keep her safe. It's an impulsive marriage of convenience, and Sienna knows this isn't real, no matter how much she adores Emma, how well Guy fits in to the ranching life―or how much light and laughter is coming into their lives as a result. But the more time she spends with her new family, the more she fears losing the fragile, feisty little girl and the kind, devoted, hard-working, incredibly attractive man who is her husband―but is it only in name?

Review:

The Christmas You Found Me was an emotional holiday romance that revolved around the sweetest little girl. Even though I was never able to connect to any of the characters, I still enjoyed this story and even cried. It involved a marriage of convenience and a single dad who would do anything for his daughter who was in kidney failure. I loved watching Guy and Sienna slowly fall in love. And I loved watching the love Sienna felt for Emma grow. There was lots of cheesy goodness, all the Christmas spirit, and a beautiful happily ever after! If you’re looking for a Christmas romance that will pull at your heart, and leave you with a smile on your face, this is your book!

BOOK REVIEW: Good Spirits (Ghosted #1) by B.K. Borison

December 4, 2025 / Jen / 0 Comments

Good Spirits (Ghosted #1)
by BK Borison
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison’s best yet!

Review:

Good Spirits is a paranormal holiday romance that’s binge worthy! With grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, and characters you can’t help but love, this book was everything! I couldn’t help myself and was screaming and cackling with laughter! If you adore holiday books, definitely put this one on your tbr, you have to meet Nolan and Harriet!

Every murder mystery podcast I have ever listened to has started exactly like this.

Nolan was the Ghost of Christmas Past. And Harriet was his new job. From their first meeting, I was laughing out loud. But Nolan lived such a lonely life. Nobody would remember him, except his current assignment, and other ghosts in the area. And as we got to know him, we saw that he had a heart of gold. I loved how he would calm Harriet, but also how he could be playful and fun! But Nolan didn’t care about others. Except with Harriet….he couldn’t help himself. Her touch warmed his heart. And she gave him hope too.

“Ghosts drink coffee?”
One of his dark eyebrows jumps up. “That’s what you’re choosing to fixate on?”

While Harriet’s family seemed to walk all over her, I loved that she could be bold with Nolan. Telling him that he couldn’t just appear, and had to knock on her door instead ha, I adored her! As we got to travel to her past, my heart broke for her. She just wanted to be loved for who she was. And no one seemed to see her. Until Nolan.

I suppose I always have believed in Christmas magic.
I extend my hand, press my palm to his, and together we disappear.

The moment you could feel the sexual tension between them I was wondering…. is this allowed to happen? A human and a ghost?! Because even Nolan seemed to be wary. But they both felt so alone. Unloved. And the more time they spent together, their friendship developed so effortlessly. When events happened that shook up the status quo, I didn’t know what they could mean. But with sexy dreams, steamy hot kisses, snow flakes swirling and intimate scenes that will have you melting, I was lost in them. And I was rooting for their HEA!

I keep getting flashes of softness from Nolan. Glimpses of the man he might have been before, maybe. It makes me greedy for more.

Good Spirits was a little bit of a slow start for me, but once it got going I was obsessed. And this book made me smile so much! There were so many details that made me fall in love with this story. Like Nolan bringing Harriet drinks, to learning that he knit. To Harriet’s candy hoarding ways, and her pjs that I desperately wanted to own! These characters leaped from the pages and I loved how their story unfolded. The ending left me so happy and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Her mouth hovers over mine. I want it so badly.
Kiss. Devour. Take.

PS I loved the shoutout to Lovelight Farms!

Other Quotes I loved….

I’m developing feelings for a ghost who will disappear before the end of the month.
But I can’t help it.

“You’re staring,” she whispers.
“Can’t help it,” I whisper back.

I kissed her because I wanted to. Because I couldn’t keep standing in front of her and not do it.

If I ever got to choose to come back to a memory, I’d want it to be this one.

She looks like a present I want to unwrap.

Of course I had to fall in love with a ghost. I’ve always loved the broken and forgotten things best.

I was sent to haunt Harriet, but she ended up haunting me.