Review: A Night with Ms. Grinch by Lauren Lacey

About the Book

A Night with Ms. Grinch is a steamy, small-town Black romance Christmas novella full of flirtatious banter, cozy holiday vibes, and irresistible chemistry. When interior designer Kandi Cane, Beverly Mills’ self-proclaimed Grinch, gets snowed in with sexy coffee shop owner Cole Winters, sparks fly faster than falling snow. With caffeine, temptation, and one unforgettable night, this opposites-attract romance blends heat, humor, and a heartfelt into the perfect holiday love story. Readers who enjoy cute, sweet, and with dashes of spice Hallmark-with-a-twist vibes will fall hard for A Night with Ms. Grinch.

Review

A Night with Ms. Grinch is a perfect holiday romance. Lacey does a wonderful job of showcasing the sizzling chemistry between Kandi and Cole and leaning into the holiday season. It’s not overly cheesy—even the name Kandi Cane has a sentimental value without feeling over the top.

The two leads offer a timeless dynamic featured in most romantic comedies surrounding Christmas. However, it doesn’t feel overdone. Kandi hates Christmas because of her father's death, while Cole absolutely adores the holiday and makes it his mission to go all out for it. During a snowstorm, Kandi and Cole are trapped in his coffee shop and forced to confront the realities of their relationship. Being snowed in forces them to confront not only their feelings for each other, but also how love, loss, and healing can coexist.

Final Thoughts

A Night with Ms. Grinch is a heartwarming, sweet, and very cozy holiday romance that captures the magic of the season without leaning too far into cliché. Kandi and Cole’s chemistry shines. Their opposing views on Christmas, shaped by the grief they process in very different ways, add emotional depth to their relationship. It’s a comforting, feel-good read that balances romance, reflection, and festive charm beautifully.

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Review: Overruled by Lana Ferguson

About the Book

Two divorce lawyers determined to share only beds but not hearts discover that love is something that can’t be overruled in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer.

Danica Pierce has one great love in her life: work. As one of the top divorce lawyers in Austin, Danica lets her caseload keep her warm at night and has no problem being married to her job, not when love only ends in hurt. When the biggest case of her career gives her a shot at making partner, it seems like nothing could possibly stand in her way…except for her infuriating secret: she’s sleeping with the enemy.

Ezra Hart is known for charming his way in and out of a courtroom. In the matter of winning Danica Pierce’s heart, however, he’s been far less successful. With her verdict to keep things purely physical with no chance of appeal, Ezra struggles to show Danica he’s more than the insufferable playboy she’s pegged him to be—especially since they find themselves on opposing sides of Danica’s most important case to date.

While Dani and Ezra battle it out in the courtroom, the real trial is the one happening between them. When Dani realizes that everything she knows of Ezra might be hearsay—and that she’s not the only one with emotional baggage—she must choose between her fear of trusting again and the feelings blossoming between her and the man she thought was her worst enemy.

Review

I thoroughly enjoyed Overruled. It was a fun enemies-to-lovers romance, with vibrant characters and sizzling chemistry.  

Both characters are shaped by their families. In her teen years, Danica’s parents divorced and had a post-divorce relationship. Despite their great relationship, she unfairly blames herself for their staying together for so long, and that guilt ultimately influenced her decision to become a divorce lawyer. Ezra, on the other hand, is navigating a complicated family dynamic of his own, driven by a fierce desire to protect his mother. His father is portrayed as the typical awful and abusive father that most rich MMC characters tend to have. Unfortunately, Overruled does not offer anything new to the overused trope. However, it’s still done fairly well here and adds depth to Erza’s character development and relationship with Danica.

I’ll admit that I was bummed to find that Danica and Ezra’s relationship had begun before the book opens. Thankfully, the author more than makes up for it through their sharp banter and amazing chemistry. Both characters misunderstand each other at first, but watching them slowly learn to communicate and peel back those misconceptions is incredibly satisfying.

Although Danica and Ezra’s relationship began before the novel officially opens—which initially gave me pause—the author more than makes up for it through their sharp banter and palpable chemistry. Additionally, the divorce case is equally intriguing and kept me invested. I was fully strapped in to see how it would play out alongside the romance.

Final Thoughts

Overruled was a genuinely enjoyable read. It’s fun, emotional, and filled with chemistry that makes it hard to put down.

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Review: Fun City Heist by Michael Kardos

Fun City Heist by Micahel Kardos is one of the books that you have to sit back and enjoy the ride. Set against the backdrop of the Jersey Shore, this book is filled with unpredictable twists and turns, with characters that you want to side eye but simultaneously root for. Despite the heist being the heart of the story, it’s less about that and more about the loyalty, identity and ways people try to reinvent themselves.

Mo Melnick, a former drummer who once had it all, is renting beach umbrellas on the Jersey Shore at Fun City amusement park. When his ex band mate Johnny Clay shows up with news of his imminent death, he has one request to reunite all the guys for his last dying wish. After how things ended, Mo expects things to be awkward with unresolved grudges. What he didn’t expect is the real reason Johnny wants them back together. A plan to rob the very amusement park where everything took off for them. 

From that moment on, the book takes you on a ride that is messy but charming. This group of middle aged men that were former rockers attempt to pull this off is funny but has some good takeaways underneath. The story parallels Mo’s own journey where he has longed for redemption and a relationship with the daughter that he didn’t get a chance to thoroughly know. 

As someone who grew up along the Jersey shore, I appreciate and envision the setting coming to life with characters that bring their own individual charm to the mix. Humor blended with tension, you can’t help but feel sucked into their drama but enjoy a little detour into their chaotic decision. Underneath the surface is a story that explores friendship, found family, and second chances.

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Review: Princess by Shon

About the Book

Princess Monroe.
Cruel. Conniving. Cold.
Some would even call me a sadist.
But one thing they could never call me was a liar.
I was a woman of my word, even if that meant keeping promises that blurred lines that weren't supposed to be crossed.
I was used to getting what I wanted and moving on. Until him

Review

Princess was short. Too short, in fact. I wasn’t aware that it would end on a cliffhanger and require the next book to be read. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t make me want to read the second one. The romance didn’t pull me in, and I felt like something was missing. It felt like the least interesting part of the book. The book begins with a bang and introduces Princess, who feels like an unapologetically intriguing character. I couldn’t figure out if she was an assassin for hire or something entirely? That isn’t answered in this book. And the story never picks up that excitement for the rest of the story. Princess’ role is clearly defined, with Dom becoming an unforgettable character.

Final Thoughts

Princess was far too short and ended on an unexpected cliffhanger, but it didn’t do enough to make me want to read the next book, especially since the romance felt underdeveloped and uninteresting.

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Review: Tis the Season for a Cowboy by Ava Hunter

About the Author

Everyone says wear the hat, ride the cowboy, but no one ever says anything about divorcing him.

When I return to my favorite little cabin in Silverwood, Montana, for Christmas, I refuse to let anything ruin my five days of solitude or my plan to get my life back on track.

What I didn’t plan for was finding myself shacked up and snowed in with a grumpy cowboy.

But that’s exactly what happens when I run into my ex-husband, Hank Blue.

I’ve been dead set on forgetting the man whose heart I broke three years ago. Being stuck together means we’re forced to face the past and what tore our marriage apart in the first place. Even worse, I’m forced to remember everything about the man I loved. That rugged, handsome cowboy with a heart of gold. Those sweet kisses under the mistletoe. The yearning look in his sapphire eyes every time we touch. Soon, the only thing hotter than the fire in the hearth of our old cabin is the heat between us.

I’m falling for my ex-husband. Again.

And as Christmas approaches and my time in Silverwood ends, it’s clear that Hank still wants forever.

But I’m not sure if all the old feelings we stirred up can make up for the heartbreak of our past.

Is he just a cowboy I used to know?

Or is this a second chance wrapped up in a shiny red bow?

Review

The success of a second-chance novella depends on authors being able to convince readers that these two characters should get back together. Admittedly, I think that Ava Hunter does a decent job and builds a strong, believable emotional foundation rooted in shared history, grief, and lingering affection. The chemistry between Bellamy and Hank feels authentic, and several moments throughout the novella highlight why they should be together despite being apart for 3 years.

The story centers on Bellamy and Hank. Two characters who were once married and inseparable; however, grief changed the course of their relationship, leading them to divorce. Three years after their divorce, Bellamy decides to spend Christmas at the cabin after her painting career has stalled. She believes that returning to the Christmas tree farm will give her motivation to finish something. Bellamy assumes she will be left alone; however, upon arrival, she is face-to-face with her ex-husband. Hank never left the farm, nor has he ever stopped loving her. He’s been emotionally stuck, and now that she is back, he isn’t willing to let her go. Their reunion is inevitable despite both having their guards up and fearing getting their hearts broken again. Although I wasn’t particularly attached to the characters, I appreciated that they found their way back together.

That being said, the novella’s biggest weakness lies in the treatment of Bellamy. There seemed to be an imbalance. It seemed like Bellamy was the one who made the biggest sacrifices. She moved from the city to be with him. Lost her dog when they separated. The farm. Additionally, she again had to make another sacrifice to save the farm. It would have strengthened the story to see Hank risk more or truly give something up to earn their second chance.

Final Thoughts

'Tis the Season for a Cowboy succeeds in delivering a warm, emotionally grounded second-chance romance. While the treatment of Bellamy felt frustrating, it is a satisfying journey to see Bellamy and Hank back together.

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Review: No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

About the Book

Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.

Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can't seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.

Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo's lap, an idea forms.

If they can convince the town that they're madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he's settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.

The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.

She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there's no place like home.

Review

No Place Like You had an unfortunate slow start, and I had some issues with the reason for Fable and Theo’s friendship ending. Specifically, the event being broadcast nationally and commented on by television news reporters felt a bit much. The one thing that did work was Theo’s part in the incident. More on that later. I’m grateful that I stuck with the book. About midway, the story settled into a strong, engaging pace as Fable and Niko’s relationship deepened.

I especially loved the personal arcs for both characters. Fable's struggles with being the best at everything, and then, once she graduated, not being able to find her footing, felt painfully realistic. As did her losing her grandpa, with whom she was deeply connected. She had to learn to live without, and in turn, she found her passion. The quiet emotional weight was well portrayed through her character. As it is with Theo.

He was haunted by his father’s actions and believed that he didn’t deserve happiness. It was absolutely heartbreaking. His fear of becoming like his father—despite being the complete opposite— and the prominent anger in his youth added depth and vulnerability to his character. Additionally, watching Fable and Niko find their way back to each other in such a beautiful, emotional way made the journey worth it.

I also appreciated that both Fable and Niko had supportive families, and I loved seeing their relationships with their siblings woven into the story. It is worth noting that the minor plot of their families secretly pushing them together and having their own group chat felt too corny to me.

Final Thoughts

Despite the slow beginning, No Place Like You ultimately found its footing and delivered an emotionally rewarding story. The book's strength lies in its deeply personal character arc. While some elements could be too corny, the emotional payoff and characters’ journeys made the book worth it. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this arc! No Place Like You will be released on March 10, 2026