Review: Mirabelle by Ki Stephens

About the Book

Saving the orchard was always the plan. Falling for her fake husband was not.

When Isla Winslow takes over her family’s failing plum orchard, Mirabelle, she’s sure of only one thing: she’ll save it alone or lose it on her own terms. But grants come with strings, debt collectors don’t care about sentiment, and the land that raised her is running out of time.

To keep Mirabelle out of a developer’s hands, Isla agrees to the most ridiculous solution she can think of: a practical marriage to the man who’s been arguing with her since the day he moved to Blue Willow.

Jack Rhodes only meant to stay in town for a job. Years later, he has a renovation business, a life he loves, and one rule he keeps breaking: he can’t stop showing up when Isla calls. Their marriage of convenience is supposed to be a temporary fix, nothing more than signatures and shared bills.

But as spring settles over the orchard and the fight for Mirabelle turns into a fight for their future, Isla and Jack have to decide what they’re really willing to risk for the land that holds their history and the love that might finally feel like home.

Review

Once again, Ki Stephens has completely blown me away. Like the previous installment, Mirabelle, felt comforting, magical, and full of heart. Very quickly, I fell in love with Isla, Jack, and their love story. They mean the world to me. Through actions and words, Isla has done everything she could to protect Mirabelle. When Jack offers to marry her so she can obtain a grant, she is hesitant. She wasn’t someone who easily let someone in or asked for help. That emotional guardedness added so much depth to her character.

Jack was incredible. He wasn’t originally from Blue Willow; however, since arriving, he has planted roots. For years, he has been crushing on Isla and has been willing to drop everything to help her out. They had a beautiful understanding of each other through their many years of friendship. Them falling in love wasn’t instant; it was a beautiful journey of two people who complemented each other well.

I really must applaud Ki Stephens for the magic she has woven into this series. Even when the magical elements are subtle, they can still be felt throughout the town, the atmosphere, and the characters themselves. The entire series feels whimsical and enchanting in a way that’s hard to explain but easy to fall in love with.

My only criticism is that the conflict involving Roland Stein felt wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted to spend more time as they worked through a resolution, rather than have Beau solve it. Still, it didn’t take away from how much I adored the story overall. Though I will say, I am interested to see if Beau will be getting a book. I’m very intrigued by him.

I’m incredibly invested in this series now and cannot wait to continue it. I’m excited to see where the story goes next and how the magic within this world continues to expand.

Final Thoughts

Mirabelle was a wonderful read. It was warm, whimsical, magical, and full of so much heart. I’m already impatient for the next installment in this enchanting series. Thank you to Love Notes PR and Ki Stephens for providing this arc! Mirabelle will be released on May 15, 2026.