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.

Review: Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherina Center

About the Book

He’s the last man she ever wanted to see again—or get snowed in with. It’s going to be a rocky reunion in this bittersweet romantic comedy by a New York Times bestselling author.

For Lily, falling in love with her childhood friend Walker was the easiest thing to do back in high school. His sudden rejection was unforgettably crushing. Seven years later, their families have conspired to bring them back together at a cabin in the Rockies when a sudden snowstorm traps them overnight with no power. Thanks to a cozy fire, a prowling bear, and a little forced time in an open-air gondola, they confront their unresolved feelings—and a past more complicated than Lily knows.

Review

I did not enjoy Everybody’s Favorite Guy. Truthfully, I was confused why Walker would even be considered anyone’s favorite person. He had a nasty spirit. He explained his reasoning; however, what he said to Lily was very icky and off-putting. He didn’t grovel for her forgiveness and certainly didn’t want to earn it. And Lily accepted Walker’s apology too quickly. As a result, the relationship between Lily and Walker lacked depth. Their connection didn’t feel as strong or believable as it needed to. I question if they actually wanted to be together or if they were convinced they liked each other because of how badly their moms wanted them together. Additionally, I feel like the majority of this book was characters sitting around and having conversations. Nothing interesting happened.

Final Thoughts

Everybody’s Favorite Guy missed the mark for me. This was not a relationship that I rooted for. It lacked depth and genuine connection. As for the overall story, it felt flat and unengaging.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible

Review: The Close-Up by Kennedy Ryan

About the Book

Set in the dynamic worlds of professional basketball and entertainment, two of Kennedy Ryan's most critically-acclaimed series-Hollywood Renaissance and HOOPs-collide in this tale of forbidden romance.

I met Nazareth Armstrong when I was eighteen years old. From the beginning, my brother warned me to stay away from him. Told Naz to stay away from me.

Our hearts didn't listen.

I shared one magical night under the stars with my brother's rival, thinking it was the start of a once-in-a-lifetime something.

But one awful moment ended it all.

Years later when we meet again, we've both pursued our dreams, lived a little, found success...but never found love. What began as a tiny flame when we were young now threatens to consume us. I'm more drawn to Naz than ever, but his complicated history with my brother makes whatever this could be...nearly impossible.

But Naz accepts impossible as a dare.

Through his clever maneuvering and dogged determination, I find myself on a yacht with him and his friends cruising through the Mediterranean. It's a whirlwind set ablaze. Away from reality, surrendering to the tender heat of his touch, I forget that everything could burn.

Review

The Close-Up is a beautiful and emotional second-chance romance. Takira’s always wanted this great, epic love story. When she meets Naz when she is a teenager, everything clicks, and they have an amazing night together. Their connection felt effortless and intense, but before they got a chance to fully explore it, everything blew up, and they were ripped apart for twelve years. Even after that time, their bond remained undeniable.

Everything was nicely constructed in this novella. Nothing felt rushed. The pacing allowed for their history and lingering feelings to unfold naturally. I completely believed in Naz and Takira’s romance.

Naz had dreams of taking care of his mother and believed that a professional athletic career was the best path. As a teenager, he lived in the shadow of Cliff— Takira’s brother, who was so talented that Naz rarely had the opportunity to play. However, after Cliff poorly acted during a game, Naz was given the chance and played like his family’s life depended on it because it did. Meanwhile, Cliff mourned his almost professional career with drugs and alcohol.

Takira’s conflict was especially interesting because she wanted to remain loyal to her older brother and protect his sobriety, yet Naz still had an undeniable pull on her heart. That tension gave the story extra emotional weight.

Final Thoughts

The Close-Up was a beautifully written and emotional second-chance romance with strong chemistry and believable depth. The novella features a heartfelt tension, smooth pacing, and a moving love story.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback | Bookshop.org

Review: Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods

Level Up for Love was a strong follow-up to Roll for Romance. In fact, I think this is the stronger of the two books. One criticism I had of Roll for Romance was that it leaned far too heavily on Dungeons and Dragons. I felt that the D&D chapters were the weakest parts. I didn’t find the game storyline to hold my interest nearly as much. That was not the case with Level Up for Love. I could see myself picking up a fantasy centered on Sindra and the gang. Additionally, the creation of Sindra revealed so much about Reagan. Sindra was created with the purpose of being the perfect adventuring companion for her younger sister’s character.

Reagan was such a great character. Reagan was a great main character. An accident involving her younger sister, Mona, and their father had a huge impact on her. She blames herself for Mona's injury, and even though Mona has recovered and is healthy, Reagan cannot move on. She is terrified of becoming like her father and leaving the people she loves behind. The accident haunts her and weighs heavily on every decision she makes. Reagan has a satisfying character arc as she learns that it is okay to put herself first and that loving someone does not always mean staying.

She has not played D&D since the “Cataclysm” and only agreed to join a new campaign because she wanted to be there to make sure Mona is safe. Unbeknownst to her, Wesley is the Dungeon Master.

Years earlier, Wesley and Reagan had a moment, but when she woke up, he was gone. For years, she carried bitterness and a sense of betrayal because of it. When she joined his D&D campaign, they were forced to work together and be nice. It’s hard at first. Reagan has never been able to hide who she is around Wesley. He constantly pushes her to be better and knows exactly how to get under her skin.

Wesley and Reagan had such an interesting understanding of one another and knew how the other person’s mind worked. They complemented each other nicely. My favorite scenes were the ones where they worked on their games together. They gave each other pointers and encouragement. Those moments highlighted their relationship the best and made their connection feel believable and genuine. Wesley was lovely, and I appreciated the backstory that was provided for him. Though overall, Reagan was the standout of the book.

I’d also like to shout out Reagan’s relationship with Mona. Their bond felt deeply authentic, and it was clear how much Reagan cared and worried about her younger sister. Even if Reagan’s protectiveness could be overbearing at times, it came from a place of love, guilt, and fear. It was never about control. Mona brought out a softer side of Reagan and was one of her biggest cheerleaders.

Final Thoughts

Level Up for Love was a great read. It improved on everything I struggled with in Roll for Romance and left me even more invested in this world. Reagan was easily the standout of the book, and her growth, along with her relationships with Wesley and Mona, gave the story so much emotional weight. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this arc! Level Up For Love will be released on September 8, 2026.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback

Review: I’m Gonna Get You Back by Elena Armas

I'm Gonna Get You Back was a fast-paced read, but the pacing worked well for this story. The foundation for Turner and Frankie’s relationship was laid nicely, and it was clear they shared a deep bond that went beyond her being his best friend’s little sister. He was her best friend too, and they had such an understanding of each other. Frankie’s feelings for Turner had shaped so much of her life. When she found out that he was engaged, she left and cut herself off from almost everyone.

Once they revealed their feelings, they had many sweet moments together, and Turner’s protectiveness and encouragement toward Frankie made it easy to root for them. The only part that didn’t fully work for me was Turner dating and then getting engaged to Frankie’s best friend. He admitted that he only did that because he couldn’t have Frankie. That was a little questionable. Even so, I still liked both characters overall and thought their chemistry was strong.

I also had no issues with the stalker plotline. It fit the story for me, and I found the stalker's motivation interesting and believable. I appreciated that the epilogue showed they were still healing from that trauma rather than pretending everything was suddenly perfect.

Final Thoughts

I’m Gonna Get You Back was a well-paced, satisfying novella. Turner and Frankie had a strong foundation, years of history, and enough chemistry to make it easy to root for them. The most concerning thing was Turner’s justification for getting engaged to another woman, given how deeply in love he was with Frankie.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

Review: Pity Please by Whitney Dineen

If you’re in the mood for a romcom and love second chance romances, dive into this slow burn with laugh out loud moments in the 7th book of the amazing Pity series by Whitney Dineen, Pity Please. 

Allie Rogers’s life just doesn’t fall apart, it implodes. After thinking she was going to get her happily ever after and move out of Elk Lake, life took a hard detour. If it wasn’t enough finding out her fiance cheated on her, add being pregnant with quadruplets. Not with Allie but clearly the consolation prize of karma arrived for him. Instead of heading down the path to the broken hearted, Allie picks herself up and heads home to rebuild her life. Even though this isn’t what she had in the cards for herself, her journey is one half of what makes this book worth the read. 

Then there’s the other half, Noah Riley. After building a successful career outside of Elk Lake coaching a winning basketball team, one day everything changed and it was ripped right from underneath him. Trying to run away from his problems by laying low back in Elk Lake, he was determined to make this a temporary stop until things worked out. He had everything figured out until he encountered a certain derailment to his plans or shall I say person, Allie Rogers.Never expecting to run into his sister’s childhood best friend, who knew the unexpected would hold the key to what he never thought he was looking for.

What I love about this second chance trope for their story is how Allie was the typical best friend who had the crush on her older brother, who definitely never noticed her. Well, not in that way. Now as adults, their paths crossed, having the chance for her to finally be seen by him. Not that it had any influence on their blossoming relationship but it’s nice to see them given that second chance where their paths could cross again. It came down to the right person but the wrong time. Their chemistry is organic with the perfect amount of tension, longing and the subtle emotional pull that will keep you wanting to read more. 

The small town setting sits well with these characters of the series. Each one so far, it just was part of the backdrop but for these two, I loved how they both defined the meaning of the cliche, home is where the heart is. As they both navigated through their setbacks, coming back home forced them to deal with who they thought they were going to be compared to where their lives were developing into. 

This wasn’t just your typical second chance love trope, it was about when life doesn’t follow what you planned out and redefining what true happiness really is. It’s about starting over and reinventing yourself. If you love that best friend brother trope, genuine blooming love and the unexpected second amazing chance at love, then you will love their story. You won’t just be rooting for the both of them but the journey that led them to find their true happily ever after. 

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback