Mine to Hold by J. H. Croix

Posted January 16, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

Best friends don’t fall in love.  Until they do.

I’ve been half in love with Kendall Castille for years. She’s my best friend—my constant, my safe person. To her, we’re just friends. To me? She’s everything.

I keep my feelings buried for a reason. Love leaves scars, and I already have too many to count. I’ve lost too much to risk my heart again, so I build walls and pretend I don’t want more.

Until something changes, and everything starts to unravel. Suddenly, friendship isn’t enough. The slow-burn chemistry between us turns unbearable, and every moment together feels like standing on the edge of something that could either save us—or break us.

Wanting her is terrifying. Losing her would destroy me.

One kiss changes everything. One choice puts our friendship, our hearts, and our lives in this small town on the line.

Titles in the Heartfire Falls series include:  What We Keep ~ Mine to Hold ~ Be With Me ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

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Almost One Night Stand by A.J. Pine

Posted January 14, 2026 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Small Town Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments

Craving a fresh start, Haddie Martin trades life in Chicago for a teaching gig in the quirky small town of Summertown, IL. But when she stops in a hotel to rest for the night, she locks eyes with a painfully handsome, nameless stranger who would make the perfect one-night stand. Only…she chickens out at the last minute and disappears.

Never expecting to see the man again, Haddie leaves her embarrassing exit in the rearview and drives straight to her new home. She arrives only to find out, thanks to her new landlord, that her apartment has been double rented, and of course, the other tenant is none other than Levi Rourke, the gorgeous man Haddie bailed on just the night before.

If only an apartment were the only thing they had to share… Little did Haddie know she’d be working daily with her almost hookup on the school soccer field—him as the coach for the boys’ team and her for the girls’. The spark they both feel might be more than passion. If Levi wasn’t set to leave as soon as the school year is up, maybe…it could be love.

Standalone (ARC)

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

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Mountain Homecoming by Susanne Dietze

Posted January 10, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Love Inspired (Harlequin), No Spice Romance, Owned, Reading Challenges, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments

An unexpected partnership. A shocking secret. Can the truth heal old wounds?

After months away, architect Wyatt Teague returns home only to find himself named a guardian to his late friends’ orphaned twins…alongside his ex-fiancée, Natalie Dalton.

But caring for them together proves to be a challenge: Wyatt’s job is in the city, and Natalie can’t leave her family’s apple orchard.

As they vow to make this new partnership work, old feelings between them quickly resurface.

But when Natalie finds out the true reason behind Wyatt’s abandonment, can she trust him with the babies…and her heart?

Titles in the Home to Foxtail series include:  Mountain Homecoming ~ Her Pretend Holiday Beau ~

This is a no-spice romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 🙂

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Joining The TBR 26 in ’26 Reading Challenge

Posted January 10, 2026 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

I made a commitment to myself to whittle down my massive TBR Tower of Leaning Books this year, and the TBR 26 in ’26 Reading Challenge looks like a fun way to do that (along with other Challenges to motivate me and keep me on track).

It’s very simple to join in the fun.  Simply click the link either in the text above or on the graphic to go to the sign-up page, read over the requirements, and sign up.

I’ll be creating a TBR 26 in’26 Reading Challenge page, so that I can easily list my read books for this challenge.  You can find that page through the Challenges at the top of my pages, or click on THIS LINK.

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The Greek’s Christmas Bride by Lynne Graham

Posted January 9, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Holiday Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

Coldly ruthless and deeply cynical, Apollo Metraxis has made a career of bachelorhood. But when the inheritance of his father’s estate is conditional on a marriage and a child, he is forced to do the unthinkable!

Unpolished Pixie Robinson is the world’s worst choice of a wife for Apollo. Yet her family’s mounting debts leave her defenseless and therefore uniquely suitable.

But when the wedding night exposes Pixie’s untouched vulnerability, striking a chord in the dark reaches of his heart, Apollo is forced to think again.

And that’s before he discovers that she’s carrying not one—but two Metraxis heirs!

Titles in the Christmas with a Tycoon duet include:  The Italian’s Christmas Child ~ The Greek’s Christmas Bride ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

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The Italian’s Christmas Child by Lynne Graham

Posted January 9, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Holiday Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments

Italian tycoon Vito Zaffari is waiting out the festive season while a family scandal fades from the press. So he’s come to his friend’s snow-covered English country cottage, determined to shut out the world.

Until a beautiful bombshell dressed as Santa literally crashes into his Christmas! Innocent Holly Cleaver sneaks under Vito’s defenses—he wants her like no other before, and decides he must have her.

When Vito finds her gone the next day, he’s sure she’ll be easy to forget . . . until he discovers that their one night of passion has a shocking Christmas consequence!

Titles in the Christmas with a Tycoon duet include:  The Italian’s Christmas Child ~ The Greek’s Christmas Bride ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

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Joining 2026 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge

Posted January 8, 2026 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

You can check out the 2026 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge on their official site through either the graphic link or the text link below. Maybe you’ll want to join in, too.

I’ve made a commitment to myself for 2026 to whittle down my TBR tower a lot.  I’ve discovered that several titles now have series or duet titles attached.  In an effort to keep myself motivated and on track, I’ve joined several Reading Challenges for 2026.  So, before I get into the details of the Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge for 2026, please allow me to say: Thank you to the Harlequin authors (or the publishing house itself) for putting so many Harlequin titles on Kindle Unlimited.  Frankly, there is no way that I could afford to purchase every title that I’d love to read, many of which are now parts of duets, especially in Harlequin Presents.  Being able to finish those duets or series through KU is such a help to my monthly book budget, allowing me to read even more of my favorite authors’ titles.

We all have favorite authors.  I’ve several in various genres, so joining the Beat the Backlist Challenge 2026 is one way to keep a record and myself on track as I chip away at the backlists of many of those authors I’ll always one-click (when the book budget allows).  I’ll be doing a combination of reading owned (TBR) titles and catching up on backlists through Kindle Unlimited.  It’s a help that I can combine some of the titles in at least two different Reading Challenges this year.

I’ll be adding a Goodreads shelf below the Beat the Backlist Challenge on the sidebar, as well as listing the titles (on my Beat the Backlist 2026 Page), where I can see my progress… and perhaps you’d find a title or author there that you’ve yet to discover.  Good luck to all trying to get through their books this year!

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Home to Montana by Jeannie Watt

Posted January 8, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Montana (Tule), Previously Published, Series, Small Town Romance, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments

Three weeks. One unfinished house. And the man who still knows exactly how to undo her.

Felicity Evans traded in hard hats for high heels the day she left Holly, Montana for Seattle. Now a rising star in the financial world, she doesn’t look back—until her father’s injury drags her home to finish his most important construction project. She’ll manage the crew, keep her heart locked up tight, and be gone before the snow melts.

Then Danny Montgomery shows up.

Once the boy who could make her laugh—and make her knees weak—Danny is now a man whose rough hands and easy grin make it impossible to breathe. She needs his help to meet the deadline, but working side by side only stirs up the heat they’ve been avoiding for years.

Danny’s waited a decade for this second chance, and he’s not wasting it. Every glance, every accidental touch, every long winter night is another chance to remind her exactly what she walked away from.

By Valentine’s Day, the house won’t be the only thing finished. Felicity’s convinced her resolve will be gone too…

Titles in the Big Sky, Small Town series include: A Montana Christmas Homecoming ~ A Holiday Wedding Rescue ~ Home to Montana ~

This story may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult 18+ audience.

Previously published as V is for Valentine’s Day.

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Buried in Betrayal by Kris Bock

Posted January 7, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Mystery, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Series, Small Town Romance, This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

A geologist with an unwanted psychic gift, a man on the run, a dead body, and a friend accused of…murder?

Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before. Although her paranormal powers are a burden, they’ve helped her solve several crimes and make friends in her new southwestern small town. She’s enjoying settling into her new job when her landlord, Shelley, introduces an “old friend.” Wayne seems cagey. He wants to keep his visit a secret and has recently adopted an energetic dog “for protection.”

When Petra stumbles over Wayne’s dead body, suspicions quickly turn to murder, with Shelley the prime suspect. Petra and her friends investigate and quickly uncover a slew of suspects, scams, and motives. Petra’s psychic abilities alone aren’t enough to reveal the true killer. To clear Shelley, Petra will need all of her cleverness, the help of her found family, some luck, and the dog that seems to have adopted her.

Titles in the Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery series include: A Stone Cold Murder ~ Death at Rock Bottom ~ Buried in Betrayal ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

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New Release Reading Challenge 2026

Posted January 5, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges / 0 Comments

I’ve joined the 2026 New Release Reading Challenge.  I first joined this Challenge when the ladies at (un)Conventional Bookworms started it years ago, and I’m happy to follow along now as The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog takes over.  It’s probably a bit odd for me to join a Reading Challenge for New Releases, considering that I often review ARCs, which means that I do have access to many newly released titles, both ARCs and my own purchases.  Actually, I’m going to join in for a couple of reasons.

First, I love discovering not only new-to-me websites or blogs but also new-to-me authors or even genres I haven’t tried yet.  Second, I’m making this year the one where I finally tackle that TBR Leaning Tower of Books I’ve accumulated… and if I read a newly purchased book shortly after buying it, I’m preventing it from being added to that ever-growing TBR.  Okay, it’s convoluted.  🙂  But it works as motivation for me.

Honestly?  I’m just looking to have a bit of fun discovering books that others have enjoyed.  This will serve as my “joining post”, and I will list my New Release books on this 2026New Release Reading Challenge Page (my own) in order to keep track for myself.  The hardest part of any Challenge for me is remembering to go link up… hopefully, I’ll do better at that this year.

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