Tag: Contemporary Romance

A Seaside Wonder + Giveaway

random retro read

In one evening, Indi’s world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé…make that ex-fiance.

Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine…or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister he barely knows — one who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with a name on its storefront window that sounds familiar, a hint of a mystery nudging him inside.

More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from — though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay… until her past and present collide, shattering her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when danger comes calling at her childhood home.

The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shops months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril…and take a chance on love.

Breathtaking romance, a captivating mystery, and an enchanting wintry seaside…return to Muir Harbor in bestselling author Melissa Tagg’s latest.

My Review:

published in 2023

“You are not a mess. God sees the beauty you already are. He’s not in a hurry and you don’t have to be either.”

What a stunningly beautiful and incredibly moving story! Written in a way that pulled at all my emotions — I cried, I laughed, I swooned. Intricate details woven into a tapestry of…well…wonder! And it comes from more than just our hero and heroine’s stories. It’s in the family relationships — raw and real and imperfectly wonderful. And the way a myriad of story threads pull together, building in intensity until they are all expertly intertwined by the end. I’m truly gobsmacked at the impact ‘A Seaside Wonder’ had on me.

So rich in inspirational wisdom. Honestly, I filled a little notebook with faith quotes and tabbed so many pages…I’m not one to annotate fiction books but this one might be the exception. The kind of book that transforms the reader as much as the characters. So many profound insights! Like:

“I just wonder if instead of asking God to take the pain away, we invite Him into it.”

and…

“She’s put her trust in a God who…who maybe doesn’t make every crack disappear, but who holds all her broken pieces tenderly.”

I could go on and on and on…but you just need to read this book for yourself. Guaranteed to hold a cherished place of honour on any library shelf.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  paperback or ebook – winner’s choice 

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  A Seaside Wonder, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 24 2026.

Resisting the Fall

The divorce never finalized. Neither did their feelings.

The discovery that I was still legally married—years after I thought my divorce was final—was supposed to be the worst thing to happen to me this fall.

It wasn’t.

Because apparently the state of Vermont believes in closure. And no regrets. And court-ordered thirty-day reconciliation efforts. So now, in order to fast-track my divorce from Bennett Walker—my high school sweetheart and the man who walked out on our marriage seven years ago—I’m being forced back to the small town we grew up in to spend an entire month proving our relationship isn’t worth saving.

A situation Ben annoyingly finds amusing.

Which is why I plan to make this the most memorable, insufferable, torturous thirty days of his life. As a prank-loving aficionado, I have countless ideas about how to drive Ben crazy while keeping myself focused on the goal: finalizing our divorce.

With my life in New York and a career I absolutely love, not even deeply embedded habits and old feelings can threaten my resolve.

I’m resolved.

So resolved.

Absolutely, definitely, one hundred percent resolved. And if I keep saying it, maybe this time around, I’ll be capable of resisting the fall.

My Review:

What a fun and sometimes angsty (but not too angsty) Second Chance Romance. And it is sooooo romantical! I was a little bit worried about the divorced but not divorced angle, fearful that it would start out with a more combative feel – like an enemies to more trope with a vicious bite – BUT it totally wasn’t that at all. Yay!

‘Resisting the Fall’ is funny and tender and there are insightful flashbacks into Ben and Maven’s youth that were so entertaining. And all the way through the story I could feel the push/pull of their attraction which made for a delightfully edgy read. We know they are divorced…well almost divorced due to an unfortunate (or fortunate) oversight, but we don’t know for the longest time what exactly broke them apart. It about drove me crazy because I could see how good they were together.

Love the strong sense of community and friendship in this novel (the whole series, actually.) As well as all the fall festivities which enhanced my appreciation of the season. Plus, catching glimpses of the other couples in the series at various stages of their own romances added even more glee to my bibliophile giddy! My first Jess Heileman novel, but it won’t be my last!

Anchor Cove + Giveaway

A lonely single mom
Simone Avery has been doing life on her own for the past sixteen years. The last thing she needs is to fall for her next-door neighbor who’s only in town for the summer. Love’s not in the cards for her. It wasn’t in the past, not now, and not in the future. She’s easily forgettable.

A man looking for his next steps
Derrick Benjamin just retired from the United States Air Force at God’s bidding and has no clue what’s next. The last thing he expected to find on his summer vacation is a woman he can’t forget and a town that makes him want more from life.

God’s plan in the works
Will Derrick and Simone find an ever after that lasts beyond the summer? Or will heartache anchor their futures?

My Review:

This is the summer read that got away from me this year. I’m blaming it on my move. But I couldn’t wait a whole year before reading a new release from Toni Shiloh so I got to bask in the sunshiny summer weather in Anchor Cove on a cold and stormy autumn afternoon. Made for a lovely escape read.

Derrick is fresh out of a twenty year stint in the army and trying to figure out what’s next. I really appreciated this perspective and his honest struggle to find his footing as a civilian. Shiloh explores the difficult transition with compassion and even humour as well as a healthy dose of faith. Love the way Derrick seeks God in his plans. Also love that he spends a lot of time wrestling with God’s silence but he never gives up. And oh my, are there some inspirational gems to be found in this novel.

“He never stays silent. Sometimes His silence is a way to get our attention to make sure that when He speaks – because He will – that we’re ready to listen.” (p 58)

So Derrick moves into a a beach house right next door to Simone and her fifteen year old son and, well the sparks don’t immediately fly, but they do simmer as he gets to know his feisty neighbour. Loved the tenderness in their romance, the insecurities and wariness as well as the yearning. And the humour! Shiloh delivers a heartwarming inspirational romance that left me in a happy bibliophile swoon by the last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to any reader anywhere so – YAY – an international giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Anchor Cove. leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 17 2026.

Autumn by the Sea + Giveaway

random retro read

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she’s never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who’s searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago.

If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie’s once again caught up in the past, convinced she’s finally found her long-lost granddaughter.

Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there’s something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that’s messier than ever. Together, they’re pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

My Review:

published in 2021

This came up on someone’s bingo card and reminded me that I have the third book left to read in this series (Muir Harbor.) But then I remembered how fantastic this first book is so I thought I’d revisit it before finally reading ‘Wedding at Sea.’ Spoiler alert: it was just as good the second time around!

Seriously the most eye-popping meet cute I’ve ever read!!!! Funny and cringy and blush worthy. Bwahahahaha! 

And Tagg just keeps on giving all the way through to the very end. I mean, doesn’t that cover set the tone for autumnal reading? Cue the cozy fire and a cuppa of your choice (I’ll make mine hot cocoa with marshmallows, please) and be prepared to lose yourself in small town Maine. Blueberry farming no less!!! I’ve been in love with blueberry harvesting ever since I read Blueberries for Sal way back when…and then kept on reading it to my own daughter and then all my kindergarteners when I was a school librarian. Sometimes old-fashioned simplicity is best…but I digress.

Love, love, love these characters! Their farm! the small town! The mysteries (and, yes, some aren’t explained…yet.) Tagg has the ability to transform a reader into a participant and I really felt like I was right there in Muir Harbor, experiencing it all from the fresh eyes of one very confused, warily hopeful Sydney. And I was emotionally invested in this heroine from the very nail-biter of a first chapter. 

Sydney’s past has always been a mystery and the hope that she might find answers in this quaint New England town is…well, almost too much to hope for! 🙂 

“I think Maggie would say that’s what love does. It keeps hoping even when the answers don’t come easily. It invites strangers in. It doesn’t give up. Love keeps searching.” (p 165)

Who is Maggie, you ask? The wisest most open-hearted woman on the planet — and possibly, maybe, Sydney’s grandmother. But there are three other grandchildren who are all kinds of skeptical about that. This isn’t their first rodeo when it comes to long lost heirs. And Neil in particular has his dander up.

Cue the fireworks, lightning bolts and every other kind of pyrotechnics you can think of ’cause Sydney and Neil have chemistry! And watching their barriers crumble while they sizzle their way to each other makes for one toe-curling reading extravaganza.

Their romance is all wrapped up in multiple mysteries — not the high-octane suspense kind though. More questions without answers. Perplexing occurrences. And family history conundrums. Some of them are answered in this book. Others are still a big ‘?’ so I’m anxiously keeping an eye out for ‘A Seaside Wonder’, the second book in the Muir Harbor series to release…gah, I don’t know when — it’s another mystery!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  paperback or ebook – winner’s choice 

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Autumn by the Sea, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 17 2026.

Stranded Ranch + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Her past came back to surprise her. But her past is now a flirty hot cowboy so…

I wasn’t sure why I gave up a week in the Bahamas with friends to visit my grandparent’s home in Wyoming.

In January.

But one phone call to the ranch to check-in was all it took.

It didn’t matter that the worst storm to hit Wyoming in years was upon us. I needed to be there. I just didn’t know why.

But a road closure and a surprise knock on the door brought back sweet memories from my past. And perhaps a handsome cowboy for my future.

And I can’t help but think that the unexpected is often the best surprise of all.

My Review:

published in 2021

Eeeeppp!!! I do so love a stranded in a snowstorm romance and this one produced all the feels. Fun and flirty. Delightfully awkward. Swoonworthy. And oh, my the toe-curling kisses might have been out done by the toe-curling near kisses!

Lucy and Dusty are in matchmaking heaven between her wily grandparents and the raging blizzard outside. And who doesn’t love a cowboy hero with a flirtatious streak?! I’m surprised the snow didn’t melt away from all that sizzle and spark! But it’s his supportive, accepting nature that elevates his hero status. There are some truly tender, affirming moments with Lucy who battles anxiety that were so….perfect!

‘Stranded Ranch’ is short and sweet but also packed with the kind of emotional depth I love to see in a romance. A sheer delight from start to finish.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Justis Bolding and enjoyed every second. It was a listen in one go kind of ‘read’. Loved the way she captured the unique personalities of each character and the way she delivered the flirty banter brought an extra oomph to those scenes. An absolutely delightful listening experience!

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  paperback or ebook – winner’s choice 

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Stranded Ranch. leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 25 2026.

Falling for Keeps + Giveaway

He was supposed to be one kiss…not the neighbor across the street.

As the children’s librarian in Autumn Ridge, Emma spends her days surrounded by happy endings. But between restoring her old farmhouse, keeping her family together, and searching for a decent man in a very small town, her own romance feels permanently shelved.

Then one impulsive night at a bar, she kisses Carson Price—the popular guy she crushed on in high school.

For Emma, it’s a reckless little dream come true.

For Carson, it’s a fun night with a beautiful woman he never expects to see again.

Until the next morning… when he moves in across the street.

Newly divorced, cynical, and focused on raising his daughter while rebuilding the dental practice he just bought, Carson has no interest in love. Marriage? Never again. Romance? Absolutely not.

Friendship with his warm, bookish, unexpectedly tempting neighbor? That might be safe enough.

Except Emma has never been good at doing anything halfway. And the more he lets her into his life, the harder it is for either of them to pretend friendship is all this is.

She’s ready to fall. He’s determined not to. But in a small town, staying just friends might be the hardest thing of all.

My Review:

Hello! Glasses wearing librarian heroine looking for love in a picture perfect small town where Cupid seems to be working overtime this autumn?! Yes please! Bonus points because Emma is a children’s librarian and there were some fun bookish references throughout the story.

Honest truth: was not over the moon about a dentist hero…I just can’t, major dentist phobia here…mind you if Carson was my dentist I’d probably feel differently. Like sugar binging to ‘grow’ cavities so I could see him more than a couple of times a year. Bwahahaha!

And what follows is a thoughtful, sweet and swoony (cue a few toe-curling kisses!) romance. There’s a wee bit of a kinda/sorta love triangle, but not really (doesn’t that make sense?) which scared me a bit but, phew, really nothing to fret over at all! Handled beautifully by the author, I’m relieved to say.

I enjoyed being back in Autumn Ridge and getting to visit with some familiar faces – this is my third ‘Falling for Autumn’ book. It’s a multi-authored continuity series set in the same small town and during the same timeline, but each book reads well as a standalone too.

I listened to the audible edition and enjoyed the dual narration by Stephanie Rose and Logan Anare. Always fun when we get two performers for a rom/com. I thought both actors matched well with Kasey Stockton’s storytelling style and characters.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  paperback or ebook – winner’s choice 

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Falling for Keeps, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 25 2026.

Sweet Tea + Giveaway

Random Retro Read
Revisited

Southern traditions, family recipes, history, and hope come together in author Piper Huguley’s heartfelt romance from Hallmark Publishing.

Althea Dailey has succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. So why doesn’t she feel more excited about it? She’s about to become the only woman—and the only Black person—to make partner at her prestigious law firm in New York City. When she has to travel South for a case, she pays a long-overdue visit back home to Milford, Georgia. To her surprise, a white man she’s never met has befriended her grandmother.

Jack Darwent wasn’t interested in the definition of success dictated by his father and Southern high society. His passion for cooking led him to his current project: a documentary and cookbook about authentic Southern food. Althea’s grandmother is famous for her cooking at the historically Black Milford College, especially the annual May feast meal. But Althea suspects Jack of trying to steal her grandmother’s recipes.

Although Althea and Jack don’t have the best first impressions of one another, they discover they have more in common than they’d guessed…and even as they learn about one another’s pasts, they both see glimmers of a better future.

My Review:

published in 2021 – I shared about this book back in March but without a giveaway attached. Imagine my surprise when I found a brand, spanking new copy in my library’s used book sale corner. I just had to grab it and share it here again, this time with a giveaway because it’s that good!

I was so excited to discover Piper Huguley’s first contemporary romance on audible and I have to say I was entranced by Inger Tudor’s performance as narrator. Her rich tones and unique interpretation of each character elevated the story. Kudos to the brilliant collaboration of author and narrator! I enjoyed listening to Sweet Tea immensely.

While this has all the makings of a typical Hallmark movie, Huguley’s delivery is anything but. Her approach to the small town girl makes big in the city and returns home to find herself trope is fresh and exciting. And a lot of that excitement comes courtesy of Jack. (This is your cue to clear off your fainting couch.)

He’s a dream hero. Unflappable, creative, dedicated to living in the moment with zest and enthusiasm. He’s learned how to slow down and focus on what’s really important and when he sets his sights on Althea…oh my! (Might want to grab a couple of fans too.)

By contrast, Althea is uptight and driven — out to prove something — but why and to whom? I was itching to figure her out from the very first chapter. She is so distrustful of Jack even as she fights an attraction to him. And the man is so happy and content it makes her antsy! Such great dynamics between these two. Plenty of opportunities for verbal sparring and teasing banter which brings the romance sizzling to life.

But it’s Miss Ada, Althea’s grandmother, who steals every scene she’s in. I love that woman! Everyone needs a Miss Ada in their life, bossing them around and telling them what’s what and reminding them of where they come from and who God made them to be. If I’d had a book in hand I would have underlined a variety of Ada-ism to treasure after the reading glow has dimmed. Might just have to have a re-listen to appreciate Miss Ada some more.

This is a story about finding your place — in your family, in the world and especially in God’s kingdom. Althea’ journey of discovery is moving and uplifting and I appreciated the inspirational themes intrinsically woven into the heart of her story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a ‘like new’ very gently used (if at all) copy of this book so is available for any reader anywhere in the world so – Yay – INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sweet Tea,  leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 12 2026.

A Matchmaking Christmas + Giveaway

Sometimes a second chance is wrapped in tinsel, mistletoe, and the conspiring of two daughters determined to reignite love.

When widow Regina Parker’s daughter switches places with her best friend after school one day, Regina finds herself face-to-face with the one person she’s been Theo Evers, the high school boyfriend who shattered her heart. Regina has carefully built a new life for herself since moving back to Holly, California, and she has no intention of letting old heartbreak unravel it.

Single father Theo Evers thought he had his hands full managing the town’s Christmas tree farm and raising his daughter after his wife abandoned them both. The last thing he needs is Regina back in his life–but now their daughters have become inseparable, and the scheming young matchmakers have other plans.

Determined to create the family they’ve always longed for, the girls orchestrate an elaborate strategy, secretly signing their parents up for every holiday activity in town. It’s up to Theo and Regina to decide if they’re brave enough to trust God’s plan and risk everything for a second chance at the love that got away.

In this charming Christian Christmas novella reminiscent of The Parent Trap, Toni Shiloh combines second chance romance, single parents, high school sweethearts, matchmaking mischief, and faith for fans of Courtney Walsh, Bethany Turner, Becky Wade, Pepper Basham, Sarah Monzon, and Melissa Ferguson.

My Review:

A heartwarming Christmas romance with such a sweet ‘Parent Trap’ spin. The girls are so dedicated to their plotting with some funny and amazing results! Never underestimate a determined ten-year-old, especially when there are two of them!

Loved the Second Chance trope and all the emotion that brings to the story. Theo and Regina have been artfully avoiding each other since she moved back to town until their daughters meet at school and become best friends and that’s when everything gets complicated!

Shiloh is an expert at pacing out a romance and I really enjoyed the way their relationship developed.It never felt rushed even though this is a novella. And kudos to the wonderful way the author wove meaningful faith elements throughout the story. So impactful!

An emotional love story enhanced by a festive backdrop and two charming young girls who believe in the magic of Christmas!

I listened to the audible edition and was really impressed by the performances of all four narrators! Their combined talent made for a highly entertaining listening experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Matchmaking Christmas,  leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 5 2026.

A Very Merry Matchup

In this charming small-town Christmas rom com by award-winning author Becca Kinzer, a travel nurse who loves to play matchmaker gets a taste of her own medicine when her friend conspires to set her up with a minor league baseball player.

If there’s one thing travel nurse Ivy West prides herself on, it’s her matchmaking skills. She’s even convinced she knows her own perfect type, a man who, unlike her parents, isn’t traveling the country for the sake of a career. It doesn’t matter Ivy hasn’t met him yet. She’s sure she will in a few years. At least, it’s one of her goals. Then Beau Wall—a minor league baseball player with his sights set on the big leagues—lands in the hospital, and there’s an undeniable spark between them. No need to worry. Ivy will just match him up with her friend Lucy, and she won’t be tempted to date him herself.

A few months later, Ivy’s convinced everything’s gone perfectly when she hears Lucy’s engaged. But when Ivy arrives to spend Christmas in Iowa and celebrate the engagement, there’s one little problem. Lucy has set her up. Sure, Lucy’s engaged, but not to Beau. And Beau isn’t about to lose this unexpected shot at winning Ivy over. Neither are his mom and grandma who also try to throw the two together.

Amid twinkling Christmas lights and hours spent watching holiday movies, Ivy finds herself falling for Beau. Maybe it’s time she ditched her plans . . . because it’s looking like Beau might be her perfect match after all.

A clean, sweet love story for readers who enjoy holiday romances by Courtney Walsh, Jenny Bayliss, and Sheila RobertsA standalone Christmas novella for fans of cozy Christmas movies and opposites-attract sports romances.

My Review:

Comedic gold! The way Kinzer creates organized chaos that stems from muddled dialogue is priceless. I laughed all the way through this read…well, listen. And I’ll just mention here how brilliant CJ Bloom and Adam Verner’s performances are. Narrators extraordinaire, both! Highly recommend the audio edition if you enjoy listening to your stories as much as I do.

A definite must read for a discerning contemporary romance fan’s Christmas collection. Sadly, though a paperback edition is not available. Ebook and audiobook only. Hoping that might be reconsidered sometime in the future because I’d love to have a physical copy for my holiday keeper shelf!

The Bodyguard Fall + Giveaway

Her stalker is getting closer. So is her bodyguard.

I know how to write murder mysteries.
Dead bodies? Great. Blood and gore? Even better.

Romance? Absolutely not.

Unfortunately for me, my production company disagrees. After years of writing cozy crime dramas, I’m suddenly being forced to write a flannel and cider romantic screenplay filled with pumpkin patches, maple festivals, and happily-ever-afters I don’t actually believe in.

Especially not after months of terrifying messages from a stalker who seems to know way too much about me.

Which is how I end up back in my hometown of Autumn Ridge, under the protection of Tate Walker—my older brother’s best friend, a cop, and the same overprotective pain in my neck who spent most of my teenage years telling me what I could and couldn’t do.

Tate is temporarily off-duty and back home recovering from a dangerous undercover operation that left him injured and drowning in guilt. And somehow protecting me has become his newest assignment.

Now I’m living on his family’s hay farm while police attempt to catch my stalker. Between boxing lessons, tractor rides, and cozy autumn outings that feel suspiciously like dates, I start finding inspiration for my romantic screenplay in the one place I never expected:

My bodyguard.

But as the threats escalate and my stalker gets closer, so do Tate and I. And falling for the man assigned to protect me might be the most dangerous plot twist of all.

My Review:

Wheee, this is the kind of rom/com that takes you from full belly guffaws to toe-curling swoons in a nanosecond. And we all know that an avid suspense reader’s fancy turns to stalker themes in the Fall. 🙂 Love that extra little kick to this story, though I consider ‘The Bodyguard Fall’ to be more contemporary romance then suspense. Like a 70/30 split in favour of rom/com. Which is chockfull of delightful tropes – fake dating, forced proximity, he’s her brother’s best friend and there’s one more I can’t mention because it’s a nice surprise well into the book, but most every romance reader I know is a fan.

Steel captures all the heartwarming elements of small town life in the autumn and I especially love Tate’s lively family. His brothers’ conniving is priceless! And the messaging back and forth between Tate and Olivia’s brother are hysterical! The comedy beats throughout this story are so well paced.

Grab a fan and clear off your fainting couch because this author delivers romance. Flirty banter and witty dialogue mask an undercurrent of emotions that gradually simmer to the surface as the story progresses. Gentle readers might want to be aware that there are a few detailed kissing scenes, still definitely fits the Closed Door Romance criteria, but just a bit more…expressive…than I’m used to. Also of note, there is a bit of very mild cussing.

A great introduction to the ‘Falling for Autumn’ multi-authored series. Looking forward to more visits to Autumn Ridge this fall.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US –  paperback or ebook – winner’s choice 

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Bodyguard Fall, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 29 2026.