Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Return to Sender is a work of contemporary romance penned by author Jennifer Peel and forms the first novel of the Pine Falls series. In this introductory installment to the collection, we meet protagonist Ariana Stanton, whose views on life, men, and romance have been very poorly colored by her current life experiences. All she gets from her absent father is one mysterious letter per year; she has an ex-fiancé who abandoned her for another woman, and so she lets Jonah Adkinson go before he can abandon her too. But nine years later, Jonah returns with a determination to prove her wrong and be the one who stays and changes her mind on love.

Author Jennifer Peel presents a realistic and emotive drama where the romance is anything but perfect, yet it still leaves you with all those dramatic and intensely uplifting feelings that all good romance novels do. I liked the presentation of the reluctant and somewhat cynical Ariana, who has a good head on her shoulders and is highly relatable in her quest for self-preservation. Jonah is an excellent foil against this attitude, and so the two come together with well-written dialogue and well thought out back-stories which aid in their mutual discovery of what they can be if they only try together. This results in a beautiful story told with real emotion, and the side plot of Ariana’s father’s letters is also highly satisfying and relevant. I would certainly recommend Return to Sender to realistic romance fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Ella was fresh out of a disastrous relationship and she was ready to take a break from all the heartache. So she decided to pay attention to her profession and promoting the image of a NASCAR Champion seemed an easy job. However, she was not expecting AJ Ryan to be this handsome and this considerate. He pushes all the right buttons for her and she cannot help falling for him. She did not expect to like him this much and what else she did not expect was becoming the guardian of three children because she and AJ were mistaken to be a couple. To sink her even more, AJ had a complete 360 turn and helped her take care of the children. Now, what is Ella going to do to? Can she keep her personal and professional lives separate when she just seems to be falling for her client?

The Perfect Lap: A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance by Sedona Hutton is the perfect example of a novel with a “bad boy with a heart of gold” as stated by the author. Fast-paced, the perfect timing and some brilliant writing made this romance an absolute hit with me. There were steamy moments, moments where I got emotional, and then there were some sappy moments with the whole family that just pushed the right buttons for me. While Ella is a levelheaded character, AJ was her complete opposite. He was spontaneous, he lived in the moment and tried his best to work hard and play hard. Together, they made the perfect couple. They made a great team, even though they had a rocky start. AJ changed with time, but he didn’t just change for Ella. He changed for himself and his personal growth was simply wonderful. I love that man; I am not ashamed to say it! I loved this adorable romance!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Oh, Baby! A Prescription: Romance! Book by Jill Blake is a contemporary romance that follows Lena Shapiro, a very skilled surgeon who sacrificed her personal life to build her career. Now at thirty-nine, she is still single while her friends are building their families. When Adam Sterling turns up in her life, it is only supposed to be all professional. She is expected to mentor him, but her attraction to this young and arrogant guy gets the better of her. Logically, he is the wrong guy. Lena has very little time to decide whether to try her chance with Adam or to see him slip through her fingers forever. Does she have the courage to step into the unknown, following a man who is about to leave for L.A.?

Jill Blake has crafted an interesting romance with a strong protagonist. Lena is an accomplished professional and a good daughter, but one important piece is missing from her life: romance. I love the fact that Lena and Adam don’t look compatible. The author captures their first encounter brilliantly and gives a strong image of Adam: ‘Lena sucked in a breath. He was big. A good ten inches taller than her own five foot five. And it wasn’t just his height—it was everything. Neck, shoulders, biceps that strained the sleeves of his button-down shirt. And those hands! Did hemostats even come with holes large enough to fit his fingers?” The plot is simple and somewhat straightforward, but this simplicity in plot is complemented by the realism infused in the writing and the depth of character handling. Oh, Baby! A Prescription: Romance! Book is deftly written, emotionally strong and filled with the romance and drama that readers will be thrilled to read in this genre.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Nora’s Promise by Sedona Hutton is a gripping contemporary romance with an intriguing twist, a love story explored between two completely incompatible characters, and it is here that the tension and the steam gets even more irresistible. Nora has just lost her sister, Lynn, and feels that her life has no meaning, a feeling she shared with her sister. Now she is left with her orphaned nephew. Apart from the loss of her sister, there is the breakup with her boyfriend. When Davey Johnson, the handsome NASCAR driver who never wanted his life interrupted by a child, discovers that he has a nine-year-old son, he commits to becoming a good father. But he knows very little about parenting so he asks Nora for help, not knowing that an attraction is about to develop between them that is more irresistible than he never imagined. Two characters with very little or nothing in common. Can they allow the wave of love to carry them off on an adventure or will their differences stand in the way?

Sedona Hutton creates very interesting and elaborately developed characters in Nora and Davey. They are characters with different personalities, a vegan and a spirited young man who wants nothing but his freedom. There is already a complex situation that is deftly explored in the narrative. The story begins with a strong premise. Lynn, Nora’s sister, hasn’t just died, but has also left behind a son. And that is the beginning of Nora's troubles, but things just get worse for her because a boyfriend dumps her. Nora’s Promise is emotionally intense, heartwarming, and crafted to arouse powerful emotions in readers. Your heartbeat will quicken as you explore the hearts of these characters. Nora’s Promise is fast paced and utterly delightful.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Rue Toulouse by Debby Grahl is a wonderful mix of contemporary romance and sleuth, featuring very complex characters. Caterine Doucette is a fashion designer who meets ex-cop Remi Michaud at a masquerade ball. They come together for one night of passion that changes everything. Caterine inherits the exclusive family boutique, Ma Chérie, but someone in the Doucette household is determined to take her out and she doesn’t know who. Remi works for a private security company, and he comes in to help unmask the person who wants Caterine dead. The attraction between Caterine and Remi grows stronger, but each is held back by a painful past and betrayal. Can they learn to trust each other in a world filled with betrayal, family secrets, and painful revenge?

The characters are very remarkable and the author does a wonderful job of putting obstacles in the way of their romance in the form of past experiences. From the very beginning, the reader gets a glimpse of Caterine’s loss and the sense of rejection when she overheard a conversation that was unsettling and filled with hate. For a six-year-old little girl who’d just lost her parents, it was a devastating blow. The author makes sure that incidents from the characters' pasts, woven into the backstory, enrich their personalities and help in building the conflict that sets the emotional and psychological tone of the narrative. Debby Grahl’s prose is atmospheric and filled with wonderful and insightful descriptions, dialogues that help to move the story forward, and strong plot points. Rue Toulouse is hugely entertaining and filled with memorable characters.

Reviewed by Tracy Young for Readers' Favorite

Kayla is a hardworking single mom to four beautiful children, or as she calls them “little shitheads.” When she found out her husband had been cheating on her with a stripper, she did what any sane woman would do and tried to drown him! This led to her being handcuffed by the hottest police officer in town. Luckily the judge sympathized with her and she got community service for her misdemeanor. Fast forward a brief time and Kayla and Sage, her BFF, are having a rare night on the town and spot the hottie and his equally good-looking friends. Marc is the officer in question; he is happily single and has no idea what is about to happen to him. Cuffed by You by Nikki Mays is a modern-day love story that will warm your cockles and some other bodily parts!

This is a funny, sexy, rollicking read. Marc and his buddies are great characters and his interaction with his family is amusing and heartwarming. Kayla and her friends and family are also a fun bunch. I love her ex-mother-in-law, Dee. Craig, the ex-husband, is an absolute shithead and you wonder what Kayla ever saw in him. However, the real story is all about Marc, Kayla, and her adorable kids. Cuffed by You by Nikki Mays is a beautifully told story of how love can develop on different levels and can creep up on you in the most unlikely circumstances. The dramatic finale will have you on the edge of your seat and is a thrilling end to a great story. Loved this book!

Reviewed by Deborah Adams for Readers' Favorite

Escape Clause by Mary Billiter is a nice vacation/beach read for contemporary romance readers to enjoy on a lazy day. Single mom Kelsey Donigan is just settling into her new life on the Oregon coast when news comes in that her job, and the hotel she’s working for, might not last. Oliver Carlyle works for the rival hotel, but that doesn’t mean he wants to see the Point Resort go under. When Ollie and Kelsey meet at the local historic lighthouse on a publicity adventure, sparks are flying from the start. The two are opposites in most ways, but each one brings to the table something the other can’t help but be drawn to. Through misunderstandings, legal shenanigans, and family feuds, they decide to block out the naysayers and go for love.

In Escape Clause, Mary Billiter hits a lot of great notes, as our two main characters have fun and distinct personalities. Kelsey’s free spirit attitude contrasts well with Oliver’s buttoned-up lifestyle, but they both have the interests of the other in mind which makes for a healthy balance. Escape Clause readers will enjoy the sweet relationship between Kelsey and her 6-year-old son and later the bond her son forms with Ollie. Ollie’s family will drive you crazy and leave you amazed at the patience of the protagonist. If you are looking for a sweet read where love prevails and the good guys win, you will find what you are looking for in Escape Clause by Mary Billiter.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

When Neil left her for a younger woman, Samantha Decker did not know how to react. A dedicated wife, and mother of teenage Cody, that’s all she knew. All she had to know. Suddenly she is thrown into the position of counselor to her son and fallen woman to her Catholic family. Not only were the Deckers ferociously Catholic, Samantha’s mother and her grandmother were evidently extremely judgmental. Sunday dinner consisted of a barrage of her mother’s negative comments surrounding Samantha’s life, and a constant sprinkling of “holy” water from Mimsy’s sacred stash. Samantha does her best to be a strong parental influence, to the point of shaming her ex into being more a part of his son’s life. Then the web begins to tangle. A one-time babysitting gig reappears in Samantha’s life, leaving a shamed Samantha writhing in guilt. Mix that with her recent contact with her favorite author, Autumn Moone, and Sam isn’t certain which way to turn.

Fiercely honest, brave but lighted-hearted, The Sidelined Wife: More Than a Wife Series Book 1 by Jennifer Peel is one of the best romance novels I have read in a long, long time. Peel’s ability to include laughter in this dark side of marriage is highly effective. The Decker family represents every family of a divorced child. Peel’s narrative is fast-paced and believable while the dialogue, especially between Samantha and Reed, is fun and filled with the age-old yearning of two unlikely lovers. Is Samantha a cougar, or is it acceptable to fall in love with a younger man?

Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman is a romantic suspense novel and a part of the Carter Island series. Callie Davis, a world-renowned stained-glass artist, is in desperate need of a break from her hectic Manhattan life. Carter Island seems like the perfect place to disappear for a few weeks. What she didn’t expect was to fall in love with not only the island, but the handsome sheriff, Nate Carter. Despite the idyllic setting, there is one thing Callie cannot escape—her abandonment as a child by her mother. As old memories begin to surface, sparked by her surroundings, new leads develop in the long dormant case, leaving Callie and Nate wondering what really did happen to her mother all those years ago?

Having read Ms. Beauman’s Bodyguards of LA County series, I was very excited to delve into a new world by an author I had previously enjoyed. This novel presented like a slow burn, with the story developing day by day as Nate gains Callie’s trust and their relationship blossoms. I loved the supporting characters and the descriptions of the island setting. It was nice to read something so thoroughly written, with all the nuances of Callie and Nate’s relationship, and the impact of Callie’s childhood, fully fleshed out. As with her previous series, Secrets Hidden Behind the Glass by Cate Beauman offers readers the chance to really get to know a set of characters and their surroundings, while still offering a suspenseful and engaging plot. I will definitely be following the Carter Island series with great interest.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Lily Reid, the only daughter of an eminent physician, had dropped out of medicine during her residency and had instead focused her life and career on helping medical professionals deal with the overwhelming stress, depression and incredibly high suicide rate that so often is the bane of the medical profession. In The Burnout Cure by Jill Blake, Lily believes vehemently in her advocacy and is a determined, strong and independent woman who has no desire or plans for a long-term relationship or a family. Her work and her passion to help medical professionals is her life. Wolf, a doctor, had it all - drop-dead gorgeous, he lived his life according to his own dictates. He loved women, but he didn't want a relationship. Sex was fantastic, but who wanted to over-complicate it all with feelings? Wolf was of the old school of thought. "If you can't hack the pace of medicine, then look for another job." He looked at medicine like a soldier looks at Special Forces. It takes a special breed of man or woman to be a medical professional. "Suck it up!" was his opinion. When Lily and Wolf meet, the physical attraction is undeniable, but they are so far apart in their views, can anything ever develop?

The Burnout Cure by Jill Blake has absolutely no pretensions. It is pure, light-hearted romance (chick-lit, if you like), but what I loved and what lifted it above your normal hospital, steamy romance story was the seriousness and importance of the backstory to the two characters. Clearly depression, stress and suicide is a major problem within the medical profession and Blake has cleverly used the romance between Lily and Wolf to highlight something she feels strongly about. This is still a story about two disparate people, with virtually nothing in common, who find themselves deeply physically attracted to each other, but the subtext gives it so much more depth. There is the full requisite of hot and steamy love scenes, which are totally necessary and, I might add, extremely well written by Blake so as not to be over-emphasised or incredibly crude as can often be the case. I'm probably not the target market for this kind of steamy romance, but I was certainly glued to the pages and dying to know where it led us next. This is an excellent read and well above the usual hospital romance pap that can be so repetitive and boring. An excellent read from Jill Blake.