The Love Dilemma by Tracy Corbett

 

The Love Dilemma

Enemies in the Office. Lovers in the Making. A Lie Too Big to Ignore.

When fiery physiotherapist Elena Romero and buttoned-up solicitor Danny Jackson are forced to share a workspace, it’s instant mutual dislike. She sees a workaholic in a designer suit. He sees yet another opinionated woman complicating his already stressful life.

Yet behind the tension, both are secretly shouldering heavy burdens: Elena is stretched thin caring for her ill sister, while Danny’s world revolves around the younger brother he’s raised alone. When Elena helps Danny recover from an injury and he advises her sister on a legal matter, sparks fly—and not just from their feisty arguments.

But when family loyalties and legal battles collide, everything falls apart. With trust broken and secrets exposed, can enemies turned lovers find a way back to each other before it’s too late?

A witty romance full of heart, heat, and high stakes, perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers and messy, modern love stories.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/TheLoveDilemma

The Love Dilemma instantly appealed to me on every level from the very first chapter. The antics of the three sisters were genuinely amusing and set the tone beautifully. It was warm, funny, and full of heart.

I was immediately drawn to the close bond of the sisters and how they supported each other as they navigated life after the death of their mother. With Luisa living with cystic fibrosis and Sofia and Elena her carers, it makes their relationship feel authentic, and it’s impossible not to care about them.

Daniel’s storyline adds another lovely layer. He has so much in common with the girls. He lost his parents young, leaving him responsible for the upbringing of his five‑year‑old brother. His early interactions with Elena were both hilarious and adorable. He was like a deer in headlights every time he was in her proximity which made their chemistry feel sweet and believable.

I also loved Connor and Sofia’s meet‑cute on the train. It was another charming moment that added to the book's overall feel-good feeling.

It’s the kind of story that reminds you how love, family, and a little humour can carry people through even the toughest moments, and it leaves you smiling as you turn the pages.

About the author

Tracy is an award-winning author who lives in rural Surrey with her motorbike-loving partner and her little rescue dog, Poppy. After a long career with Citizens Advice, Tracy is now a full-time author. She describes her writing style as modern tales of romance, with engaging quirky characters, who overcome adversity, grow as people and conclude in satisfying optimistic endings. When Tracy isn’t writing, you’ll find her treading-the-boards, sewing an outfit for her dog, or eating Walnut Whips.

Social Media Links –

Facebook
@tracyacorbettauthor 

Instagram
@tracyacorbett 

Check out the blog tour for more reviews of this charming and funny rom-com.

Widowsbloom: A Slow-Burn Botanical Romantasy (Greyhollow Series Book 1) by E. Marszalek

 

He is the kingdom's sharpest blade. She is the one thing he cannot control.

Elodie Hawthorne is a quiet, unassuming plant scientist. She finds comfort in the small things in life — strong coffee, a job she loves, and the steady companionship of her best friend. But when a routine task at work ends with her falling through a gate that should never have opened, she is torn from everything she knows and thrust into a land that feels like a dark fairytale.

Greyhollow is a kingdom rotting from the inside out. Its gates are sealed. Its magic has withered. And the last hope of survival vanished years ago.

Rowan Ashford is disciplined, controlled, and bound by duty. He doesn’t make mistakes. He does not lose control. And he certainly doesn’t get distracted. At least he didn’t — until Elodie. As whispers spread through the castle and long-buried magic begins to stir, one question follows her like a shadow:

How much is she willing to lose to get back home?

And more dangerously …

Why did the gates open for her?

Now Elodie must decide if she is merely a piece in someone else's puzzle or the hero Greyhollow has been waiting for.

Tropes you can expect from Widowsbloom:

🌿 Portal Fantasy

🗡 Grumpy High Warden

🏰 Forced Proximity (she lives in his wing)

🦋 Unique magic system

♟ STEM FMC

🌙 Protective, Duty-Bound MMC

🔥 Slowwww Burn Tension that is worth it… I promise

👀 “You’re mine,”

🌑 Sealed Gates & Ancient Magic

💚 Soft Girl x Stoic Warrior

🌶 Spice, open-door scenes

Widowsbloom is a wonderfully atmospheric start to the series. I was immediately hooked and intrigued from the opening chapter. I was struck by how Elodie's employer treated her, and the unsettling dynamic left me with many questions about whether this character will echo through later books. I loved the rich worldbuilding as Elodie steps into an old world, magical realm ruled by a cruel king and guarded by loyal knights. The dormant magic humming beneath the surface adds to the mystique. My favourite touch was the little mushroom companion in the glasshouse. Now an endangered magical species after being almost completely readicated from the realm, and whose soft humming feels like a hint of deeper powers still to come. I have a feeling that this little mushroom has a higher purpose, and I imagine all sorts of things happening when or if more mushrooms were to gather and hum together. Alongside the mystery and magic, the story shines through its emotional core, the gentle, burgeoning romance, and the warm found family Elodie discovers in Greyhollow. Their acceptance offers her the belonging she’s been denied, making this both a comforting and compelling read. I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

Widowsbloom publishes on the 12th of April

The Penford Manor Murders: (The Miss Clara Vale Mysteries Book 4) by Fiona Veitch Smith

 

It's open season at Penford Manor! But someone has murder in their sights...

At Penford Manor, the guests are arriving to celebrate the start of the grouse-hunting season: lords and ladies, barons and baronesses, a Member of Parliament - and chemistry graduate turned detective, Miss Clara Vale, an old friend of the family. But Clara is no ordinary guest: she's secretly investigating a blackmail plot against Lady Penford herself.

Someone in the house is already up to no good, but when the body of a local trade unionist is found in the grounds, Clara's case gets even more complicated because a clue left by the body links it to the blackmail note.

Who has discovered Lady Penford's secret? Can Clara and her trusted assistant Bella work together to find the murderer? And what do the cornflowers which keep popping up everywhere mean?

Amidst the glittering dresses and sparkling conversation of society, Clara must find the truth - before the killer acts again!

The perfect Golden Age cosy mystery for fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie and Verity Bright won't want to miss this!

A wonderfully layered country house mystery with a deliciously polite veneer hiding all sorts of shady dealings.

The Penford Manor Murders delivers exactly what I love in a Golden Age style cosy: a closed circle of suspects, a grand estate full of secrets, and a mystery that grows more tangled the deeper Clara digs. The contrast between the refined setting of a shooting party and the decidedly unrefined motives simmering beneath the surface made the whole story feel lively and engaging.

The mystery itself is satisfyingly complex. There are multiple suspects, overlapping agendas, and plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. I really enjoyed how the various shady dealings slowly intertwined, revealing a much bigger picture than I first expected.

My standout character this time was Bella. Her no-nonsense attitude, sharp observations, and complete refusal to be intimidated by anyone, regardless of their title or self‑importance, added so much humour and energy. She’s the perfect foil to Clara, and I loved every scene she was in.

Overall, this is a clever, entertaining instalment in the series. It is atmospheric, twisty, and full of personality. I’m already looking forward to seeing where Clara and Bella head next.

I listened to the audio version of this book and I highly recommend the series in this format. It is also available in all other formats and in Kindle Unlimited.

High Spirits at the Village Inn (Ghosts of Rowan Vale Book 4) by Sharon Booth

 

High Spirits at the Village Inn

Spring has arrived in the Cotswold village of Rowan Vale and everyone is in an optimistic mood.

Everyone except Danny. He’s had a rotten eighteen years stuck in a village where all his hopes and dreams were shattered. His annoying ex-work colleague, who seems determined to look on the bright side of the afterlife, won't leave him alone. And – as if that wasn’t bad enough – he’s facing eternity dressed as Adam Ant.

Meanwhile, in London, Rory plans to whisk his wife Kirsty away to the Cotswolds for their wedding anniversary. But when they arrive in Rowan Vale, Kirsty is horrified. How could her husband be so insensitive?

Rory insists that they stay at The Quicken Tree Inn and face up to the issues in their marriage. Kirsty has no choice but to go along with him, hoping she can finally put what happened all those years ago behind her. But when she spots her long-dead cousin in the village, things take a decidedly difficult turn...

Will confronting the ghosts from her past be a recipe for happiness or disaster?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/HighSpirits

High Spirits at the Village Inn is another gorgeous addition to one of my favourite cosy fantasy series. I’ve always adored the concept of Rowan Vale. A village where the living and the dead coexist, not in a spooky way, but in a tender, community‑minded way. The idea that families can still see their loved ones, resolve old hurts, and offer care long after a sudden loss is incredibly moving, and this book leans beautifully into that theme. I particularly enjoy that the ghosts come from all historical eras, from ancient to modern, and that they are wearing the clothes they died in. This led to a rather funny scene in which Rory frantically bought sensible pyjamas for himself and Kirstie when he discovered that his own relative had died wearing a fancy-dress costume.

This instalment focuses on two ghosts, Danny and Brooke, and their living relatives, Rory and Kirstie. Their relationships are tangled and messy. Danny was once married to Kirstie, who is now married to his brother Rory. Brooke is Kirstie's cousin and has been secretly in love with Danny for years. It sounds complicated, and it is, but Sharon Booth handles it with such warmth and clarity that it feels completely natural.

What I loved most is how each character is given space to confront the past. Danny’s frustration with his afterlife, Brooke’s optimism, Kirstie’s unresolved grief, and Rory’s determination to save his marriage all weave together into a story that is funny and heartwarming. The ghostly twist is very charming rather than gimmicky.

As always, Rowan Vale itself feels like a character, a place full of kindness, humour, and second chances. I finished the book wishing it were real.

A touching, magical, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m already looking forward to the next visit to Rowan Vale.

Author Bio

Sharon Booth is the author of feel-good stories set in charming, quirky locations, and now writes cosy romances with a magical twist for Boldwood. She lives with her husband in East Yorkshire, England.

                                                                            Social Media Links

Facebook: @sharonboothwriter

Instagram: @sharonboothwriter

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SharonBoothNews

Bookbub profile: @sharonboothwriter

Secrets Taken to the Grave (Strathbairn Trilogy Book 2) by Isobel Blackthorn

 Secrets Taken to the Grave (Strathbairn Trilogy Book 2)

The Scottish Highlands, 1893. Ingrid Barker arrives back at Strathbairn to attend the funeral of her old employer, Charles McCleod.

Every bone in Ingrid's body screams for her to leave, and as she walks from the graveside, she can’t shake the suspicion that Charles was murdered. As she hurries to uncover the truth and get away from Strathbairn, another murder takes place - one that traps her in the very place she is desperate to escape from.

Running out of time and clues, can Ingrid evade the truth of that terrible night up at the abbey the last time she was here, and can she solve the mystery of Charles’ death before his ghost does away with her?

An unputdownable gothic mystery laced with dark family secrets, SECRETS TAKEN TO THE GRAVE is the second book in the Strathbrain Trilogy series of historical mystery novels by Isobel Blackthorn.

Secrets Taken to the Grave is a wonderfully slow-burn, dark, and atmospheric mystery that completely drew me into its bleak Highland setting. Tension is built subtly, and I found myself fully immersed in the isolation of the estate and its snowed in inhabitants. 

The supernatural thread is one of my favourite aspects of the novel. Charles's angry spirit making noises in the middle of the night was eerie and thrilling. I loved how the supernatural disturbances pushed Ingrid to search for answers into his death and in doing so finding other long buried family secrets. She was the one character I felt I could trust, and following her through the house and uncovering secrets and clues kept me turning the pages.

What really heightened the atmosphere for me was how uncertain I felt about everyone else. Apart from Ingrid, I never quite knew who to like or rely on. Even her daughter felt like an unreliable ally, adding to the sense of unease. Miles, in particular, fascinated me. I wanted to like him, but he blew hot and cold, and the glimpses of his true colours made him impossible to redeem. That moral murkiness made the family’s winter isolation feel even more claustrophobic.

I also loved how the story’s secrets were revealed. The old letters and hidden papers Ingrid discovers were such a satisfying way to unravel the past. It was slow and deliberate. I felt like calling out to her to hurry up and check the attic or find out what's blocking the chimney. Each discovery felt like peeling back another layer of the house’s long‑buried truth. I wasn't expecting any of the secrets to have any connection to her, but there are more than one buried secret and persons with secrets in that house. 

Overall, this is a haunting, atmospheric read with a steady and rewarding conclusion. Perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries steeped in mood, tension, and the lingering presence of the past.

Purchase Links

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/u/mexV8E

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BMZCVQ

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/secrets-taken-to-the-grave/id6744722804

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-taken-to-the-grave-isobel-blackthorn/1147305411?ean=2940181569010

Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=SLZWEQAAQBAJ

Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/secrets-taken-to-the-grave

Author Bio 

Isobel Blackthorn is an award-winning author of immersive and inspiring fiction. She has penned over twenty-five books including a number of bestsellers.

Among her credits, Isobel’s biographical short story ‘Nothing to Declare’, which forms the first chapter of her biographical novel Emma’s Tapestry, was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. One of her Canary Islands novels, A Prison in the Sun, was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2020 and the International Book Awards 2021. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018. And The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Book Awards.

Blackthorn is the author of the world’s only biography of Theosophist and mother of the New Age movement Alice Bailey – Alice A. Bailey: Life & Legacy. Isobel’s writing has appeared in journals and websites around the world, including Esoteric Quarterly, New Dawn Magazine, Paranoia, Mused Literary Review, Trip Fiction, Backhand Stories, Fictive Dream and On Line Opinion. Isobel was a judge for the Australasian Shadow Awards 2020 long fiction category. Her book reviews have appeared in New Dawn Magazine, Esoteric Quarterly, Shiny New Books, Sisters in Crime, Australian Women Writers, Trip Fiction and Newtown Review of Books.

Isobel’s interests are many and varied. She has a long-standing association with the Canary Islands, having lived in Lanzarote in the late 1980s. A humanitarian and campaigner for social justice, in 1999 Isobel founded the internationally acclaimed Ghana Link, uniting two high schools, one a relatively privileged state school located in the heart of England, the other a materially impoverished school in a remote part of the Upper Volta region of Ghana, West Africa. After working as a teacher, market trader and PA to a literary agent, she arrived at writing in her forties, and her stories are as diverse and intriguing as her life has been.

Isobel has performed her literary works at events in a range of settings and given workshops in creative writing.

British by birth, Isobel entered this world in Farnborough, Kent, UK. She has lived in England, Australia, Spain and the Canary Islands. She now lives and writes in Spain. She is currently at work on two novels composed in Spanish.

 

Social Media Links –

 

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Isobel.Blackthorn/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768657.Isobel_Blackthorn

https://www.instagram.com/isobelbwrites/

@isobelb-author.bsky.social

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-blackthorn

Cold Malice (Cold Justice #8) by Toni Anderson

Twenty years ago, she was a cult leader's innocent daughter and he was an undercover agent who broke her heart and destroyed her life. Now he's back...

ASAC Steve (Mac) McKenzie is leading a task force investigating a series of malicious crimes in the heart of Washington, DC. His undercover work in an antigovernment compound twenty years earlier is related—as is the sweet, innocent girl he befriended back then. Now that girl is a beautiful woman, and she has something to hide.

Tess Fallon spent a lifetime trying to outrun her family's bigotry, but someone is using the anniversary of her father's death to carry out evil crimes and she's terrified her younger brother is involved. She sets out to uncover the truth and comes face-to-face with a man she once idolized, a man she thought long dead. As the crimes escalate, it becomes obvious the killer has an agenda, and Tess and Mac are running out of time to stop him.

Will the perpetrator use a decades-old dream of revolution to attack the federal government? And will the fact that Tess and Mac have fallen hard for one another give a stone-cold killer the power to destroy them?

Finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence for Single Title Romantic Suspense.

One of the strongest elements of Cold Malice is the world‑building. Tess’s traumatic upbringing inside a white supremacist, abusive family is portrayed with unsettling clarity, and it gives the story a dark, gritty foundation that feels all too believable. Mac’s undercover work within that same family adds another layer of tension, and the suspense throughout the book is consistently gripping.

Where the story faltered for me was in the romance. I didn’t love the way Mac treated Tess. He fluctuated so much between being defensive of her to being suspicious of her that it became frustrating, especially given everything she’d already endured. And while decades had passed since their first meeting, the fact that Tess was a child and Mac was a young adult at the time made their eventual romance feel uncomfortable for me. It’s a dynamic that never fully stopped feeling a bit icky.

There’s also one suspect who stands out early on, and it was surprising that none of the characters connected the dots until the very end. It didn’t ruin the story, but it did make the mystery feel a little less sharp than the tension deserved. However, those final moments when the reveal was made made for the most suspenseful and heartpounding reading.

Overall, the atmosphere, backstory, and suspense are excellent.

This is a series I prefer to enjoy in audio, as Eric G Dove's excellent narration elevates the experience every single time.

The Cherry Crush Flower Shop by Harper Graham

 

A totally uplifting and addictive cozy small-town romance

Their relationship is fake… The chemistry is not!

A small-town girl with the coziest flower shop and a secret crush. A dark, rugged veteran with scars only she can see. Could fake dating turn into happily ever after?

Zoe Hart is right where she in the small town of Maple Falls, running her snug flower shop filled with the scent of rain-soaked earth, dried herbs, and spiced tea. But her oldest friend (and secret crush) Jackson is back too. And most of all, she longs to be in his strong arms. So when her hopelessly romantic mom bets on them being Maple Falls' Couple of the Year, Zoe finds herself fake-dating the friend-zoned guy she’s always wanted…

When Jackson returns from military service, even working on his llama sanctuary can’t heal him. But Zoe is the only person who can truly make him smile. He’d do anything for her… even pretend to be dating. There’s nothing fake about his feelings as he crushes his lips to hers. But there’s no way she’d really want a broken man like him, would she?

All eyes are on them as the town prepares to vote for Couple of the Year. But when they discover a grove carpeted with long-lost flowers that shimmer like moonlight, real sparks fly. Will their make-believe romance bloom into true love forever?

Snuggle in with a steaming mug and a novel that feels like a hug on a crisp day. This cozy small-town romance is brimming with steamy romance and heartwarming, feel-good charm. Perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls, Laurie Gilmore, Emily Henry, and all things cozy + spicy.

The Cherry Crush Flower Shop is a sweet and inoffensive romance that’s perfect for switching off after a stressful week. It’s gentle, cosy, and doesn't overwhelm the senses. The central plot revolves around two friends fake‑dating their way through a competition while hunting for a missing flower. There is nothing overly exciting about this missing flower, and I struggled to connect with or care about the one thread holding the story together. However, it did fuel ways for Zoe and Jackson to spend time alone together and confront their feelings for each other.

Jackson, being a veteran, is written as someone carrying some mental health struggles, but these never really materialise beyond him blowing hot and cold with Zoe. After a while, that emotional back‑and‑forth became more irritating, and I found myself wishing his arc had been explored with a bit more depth.

Still, the overall story remains calm, comforting, and pleasantly low stakes. Ideal if you’re in the mood for something light and soothing. The narrator brings warmth and personality to the story, making it an easy listen.

Cold Heat (Cold Justice: Most Wanted #7) by Toni Anderson

 

Every operator has a weakness.
She just became his.

FBI HRT operator Jordan Krychek has built his life around discipline and duty, hiding scars that run bone-deep. The night his family was murdered, the man responsible vanished into the wind. Now that ghost has reappeared—and a woman Jordan has sworn to protect is caught in the crossfire.

Daisy Montana doesn’t need a bodyguard, least of all her father’s dangerously intense teammate. But when a terrorist targets her area of research, and a killer from Jordan’s past resurfaces, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game of vengeance.

Forced into hiding—and into each other’s arms—the line between duty and desire combusts. From Mexico to Virginia, a relentless enemy draws them into a web of deception and betrayal. As the stakes rise and the body count climbs, Jordan and Daisy must untangle the mystery of what the next target might be, before it's too late.

This time, Jordan’s mission is personal. And protecting Daisy might cost him everything—including his heart.
COLD HEAT delivers explosive action, heart-stopping suspense, and the kind of forbidden love that will bring even the most hardened operator to his knees.

After meeting Jordan and Daisy in the previous book, I was looking forward to reading their story next. It was lovely seeing two characters you already love finally being centre stage and the main focus. Their "love-hate" relationship was so satisfying to read. I loved their early interactions as they were filled with sexual tension along with just enough venom to counter it.

There is more to Jordan than meets the eye. His tragic past and the scars from his early undercover work give the story emotional depth. You can’t help but root for him as he hunts down the Russian terrorist responsible for the loss of his family. His journey toward justice and healing is an important part of the story. 

Daisy is the perfect partner for Jordan, whether he likes it or not. I loved her intelligence as a physicist. She played a pivotal role in stopping a terrorist attack. She is confident and capable. She can handle herself when it comes to self-defense, and her father made sure she knew her way around a firearm. A female character like this who is not part of law enforcement is refreshing. She is a true partner in every sense of the word.

Cold Heat is romantic suspense at its best, balancing international intrigue with an emotional romance. The red herrings and twists made this book impossible to put down.

Amazon

https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/

Buy direct from the author https://toniandersonshop.com/

also available on Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Apple books, Kobo 

and also in audio format from Chirp and Audible.

The Match Factory Girls by Kay Brellend

  The Boldwood Blog Tour for THE MATCH FACTORY GIRLS by Kay Brellend

A BRAND NEW Victorian saga of hope, survival and the fight for a mother’s future 

Description

Discover a BRAND-NEW, heart-pounding Victorian industry saga of courage, survival and redemption. Perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court and Daisy Styles 💓💫 'Kay Brellend is a new star in the making!' Bestselling author Rosie Clarke

In the shadows of 1887 London, one woman must fight for her future – and her child's.

When Amelia Spencer finds herself unmarried, pregnant, and cast out by society, she flees to the Bryant & May match factory, searching for her estranged sister, Sadie. But the East End is no refuge - Sadie is trapped in a violent marriage, and the factory is as dangerous as the streets outside.

Desperate for a fresh start, Amelia takes work at Bryant & May and dares to dream of a better life for herself and her son. A chance meeting with the kind-hearted Nicholas Dupree offers hope - but Whitechapel is no place for fragile dreams.

When the shadows of Amelia’s past return with a vengeance - and a killer begins stalking the women of Whitechapel - Amelia must fight to protect her child and the life she’s struggled to claim, before everything she’s fought for is destroyed.

Love, survival, and dark secrets collide in a heart-pounding saga of courage and redemption.

The Match Factory Girls was exactly the book I needed right now. The premise sounded exciting with the hints of jack the Ripper and Whitechapel. I ended up devouring it in just two sittings. From the very first chapters, Kay Brellend pulled me straight into the grit, heart, and resilience of Amelia's world, and I found myself completely absorbed.

This book snapped me out of a reading slump. And instead of doom‑scrolling and switching between distracting apps for hours I was glued to this book. The characters felt real, the pacing was good, and the story had an emotional core that had me hooked. I felt every worry that Amelia had for her and her baby, the family drama at home when she gave them the news that she was pregnant and the consequences that would come from taking refuge at a mother and baby home.

Whitechapel was a dark, dangerous and grimy place but, Amelia was safer there with newfound family and friends than at the refuge she had escaped from. Although her past was never far away, danger stalked her, creating suspense and a tense atmosphere.

For a gripping, heartfelt read that sucks you in, The Match Factory Girls is it!