Available Now! Real Good Man by Giulia Lagomarsino

 

Title: Real Good Man

Series: The Last Best Place for Love Book #2

Author: Giulia Lagomarsino

Genre/Tropes: Small Town; Enemies-to-Lovers; Opposites Attract; Dark Secrets; Grumpy/Sunshine; Next-Door Neighbors and Emotionally Unavailable

Release Date: January 26, 2026

In a small town where secrets last five minutes, privacy is a myth, and gossip lasts forever, this might have been the worst possible place to settle.

After my last job fell apart and burned my reputation, I followed Archer to this small town in Nowhere, Montana.

I had no intention of staying longer than the night, but circumstances took a turn for the worse when not only was there not an immediate solution to my job problem, but the only places to stay were the local roach motel or a bed and breakfast with flowery bedspreads and potpourri in every room.

But then I happened to help out a Parker, which apparently meant something in this town.

Not only did I land myself a house rental for as long as I needed, but I ended up with a neighbor who insisted on feeding a stray dog on my property, convinced he was mine.

And as much as I fought it, I found myself sort of liking the damn dog.

Not that I would ever admit that.

But the dog wasn’t the only unexpected addition to my daily life.

It seemed the more I tried to ignore my neighbor—her perky personality, the weird tea concoctions, and her ability to make me want her even when she annoyed me—the more I found myself intertwined in her life.

And that might just get her killed.

I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

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Spotlight for The Book of Eternity by Jacqueline Pennewill

 

The Book of Eternity by Jacqueline Pennewill

Published:  February 24, 2026 by Indigo River Publishing

Fans of nostalgic young adult angel fantasy novels will find themselves engrossed in the world of The Fallen and a human teenage girl.

The Fallen plan to destroy the world. Only she has the power to save herself and the dark leader before they do.

When sixteen-year-old Grey, a shy loner, moves to Sleepy Key for the summer after the death of her father, she finds herself exploring deep in the woods with her twin brother when an ancient manuscript—The Book of Eternity—falls from the sky. Grey curiously touches it, unknowingly opening up a mysterious, undiscovered world and igniting the fight for her life between two groups of powerful The Surge, who keep order, and The Fallen, who wreak havoc in the world.

Zale, the dark leader of The Fallen, tells The Surge that Grey’s soul is his.

What started as a game, when he visits her on her balcony, quotes Romeo and Juliet, gives her clues to what he truly is, turns serious when he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her, and leads him to do what he is eternally forbidden to do.

Unknown to Grey, Zale can only touch or be touched by humans once a month when the Copper Moon is out. When she accidentally touches him while trying to protect him from one of The Fallen, death begins for Grey and the centuries-old Zale. He is then forced to tell her what he is and that he thought she was “The One” whose soul he needed to open up Hell and begin the Almighty War.

Only Grey can save them both while the Seven Orders of Angels are gathering to see who will take over Zale’s reign, sending the earth into chaos and disorder.

Can Grey save herself, Zale, or their love before it’s too late?

 

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Book Review for A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

 

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Published:  January 20, 2026 by Berkley

Genre:  Horror, Mystery Thriller, Paranormal

Taken from Goodreads:  Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother's shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

 

My Thoughts:  I always said I do not read horror but Simone St. James is an author that I must-read.   I will now say that I do not read much horror but I recommend picking up A Box Full of Darkness.   This book had me so invested in finding out what happen to Ben and getting rid of Sister. 

The family dynamic of the Esmie family is tough and the family home is haunted.  The Esmie siblings all went their own ways after Ben went missing.   Coming back together in Fell, you can feel the tension in their relationship.  They want to work together and be a family but it has been so long. 

A Box Full of Darkness is a book full of family history, haunting characters, and a mystery that has to be solved.

Thank you Berkley for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author (taken from her website):  Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of MURDER ROAD, THE BOOK OF COLD CASES, THE SUN DOWN MOTEL, and THE BROKEN GIRLS.

After years of writing and collecting rejections, Simone’s debut novel, THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLARE, won two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. AN INQUIRY INTO LOVE AND DEATH was nominated for another Arthur Ellis Award.

Simone spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives just outside Toronto, Canada, with her husband and a spoiled rescue cat. She is addicted to sushi, rainy days, coffee, and My Favorite Murder.

 

 

Release Blitz for Penalty Play by Julia Connors

 

Penalty Play by Julia Connors is now live! We were never meant to see each other again. It was a one-night, no-names fling in Bermuda . . . until the next day when I watch her walk down the aisle at our parents’ wedding and discover she’s now my stepsister. We say it won’t happen again, but we give in to the temptation of “just one more time” . . . twice. We tell ourselves there’s no harm in it. Given my stepdad’s and her mom’s rocky marital histories, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see each other again. Except, a few days later, I walk into the Boston Rebels’ offices to assure management that I’ll focus on nothing but hockey after I missed last season thanks to an injury. Instead, I find myself face-to-face with my stepsister, Morgan, who now works for the team. At first, we pretend we’ve never met and try to steer clear of each other. But it’s impossible. Her friends are tangled up with my teammates. Her dad is my agent. She’s everywhere: at the rink, out with our friends, and in my head. I have every reason not to pursue her. I tell myself I’ll stay away. And yet, I can’t get enough of her. So we make a deal: a secret friends-with-benefits arrangement—no feelings, no commitment. The more I truly get to know her, though, the more I can’t imagine my life without her. But forever is the one thing I promised myself I’d never give anyone again. Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited Amazon: http://bit.ly/4gsrp9M Audiobook coming April 10, 2026! Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3JYYs9l

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Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Publishing: May 5, 2026 by Gallery Books

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

Publishing: February 3, 2026 by Bloom Books

From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a sizzling sports romance full of flamingo feathers, slow-burn heat, and one grump-meets-sunshine love story that's anything but fake.

They're faking it for the cameras. But what if the sparks are real?

Graydon St. John doesn't do drama―or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he's suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight.

Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they're hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they've been paired for the zoo's new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling.

The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real.

But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple's worked for, Graydon must decide if he's willing to fight for love―or let it slip away to protect her.