ARC Review: The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor #6) by Laurie Gilmore

 

The greatest love is the one you never expected to find

Daisy is fed up with being unlucky in love, and after several weddings she has done the flowers for end in divorce, her beloved flower shop has gained a reputation of being cursed, thanks to Mayor Kelly and his infamous visions.

Dream Harbor newcomer, Elliot, has been adjusting to town life following his own relationship turmoil. And until now he’s avoided the flower shop at all costs. If the mayor is correct, he doesn’t need any more bad luck in his life.

But with his family coming to visit, Elliot finds himself reluctantly in front of Daisy’s store in need of some flowers. As the petals blossom in the sunlight, Daisy and Elliot might find that love comes when you’re least expecting it…

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop is a cozy romantic mystery with a fake relationship dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed.

Title: The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor #6)

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Publisher: Harper Collins

Expected Publication Date: May 5, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Is this one of my most highly anticipated books for 2026? Yes. Did I squeal a bit when I was approved to read this? Also, yes. Did it meet every expectation I had for Daisy and Elliot's love fest? It sure did!

Daisy is cursed. Or at least that is what it seems like since every wedding her flower shop has provided flowers for recently has ended in the couple breaking up. It doesn't help that she hasn't been able to keep hold of a relationship of her own. She feels doomed to forever carry around the dark cloud the mayor dreamed is over her shop. Enter Elliot. He's more than willing to play the fake boyfriend for Daisy to show she can be lucky in love and hopefully get her business back on track. But when pretend feelings start turning into something more reel, can either put aside their past failed relationships to see they could be happy together?

There is must something about Dream Harbor that makes me so happy. Gimore brings us into this fluffy romantic world with fun characters and back stories, plus a small town feel where everyone knows everything that's going on. It's so much fun to watch all these characters interact. It's fun to see characters from the previous books still so happy and spreading that joy to others. And it's really fun to watch a fake relationship grow and change and become something very real. Gilmore is always ready to give us the happily ever after we need, without the excessive drama you see in other romances. I love that she avoids the third act break up and just has the characters talk things out and be adult about it all. 

As with the previous books in this series, the pacing is fast. The plot is easy to navigate and all the little things that happen along the way really lend to the entire story being told. I really enjoyed the historical back story as Elliot and Daisy found out more and more about their ancestors and the parallels in their relationship with Daisy's Great Aunt D and Elliot's relative, Nathan.

Gilmore continues to bring us a charming town with charming people and stories that are just the right side of fluff to keep you hanging on until the end to see the outcome. I love the eccentric towns people, the small town vibe, the local shops, and just about everything else Gilmore throws at me in these books. This story is cute and cozy and heart warming. I cannot wait to see what else Gilmore might bring us in this world!

Author:

Laurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.

She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

Audio ARC Review: Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer

Some people are Christmas people, but Jill Jacobs is most certainly not. She hasn’t been ever since her hometown love broke her heart on Christmas Day three years ago. After that, Jill moved to L.A. to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. She hasn’t been home in years to avoid her ex, but this winter she finds herself back in drab, suburban Illinois for the holidays.

After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that's filled with jolly neighbors, covered in pristine white snow, and shimmering with the smell of nutmeg. She realizes that this is more than just a bad hangover… she's stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex —handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel.

The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la….

Title: Christmas People

Author: Iva-Marie Palmer

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this title to listen to and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely love Christmas. So when I say that Patti Murin was narrating this, I just had to give it a try. And I'm so very glad I did. This book made my heart so very happy. 

Think of it as a twist on Scrooge. Jill Jacobs is Scrooge. She doesn't like Christmas or anything that goes with it. So she's the perfect person to get stuck in a dream town where Christmas is all around her. Think of it as a Hallmark movie where everything funny that could go wrong does: splashed with puddles, falling for the wrong guy, and so much more.

First I have to give props to Patti Murin. She can make me fall in love with any character. She absolutely nails rom-coms and there is nothing she narrates I won't listen to. And she does them all so well. I was never confused as to who was speaking. Her tone and inflection are perfect. And she can make me laugh. There were so many moments in this book when I literally laughed out loud and the people around me gave me funny looks.

Jill Jacobs's character was fun and relatable. I didn't love her at first. She was too self-depreciating. But then she slowly grew on me as she started to develop. It was a joy to watch her  transform into someone who could actually believe in the magic of the holiday season. She re-discovers what truly matters to her.

And I loved that it was a second chance romance to boot! I'm really into those right now and I loved how Iva- Marie Palmer made it play out. This is my first book by her but I can tell it will not be my last.

If you're looking for a happy go lucky listen and are in the mood for a little Christmas spirit, definitely give this one a try.

Author:

Iva-Marie Palmer is the author of the young adult novels Gimme Everything You Got and The End of the World as We Know It. She also wrote the Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook series and Oh My Dog! for middle grade readers, as well as the books Romeo, Juliet and Jim and the Edgar Award-nominated The Jules Verne Prophecy with co-writer Larry Schwarz. Christmas People is her first adult novel.

Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.

Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.

 

ARC Review: Left of Forever (Spunes, OR #2) by Tarah Dewitt

 

An emotional, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Tarah DeWitt.

This time, they'll get it right.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another…until they fell apart.

Now divorced and in their 30s, Wren runs the bakery in town, while Ellis works as a firefighter. They live separate lives, though they are hardly off each other’s minds.

When Sam gets accepted into college and the pair help him move in together, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes with him to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. Amid the gorgeous scenery of the California coastline, dreamy destinations, and a great deal of long-yearned-for proximity, Wren starts to think it just might be possible. But the two still have to contend with their tumultuous past in order to move forward. And when spoken words fail, sometimes the written word must bridge the gap.
Will they make the most of what’s left of forever? Or will they let each other go for good?

Brimming with big feelings and packed with steam, Left of Forever is bestseller Tarah DeWitt at the top of her game.

Title: Left of Forever (Spunes, OR #2)

Author: Tarah Dewitt

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Expected Publication Date: May 20, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I have been craving second chance romances lately. Boy was I excited to see what Dewitt would give me with this trope. I was not disappointed in the least!

Wren and Ellis Byrd have been divorced for 5 years, going their separate ways after having gotten pregnant so young and then slowly growing apart. When their son is set graduate from high school and has been accepted to a school in California, a family road trip becomes inevitable. And Ellis finally sees a way to try and win back the love of his life. But Wren is skeptical at best and, while she still sees she has feelings for her ex, she's not sure the rift that infiltrated their family bubble is fixable. Can they reconnect driving the beautiful California lands?

I'm just going to say that this book really wrecked me. The way the story was told, the development of the characters, the slow burn, the hope for a second change. They were all done so well!

Wren was so wonderfully done. Her longing for connection, her heart wanting to open to love, her fear of things hurting all over again. Her journey, while not mine, was so relatable. Her loneliness was truly palpable. I was rooting for her the entire book. She made me see how love is love, even if it changes shape and form and grows. And people change and grow and sometimes need to reinvent themselves to become the person they were always meant to be.

But ELLIS! If I wanted a character to stick out for me in this book, it was him. DeWitt wrote him with so much vulnerability. I could feel in in my heart as it clenched in my chest on many occasions when Ellis was telling the story. He has so many facets. His inability to see his true worth. His selflessness, sometimes to his demise. His need to fix things. I don't often relate to the MMC, even if I love them. With Ellis I felt seen. This character will absolutely hold a special place in my heart for a very long time.

The yearning Dewitt creates is really top notch. She can't write anything I wouldn't want to read. And the family and friends who surround this couple, cheering them and helping to show them they truly can overcome their past gives that small town feel. I love found families with real families tied in.

Everything about this story was tangible. Dewitt managed to crawl into my chest and wrap around my heart with this story. The pacing was spectacular and the only thing that kept me from finishing this in one sitting was me having to get up early the next day so sleep was necessary.

The plot os one I often worry about. The story of a relationship in demiseWhat can a author do to take two estranged beings and make them love again that hasn't been done before? But the road trip was such a great way to move the plot along. It never felt stagnant since you were moving from town to town with Ellis and Rynn and doing new things with them. I was desperate for an HEA and I don't think I story has made me laugh and then break down crying like this one has.

And, that Santa Cruz connection with The Co-Op, I absolutely loved seeing the Deacon and Rynn cameo and glimpse into their HEA.

This is absolutely my favorite DeWitt book to date. The journey these characters took is raw and honest. I can't wait to read it again and again.

Author:

TARAH DEWITT writes character-driven romances filled with laughter & big feelings. She loves stories centered around perfectly imperfect characters, especially those with just enough trauma to keep them funny, without ever being forcefully cavalier.

She's a wife, mother of 2 humans and a multitude of animals, self-proclaimed cheese whiz, and the USA Today Bestselling Author of SAVOR IT, FUNNY FEELINGS, ROOTBOUND, THE CO-OP, and LEFT OF FOREVER with many more to come. 

ARC Review: How To Write a Rom-Com by Cristina Wolf

'Funny and delightful' - Abby Jimenez

Lucy Bowen has sworn off love.

After too many failed relationships, she's over the fairytale – but working at NYC's biggest romance publisher, Heartwarming, means she can't escape it. When the company's bestselling author, Ruby Jones, threatens to leave due to dwindling sales (and a complete lack of inspiration), Lucy's boss takes drastic action.

Her new assignment? Go to a small lakeside town and find the spark for Ruby's next big love story.

Lucy expects picture-perfect charm, but the town – and its grumpy yet extremely attractive restaurant owner, Liam – have other ideas. He's skeptical of city folk, and she has zero interest in falling for a small-town cliché. But rom-com rule number one? Love finds you when you least expect it...

"Filled with humor, charm, and sizzling chemistry" - Stacey Kennedy, USA Today bestselling author

Title: How To Write a Rom-Com

Author: Cristina Wolf

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: May 15, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Christina Wolf and Bookfunnel for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a lover of all the rom-com tropes and reading this summary had me itching to see where this particular story would go. City girl goes country? Check! Forced proximity? Check! Golden retriever MMC? Check! Small town? Check! Short, sweet, and to the point story? Check! Bring it all on. Plus, this story is recommended by my girl Abby Jimenez and I love her stories.
Lucy Bowen wants her life to move forward: she's not sure she believes in love anymore and needs to advance her career. After years in the book industry, she wants to move into an editor position. How better to do that than take on the project her boss says will show her talents. So she packs up and moves to a small town for a few weeks to catalogue the small town feel and all it's people in order to have inspiration for a storyline for one of the publishing house's top authors. She doesn't expect to fall in the love, with the town and more!
I like Lucy. She has her quirks but she's endearing and relatable. I loved her use of Instagram and her funny posts to get engagement. Liam is your typical cinnamon roll character. His love of food and feeding other is his language. He's easy going and, of course, handsome. And he has the BEST dog in Blue, his German Shepard.
The romance and chemistry between these two is palpable. I had fun watching them burn towards each other. And, of course, the small town characters leant a hand in this. My favorite part of the romance is the characters being content with the happy for now rather than the happily ever after. It's so much more in line to living your life to the fullest. Also, keep in mind, love finds you when you least expect it. My favorite romantic plot of all!
If you're looking for a fast and easy romantic read with tons banter and some tense romance scenes, give this one a try. You'll fall in love with Lucy and Liam (and BLUE) and the small town of Hudson Hollow.
Wolf kept the pacing fast and light and the plot interesting and moving forward throughout the book. And, while there is a third act break-up of sorts, it's not the typical jarring you get in many romances.

Author:

Cristina Wolf wrote her first book in the third grade. It was an adventure book about her beagle, Abby, complete with hand-drawn illustrations and top-notch handwriting. Needless to say, writing and reading has been a passion of Cristina’s from the beginning. After graduating from Marist College with a double major in Business and English, Cristina pursued a career in the publishing industry while earning her Master of Science in Publishing from New York University. Cristina has experience working at literary agencies and as an editorial assistant at a publishing house. Finding life in NYC a bit different than she expected, Cristina returned to her native New Jersey where she earned her Master in Teaching from Monmouth University. She now shares her love of books with her students as a middle school English teacher.

Other than working or writing, Cristina loves spending time with her dogs, Zoey, Winnie, and Mabel, exercising on her Peloton, laying on her hammock with a good book, and planning her next trip to Disney World.

 

Review: In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget.

Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

Also, her eyes. And her legs.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is … confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on.

But Evelyn St. James has a problem.

Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Nothing at all.

In The Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness. It features a grumpy farmer, a no-nonsense social media influencer, a small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens. In The Weeds is a standalone romance and is part of the Lovelight series.

Title: In the Weeds (Lovelight #2)

Author: B.K. Borison

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: Ari 8, 2022

Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble BAM

Review:

I do not think there is a book Borison will write that I will not love.

When I found out this book was about Beckett Porter, I gave a little squeal. I really needed Beckett to have his story. I knew behind that grumpy exterior there was so much more and boy was I right! And to make it a kind of second chance for him made it that much more special. And then I saw DUAL POV and I was sold. The entire time I was reading the first book I kept wanting dual POV and was really hoping Borison would get on board with that and she did!

Beckett had a hot and heavy two night stand while at a farm conference. He knew it was just a fling but he can't seem to get that girl off his mind. So when Evelyn St. James shows up at Lovelight Farms and happens to be that same girl, his life is thrown into a tail spin. He never expected to see her again and he certainly never expected the spark that was between them to flame into a fire.

FINALLY Beckett's reaction to Evie showing up on the farm makes so much sense! His grumpiness, his social isolation, and so many other things all clicked into place in this book. I absolutely adore him and all his quirks. I love his relationship with his family and how he cares for them despite his own issues. And his love of animals, ugh. That endeared him to me so much. Borison did such a great job addressing his anxiety and showing how it affected him and his relationships.

Evelyn really needed that break. Being in the public eye all the time was taking it's toll. She finds happy at Lovelight, and how can you not? Despite being famous, she fit right in with the Lovelight crew. I really enjoyed her character and her journey during this book. She was vibrant and fun and definitely the sunshine to Beckett's grumpy.

THE. SIDE. CHARACTERS! Ok, so we already know Stella and Luka from book one but now we are introduced to all of Beckett's family. I love his sisters and his DAD! Plus we see Layla again and I just know she'll get her story next!

The pacing kept me turning pages the whole time. I loved the slow build to happiness and the happily ever after the characters deserved. The romance was spot on and sexy!

This might just be my favorite of the series. Small town, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, anxiety rep, dual POV, second chance romance, and so much more. I loved every second of this story and already I cannot wait to re-read it!

Author:

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

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ARC Review: Only In Your Dreams (Oakwood Bay #1) by Ellie K. Wilde

 

A spicy small-town, brother’s best friend, sports romance “packed with sizzling tension, heat, and sweet, swoon-worthy moments” (Peyton Corinne, author of TikTok sensation Unsteady) between a college football coach and the one that got away that you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

If he can prove he loved her then, and he loves her still, this time might be different.

Ten years after one of the most heartbreaking nights of her life, Melody Woods is back in her small hometown of Oakwood Bay, broke, jaded, and unceremoniously dumped by her big-city boyfriend. To top it all off, her twin brother, Parker, is pushing her to take his spot on a camping trip with the one guy she’s spent a decade avoiding.

For college football coach Zac Porter, his best friend’s twin sister, Melody, has always been off-limits. And after fumbling his chance ten years ago, a devastated Zac was sure he’d lost Melody for good. So, when Melody shows up at the campsite instead of Parker, Zac realizes that now is the time to prove to her that they were always meant to be, no matter how long it takes to make up for his teenage self’s mistake.

Reeling from the truth of her last relationship, Melody plans to stay in town just long enough to get back on her feet. Then, she’s gone again. Meanwhile, Zac is facing an uphill battle to coach his team to its first winning game in years, to show Melody how she deserves to be loved, and to keep Parker from ever finding out. Maybe then, being with her will be more than just a dream.

Title: Only In Your Dreams (Oakwood Bay #1)

Author: Ellie K. Wilde

Publisher:
Expected Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love me some sports romance. But what I love more is the sports taking a bit of a back ground to the growing relationship between the characters. While the sports background is of some importance in this book, I really loved how Wilde built the relationship between Zac and Melody. Or should I say rebuilt it since it's been 10 years since they talked, 10 years since Zac walked away with no explanation as to why. Did I figure it out early on? I did. Did I care? Nope. I needed to see how Wilde got us to where I knew we needed to be.

Melody is fresh off a rocky and abusive (though she doesn't realize it right away) relationship. She's spent six years twisting herself into a pretzel to please her ex. I'm just going to put right here that I hate this guy, and I'm sure that's exactly what Wilde was going for. The emotional and mental abuse this guy spewed was totally gross. But Wilde did a great job showing it. And showing how easy it was for him to manipulate Melody into believing it. I will say her realization of the abuse was a little to quick for me, considering she endured it for six years. I feel like this would have been a slower process given the time she spent in the relationship. But I do understand it took getting out of the environment for her to be able to look back in and see what was wrong. I love her relationship with her twin. They banter and cajole each other in the most loving way. Parker is super protective of Melody, which comes into play with how she was treated in high school by all of Parker's friends (the football team). I enjoyed how she reconnected with her best friend but I truly enjoyed how she reconnected with Zac. Her slow burn realization that her crush from 10 years ago really never went away held up against her anger for him just leaving her and never looking back is a great dichotomy.

Zac is so sweet. I love how he's held out all these years for Melody. Knowing he screwed up but feeling like he could never really do anything about it for fear of losing Parker as a friend. But I also find it a little unrealistic that he would truly wait all those years hoping she'd come back when he knew she was in a committed relationship for so many years. I truly felt for him, though. I cannot imagine the pain of watching someone you love be with someone else and hoping beyond hope that one day you'd have another chance. I love how he rebuilds his relationship with Melody even with the idea that it may never turn into what he truly wants. And he not only has his heart set on her, but he has his heart set on protecting one of the kids he coaches: Noah. This relationship is built so well. Zac opens his home and heart to this kid because he sees he needs it. Is he trying to rescue him? Maybe a bit. But I jut think his heart is just so big he needs an outlet for all he wants to give. He creates a found family. I was swooning for him.

The pacing and writing style is well done with this book. I didn't feel there was unnecessary plot inserted that stalled the story. Every element moved things forward. I enjoyed how Wilde wove so many elements into the story. I laughed at some parts. Fanned myself with the spice. And definitely shed a few tears with the emotional gravity underlying the relationships between the characters. The chemistry between Zac and Melody is off the charts. They fight, they banter, they can't avoid the pull to one another. And how he helps her heal, even knowing she will at some point leave him, it's just so sweet! It has all the right elements of a romance. I didn't want to put this one down.

Does this book have great supporting characters? It sure does. Summer, Melody's best friend, slowly sneaks her way back into Melody's heart. They reconnect on that level only best high school friends can. And Brooks? OOF! I adore him. He and Zac has this bromance going that is so much fun. 

Gold retriever, cinnamon bun guy? CHECK! Second chance love? CHECK! Brother's best friend? CHECK! Forced proximity? CHECK! Fake dating? CHECK! Slow burn? CHECK! And, a fun, quick, easy read? CHECK! No third act break up? YES! This book hits a lot of tropes which all work together to create a great story. I'm really excited for the next book in this series because BROOKS! Wilde will definitely be a go to author for me in the future.

Author:

Ellie K. Wilde is a Canadian writer of contemporary romance and romantic comedies that make you laugh, swoon... and maybe require a cold shower or two to recover. She enjoys writing stories with dirty-mouthed cinnamon roll heroes and the fiery women who bring them to their knees.

When she's not daydreaming about her next book, you'll find her devouring other romance novels, bingeing reality TV and snuggling with fur babies.

Follow Ellie on Instagram and TikTok @EllieKWildeAuthor