Story of My Life by Lucy Score

Hazel rashly decides to leave what’s left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously hot. I love Lucy Score’s writing and this one is another winner in my book. Hazel had to navigate some fairly hair-raising and ridiculous situations to win Cam’s heart and the town’s affections.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 11, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Series: Book 1 of Story Lake

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book encapsulates how overwhelming grief can be and how difficult it can be to navigate through the rollercoaster of emotions. People show their grief in different ways and there is no fixed timeline for dealing with a loved one’s death. I felt every one of Lenny’s fears, the love for her friend, and the hole that was left behind in her life. Reese and Ainsley and Miles had their own loss to deal with on top of a very complicated situation. Miles met Lenny where she was at any particular moment in time and never pushed her for more. I loved their interactions and how they were able to help each other. This book made me smile and cry, sometimes simultaneously.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 4, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Warm

Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett

When Rick’s teenage crush Anya moves back to the quay for a fresh start, he has the perfect solution. She needs a job and his great uncle needs help to run his hotel. It’s a win-win.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book highlighted how difficult it can be to strike the right balance between helping too much and helping just enough. And wanting to do everything by yourself and knowing when to ask for help. The characters were flawed and frustrating at times, and any growth they showed were two steps forward, one step back. It was real and emotional and I am looking forward to see what lies ahead for Anya and Rick.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 15, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 1 of Halfmoon Quay

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery

What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend? Love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal in this witty and emotional tale about the lengths we’ll go to for family.

⭐⭐⭐ I don’t know how I feel about this book. From the beginning I felt like Jana deserved better and Rick was throwing out some serious red flags. Beth’s experience with her brother just left me sad for her, mostly the fact that he pulled the wool over her eyes for so long. There were a lot of things going on and some aspects of the story ended up feeling rushed. This book came with a lot of seriously uncomfortable feelings.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: March 18, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Subtle