Book review: RUNAWAY ROCKSTAR, by Kylie Scott

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A wild, hilarious, feel‑good romp that had me grinning the whole way through! This book is an absolute hoot — completely wild, endlessly funny, and written with that lighthearted, wink‑at‑you style I love. The humor never lets up, even in the quieter moments.

June is recovering from a messy breakup after her ex literally threw her out of his apartment. With no real relationship with her mother, she heads to her grandmother Audrey’s house for a breather. They haven’t spent much time together over the years for reasons the book never explains, but right now? They’re having the time of their lives.

One night at the bar, June gets drunk, spills every detail about her ex, stumbles home with Audrey  to sleep it off… to find a man passed out on the porch. Audrey, being Audrey, pokes him with the walking stick she keeps by the door — and up rises Aaron Porter, country‑rock star, gorgeous, sleepy, bearded, and very much in need of a bed. He begs for a place to crash and promises explanations later.

The next day, June and Audrey learn he’s done with touring, done with fame, and wants to live like a normal person in their tiny town. Burned out, exhausted, and craving connection, he runs straight to Audrey — who used to be his housekeeper and basically a bonus grandma — hoping she’ll give him a safe landing spot.

From there, the story becomes a delightful, rollicking adventure as Nash tries out every “normal person” activity he can find: knitting circle, meditation group, walking club, banned‑books club. He’s figuring out life in this quirky town with June and Audrey guiding him like two chaotic guardian angels.

And June? Oh, she is gone for him. Every time he walks around shirtless, she turns into a puddle. Every time he walks away, she’s admiring how well those jeans fit. She’s real, funny, giggly, and completely captivated — and he’s just as enchanted with her. Their fake relationship (to help him blend into the community) doesn’t stay fake for long, of course.

The town’s shenanigans, the gossip train, the colorful characters, and the endless community activities made me want to pack my bags and move there immediately. It’s cozy, chaotic, and full of heart.

Five stars for such a good time! 

Purchase links

Order your copy now: Amazon Apple KoboNook Goodreads Signed print copies

About the author

 Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. 

She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader’s Association. Her books have been translated into sixteen different languages. She is based in Queensland, Australia; living and working on land traditionally owned by the Jagera people.

Contact her at info@kyliescott.com

Connect with Kylie Scott:

https://kyliescott.com/

Book review: THE LOVE LINE, by Heidi McLaughlin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yikes, I had no idea this book was connected to the Beaumont series. I read some of those books ages ago and remember absolutely nothing, so I went in completely blind. And honestly? It didn’t matter one bit. I was fascinated from the first chapter. The writing is smooth, entertaining, and full of heart.

Liam has been a rockstar for about thirty years, and now in his fifties, he and his bandmates JD and Harrison are feeling the wear and tear. The last tour had half‑filled venues, their bodies are creaky, and Liam just wants to be home with his wife and his grandbabies. Once he’s finally back, the guys start talking about retirement — and each of them has a beautiful reason to stay put for a while. Liam’s grandbabies are almost one, JD’s daughter is training for the Olympics, Harrison has a little boy he wants to enjoy. It’s sweet, grounded, and very real.

Then comes the twist: a producer from New York offers Liam a radio talk show where he gives advice to callers. At first he rejects it like a big “absolutely not,” but Bex, the producer, doesn’t give up. Two days later, Liam calls her back… and suddenly The Love Line with Liam is born.

The talk‑show sections were my favorite. It felt like a modern, heartfelt version of Dear Abby — direct, honest, and full of interesting situations. I could’ve read a whole giant book just of the call‑ins. They were that entertaining.

Of course, the show brings up old wounds, especially Liam’s estranged and abusive father. There’s no forgiveness there, but the emotional weight is handled with care, and you really feel Liam trying to make sense of it.

I loved all the family moments — the sons, daughters, grandbabies, the closeness between Josie and Liam. Beaumont feels like a small town full of love and community, and Liam and Josie have poured so much into making it a beautiful place to raise families. Now… I do need a family tree because there are marriages between bandmates’ kids, twins everywhere, triplets, babies popping out like popcorn. I loved the chaos but could not keep them straight.

The book ends with one issue resolved, but another problem from the radio listeners still hanging in the air. So I have a feeling this story will continue, and I will be waiting with excitement.

A heartfelt, entertaining, comforting read, completely enchanting. Five stars, easily.

Purchase links 

https://geni.us/theloveline 

About the author 

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

Connect with Heidi McLaughlin:

https://www.instagram.com/heidimclaughlinauthor/ 

Book review: XOXO, SUMMER, by S.L. Scott

Season Sisters #1
Summer & Danuek
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet, cozy, slow‑building romance set in an idyllic small town, full of charm, laughter, and a family you instantly want to belong to.

Daniel Sutton arrives in Mountain Laurel Cove hoping for peace, time with his son Roman, and space to figure out his future in hockey. He’s famous, exhausted, and a little lonely in ways he doesn’t admit. Summer Season, on the other hand, is the town’s rule‑loving caretaker — a woman shaped by loss, responsibility, and years of raising her sisters. She’s funny, loving, and a little uptight, but in the most endearing way.

Their meet cute is pure comedy: Summer shows up with a welcome basket, finds Daniel half‑dressed and glorious, gets flustered enough to end up on her knees, and suddenly this serious, rule‑following woman is flirting like she hasn’t in ages. The banter is bright, silly, and full of innuendo — the kind that makes you grin.

From there, everything snowballs. A broken faucet, a flooded cottage, no plumbers available, and suddenly Daniel and Roman are staying with Summer and her family. And what a family — Dolly and the Season sisters (Autumn Leaf, Winter Snow, Spring Lily, and Summer Sky) are quirky, warm, and unforgettable. Roman fits right in, and Daniel… well, he starts to feel like he’s been part of their world forever.

What I loved most is how the romance grows. It’s not instant love. It’s liking first with a strong dose of chemistry, then trust, then the kind of affection that sneaks up on both of them. Summer sees the man behind Daniel’s fame — the tired, sweet, hopeful man who wants to be known for more than hockey. And Daniel sees Summer’s heart, her humor, her strength, and the way she carries her whole world with so much care.

There’s real tension too: Summer’s dream of buying the cottages she manages, the threat of big money coming to destroy the town’s identity, Daniel’s career crossroads, and the pressure of long‑distance stretches when he’s asked to coach new hires. But through all of it, they keep choosing each other, even when it’s hard.

The story stays warm, funny, and full of small‑town magic. Roman is adorable, Dolly is an irreverent delight, the sisters are a sweet riot, and Daniel and Summer’s connection feels earned and tender. It’s a romance about being seen, being supported, and finding a home — not just a place, but a person.

Four stars. A charming, heartfelt read with lovable characters, slow‑burn sweetness, and a hero who finally gets the love he’s been craving.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/XOXOAm

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, writes character driven, heart-racing suspense, and swoony romances that will leave you glued to the page. With stories ranging from witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, her stories are highly regarded as emotional, relatable, and captivating.

Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

For more information, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. She also loves to connect with readers on social media.

Connect with S.L. Scott:

https://linktr.ee/s.l.scott

Book review: VOICES CARRY, by Alison Rhymes

A heartfelt, gripping romance about healing, safety, and finally choosing yourself, this book pulled me in from the very first page. Lou arrives in the small town of Stowaway carrying the weight of years of emotional and physical harm, and the story follows her as she slowly rebuilds her sense of safety, identity, and worth. Even without going into plot details, her journey is powerful. She’s a former model who never received real affection growing up, then fell into an abusive relationship that chipped away at her confidence until she barely recognized herself. Watching her rediscover her strength is one of the most beautiful parts of the book.

Grady, a firefighter and EMT, becomes a steady presence in her life. He’s been through his own heartbreak — a messy divorce, constant battles over custody of his daughter Paige — yet he remains gentle, patient, and deeply protective. He knows how to approach someone who’s been hurt, and he gives Lou space to breathe while still showing up for her in quiet, meaningful ways. Their connection grows naturally, with easy conversation, shared humor (the morning‑poop talk with best friend Juliet had me laughing), and a slow build of trust that feels earned.

The town itself adds warmth and charm. Stowaway is the kind of place where people look out for each other, where friendships stretch back decades, and where found family becomes just as important as blood. Juliet’s unwavering support, Grady’s wonderful parents, and Paige’s sweet bond with Lou all help her heal in ways she never expected.

What I loved most is Lou’s transformation. She starts the story believing she’s unlovable and broken — lies planted in her childhood and reinforced later — but she has an inner steel she never realized she possessed. With time, care, and the right people around her, she begins to see her own worth. She becomes stronger, braver, and more determined to reclaim her life. Her kindness never fades, even when she’s hurt, and her growth feels both realistic and inspiring.

Grady is the perfect example of a strong man who leads with tenderness. He loves his daughter fiercely, he shows up for Lou without hesitation, and he never tries to control her. He supports her healing, respects her boundaries, and fights for the people he loves with quiet determination.

By the end, I felt uplifted. This story blends heartbreak with hope, trauma with recovery, and fear with empowerment. It’s about survival, found family, and becoming the best version of yourself. I finished it feeling enlightened, comforted, and grateful for a romance that treats healing with so much care.

Purchase links

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗

https://geni.us/voicescarry

Paperback: https://geni.us/voicescarrypb

About the author

Alison lives somewhere in the shadow of a Pacific Northwest Mountain, bordered by the Puget Sound, and not too far from the country roads she grew up on. 

When not writing, she can be found avidly reading, traveling with youthful wanderlust, or slowly turning the inside of her house into her own personal houseplant jungle. 

Content Warnings for Alison's books can be found on her website alisonrhymes.com

You can join Alison's newsletter to receive early news and bonus scenes: https://tinyurl.com/ymrrdtfc

Alison can be contacted at alison@alisonrhymes.com

Book review: MY FOREVER GIRL, by Laura Pavlov

Blue Sky Bay #1

Cutler & Gracie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to finally read Cutler’s book. I’ve loved this kid since the Magnolia Falls days, when he was the adorable nephew with all the charm and swagger. I still remember him as that sweet, confident little boy with the black leather jacket, and hair slicked back like he owned the world.  Watching him grow through Magnolia Falls and Rosewood River series, shaped by two families who claimed him as their own, made him feel like family.  And now seeing him as a grown man, a successful architect, honestly made my heart proud.

And then there’s Gracie. His best friend. His person. The girl he once swore he’d marry someday when he was just a kid. Their connection in this book is so warm and natural, full of years of shared memories and constant devotion. They move around each other with this ease that only comes from a lifetime of choosing each other, even when they didn’t realize that’s what they were doing.

There was a moment in the story that made me hesitate — a choice Gracie makes that I wasn’t sure I would like. But the author handled it with so much tenderness, humor, and genuine affection that it ended up deepening their bond instead of hurting it. Every scene between them feels rooted in love, even when they’re trying so hard to pretend it’s just friendship. Their kisses, their laughter, their soft moments… all of it carries the weight of two people who have been in love far longer than they’ve been willing to admit.

What touched me the most was how selfless Cutler was. He wanted Gracie to find her mojo again after Paris, even if it breaks him. Gracie quietly loving him, and being conflicted about her life choices, because he is home to her. That kind of love — patient, loyal, willing to hurt if it means the other person grows — is what makes these books so wonderful to read.

The side characters bring so much heart and humor, especially the godfathers who show up exactly when Cutler needs them. The chat among friends is a standard with this author, and I love the comic relief they bring to the story. That plus the support from these friends, and allows the reader to know them before it’s their turn to have their story. This book is tender, funny, sexy, a beautiful, heartfelt romance about realizing that the person who has always been by your side is the one your heart has been waiting for.  Easily five stars!

Purchase links

FREE with #kindleunlimited 

https://bit.ly/4tAcvEF

Paperback: https://geni.us/Ybk1p

Audible: https://bit.ly/3R5dzl6

Amazon Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4uiop64

Narrated by: @connorcrais & @savannahpeachwood

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4crPkGg

About the author

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves to hear from readers!

 

Connect with Laura

Website: https://www.laurapavlov.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6569734.Laura_Pavlov

Amazon: http://amzn.to/3c1xKZX

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Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2OKU6T5

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X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurapavlov2

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurapavlovauthor

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3ii8Vdp