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Opportunities in Brittany
Opportunities in Brittany is a contemporary romance novel that follows a wide cast of characters whose lives intersect across Brussels, London, and, most vividly, Brittany. It begins with Félix Lemestre helping a mysterious young woman on a Eurostar platform, and from there the story branches into intertwined arcs: Eleanor escaping her controlling family, Yasmin fleeing an arranged marriage, and the many members of the Lemestre and Cavendish families whose histories, choices, and secrets gradually come together. The novel moves through travel, family intrigue, marriage negotiations, career shifts, and cultural crossings, eventually landing its characters in Brittany, where futures open, relationships deepen, and long-awaited opportunities finally take shape.
The writing is patient, almost procedural at times, as if the author trusts the reader to follow each careful step. It made the characters’ decisions feel grounded rather than dramatic for the sake of drama. When Félix helps Yasmin cross the border, the scene unfolds with a surprising amount of detail, but I found that detail comforting because it showed how much thought the characters give to each other’s safety and dignity. The same tone carries into the later chapters set in Brittany, where homes, rooms, and meals are described with a kind of affectionate precision.
What struck me most was how intentional the author is about choices. Eleanor’s backstory, for example, is not rushed. Her decision to escape her family carries weight because we’ve watched her strategize for years. Yasmin’s storyline works the same way: her flight from her father’s plans is not impulsive but careful, painful, and hopeful at once. Even secondary characters, like Agnès and Mathieu in Corseul, are given enough texture that I understood their influence on everyone around them. I also enjoyed the quieter cultural notes woven into the book, especially the sense of community in Brittany and the way the region feels both inviting and rooted in its own identity. By the time weddings, job offers, and new beginnings unfold near the end, the emotional payoff feels earned.
This is a romance novel, but one built more on steady interpersonal changes than on sweeping melodrama. If you like stories where relationships develop through trust, competence, and small acts of loyalty, this will likely speak to you. It’s also a good fit if you enjoy ensemble narratives, slow-burn connections, or settings that feel lived-in. Readers looking for fast conflict or high-tension twists might find it too gentle, but for anyone who enjoys thoughtful characters finding their place in the world, Opportunities in Brittany is a warm and satisfying read.
Pages: 390 | ASIN : B0DJF9JQ82
Whispers of Luck
Sophie Bartow’s Whispers of Luck blends small-town charm with a swirl of mystery, romance, and destiny. Set in Swan Harbor, the story follows Shay O’Reilly, a new oral surgeon who arrives in town after feeling an unshakable pull to leave her old life behind, and Justin Simpson, an orthopedic surgeon haunted by a tragic loss. Their paths collide in ways that feel both inevitable and magical, weaving together a tale that balances grief, hope, and the strange energy of a town that seems to whisper its own secrets. The book carries readers through moments of heartache, intimacy, and wonder, while hinting at something larger than the people who live in Swan Harbor.
Reading it, I felt a mix of warmth and curiosity. Bartow’s writing is smooth and easy to sink into. The characters are written with real affection, and you can tell the author knows this town inside and out. Shay’s arrival is painted with just the right amount of unease and hope, and Justin’s struggle with loss is raw and relatable. What really stuck with me was how the supernatural elements never fully overshadowed the human story. The “nudges” and cryptic scrolls add a layer of intrigue, but the true heart is in how people heal, connect, and risk themselves for love again. I’ll admit there were moments where I rolled my eyes at the intensity of their attraction, but then I’d find myself grinning because the chemistry felt so alive.
Some of the dialogue carried an extra layer of sentiment, and a few of the mystical moments left me a little puzzled. Yet I couldn’t deny that I was pulled along. I cared about whether Shay and Justin would open themselves up or let their pasts keep them shut down. And the setting itself almost felt like a character. Swan Harbor is drawn with immersive detail. There’s a comfort in that, like being let in on a secret world that’s both ordinary and enchanted.
Whispers of Luck is a heartfelt start to the Mystical Waters Canyon series. It’s a book that would be perfect for anyone who loves small-town romances, especially those with a hint of magic threaded through real-life struggles. If you want a story that mixes hospital corridors with whispered prophecies, that gives you both heartbreak and swoony embraces, this is the kind of book you’ll curl up with on a quiet evening.
Pages: 391 | ASIN : B0DY87G8D6
Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers follows Declan and Alex, two people carrying the weight of their pasts and trying to figure out what kind of future they deserve. Declan has sacrificed his dreams for family, building walls around himself while trying to find meaning in his work and his life. Alex is fiery, bold, and fiercely independent, but underneath that strength is a woman scarred by her own struggles and wary of letting anyone close. When their lives collide in what begins as a one-night encounter, they’re both unprepared for the connection that sparks. What starts as chemistry soon turns into something deeper, tangled with family ties, secrets, and the need to finally stop running from themselves and each other.
This book left me feeling a lot of things at once. I’ll be honest, at times I wanted to shake both Declan and Alex for being so stubborn, but I also couldn’t look away. The writing pulls you into their heads, showing not only the heat between them but also the doubts and scars they’ve carried for too long. Author Nikki Lamers has a knack for making the banter sharp and funny, then hitting you with a moment of raw vulnerability that catches you off guard. Some of the dialogue feels a little over the top, but in a way, it matches the heightened emotions of two people who’ve lived with walls up for years. I liked how messy and imperfect they were, because it made them feel real.
I liked the push and pull between independence and needing someone. Alex especially jumped off the page for me. Her mix of sass and fragility, the way she covered hurt with boldness, hit close to home. Declan, too, felt achingly human in the way he struggled between being the family protector and admitting he wanted more for himself. The book isn’t shy about showing both their flaws, and that’s what made their eventual growth satisfying. It’s not just a romance. It’s about forgiveness, breaking cycles, and finding the courage to build a life you actually want instead of one you think you’re stuck with.
Breaking Barriers is perfect for readers who want more than just a love story, who want to see characters wrestle with family, identity, and their own fears. If you like strong heroines, protective but flawed heroes, and romance novels that balance heat with heart, this one is worth picking up.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B0F9Z4FQDS
Second Chances
Just Not My Type follows a high-powered fashion editor and single mom, who moves back to her hometown and finds life takes an unexpected twist when her childhood nemesis reenters her life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of going back to where you came from—not just physically, but emotionally. What happens when someone who has built this glossy, “big city” life suddenly finds themselves back in the small town where everyone knows their teenage nickname? That tension between who you were and who you’ve become is such a rich space to explore. Add in a certain childhood nemesis who refuses to stay in the past, and it became the perfect storm for drama, humor, and a little swoony chaos.
I found all your characters entertaining and engaging. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I really enjoyed writing about Keith. He’s one of those characters who seems simple on the surface—a little smug, always quick with a smirk, but underneath that is a deep well of kindness and loyalty. Capturing that balance, his “smirkiness” alongside his quiet softness, was surprisingly challenging. Finding the right words to show both sides of him without making him feel contradictory took some work, but that complexity made him one of my favourites to bring to life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Second chances—whether in love, career, or self-discovery—were a big one for me. I wanted to explore what it truly means to start over, not as a wide-eyed twenty-something but as someone who has already weathered life’s messes and learned from them. There’s also a strong thread of identity: Who are you when you strip away the titles, the job, and the carefully curated image? And, of course, family. No matter where life takes you or what stage you’re in, there’s something grounding and often healing about returning to your roots.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to continue the story. Is there a second book planned?
Not with this story. When I finished writing Just Not My Type, I felt a sense of closure—like Amber’s journey had come full circle. By the end, she was exactly where she needed to be, ready to live her life on her own terms. For me, that felt like the right place to leave her—happy, grounded, and complete.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Just Not My Type
Neha Singla’s Just Not My Type follows Amber Carter, a high-powered fashion editor navigating the chaos of single motherhood, career transitions, and an emotional return to her small hometown, Nelson Bay. The story begins in the hustle of New York City, where Amber juggles her glamorous job with raising her young daughter, Charlotte. When life pushes her toward change, she makes the bold move back home, prompting a heartwarming and hilarious rediscovery of family, friendship, and love, with a hefty dose of small-town drama, awkward first dates, and designer birds.
Reading this book felt like catching up with an old friend who has a knack for storytelling. Singla’s writing is breezy and full of life. She’s got a real talent for capturing the everyday absurdities of parenting, dating, and work life without ever making it feel heavy. I laughed more than once, especially during Charlotte’s wild bird-feeding episode and the painfully relatable dinner date with Ray the stitch-counting doctor. Singla’s sense of humor is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Even when things get emotional, the tone stays grounded. There’s warmth in every chapter, and even the side characters (shoutout to Nana and the artistically dramatic Sam) feel like people I’ve met somewhere before.
But what I liked more than the laughs was the heart of it all. Amber’s inner struggles, feeling torn between ambition and motherhood, being pulled by roots and wings, felt real and raw. There were moments I had to pause because the emotions hit home. The way Singla explores the messiness of modern womanhood without sugarcoating it was refreshing. I didn’t always agree with Amber’s decisions, and there were times the plot felt a bit too neat or whimsical. But I cared. I was rooting for her. I felt like I’d lived in her shoes, even just for a little while.
Just Not My Type isn’t just a rom-com or a cozy family drama. It’s a story about choosing joy, about finding clarity in chaos, and learning to laugh at life’s ridiculous timing. If you’re someone who enjoys heartfelt stories with quirky humor, smart women, and the occasional seagull mishap, this one’s for you. It’s a perfect beach read or a pick-me-up on a rainy day.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B0DVPNS1GL
The Phantom Bugatti
The Phantom Bugatti is part mystery, part romantic suspense, and part love letter to a bygone era of automobiles and Americana. It follows Jack Reinhart, a Cleveland-based graphic designer, who inherits a dilapidated farm from his grandfather and discovers a dismantled, underground Bugatti car hidden beneath the old barn. The novel blends the nostalgic pull of family legacy with a mystery involving rare cars, obscure histories, and the slow unraveling of a hidden past. As Jack digs deeper, literally and emotionally, he confronts the ghosts of family, identity, and choices that echo across generations.
What I appreciated most about this book was how the writing pulled me in without any pretentiousness. It felt honest. The dialogue sounded real, especially between Jack and his wife Sally, whose strained marriage gave the story a low, constant hum of tension. There’s an understated rhythm in the pacing, nothing too fast or flashy, but it works. It gave me time to care about what was unfolding, to really picture that creaky barn, that dirt road, and the fragile history buried beneath it. Some scenes felt cinematic, even though they were described in such simple terms.
Sally’s bitterness grated on me after a while, and I found myself wanting her to surprise me. But what really stuck was Jack’s mix of curiosity and quiet stubbornness. His conversations with Mickey Mishne, the Bugatti expert, were highlights, touching and nerdy in the best way. The book’s heart lies in its obsession with craft; restoring a car becomes a metaphor for repairing memory and self-worth. I was surprised by how emotional some passages made me feel. The whole thing has this dusty, lived-in feel that reminds you of how deeply things from the past can matter, even if they’re rusted and half-forgotten.
I’d recommend The Phantom Bugatti to readers who like stories that unfold slowly, with detail and care. Car lovers will get a kick out of the vintage vehicle lore, but you don’t have to be a gearhead to appreciate what’s here. It’s also for people who’ve ever felt a pull back to a place that shaped them, or wondered what secrets their family didn’t pass down.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0D94SLZM6
What May Lie Ahead
Life and Love on Mouse Island follows a 61-year-old New Yorker who inherits a dilapidated house on a remote island, leading her to sell her NYC home and move where she goes on a journey of rediscovery, connection, and an adventure starting life over. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Over the years, I have visited a number of islands both here and abroad. All seem to share certain qualities in common: a powerful sense of community, self-sufficiency, and strength that I find very appealing. That kind of interaction and interdependency enables people to reach out and count on each other to a degree that living in a large metropolitan area often doesn’t provide.
I knew I wanted to write a book for older women. Too often I have found romance novels focus on younger women in their 20s or 30s at the beginning of their lives. I wanted to focus on mature, grown-up women who had been through a variety of life experiences but were still looking forward to what may lie ahead.
My story ideas come from a number of different places. I have a varied work history (TV/radio producer, talk show host, writer/photographer, stand-up comedian) that comes in handy for background information.
My experiences help to add depth to my characters. In addition, I am an avid dog-lover and have worked with rescue and service dogs. So, dogs always play a role in my books.
I find that, while writing, you sometimes ask questions and have the characters answer them. Do you find that to be true? What questions did you ask yourself while writing this story?
I really enjoy writing dialogue for my characters. It helps to define who they are and I relish the free-flowing interactions. Writing dialog can be both challenging and exciting as the characters’ voices can lead you in different directions you never expected.
Occasionally, a character will wander off track and I have to round them up and bring them back into the story. When that happens, the result can be fresh and fun. I generally keep to an outline I have in my head about what the theme of the book is going to be and who’s going to do what. When I am trying to plot a scene, especially a pivotal one, I sometimes daydream about it like a short film. I take a walk, a nap, or listen to music and let my mind wander. If I have trouble with an opening sentence and it is not perfect I insert a basic line, what I consider a spacer sentence. And come back to it when I have a better feel for it.
Probably the biggest source of questions that I ask myself when I’m writing is, “Is this authentic? Is this true?” The authenticity of the characters and of their voices and how they interact with each other is vitally important to me. I will often read sequences aloud to make sure that they sound the right note.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
My next book which I’m getting ready to start will be a sequel to this one and will focus on many of the characters that are featured in Life and Love on Mouse Island.
One of the main characters in the upcoming book will have Parkinson’s. I myself have Parkinson’s. It was diagnosed over 17 years ago. I want to focus on people living fulfilling lives regardless of the challenges they face.
Taking emotional risks when you are older feels scarier and more vulnerable than when you are in your twenties. Yet the rewards can be so much stronger and richer. It is well worth the risk especially when love enters the picture.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
That’s what sixty-one-year-old Isabel wants to know. A lifelong introvert, she gets the shock of her life when a woman she has never met leaves her a house. After a lifetime plagued by anxieties and worry, Isabel decides to take a leap of faith, sells everything, and moves from NYC to Mouse Island.
There are difficulties along the way. But with the help of new friends and a three-legged rescue dog, she begins to get in touch with an inner strength she didn’t know she had. Then there’s the question of who left her the house… the answer to that mystery may be hidden within the house she has come to know and love. And speaking of love…along the way, Isabel meets a man who could well be the love of her life.
Fall in love with Mouse Island.
Sweet Ridge Hearts
In Sweet Ridge Hearts, Susan Bagby crafts a warm and heartfelt tale about second chances, personal growth, and rediscovering what truly matters. The story follows Katy Flanagan, a New York marketing executive whose ambition is stymied when her idea is stolen and her promotion handed to her boyfriend, who then breaks up with her for professional reasons. Disillusioned and raw, Katy escapes to the cozy town of Maple Ridge to stay with her cousin Christine. What follows is a touching journey of healing, love, and self-discovery as Katy gets involved with Christine’s thriving bakery business, meets new friends (and a certain handsome veteran named Derek), and begins to see that life’s sweetest rewards often come from unexpected places.
I didn’t expect to get so emotionally tangled up in Katy’s story, but Bagby’s writing pulled me in from the start. The dialogue felt real, like listening to people I know. Katy’s frustrations at work, her heartbreak, even her stubbornness, all rang true. I found myself nodding when she stood up for herself, and I felt every sting of betrayal she faced in those early chapters. Bagby has a knack for painting a scene so vividly. Her style is clean, never stuffy, with plenty of down-to-earth charm that makes you forget you’re reading fiction. The plot may follow familiar beats, but the emotion behind each moment is fresh.
What really stayed with me, though, was the book’s heart. This isn’t just a romance, it’s about finding your footing when everything you thought you wanted falls apart. Katy doesn’t just swap the city for the country and magically find love. She works through her own mess. She grows. And Derek is not your typical brooding hero. He’s quiet, strong, layered with past pain, and gently healing alongside Katy. The themes of redemption, trust, and building something lasting—whether it’s a career or a relationship—really resonated with me. There’s a sense of community and purpose woven throughout that gave the story its soul.
I recommend Sweet Ridge Hearts to anyone craving a feel-good, heartfelt read with depth. If you’re tired of flashy romances and want something real, with characters who mess up, grow, and try again, this book’s for you. It’s perfect for curling up on a cold weekend, letting it tug at your heartstrings, and walking away feeling a little more hopeful.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B0DJ9WLBD4
LITERARY TITAN 