Blog Archives
Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns
Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns follows Terry Deitz from his first sight of Debbie Douglas at a high school pool in 1971 through years of friendship, dating, heartbreak, and slow reconciliation in small-town Illinois and Indiana. The story moves from study hall and football games to farm chores, college, bad marriages, and single parenthood, all filtered through Terry’s first-person voice as a Christian young man trying to grow up. The romance stays clean and sits inside the wider Finding Love in the Heartland series, with a strong focus on faith, family, and the long haul of commitment rather than quick sparks.
I had a soft spot for the writing whenever it stayed close to everyday details. The banter around the study hall table, the running jokes about teachers, and the way everyone teases Debbie about her blue jeans felt warm and authentic. Later, when the lavender gowns start to show up, the title clicks into place, and the contrast between work clothes and dress-up moments gives the romance a neat visual thread. The dialogue carries most of the load and often sounds like real teens or young adults from that time period, with talk about homecoming, 8-tracks, and small diners. At times, the prose can get wordy, especially when Terry circles the same worry, and the pacing in the middle third slows while careers and side relationships are mapped out. Even so, I stayed invested because the author clearly likes these characters and lets them make mistakes without turning them into jokes.
The book is not just a “will they or won’t they” high school romance. It digs into controlling parents, emotional and physical abuse, infidelity, and the stigma around divorce in a churchy small town. I felt angry more than once, especially when Debbie’s early choices box her into a painful marriage, and I felt protective of both her and Terry as they try to navigate guilt and shame that are not always theirs to carry. The Christian themes are upfront, but they mostly show up as characters wrestling with conscience, prayer, and forgiveness rather than long sermons. When Terry talks about the kind of husband and father he wants to be, the story’s view of masculinity becomes clear. It values steadiness, gentleness, and repentance more than swagger. That spoke to me and gave the last few chapters a real emotional weight.
By the end, I felt like I had walked with these people for a big slice of their lives, which is the book’s strength. The long time span gives their eventual peace a satisfying heft. I appreciated the steady, kind tone and the way the story honors ordinary decency as much as big romantic gestures. I would recommend Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns to readers who enjoy wholesome Christian romance, small-town and 1970s nostalgia, and love stories told from a male point of view. If you want a gentle, faith-colored second-chance romance that takes its time and cares about everyday faithfulness, then you’ll heartily enjoy this story.
Pages: 271 | ASIN : B0FZ2V62J7
The Last One to Know: A Wholecome Christian Romance
The Last One to Know is a wholesome Christian romance that follows Siegfried “Ziggy” Abel from small-town Illinois into college, marriage, heartbreak, and finally a quieter, steadier kind of love. We watch him fall hard for Dana Stewart in high school, navigate her controlling parents and their secret meetings in the woods, marry her, and then slowly realize that love alone cannot fix deep wounds, mental illness, or repeated betrayal. Years later, after a painful divorce that he cannot in good conscience stop, Ziggy finds himself drawn toward Lisa Kohler, the shy girl who used to blush over hot chocolate in his parents’ kitchen, and the story moves toward a second-chance romance that feels gentler and more rooted. The setting is the 1970s and 80s Midwest, and the book wears its label as a clean Christian romance openly, with faith and church life shaping nearly every big decision Ziggy makes.
Ziggy tells everything in first person, in plain language, and there are stretches where we linger in the everyday details of school, work, and family jokes, like the legendary White Castle slider contest or Clint’s quest to get a “four-dollar drunk” after giving blood. Those moments of humor matter because the book also walks into some very dark rooms: Dana’s brutal beatings at the hands of her father, her suicide attempts, the slow disintegration of the marriage, and the shock of Ziggy learning he is “the last one to know” about her infidelity and her determination to leave. The writing can feel unusually detailed at times, almost like a diary that refuses to skip any of the hard or awkward bits, but that density also makes the big emotional turns feel earned. When Ziggy finally sits in a lawyer’s office, reading a divorce agreement that asks for almost nothing and quietly admits multiple affairs, the scene stings because we have trudged through all the little compromises that led there.
I liked how honestly the book handles faith and failure. This is a Christian romance, but it is not a neat sermon with a bow on top. Ziggy believes in God, values marriage, and hates the idea of divorce, yet his pastor and friends gently push him to see that clinging to Dana will likely cost her life and his sanity. The story lets that tension sit for a while, instead of rushing to a tidy answer. I also appreciated the way Lisa is woven in from early on, not as a shiny replacement, but as a girl with her own hurts, stuck in a family that teases her relentlessly and does not always listen. Ziggy’s steady kindness to her years before romance is even on the table makes their later relationship feel like the slow clearing of fog rather than a sudden thunderbolt, and by the time he realizes they have quietly been dating for months, it feels completely natural that he sees her as the person he has been looking for all along.
I feel like the book is less about sparks and more about choosing what is right when everything hurts, learning to forgive without excusing harm, and trusting that God can shepherd someone through both divorce and new love without wasting the pain. If you like character-driven stories, small-town settings, and Christian fiction that is honest about abuse, mental illness, and messy marriages while still staying clean and hopeful, The Last One to Know is worth reading.
Pages: 378 | ASIN : B0G78CWFZ8
Smoky Blue Sunrise, a return to Elizabeth’s Mountain
Smoky Blue Sunrise follows Jolie-Mae, a young woman crushed by guilt after the car crash that killed her younger sister, Katy, and wrecked her plans for medical school. She leaves coastal South Carolina and her grieving parents and takes a live-in job in the North Carolina mountains as nanny and companion in Jesse Taylor’s home, where he is raising his daughter Emma and baby Cameron after the loss of his wife. At the same time, Amanda, a doctor at the local hospital, tries to balance work, motherhood, and her own history with Elizabeth’s Mountain. Their lives knit together in this small town as Jolie tries to rebuild a self she can live with, and the looming threat of Hurricane Helene pushes every old wound and every new bond to the edge.
I really liked how grounded the writing felt. The first chapters around the party at Folly Beach and the crash were very emotional, and they set the tone for Jolie’s inner voice in a strong way. The scenes with Dr. Patel felt patient and honest, and I believed her slow, messy steps in therapy. The mountain setting came through in small details, not long descriptions. The book uses internal monologue, which moves scenes along methodically, yet the emotional payoff later made that investment feel worth it. The storm chapters land hard, with practical worries like power, road washouts, patients at the hospital, and also the simple fear of a child who hears a hurricane called a monster on the radio, and those pieces together gave the story real weight.
The book works best when it leans into survivor’s guilt and found family. Jolie’s sense that she is the “trigger” for her parents’ pain felt painfully real to me, and her choice to leave home did not feel like running away, more like a leap to save herself and maybe them, too. I also liked the bond that grows in the Taylor house, in small moments with Emma’s questions, in shared chores, in the way they circle around Elizabeth’s memory without turning her into a saint. The romance thread stays gentle and slow, and that fit the tone for me, since every character in this house is already carrying a lot.
I would recommend Smoky Blue Sunrise to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary fiction, especially stories about grief, healing, and second chances in close-knit communities, and also to anyone who already knows Elizabeth’s Mountain and wants to see that world deepen. If you like quiet emotional arcs, domestic scenes that still carry tension, and a bit of storm-fueled suspense rather than nonstop action, this one will be for you.
Pages: 318 | ASIN : B0GFFRM4LQ
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
LITERARY TITAN 