Almost By Design By Jenny Erlingsson-Contemporary Christian Romance Review

 Book Synopsis

A botched promotion, an awkward reunion, and a fake-dating scheme they never planned to fall for.

Kenya Stewart is so close to getting her dream position at an event agency. When a scheduling blunder risks her promotion, she hopes an upcoming pitch will allow her a second chance. Then an accident at her cousin's wedding sends her to the emergency room in the care of another wedding guest, Solomon Anruchi, the handsome doctor who ghosted her after their first date.

Solomon's parents are eager for him to find a business-savvy wife and make the move to New York to take over a recent acquisition by their family's company. But he needs to buy more time to finish his residency and convince them that staying in Hope Springs is the best path for him. He realizes that Kenya is the perfect person to help, and she needs his connections to land a high-profile client and save her career. Their solution? A fake-dating relationship.

As attractions increase amid their ruse, secrets they've kept from each other and the weight of others' expectations begin to unravel their scheme. Will their carefully constructed plans crumble when the truth comes out?

This charming Southern contemporary Christian romance features humorous banter, second chances, faking dating, and neurodiverse characters in small-town Alabama for fans of Toni Shiloh, Pepper Basham, and Courtney Walsh.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Revell
• Publication date: ‎ June 2, 2026
• Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance 
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800747755

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors.  A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

I picked up Almost by Design looking for a fun rom-com, and I was pulled in almost immediately. Jenny Erlingsson delivers a sweet, faith-filled story set in small-town Alabama that strikes the perfect balance between humor and heart.

The story follows Kenya, an ambitious event planner trying to save her career after a scheduling blunder and an embarrassing accident, and Solomon, the handsome physical therapist who previously ghosted her. When a chaotic accident brings them back together, they enter a fake relationship to help each other out; Solomon needs to appease his parents, and Kenya needs his professional connections to further her career.

There were many fun and unique characters in this novel, including Solomon's and Kenya's parents. I thoroughly enjoyed every interaction with both families! What made this book special for me wasn’t just the excellent banter, but the depth of the characters. Kenya’s journey with dyslexia was written with so much empathy, and I loved learning about Solomon's family dynamics and Nigerian heritage.

It’s a beautiful story about trust, family expectations, and finding your path. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves clean romance with genuine emotional depth. 

****Meet Author Jenny Erlingsson ****

Jenny Erlingsson writes romantic fiction and creative non-fiction to encourage deep faith in every age, stage, and season. She makes her home in both Alabama and Iceland and loves encouraging and working with writers from around the world. When she’s not ministering with her Viking husband or mothering her adorably feisty kids, she can be found writing and reading in the margins, with a side of Icelandic chocolate.

~*~*~*~*Purchase Almost By Design ~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://a.co/d/02UaMXdT

Kindle-https://a.co/d/04rLc4tr

Friend Zoned By Samantha Hastings-

 Book Synopsis

Four years ago, Trina Kimball confessed her love to her lifelong best friend, Dan Latu, only to be rejected. A doctoral degree from Oxford University and a published book later, Trina has cut Dan from her life and moved on. But when she inherits her grandmother’s house, she returns home to Salt Lake City to renovate it.

Dan shows up on her front porch looking for a plus-one to his high school reunion, and Trina realizes her childhood friend is just as dangerous for her heart as he used to be. Counting on his visit home being short, Trina doesn’t know what to do when Dan keeps showing up. From removing carpets and painting walls to repairing cars and boosting her author career, Dan seems determined to fix the friendship they once had.

Trina has decided to focus on love, not fear, but will her heart ever be satisfied in the friend zone?

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Covenant Communications, Inc.
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 17, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524429619

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

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My Review

I have always had a massive soft spot for the friends-to-lovers trope because it just feels like one of the most realistic, believable, and earned ways for two people to fall in love. When you add a second-chance romance dynamic into the mix? I am completely sold! Friend Zoned by Samantha Hastings delivers both beautifully.

The story centers on Trina and Dan, who have known each other their entire lives. Four years ago, Trina bravely put her heart on the line and confessed her feelings to Dan, only to be rejected. After building a whole new life for herself, she ends up back in her hometown renovating her grandmother's house, and suddenly, Dan is back on her front porch.

The best part of this book is how much you care about their feelings. Trina’s hesitation is so relatable but how do you learn to trust someone with your heart again when they've already broken it once? Dan's determination to repair their bond, whether he's helping tear up old carpets or fixing cars, is incredibly charming. Watching them navigate their shared history, learn to communicate honestly, and slowly choose faith over fear is absolutely satisfying.

If you love sweet, closed-door rom-coms with relatable characters and plenty of heart, you will absolutely root for Trina and Dan. It’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes the best love stories take a little extra time and growth to build!

****Meet Author Samantha Hastings****

Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She writes cozy murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen.

Learn more at www.SamanthaHastings.com or connect with her on social media: Twitter @HastingSamantha, Instagram @SamanthaHastingsAuthor, and Facebook @AuthorSamanthaHastings

~*~*~*~*Purchase Friend Zoned  ~*~*~*~*

HERE

Paperback-https://a.co/d/0d1At34e

Kindle-https://a.co/d/06yIPmzw

The Lost Story of Via Belle By Melanie Dobson-Christian Historical Fiction/Romance Review

 Book Synopsis

Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels, readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough; if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue. Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry. Includes discussion questions for book groups.

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tyndale Fiction
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2026
• Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/Romance 
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 149647452X

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

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My Review

If you love historical fiction and dual timelines as much as I do, Melanie Dobson’s The Lost Story of Via Belle is an absolute must-read. She completely hooks you with a mystery that jumps between Olivia Belle Ash in the 1940s and Harper Rayne in 2006.

What I loved most was how the past and present timelines perfectly mirror each other. Both women are searching for truth and healing, and the mystery is perfectly paced as the author uncovers secrets at just the right speed. I also loved the characters—some are incredibly sweet, while others are downright creepy and manipulative. Plus, the setting of the beautiful stone house and moonflower garden is so vivid that it practically feels like another character in the story. I would love to visit an enchanting place like this.

Besides the great mystery, the book has a beautiful, inspiring undercurrent of faith. It handles heavy themes like grief and loss with a gentle, redemptive hand, reminding you of the power of truth and sacrificial love. If you are a fan of rich, atmospheric time-slip stories like those by Kate Morton or Jaime Jo Wright, put this one at the top of your TBR list! 

****Meet Author Melanie Dobson****

Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson's excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. The award-winning author of almost thirty books, Melanie enjoys stitching together both time-slip and historical stories, including The Wings of Poppy Pendleton, The Winter Rose, Catching the Wind, Memories of Glass, and the Legacy of Love series. Five of her novels have received a Carol Award, Catching the Wind's audiobook won the 2018 Audie for Inspirational Novel, and The Black Cloister was ForeWord's Book of the Year for Religious Fiction.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobson family has finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing, she enjoys exploring dusty back roads, dancing, and reading stories with her girls.

More information about Melanie and her books is available on her author website: http://www.melaniedobson.com

~*~*~*~*Purchase The Lost Story of Via Belle ~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://a.co/d/0eKwFGIw

Kindle-https://a.co/d/0egG5Y18

Strawberry Kisses and Second Chances by Taffy Lovell-RomCom Review

 Book Synopsis

He left to see the world. She stayed to hold a town together. Strawberry Days might give them one more chance at love.

As Juniper Valley’s premier event planner, Chelsey Hooper is determined to make this year’s Strawberry Days the most magical yet. Until her high school sweetheart, Taylor Compton, returns to town in the middle of her planning. When a series of festival disasters forces the pair to work side by side, old sparks fly and buried dreams resurface. Chelsey grapples with her love for her hometown and a secret longing to see the world, while Taylor realizes the home he once abandoned might be the only place he truly belongs. When the final fireworks fade, they have to decide if their rekindled connection is a fleeting summer flame or a love worth risking everything for. Because sometimes the sweetest surprises are the ones waiting right where you started.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Mirror Press
• Publication date: ‎ May 8, 2026
• Genre: RomCom
• Series: A Juniper Valley Novel
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 279 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1952611628

• **** I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

My Review

RomComs have such fun stories and are needed after reading some anxiety-ridden mystery. 

I have found my new favorite fictional hometown, and I seriously never wanted to leave! Strawberry Kisses and Second Chances by Taffy Lovell is an absolute gem of a small-town rom-com that completely stole my heart.

If you love a good second-chance romance with main characters who are genuinely likable and relatable, you need to add this to your TBR immediately. Chelsey Hooper is the heartbeat of Juniper Valley—she’s the premier event planner who stayed put to build a beautiful life surrounded by family and friends, even if she secretly wonders what it’s like to travel the world. Enter Taylor Compton, her high school sweetheart who jilted her seven years ago. He’s been living a high-flying, jet-setting life overseas, but he rolls back into town right in the middle of her chaotic planning for the town's annual Strawberry Days festival.

The chemistry between Chelsey and Taylor is so incredibly sweet, and watching them work through festival disasters side-by-side made their journey back to each other feel so genuine.

But can we talk about the setting? Juniper Valley is the kind of cozy, welcoming place that makes you want to pack your bags, visit for the weekend, and stay forever. Taffy Lovell balances the heartwarming romance with that perfect, feel-good energy that kept me reading late into the night!

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you love sweet, closed-door contemporary romance with great banter, grab this one immediately!

**Meet Author Taffy Lovell****

Beyond writing, I have a deep appreciation for some simple pleasures in life. You'll often find me enjoying a good book, crafting new stories, and, of course, indulging in chocolate chip cookies. I'm also on a delightful quest to discover the best gluten-free and dairy-free food options out there.

~*~*Purchase Strawberry Kisses and Second Chances ~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://a.co/d/0egB8jMa

Kindle-https://a.co/d/0eJGvkk9