Winner - - The Secret Christmas Library

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan is:

Susan C 

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway - - The Marriage Method

The Marriage Method

by Mimi Matthews

The Crinoline Academy - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . .

Excerpt

Gloved hands folded neatly in her lap, she waited for Mr. Quincey’s questions. But he didn’t give voice to them. Not immediately. He only looked at her with a pensive frown, as though something about her person prevented him from pursuing his logical course.

“Forgive me,” he said at length. “Mrs. Royce failed to mention that you were lately bereaved. Had I known of your loss, I would never have pressed you to—”

“I am not bereaved,” Nell said.

“No?” He swept a glance from her black-veiled hat to her lusterless black mourning dress with its tight-fitting bodice and wide, untrimmed skirts. “You can doubtless understand my confusion.”

Nell would have thought it plain enough. “I travelled alone from the Academy. I preferred to do so unmolested.” She paused, adding, “Widows are generally accorded a degree of respect not offered to unaccompanied young ladies.”

Mr. Quincey didn’t bat an eye at her explanation. She suspected he was a man who wasn’t easily surprised. “In other words, it’s a disguise.”

Nell’s expression tightened. Leave it to a man to reduce a woman’s desire to protect herself to a childish pantomime. “It’s a practical necessity,” she said.

“I see. And do all teachers at Miss Corvus’s Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies employ such arts? Or is it only you who…” His words died away as she pushed back her veil.

Ah. Perhaps he was capable of being surprised after all.

Nell met his gaze, a hint of a challenge in her own. She wasn’t vain. Neither was she guilty of false modesty. She knew herself, both her weaknesses and her strengths. “Feminine ingenuity isn’t limited to the staff room at the Academy,” she informed him. “Though, I assure you, it’s in no short supply there.”       

Mr. Quincey collected himself in a blink—so quickly Nell wondered if she’d imagined the look of masculine alertness that had flared in his eyes on first seeing her face. Clearing his throat, he very slowly and very methodically returned his pen to the brass holder on his desk. “Something else Mrs. Royce failed to mention.”

“What might that be?”

“How young you are.”

Nell stiffened at his tone of disappointment. She wasn’t used to anyone implying that she was lacking in wisdom or experience. Quite the reverse. In times of crisis, people generally looked to her for guidance. During Miss Corvus’s recent illness, Nell had all but been running the school. “Is my age of importance to your inquiries?”

“Only as it pertains to your tenure,” he said. “You can’t have been in your position long.”

“I have been employed as a teacher for five years, sir.”

He sat back in his chair, frowning at her again with an attitude of impatience. One would think she had wasted his precious time. “Mrs. Royce led me to believe you had been present at the Academy’s founding, nearly twenty years ago. It’s why I consented to meet with you instead of pursuing an interview with Miss Corvus herself. I had anticipated your providing certain information about the institution’s origins.”

Nell at once grasped the cause of his irritation. He’d wrongly presumed she would be a much older woman. One who had spent the whole of the past eighteen years teaching at the charity school. “Mrs. Royce did not mislead you.”.

“Not only Mrs. Royce,” he replied. “You, as well, Miss Trewlove. Your letters gave me to understand that you had decades of experience at Miss Corvus’s Academy.”

“I do,” she said. “Or nearly that long. I was one of its earliest students.”

Understanding registered on his face. He stared at her with renewed attention. “You were an orphan?”

Nell’s chin ticked up a notch. “That’s correct.”

There was no shame in it. Not as far as she was concerned. It was just as she often told her girls. One wasn’t accountable for the circumstances of one’s birth, only for the choices they made and the actions they took. It was that which defined a person, not pedigree.

“As are all the students at the Academy?” Mr. Quincey asked.

“To a one,” she said. “They come to us from all over the county. I flatter myself that we do our best for them.”

“Your best being…?”

She lifted one shoulder in an artfully casual shrug. “We feed them, house them, and provide them with an education that will best help them meet their potential.”

Mr. Quincey narrowed in on the word with single-minded precision. “Their potential for what, exactly?

Nell’s mouth curved in a slow smile. She comprehended the unspoken crux of his question. He believed the Academy was a home for dangerous revolutionaries. Budding feminists and crusaders for equality, willing to go to any ends to achieve their goals, even if that meant destroying the occasional man who got in their way.

He wasn’t wrong.

 

Excerpted from The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews. Copyright © 2025 by Mimi Matthews. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727469/the-marriage-method-by-mimi-matthews/

 

Have you read any books by Mimi Matthews?

Do you enjoy books where the lead couple are in a battle of wits?

Thanksgiving is this week. What's your favorite Turkey Day dish?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 28 will receive a print copy of The Marriage Method. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Second Chance Romance

Second Chance Romance

by Olivia Dade

Harlot's Bay - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've read my Top Dish review of last year's At First Spite (Harlot's Bay - Book 1), you know that I fell hard for this historic coastal town and her citizens. Book two, Second Chance Romance, has only reinforced those feelings. I first read an ARC of Second Chance Romance four months ago after which I posted the following: "Snort laughs, ugly tears, and swoony romance. This one's going straight to my list of 2025 favorites." I read the book again this week and those feelings have not changed. Olivia Dade has tapped a gold mine with these characters and I am here for every single word and emotion. 

Karl is everything I could have hoped for...and more. With his crusty exterior, marshmallow center, aversion to using his words (who needs to when actions work just as well?), baking expertise (A man who bakes? Yes, please!), creative murder mind (not that he'd hurt a fly but whoa, that's one creative imagination), kindness, salty mutter yells (the man has no volume control), and nurturing soul, he's not your typical romance hero but he's one of my all-time favorites...and he's absolutely perfect for Molly. 

Molly? OMG, I love every bit of her nerdy, fact-spouting, wary-heart self. If anyone deserves a happy ending after being betrayed, first by her father then her jerk of an ex-husband, it's Molly. No wonder she doesn't trust easily. Watching her gradually open herself not only to Karl but to others in Harlot's Bay was a delight. Watching her regain her confidence and stand up to those trying to run roughshod over her was even better. Watching her open her heart and claim her happiness? Cue happy tears and swoony delight. 

If you enjoy second chances, banter for days, emotional depth, laugh-out-loud humor, body positivity, slow-burn romance, a terrific supporting cast, and a lead couple who will steal your heart and have you cheering them on every step of the way, pick up a copy of Olivia Dade's Second Chance Romance. It's a funny, endearing, warm hug of a book that kept me engaged and entertained from beginning to end. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of Olivia Dade's books? Do you have a favorite?

Karl's a master at creating mouth-watering treats at his bakery. What's your go-to order when you visit a bakery or donut shop?

Molly narrates monster romance books. Do you listen to audiobooks? What's your favorite format for reading: print, e-book, or audio?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 30 will receive a print copy of Second Chance Romance. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - Murder at Donwell Abbey

Murder at Donwell Abbey

by Vanessa Kelly

Emma Knightley Mysteries - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Have you discovered Vanessa Kelly's Emma Knightley Mysteries yet? I have to say, I'm thoroughly enjoying this new direction in which Kelly has taken her writing. 

In this second book in the series, we return to Highbury with another murder mystery that captures our amateur sleuth Emma's attention. Not only is Emma's personal life turned upside down with her father's surprising engagement announcement to Miss Hetty Bates but it's thrown into total chaos with a death (is it an unfortunate accident or something more sinister?) at the betrothal ball hosted by Emma and her husband. Will Emma figure things out before she finds herself in the villain's sights? Will the local constable muck it up? And what about the spinster, soon to be Emma's stepmother, Miss Bates? Will she turn out to be a complication or a delightfully unexpected ally?

There are so many things I enjoyed about this book. Set in a cozy, English village with intriguing characters, a tightly crafted mystery, charm, humor, witty dialogue, an indulgent, protective husband, and twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the action-packed reveal, it kept me happily turning pages from beginning to end. And bonus, I didn't figure out the final twist! 

If any of these are your reading jam, I recommend picking up a copy of Murder at Donwell Abbey as well as book one in the series, Murder in Highbury. I'm already excited to discover what sort of tangle Emma will get herself in the middle of next. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Secret Christmas Library

The Secret Christmas Library

by Jenny Colgan

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt’s attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McKinnon family’s collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate—if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.

But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it’s not a chance meeting. She’s all too familiar with Theo’s good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there’s a treasure that needs locating.

Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie’s grandfather, the castle’s most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house—forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.

A treat for booklovers and treasure hunters alike, The Secret Christmas Library serves up a delicious mystery with a hint of romance, and plenty of holiday spirit!

PJ's Thoughts:

Jenny Colgan is an author whose holiday novels I look forward to with excitement each year. She always takes me on an intriguing adventure, whether it be to a dusty Edinburgh book store (The Christmas Bookshop and Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop in 2021 and 2023) or a creaky castle at the northern tip of the Highlands in this year's The Secret Christmas Library.

This newest book bubbles over with things to love. Set in the present, there's a bit of fairy tale quality to Mirren's unexpected journey to the Highlands which then transitions into a Gothic vibe when she reaches her destination. Colgan sets the scene beautifully with all the atmosphere I could ask for: a crumbling castle with iffy electrical power at the edge of the North Sea, dusty rooms overflowing with books of all sorts, a dangerous snowstorm, and did I mention no neighbors? Very isolated. 

The cast of characters is small but compelling, especially when the reason for these five being stuck together is a treasure hunt for a priceless book that may - or may not - be somewhere within the hundreds of thousand of books in the castle. Yes, the castle owner's grandfather was a book hoarder. He was also fond of riddles hidden in the most obscure and unlikely of places. 

The hunt is on and it's a gem. I was totally invested in the search for the missing book, in the evolving relationships forming among the characters, in the touch of romance (with a happy ending), and in trying to outwit a wily grandfather who left behind one last riddle to save the estate...or not.

If you can't make it to a castle on the edge of the North Sea this winter, I enthusiastically recommend adding The Secret Christmas Library to your holiday reading list instead. You will definitely feel like you're there! 

Readers, have you ever visited Scotland?

Do you enjoy Gothic romance?

Have you read any of Jenny Colgan's books? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 23 will receive a print copy of The Secret Christmas Library. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - The Marriage Narrative

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann is:

Ina

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Announcement from PJ

 

Hi Everyone!

You may have noticed that I've been absent for a few days and some reviews have been moved to new dates. I wanted to let you all know what's going on. 

We had a family medical emergency Friday past and I've been at the hospital pretty much around the clock since then. I'm only home about six hours per day and much of that time is spent trying to sleep. I just haven't had the time or mental bandwidth to get on the computer. 

Things are beginning to progress in a positive direction (we're out of ICU...Yay!) and I hope to be back in my blog pocket sometime next week. Until then, you may see a few more posts rescheduled. I've read the books and planned to write the reviews last weekend but life, as it is known to do, had other plans. Rest assured, those reviews (and giveaways) will be posted as soon as I have the time - and brainpower - to type up the reviews. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding! 

Hugs,

~PJ

Review - - The Christmas Keepsake

The Christmas Keepsake

by Annie Rains

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Sometimes the best gifts aren’t under the tree.

Everyone has a story to tell. And for Mallory Blue, her grandmother Nan’s community theater and annual Christmas play has been a beloved tradition for as long as she can remember. But this year is different. With Nan losing her memories to dementia, Mallory has taken on more than she can handle—including directing this year’s show.

Two things are keeping Mallory going: A journal that tells the story behind each handmade ornament on Nan’s tree. And Hollis, who volunteers to play Santa to spend time with Mallory and prove he’s no longer the rebellious boy she knew growing up.

As Mallory reads through Nan’s entries, she realizes there’s so much she never knew about her grandmother. And when Mallory has big decisions to make in both her personal and professional life, it’s Nan’s wise advice and Hollis’s steadfast support that will hold the key to this year’s holiday magic.

PJ's Thoughts:

Annie Rains has crafted another holiday novel that will surely tug at your heartstrings, as it did mine. 

Using threads of family, romance, and self-discovery, Rains gradually and thoughtfully rolls out two stories, one in present day (Mallory and Hollis) and the other told through entries in Nan's diary. Both are interwoven to give readers a poignant, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful story that even though it contains some sadness, left me smiling at the end. 

Rains paints a realistic portrait of dementia and its effects on loved ones with both highs and lows along the way but the bond of love never wavering. I really enjoyed the nursing home scenes and the sweet friendship between Mallory's grandmother and Hollis's grandfather. And I loved the close bonds between Hollis and his grandfather and Mallory and her grandmother. 

While the romantic relationship journey for Mallory and Hollis is an important part of the book, each of them also has an individual growth arc. There's a substantial amount of emotional baggage to unpack for both. I was in their corners the entire way, cheering them on. 

If you're looking for a heart-tugging holiday story of family, romance, forgiveness, self-discovery, and hopeful new beginnings, I recommend The Christmas Keepsake by Annie Rains. 

Review - - Snowfall in Park City

Snowfall in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 2

Publisher: Holloway and Scott

Release Date: November 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Nicole Kessler never planned to fall for the rugged ski patrolman who keeps rescuing her on and off the slopes. Cameron is charming and protective, with a complicated life he’s convinced no woman would ever accept. But when Nicole steps into his world, she starts to wonder...is she risking her heart for a man who’s not ready to let her in?

At Snowberry Lodge, MJ McBride finds herself drawn to a charismatic guest. He’s warm, funny...and clearly hiding something. As his stories start to unravel, she’s left questioning what is he really doing at the lodge this Christmas?

Meanwhile, single mom Gracie takes her son on a new adventure in hopes he’ll connect with other kids—but the experience leaves her realizing it might be time to step out of her own comfort zone, too.

PJ's Thoughts:

Heart, hope, and holidays for the win. 

The second book of the Christmas in the Canyons series takes us back to Park City, Utah for another chapter in the ongoing lives of the multi-generation Snowberry Lodge family. This one really tugged at my heartstrings. I've become invested in these characters, rooting for them to discover not only love but the best of themselves. And, of course, figuring out a way to save their beloved family lodge.

There are new friendships, new romance, plenty of laughter, a few heartfelt tears, triumphs over adversity, a bit of a mystery, and unexpected possibilities from a surprising source. Add to that, the beautiful snow-covered mountains, festive holiday spirit, and unbreakable family bonds and you have a story that will launch you straight into the warmth and joy of the holiday season. 

Grab a mug of cocoa, a cozy blanket, and curl up with Snowfall in Park City by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. I highly recommend it. 

This is a quartet of books that I recommend reading in order. Begin with Sleigh Bells in Park City then follow that with Snowfall in Park City. Books three and four, Mistletoe in Park City and Midnight in Park City, will be published before the end of 2025. 

Review - - Honeymoon Phase

Honeymoon Phase

by Amy Daws

Mountain Men Matchmaker - Book 3

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Fact or fiction: proposing to your best friend so she can inherit her family business is a great idea.

When Addison “Roe” Monroe tells me she’s going on a husband hunt at the local lumberjack competition so she can inherit her father’s lumberyard, desperate times call for desperate measures.

She’s sworn off romance. Says she’s been through enough tragedy. So I offer myself as an alternative, 'cause that’s what best friends are for.

But my stubborn friend, who would rather drive a forklift than get her nails done, refuses to accept my help, and now I find myself training to become a lumberjack.

I refuse to let Roe hitch her wagon to some hulking ax wielder who might be a serial killer. She means too much to me.

And I swear there are moments where she looks at me like I mean something more to her, too.

On the surface, I’m offering a marriage of convenience to protect her. But the truth is…I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend.

So if I have to marry her and move her up to Fletcher Mountain just to see if she could love me back, so be it.

Because my only regret would be losing her forever, and that’s a fact.

PJ's Thoughts:

Amy Daws blends laugh-out-loud fun, heart-tugging emotion, family dynamics, and toe-curling steam in this third book of her Mountain Men Matchmaker series and I am here for every word. 

Luke Fletcher is the last unattached brother standing on Fletcher Mountain. Not that he wants to be. No, Luke has it bad for his best friend but she's set against love and marriage. Or, make that marriage with love. A marriage of convenience, on the other hand, one that will only last a year is most definitely on the table...with anyone but Luke. Our boy is out to change her mind and, hopefully, win her heart. 

To say Addison "Roe" Monroe has had an unconventional upbringing would be a understatement. Grief and abandonment have shaped her into the woman she is, with a heart she is not about to open up to more pain. If there's one person who could tempt her, it would be her best friend, her safe space. But, is she willing to risk his friendship for more? And what about his family who welcomes her with open arms? 

Addison is such a singular character, more at home on a forklift than a dance floor, more at ease in flannel than silk, but also ridiculously fond of her sourdough starter. Yes, she bakes bread. That's part of the soft side she keeps hidden, maybe even from herself. It was wonderful to watch her evolve over the course of the book, learning to deal with the emotional trauma of her past, learning to trust, and embracing those softer emotions without losing the essence of who she is. 

Luke has past trauma of his own and vulnerabilities not readily apparent but one thing that never wavers is his steadfast love, support, and belief in Addison. He is there for her, always, in whatever fashion she needs, even at the expense of his own hopes, heart, and safety (lumberjack competition, anyone?). I adored him, his family, his cock (not that one!). Okay, maybe that one too but I'm talking about his oh-so-spoiled pet rooster. 

The supporting cast of characters in this book is pure gold. The dynamic among the brothers is spot on and the Fletcher Mountain ladies have me wanting to build a cabin up there and hang out with them too. They're such a fun, sassy, relatable group. I want to sled with them, dance with them, get tipsy while eating pizza on the curb with them, and lean in for warm, teary-eyed hugs while celebrating the hard-won love and joy each has found. 

There's only one more Fletcher standing and that's beloved niece, Everly, known as the family matchmaker. The tables will turn when Everly steps into her own love story in 2026. I can't wait. 

 

Review - - Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside

by Maisey Yates

Four Corners Ranch - Book 12

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

A favor owed. An Off-limits romance. Four Corners is in for the hottest Christmas it's ever seen.

Sheena Patrick has done well, all things considered. After her father’s death, she raised her sisters and did all she could to give them the best life possible. But they’re grown and gone now and Sheena is ready to do something for herself. But to accomplish her goals she needs Denver King.

Denver owes Sheena. He spent years watching from afar and making sure she was all right after his father’s illegal activities caused her father's death. So when Sheena rolls up to the ranch looking to call in the favor he promised, Denver can’t say no. He’ll help her get her axe-throwing bar up and running by Christmas, and consider his debt square. But as the snow falls, sparks fly between the two black sheep of Pyrite Falls. They might be all wrong for everyone else, but are they just right for each other?

PJ's Thoughts:

Could Sheena Patrick and Denver King, the two black sheep loners of Pyrite Falls actually be a perfect fit for each other? Not without a whole lot of introspection and growth, thankfully something at which author Maisey Yates excels. 

This final book in Yates' Four Corners Ranch series brings plenty of sizzle, snappy banter, and emotional depth, exactly what I would expect from these two main characters. Yates has a knack for writing dysfunctional families and, boy howdy, do Sheena and Denver fit that vibe. Considering their history, the actions of their fathers, and the life-changing events that shaped both of their lives from a young age, I didn't know how Yates was going to pull off a happy ending for these two. She does - of course, she does - but you'll have to read the book to discover how. 

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series is the many layers of the characters along with the emotionally complicated journeys they travel. It's a gradual process, often with a fair amount of push and pull, as the main couples work individually and together to sort through their emotional baggage and find their way forward. That is certainly the case with Denver and Sheena. Of course, they don't accomplish such a monumental task on their own. We have siblings and their partners on both sides more than ready to step in and meddle when necessary. 

As someone who has read the entire Four Corners Ranch series, it was fun to watch favorite couples from earlier books jump into the fray to help Denver, the last man standing, find his HEA. For readers who are new to Four Corners Ranch, be aware that while this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, there may be confusion due to those supporting characters and references to events that have already occurred. For me, however, Cowboy, it's Cold Outside was a heart-tugging way to wrap up this series with a hard-won happy ending and an epilogue that had me grinning with happy, touched-my-heart tears. 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - The Marriage Narrative

The Marriage Narrative

by Claire Kann

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Zinnia is an ambitious, successful businesswoman who is not about to wait around for her One True Love. She turns her dating profile into a marriage-merger proposal: a few strategic meetings, move in together, get married—all within thirty days. Her friends think it will never work… until she meets Jordan, a near-perfect applicant with a big secret.

Jordan’s family has spent the last decade starring in a massively popular reality show about their lives. He has finally agreed to join the cast, but production wants him to marry an actress (his ex) in a romantic storyline to boost viewership.

Convinced Zinnia is perfect for the role instead, Jordan proposes a mutually beneficial marriage agreement: she gets her business partner husband, and he gets to help his family on his terms. Together they face strict schedules, wild plot twists, and behind-the-scenes hostilities, all while acting like besotted newlyweds—an intense performance that evolves into a relationship they never expected.

As the line between reality and show blurs, Zinnia and Jordan must choose between a clean contract or a beautifully messy love story.

Santa Says:

The Marriage Narrative by Claire Kann is an intense ride about two people who strike a bargain. The bargain? Pretend to be engaged on a reality tv show set. What can go wrong and what, in the end, can go incredibly right? I give this book four out of five stars!

Our heroine, Zianna, an artist and successful businesswomen. She runs with her roommates and best friends out of their apartment. She wants more than anything to feel connected to someone. Dating apps have not been successful and she feels love is just out of her reach. She decides instead to create an online business proposition which allows for a partnership without the messiness of love involved. They would meet, get to know one another and marry after one month. Pretty straight forward - right? She creates a whole presentation for her friends who feel she has lost her mind! They reluctantly agree to go along with the hairbrained scheme but only if they can help her vet potential candidates.

Zianna meets with a host of men who do not quite measure up. Her friends think she’s given up on her plans when she decides to meet with Jason, a successful coffee shop/bookstore owner. He ticks all the right boxes until he presents his own seemingly impossible idea. Jason’s family is on a hit reality tv show which they want him to be on and sort of join the family business by coming back to marry his ex who is also a famous actress. He never wanted to be a part of the show and definitely not to marry his ex-girlfriend. He proposes that Zianna come on as his fake fiance and they would indeed marry at the end of the season.

Zianna thinks he’s made the whole thing up! Whose family is featured on a hit reality tv show. She thinks he’s scamming her but he shows her footage of the show. She reluctantly agrees to going on set and living on the property with him. Immediate sparks fly as Zianna finds that everyone from the show runner to his mother and sister really wanted him to marry his ex. They don’t buy their whirlwind romance. Tensions are high but they are able to navigate choppy waters and avoid curveballs on set and out in the real world. Their bungalow becomes their sanctuary.

Despite all this their hea is secured. Close proximity can really move things along in the right direction. He falls first which is also a favorite trope of mine. Claire Kann makes the storyline and these two characters really believable. I enjoyed this book and will look out for more from her in the future.

Readers, do you enjoy the marriage of convenience trope?

Do you watch Reality TV? What are some of your favorite shows?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 13 will receive a print copy of The Marriage Narrative.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18