Winner - - Just Our Luck

 

The randomly chosen winner 

of a print copy of

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams is:

Nicole B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - The Lady Sparks a Flame

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

The Lady Sparks a Flame by 

Elizabeth Everett is:

Suzanne Lercher

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Winner - - Spring Fling

 

The randomly chosen winner 

of a print copy of

Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin is:

Glenda

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review - - The Anatomy of Magic

The Anatomy of Magic

by J.C. Cervantes

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control.

Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've been looking forward to this book since turning the final page of book one, The Enchanted Hacienda (read my Top Dish review). I'm happy to say it did not let me down. Cervantes has once again crafted an immersive, magical, hard-to-put-down book that reached into my soul and held me captivated from start to finish. 

From the first scenes, we are witness to the chaos and internal pain of Lily's life and given one reason for it. But there is much more at play here - secrets that gradually unfold as Lily and Sam are given a second chance. I love how Cervantes plunges me into the emotions of her characters, how she gradually opens them up to all the pain and joy of life. How she allows them to make questionable decisions, to make the wrong choices, then gives them the opportunity to grow, to right the wrongs, to do better. Be better. I was with them every step of the way, experiencing all the emotions. 

The Estrada family farm with its magical flowers, of course, plays a pivotal role in Lily's evolution as do the members of her family. The strength, resilience, and bond that these women share is the core of these stories. I love how they support one another while also holding each other accountable. Their bonds may stretch but they never break and when the need is great, they all come. 

If you have not yet experienced the magic of these beautifully written stories, I encourage you pick one up and spend time with the women of the Estrada family. I'm already looking forward to whatever Cervantes has in store for them next. 

You could enjoy The Anatomy of Magic on its own but I strongly recommend reading The Enchanted Hacienda first. I loved them both. 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - Just Our Luck

Just Our Luck

by Denise Williams

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Sybil Sweet has always been lucky, but lately she can’t catch a break. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is worried that she’s the directionless, floundering daughter her family thinks she is. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.

Kieran Anderson put his dreams of becoming a doctor on hold to take over running his family’s bakery, and after fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted, broke, and no closer to getting back to school. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.

Lucky for Kieran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to convince Sybil’s family she can make good relationship choices, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.

Santa Says: 

I am fast becoming a Denise Williams fan. I enjoy her books immensely and Just Our Luck does not disappoint. I happily give it five stars because that's what this book makes me feel. Happy.

The book brings Sybil Sweet and Kieran Anderson together when she goes into his family's donut shop after going out with her friends. Sybil has found that her luckiness is not working for her. She’s lost yet another job, her car is held together by duct tape and a prayer and her love life, well the less said about that the better. She lives with her mother who is quietly disappointed in her not reaching her full potential like her successful, soon to be married sister. Always the optimist, she buys a lottery ticket. It could be her lucky draw. 

Kieran is stepping in to help save his family’s donut shop while his grandfather recuperates from a heart attack. It is an uphill battle that he hopes will take a good turn so he can get back to school to complete his medical degree. His sister and grandfather do what they can. Kieran doesn’t believe in luck or chance but that all changes when Sybil walks into his world late one night. 

He reluctantly gets swept up by Sybil's positive attitude and flirtiness. It also helps that he is wildly attracted to her. They flirt and more over his luscious donuts. His sister accidentally walks in on them and Sybil runs out the door. More bad luck for Kieran when he finds the bakery ransacked because the front door was left unlocked. While cleaning up he discovers she left her WINNING lottery ticket behind. His sister suggests he post on line that he has her winning ticket. The post goes viral. 

When Sybil comes to collect she suggests that he take a portion of it to let her know it was there. Kieran is too proud to accept any money. She offers to loan him the money to get the bakery up and running since she feels it was her fault the door was left open. This second meet plays out as customers clamor to the bakery to see who comes to claim the ticket. The public also thinks that the ticket has brought two lovebirds together. Sybil plays this, convincing a reluctant Kiernan to go along with the idea of a fake relationship. It also works to her benefit if she has a steady, live boyfriend at least for the three months leading up to her sister’s wedding. 

Kieran tries his best to keep a clear head about Sybil but her positivity, good vibes and beauty reel him in. This makes his quirky and loveable grandfather very happy. Sybil finds herself falling deep and hard for Kieran. And I was there for every minute of it. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Readers, have you read Denise Williams yet?

Do you enjoy fake relationship romances?

Do you ever play the lottery? Ever dreamed about how you would spend the money if you won?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 30 will receive a print copy of Just Our Luck.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - The Two of Us

The Two of Us

by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Odd Couple * LORI FOSTER
Ford Caruso agrees to an unusual favor—playing the part of new boyfriend for his adamantly single, irresistibly sexy neighbor Skye Fairchild, whose clueless ex refuses to accept his fate. But as Skye starts dropping by to use Ford’s pool, and even plan dates, the charade begins to feel satisfyingly real, complete with choosing rescue dogs together—a giant mutt and a fierce little chihuahua who adore each other. From one odd couple to another, some things are destined . . .

Force of Nature * MAISEY YATES
Rescuing animals is in Lydia Clay’s blood, so when a mournful old cattle dog named Hank shows up at the shelter, she knows exactly where to take him: to cattle rancher Remington Lane, her brother’s hot, and usually grumpy, best friend. Hank belonged to Remy’s estranged father, which is one strike against him, but when Lydia offers to help the man ease into dog ownership, he can’t say no. And as he and Lydia work together, it looks like an old dog can actually teach this brooding cattleman some heart-warming new tricks . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Put a dog on the cover of a book and it's the first one I pick up. Put two rescue dogs on the cover and I'm moving it to the top of my tbr. Pair it with two long-time favorite authors and I'm all in. In The Two of Us, Lori Foster and Maisey Yates bring readers two heartwarming contemporary romance stories of couples finding their way to one another, aided by the unconditional love of dogs. 

"The Odd Couple" by Foster features one of my favorite tropes: fake dating between a relationship-averse man and a woman who has been given good reason not to trust men. I really enjoyed these two and the issues they both needed to work through. There's a terrific friend group (Foster does those so well), some complicated family dynamics, a big ole mutt who looks scary but has a marshmallow heart (and stole mine), and a happy ending for both two and four-legged characters. Plus, I hope, the potential for a future story between Skye's twin sister and Ford's best friend.

When I'm looking for emotional depth, complicated family relationships, and hard-won happy endings, Maisey Yates is an author to whom I frequently turn. In "Force of Nature," Yates brings all of those facets to the page along with another favorite trope: best friend's little sister. Add in the fact that Remy's abusive family had him living with Lydia's family through high school and you have a now-grown man who has two reasons to keep his hands off the woman who is capturing more of his heart each day. Lydia and Remy absolutely stole my heart. I love how he embraces her individuality and loves her for it, not in spite of it. I love how she refuses to give up on him, how insistent she is on showing him - by bringing Hank into his life - the road to healing. These characters - and their journey - are so well developed. I was completely invested in them and their road to a happy ending. Also, the scene between Remy and Lydia's mother near the end of the book had me sobbing...in a good way. 

If you're looking for heartwarming stories of love, healing, friendship, family, and the unconditional love of a rescue dog in your life, grab a copy of The Two of Us. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Lady Sparks A Flame

The Lady Sparks a Flame

by Elizabeth Everett

The Damsels of Discovery - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by Santa

Lady Phoebe Hunt never anticipated returning from exile. A fatal choice drove her from England, but the death of her father—and the revelation of his debts—has brought her home. Once she settles her father’s estate, she will return to America, where she has reinvented herself. There’s no reason to remain, not even for one gravitationally challenged but deliciously tempting entrepreneur: Sam Fenley.

Samuel Fenley is all ambition. Rising from shop boy to wealthy investor, he’s left knocking on doors that open only for those with a title. Unless he buys the damned door itself—and the estate that goes with it. Sam offers to relieve Phoebe of her burdens, but is her crumbling mansion all Sam wants? Or is it the Lady herself?

When threats from Phoebe’s past spark new dangers, Sam and Phoebe discover that neither is what the other expected. Standing on the edge of disaster, the disgraced Ice Queen will have to decide if she wants to forge through life alone, or let an unlikely hero melt her heart.

Santa Says:

The Lady Sparks A Flame by Elizabeth Everett is the second book in her Damsels of Discovery series. These dovetail off her first series which centered around the lady scientists of Athena’s Retreat. I love when authors do this and I find myself getting comfortable with old friends again. This book supplies that and so much more making a quite enjoyable five star read.

We are reintroduced to Sam Finley who is a charmer with a Midas touch and Lady Phoebe Hart who returns to England from her banishment to the Americas for her part in a deadly bombing. At first glance, it is hard to see how these two could ever fall in love. He is optimistic and gregarious. She is wound so tight and views the world with suspicion and dread. Sam Finley comes from a large, loud and joyous family. Lady Phoebe's mother and sister, like Phoebe, bear the scars of a horrible husband and father. Phoebe spent her childhood getting the brunt of her father’s punishments while protecting her younger sister. 

Lady Phoebe has no time for love or anything right now. She has her no good father’s debts to settle. To do so she must sell everything or enough to see her mother and sister made comfortable. Lucky for her Sam, along with his other varied business interests can help her do that. As a result, they journey to her neglected family home to make those assessments. The sooner this is all taken care of the quicker she can leave behind all her unpleasant memories and return to America.

Sam, however, is in no hurry to get away from her. He has always had a tendre for her and their close proximity is just the ticket. He works his charms to seemingly no avail. But soon cracks can be seen in her armour and she lets him in little by little until it becomes too much. It's not so much that she doubts his love but how can anyone love her when her own father couldn’t. Sam has his work cut out for him.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Lady Sparks A Flame and see how Sam resorts to making a big splash to prove his love. If you’ve never read a book by Elizabeth Everett you can read this one as a stand alone. It has great dialog and banter. There are some dark pieces to the book which may be triggering for some but the author provides a brief warning in the beginning of the book which is very helpful and enlightening.

~~~~~~~~~

Readers, have you read any of Elizabeth Everett's books?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 26 will receive a print copy of The Lady Sparks A Flame.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Spring Fling

Spring Fling

by Annie England Noblin

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Spring is in the air and Mylie has everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.

After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.

Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm always up for a good second-chance romance and Mylie and Ben certainly kept me on my toes as I followed them through their push and pull journey. I liked that Noblin gave us chapters both from the present and the past, allowing readers to really get to know these characters from their first meeting in sixth grade through to high school graduation when they parted. It made me feel like I understood them on a deeper level and made me more invested in their second chance ten years later.

Noblin is also very good at crafting family and community in her books and the small southern town of Clay Creek is no exception. The setting, the local idioms, and the array of characters brought the story to life. I could easily visualize the dark, starry sky, waves lapping softly at the lake dock, mud-filled gravel roads, the welcoming warmth of the local diner, the hilarity of Stanley (a soft-hearted Pittie) and Fat Tony (a mischievous "community" raccoon), and the oh-so-Southern Baptist Church ladies showing up at Ben's house with Pyrex dishes brimming with homemade specialties and photos of their single daughters/granddaughters. And then there are Mylie's irreverent granny and young teen sister, favorite characters who contributed both humor and emotional complexity to the book.  

Spring Fling is a charming, humorous, heartfelt, second-chance, friends-to-lovers story that kept me happily engaged from beginning to end. 

Note: If you read an ARC of Spring Fling (as I did), you may have had concerns about a reference to Mylie's sister's boyfriend at the end of the story (again, as I did). I'm happy to report that has been changed in the final, published copy of the book and is no longer an issue.

Have you read any books by Annie England Noblin?

What's on your current reading list?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 20 will receive a print copy of Spring Fling.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Winner - - Pole Position

 

The randomly chosen winner

of a print copy of

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery is:

Laurie Gommermann

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review & Giveaway - Pole Position

Pole Position

by Rebecca J. Caffery

Publisher: One More Chapter/Harper Collins Publishers

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Kian Walker has always been the golden boy of motorsport. The four-time Championship winner has racing in his DNA – his father was a legend on the track, just don’t let him catch you comparing the two. As reckless and unreliable at home as he was behind the wheel, there’s nothing Kian wants less than to be just like his dad.

Enter Harper James. This year’s rookie called up to compete with the big boys – and Kian’s new teammate. Cocky, hot-headed and with a reputation for breaking as many hearts as he does new track records, Harper’s the opposite of Kian in every way. But when the season starts, there’s no getting away from him.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he's anywhere near his teammate?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a ride! Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery pulled me in and refused to let go. Even when I was rolling my eyes at some of the highly-fictionalized racing scenes/shenanigans/management decisions (if you don't follow F1 racing, you probably won't even notice) or wanting to throw Harper off the nearest cliff (seriously, dude, what were you thinking???), I still found myself riveted to the action and immersed in the emotions of this story.

Caffery has crafted an action and emotion-packed story about two adrenaline-fueled elite athletes who, on the surface, could not be more different. From their ages to their attitudes to their career approaches, to their life views, they appear to be complete opposites. And yet, once they begin to sort through the hidden layers beneath the public personae, it's apparent they each provide a missing puzzle piece for the other. Together, they begin to discover a relationship they never dreamed possible...that is, if one of them who hasn't quite managed to work through some significant emotional baggage doesn't totally trash it first. 

Pole Position is a fast-paced, spicy, deeply emotional, and surprisingly endearing story set within the highly competitive world of F1 auto racing. Even when I wanted to throttle them (mostly, one of them), my heart still ached for this unlikely couple and I couldn't bring myself to set them aside until they had managed to navigate their way to their hard-won happy ending. 

 

Do you watch F1 racing? 

Do you enjoy opposites-attract or rivals-to-lovers romance?

What books are keeping you glued to the pages these days?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, March 15 will receive a print copy of Pole Position. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

 

Review - - Shoot Your Shot

Shoot Your Shot

by Lexi LaFleur Brown

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Jaylen “JJ” Jones’s hockey career is over. After not securing an NHL contract with the Seattle Rainiers, Jaylen decides to bid the city farewell with a final night of fun, blowing off steam with an anonymous one night stand. But when a last-minute roster spot opens up on the Rainiers, he connects his luck to the girl he spent the night with. Superstitious Jaylen is desperate to keep her around—his career depends on it.
 
Aspiring tattoo artist Lucy Ross isn’t so sure about the proposition to remain Jaylen’s lucky charm—she’s been called a lot of things in her life, but good luck has never been one of them. But stuck in a career slump, Lucy has everything to gain. Hoping for an apprenticeship hasn’t offered much stability, and Jaylen is willing to pay any price to get Lucy to agree…so maybe sending him a routine text message before each game won’t be too hard.
 
What starts as an agreement to trade favors—a good luck text in exchange for tattooing practice for Lucy’s portfolio—quickly turns into sizzling chemistry that’s too delicious to deny. But Lucy’s been in too many situationships to even think about getting attached again, and Jaylen is clearly only with Lucy as long as it’s helping his gameplay…
 
Neither of them expecting getting lucky could be so complicated.

PJ's Thoughts:

This author clearly knows her hockey. The games, practices, and locker room banter were highlights of the book for me and kept things interesting when the romance lagged. 

Less impactful was the emotional heft of the story. I felt very little connection between JJ and Lucy. Yes, there was plenty of steam but I struggled to detect the development of any deeper feelings, at least on Lucy's part. Without that, I had a hard time feeling invested in their relationship. I felt more invested in JJ's relationships with his teammates than his relationship with Lucy, even at the end of the book. I love hockey and hockey romance but this couple just didn't do it for me. Other readers may feel differently. 

Shoot Your Shot is the author's debut. While I wanted more from the romance and I felt the writing could have been more polished, there were parts of the story I enjoyed and I think she has potential. I'll probably give her one more try. 

 

Review - - The Usual Family Mayhem

The Usual Family Mayhem

by HelenKay Dimon

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.

Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.

As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge. 

PJ's Thoughts:

I had high expectations for this book. Dimon's first novel in this vein, Moorewood Family Rules (read my review), was one of my top books of 2023. While The Usual Family Mayhem didn't quite reach that level for me, it was still a very enjoyable read. 

I loved the relationship Kasey has with her grandmother and Celia; the unconditional love the two women have for a young woman who is still trying to find her path. Those two are sharp cookies. It's hard to put anything over on them, though Kasey tries her darndest. In the end, though, it's Gram and Celia who show it's never wise to underestimate two white-haired ladies or what they might be hiding behind those sweet smiles. 

I enjoyed Jackson's character a lot. I found him to be interesting, endearing, and multi-layered. I appreciated his honesty but also his loyalty and how far he was willing to go to support those he loves. Kasey, on the other hand, is a clueless - but lovable - mess. She creates much of the drama in the book but has good intentions at her core. 

If you enjoy a madcap cozy mystery that features dysfunctional family (Jackson's), supportive family (Kasey's), humor, finding one's path, murder (or is it?), female empowerment, dispensing justice, and a sprinkle of romance, give The Usual Family Mayhem a try.  

Winners - - March Coming Attractions

 

The randomly chosen winners

of a package of books are:

Diane Sallans

Ina

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Tour Review - - Earl Crush

Earl Crush

by Alexandra Vasti

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

For three years, wallflower heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace has anonymously penned seditious pamphlets―and for almost as long, she’s corresponded with the reclusive Earl of Strathrannoch. When Arthur’s latest letter reveals his dire financial straits, Lydia sets out for Scotland to offer him the only salvation she can think of: a marriage of convenience. To, um, herself.

But the real earl has no idea who she is. When a bewitching stranger offers him her hand in marriage, Arthur Baird is stunned. And when he learns that his traitorous brother has been writing to her under Arthur’s name, he’s bloody furious. He’s content to live alone in his moldering castle, and he has no desire for a radical wife. (Or at least, he shouldn’t.)

But Arthur is desperate to track down his brother, who’s become dangerously entangled in British espionage, and he needs Lydia’s help. What he doesn’t need? The attraction that burns hotter each moment they spend together. As Lydia slips past his defenses and his brother’s mysterious past becomes a very present threat, Arthur will have to risk everything to keep her safe―even his heart.

PJ's Thoughts:

So. Many. Feelings. This was my first Alexandra Vasti book and I adored it. How could I not fall in love with these characters? And not only Lydia and Arthur but the absolutely delightful supporting cast surrounding them. They drew me in and kept me happily reading from beginning to end. 

There's so much depth to unpack when it comes to Arthur and Lydia and Vasti accomplishes it beautifully. Both have so many layers that make up the whole, that draw them to one another but, at the same time, keep them from handing over their hearts. Especially Arthur. My heart ached for him and his inability to believe himself worthy of love. There's a whole boatload of family betrayals to wade through but that doesn't stop him from yearning. So much yearning and I am here for it. 

Don't think this book is all angst though. There's impeccably placed humor, witty banter, zebras (yes, zebras), a mystery, a bit of danger, chemistry, meddling family (bio and chosen), road romance (Yay!), and did I mention yearning? 

There are also letters and random notes throughout the book that provide readers insights into the thoughts, feelings, and hopes of our reclusive hero. What he's unable to verbally express is eloquently - sometimes heart-wrenchingly - delivered through the perfectly crafted vehicle of his "papers," opening a window into the depths of his emotions and growing love for the quiet, socially awkward political activist who has turned his life upside down. 

These characters had me laughing, sobbing, and holding my breath as they navigated the ups and downs of mistaken identity, meddling family, espionage, kidnapping, and falling in love. I was with them every step of the way, right up to - and through - one of the most swoon-worthy, deeply romantic, heart-tugging epilogues I've read.