Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Summerween by Joss Wood

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Rom Com, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Summerween (Halloween Town, #1)Summerween by Joss Wood

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Halloween Town, #1

Release Date: July 16, 2026

After a soul-crushing breakup with the man she thought was her soulmate and an even more humiliating livestream proposal from her rebound fling, choreographer Wren Dunlop needs a break from the madness that is her life and longs for her childhood home of Solstice Springs. She arrives to town to see that her godmother, Luna, the mayor, has gone all out turning Solstice Springs into, Halloween Town (aka H-Town), a year-round Halloween destination and Wren arrives just in time for Summerween. Though Wren plans to have a romance-free, work-free and drama-free summer – it is clear that fate has other plans for her – as do the ghosts that call Solstice Springs home.

After suffering from PTSD, trauma surgeon Dr. Dane Trafford needs to relax and regroup. He loves his work, but the pressure of the job and everyone’s expectations have left him burnt out and he needs time to heal. He recalls spending a happy summer in Solstice Springs with his father as a child and longs to recapture that happiness. He was not expecting to find the town had turned into a supernatural tourist hot spot or that the mayor of the town would insist that he become the town’s new doctor, and he certainly didn’t expect to fall in love. This summer is going to be interesting!

What a fun start to a new series! I loved Wren and Dane, they are such relatable characters, they both have their own reasons for being in Solstice Springs, and falling in love was not one of them. But they have instant chemistry and the heart wants what the heart wants. This story has that delightful small-town vibe, great secondary characters, ghosts (think the TV show Ghosts), some self-worth issues, healing, steamyish love scenes, compromise, mutual support and true love. This author is new to me, and as an American reader, reading a book about Americans, I did get a giggle or two about some of the phrases that clearly called the author out as someone who doesn’t use American English, but it was completely endearing and I can’t wait to check out her backlist! If you enjoy a fun, spicy, small-town romance with a hint of supernatural – this is a book you need to read!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Scandal of the SummerScandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Flirty Rotten Scoundrels #1

Release Date: June 23, 2026

After yet another social debacle, Lady Ruby Ballimore knows it is time to leave London and plans to take her best friends Lady Alice Eppington and Miss Tamsin Drake with her. Ruby’s father is the Earl of Hangleton and he is the English ambassador to the small principality of Manfalcone, so when she learns that Princess Serafina of Manfalcone has cancelled her trip to her vacation home in Cornwall, Ruby decides to take advantage of the princess’s absence and spend the summer there, the three of them posing as the princess’s ladies in waiting – what could go wrong? They arrive in Cornwall and are surprised to find the castle rundown and inhabited by Malcolm Archer, a gorgeous former sea captain and his crew. It is clear that they are hiding something and don’t want the ladies to stay, but clearly Malcolm has underestimated Ruby – it is definitely going to be a summer neither will ever forget!

Malcolm Archer was once a promising Naval officer, who rose above his humble origins to captain his own ship, it seemed like his life was finally moving in a positive direction, until the unthinkable happened and he let his feelings make a decision that cost him his career. After being dishonorably discharged from the navy, his former mentor helped him get the job of steward to Princess Serafina’s Cornwall castle. As no one was living in the home and the princess had no immediate plans to visit, there was no need for a full staff, leaving Malcolm to support the crew members that followed him after his discharge. He fell back into his former ways and began smuggling to provide for everyone and the ever-growing dog population. When his latest venture is ruined by none other than Lady Ruby, he returns to Cornwall to regroup – only to had Lady Ruby to show up on the doorstep, insisting that the Princess sent her. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to recognize him from the social event that caused her to leave England, but he can’t hope for that luck to hold and does his utmost to make her leave – which involves a lot of hilarity but is ultimately unsuccessful.

This was such a fun story! It is well-written, nicely paced and had an amazing cast of characters. This story is filled with emotion, self-discovery, found family, lots of dogs, unexpected guests, abduction, steamyish love scenes, laugh out loud antics, betrayal, loyalty, a hero ready to burn the world for his love, a lot of plot twists and finally a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. This is the first book in a new series, and I am already looking forward to the next installment! If you are looking for a fun read that isn’t fluffy or silly – this is the book for you – it delivers an emotional story but still makes you laugh and leaves you with a smile on your face. Highly recommended!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *