Posted February 2, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Standalone / 0 Comments
A heart-bruised city girl. A rugged mountain loner. One Christmas blizzard that melts every defense.
Clara Bennett escapes to the Bavarian-style village of Evergreen Falls, hoping to outrun a collapsing career and a painful breakup. Instead of peace, she collides with Griffin Kane—a brooding, off-grid mountain man whose gruff charm is impossible to ignore.
Their spark flares instantly, and when a sudden blizzard traps Clara near his remote cabin, she has no choice but to accept his reluctant shelter. Firelit nights, shared chores, and accidental touches turn tension into temptation as their emotional walls begin to crumble. One near-kiss leaves them both shaken—and wanting more.
As snow deepens, so does their connection. A breathtaking kiss beneath swirling flakes exposes both desire and fear. Clara struggles to trust again, and Griffin resists opening his guarded heart, even as Christmas draws them closer.
When the storm peaks, passion finally breaks through in a steamy, unforgettable moment by the fire. But once the skies clear, reality returns: Will this spark fade with the season, or grow into something real?
~Standalone~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted February 2, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Contemporary Romance, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments
He’s a Texas lawman charged with protecting her. She’s a judge accustomed to controlling everything in her life and courtroom. When danger threatens, can these two opposites find a compromise?
District Court Judge Erin Finley Latham might come from wealth and power, but she’s worked her way to the top to become a no-nonsense, by-the-book judge. When two judges are murdered, and she’s threatened, Erin refuses to run or hide.
US Marshall Rance Parker is dismayed by his new assignment—to sequester and protect the lofty Judge Latham instead of hunting down the threat. Still, he interrupts Judge Latham’s court, shuts down the proceedings, and hustles her into protective custody, ignoring her protests. No cell phone, no detours, no packing, no calls. No.
Hiding Erin at a family cabin on their Destiny River property, Rance is surprised that Erin enjoys board games, cooking, and learning to fish. When Erin eyes the handsome, confident lawman, she feels less like a hostage and more like a woman enjoying the attention of an attractive man. Rance knows she’s out of his league, but can the magic of Destiny River convince him to try to win her heart once the danger’s passed?
Titles in the Destiny’s River series include: Home to the Cowboy’s Arms ~ The Rancher’s Fake Fiancée ~ The Sheriff’s Mistletoe Bride ~ Under the Lawman’s Watch ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted February 1, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Connection to another series, Marietta, Marietta Montana, Modern Western Romance, Montana (Tule), Owned, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments
Cowboy looking for a wife to work the land, help with the business, and raise the next generation. Must be practical, reasonable, and honest.
Harlan Carey needs a wife, and fast. Because his father is dying and wants to see his five sons settled before he goes. It makes sense to put out an ad like he’s on the frontier and he’s looking for a bride from somewhere back in civilization. He’s expecting something workable. What he gets is a wildfire.
Kendall Darlington needs to disappear from her messy life. Becoming a mail-order bride sounds close enough to actual time travel to work. What she’s not expecting is to fall, hard, for the beauty of the land and the surprising delight that is Harlan himself.
But when her past comes calling, can Kendall trust the future Harlan promises enough to finally stay—with the only man she’s ever loved, in the only place that’s ever felt like home?
Titles in The Careys of Cowboy Point series include: The Cowboy’s Mail-Order Bride* ~ The Cowboy’s Forbidden Bride *~ The Cowboy’s Secret Babies* ~ The Cowboy’s Best Friend* ~ A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 28, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Series / 0 Comments
The more they discover… The more danger they’re in.
The discovery of human remains on the Blackfeet Reservation brings together forensic anthropologist Kira Redfeather and local lawman Declan Hawthorne.
Though both seek justice for the dead, their personalities and professional methods clash. Both bear long-buried emotional wounds that drive their deep distrust of each other.
But as they strike an uneasy partnership, their pursuit of the truth is rocked by escalating threats and violence…and unexpected closeness.
Are they solving one case…or is a young Indigenous girl’s death just a piece of a bigger, deadly puzzle?
Titles in the Big Sky Justice series include: Danger in Big Sky Country ~ Her K-9 Protector ~ Cold Case Secrets ~ Cold Case Kidnapping ~ Cold Case Reckoning ~ Sacred Secrets ~ Lethal Betrayal ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 23, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Christmas Romance, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, No Spice Romance, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments
Snowbound by fate and guided by faith, can two strangers find comfort, courage, and perhaps a Christmas miracle that neither saw coming?
When Nora Patterson rear-ends Reverend Rock Peters’ SUV on a snowy mountain road, her Christmas Eve takes an unexpected turn—from lonely to life-changing. Stranded together in an old cabin while a blizzard rages outside, Nora discovers the handsome minister is kind, steady, and far too easy to talk to. She’s spent the year missing her mother and praying for someone to share Christmas with—never imagining that the answer to her prayers might come that night.
Rockford Peters had long ago made peace with spending his holidays alone, serving others while quietly yearning for someone to come home to. Then Nora literally crashes into his life, bringing warmth and laughter into a heart he thought had stopped hoping.
But when the snow clears, will love stay—or melt away with the morning light?
Titles in the Falls Mountain series include: Falling for Grace ~ The Christmas Nanny ~ The Heartbreaker ~ Star Crossed ~ Not This Christmas ~ Convince My Heart ~
This is a no-spice (light spice) romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 
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Posted January 17, 2026 by Marsha in Author ARC, Booksprout ARC, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, No Spice Romance, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments
When a heartbroken former ballerina meets a single dad starting over, love finds its rhythm again.
Grace Hart thought her future ended the night she lost the two things she loved most—her fiancé and her ballet career. Now she’s built a quiet, safe life running Romantically Yours, a cozy boutique in the small mountain town of Harbor Falls, North Carolina. Love isn’t on her agenda… until new renters move in next door.
Divorced attorney Rick Price is ready to trade long hours and courtroom stress for a fresh start with his spirited six-year-old daughter, Izzie. He’s not looking for romance—just a second chance at being the father Izzie deserves. But when Grace offers friendship and the warmth of community, his carefully controlled world starts to spin.
As Grace learns to let go of her painful past and Rick dares to open his heart again, both discover that sometimes love appears when you stop chasing it—and that family can be found in the most unexpected places.
Titles in the Falls Mountain series include: Falling for Grace ~ The Christmas Nanny ~ The Heartbreaker ~ Star Crossed ~ Not This Christmas ~ Convince My Heart ~
This is a no-spice (light spice) romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 🙂
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Posted January 16, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments
Best friends don’t fall in love. Until they do.
I’ve been half in love with Kendall Castille for years. She’s my best friend—my constant, my safe person. To her, we’re just friends. To me? She’s everything.
I keep my feelings buried for a reason. Love leaves scars, and I already have too many to count. I’ve lost too much to risk my heart again, so I build walls and pretend I don’t want more.
Until something changes, and everything starts to unravel. Suddenly, friendship isn’t enough. The slow-burn chemistry between us turns unbearable, and every moment together feels like standing on the edge of something that could either save us—or break us.
Wanting her is terrifying. Losing her would destroy me.
One kiss changes everything. One choice puts our friendship, our hearts, and our lives in this small town on the line.
Titles in the Heartfire Falls series include: What We Keep ~ Mine to Hold ~ Be With Me ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 14, 2026 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Small Town Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca / 0 Comments
Craving a fresh start, Haddie Martin trades life in Chicago for a teaching gig in the quirky small town of Summertown, IL. But when she stops in a hotel to rest for the night, she locks eyes with a painfully handsome, nameless stranger who would make the perfect one-night stand. Only…she chickens out at the last minute and disappears.
Never expecting to see the man again, Haddie leaves her embarrassing exit in the rearview and drives straight to her new home. She arrives only to find out, thanks to her new landlord, that her apartment has been double rented, and of course, the other tenant is none other than Levi Rourke, the gorgeous man Haddie bailed on just the night before.
If only an apartment were the only thing they had to share… Little did Haddie know she’d be working daily with her almost hookup on the school soccer field—him as the coach for the boys’ team and her for the girls’. The spark they both feel might be more than passion. If Levi wasn’t set to leave as soon as the school year is up, maybe…it could be love.
Standalone (ARC)
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 10, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Closed Doors/ Fade to Black, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Love Inspired (Harlequin), No Spice Romance, Owned, Reading Challenges, Series, Small Town Romance / 0 Comments
An unexpected partnership. A shocking secret. Can the truth heal old wounds?
After months away, architect Wyatt Teague returns home only to find himself named a guardian to his late friends’ orphaned twins…alongside his ex-fiancée, Natalie Dalton.
But caring for them together proves to be a challenge: Wyatt’s job is in the city, and Natalie can’t leave her family’s apple orchard.
As they vow to make this new partnership work, old feelings between them quickly resurface.
But when Natalie finds out the true reason behind Wyatt’s abandonment, can she trust him with the babies…and her heart?
Titles in the Home to Foxtail series include: Mountain Homecoming ~ Her Pretend Holiday Beau ~
This is a no-spice romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 🙂
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Posted January 10, 2026 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments
I made a commitment to myself to whittle down my massive TBR Tower of Leaning Books this year, and the TBR 26 in ’26 Reading Challenge looks like a fun way to do that (along with other Challenges to motivate me and keep me on track).
It’s very simple to join in the fun. Simply click the link either in the text above or on the graphic to go to the sign-up page, read over the requirements, and sign up.
I’ll be creating a TBR 26 in’26 Reading Challenge page, so that I can easily list my read books for this challenge. You can find that page through the Challenges at the top of my pages, or click on THIS LINK.
Posted January 9, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Holiday Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments
Coldly ruthless and deeply cynical, Apollo Metraxis has made a career of bachelorhood. But when the inheritance of his father’s estate is conditional on a marriage and a child, he is forced to do the unthinkable!
Unpolished Pixie Robinson is the world’s worst choice of a wife for Apollo. Yet her family’s mounting debts leave her defenseless and therefore uniquely suitable.
But when the wedding night exposes Pixie’s untouched vulnerability, striking a chord in the dark reaches of his heart, Apollo is forced to think again.
And that’s before he discovers that she’s carrying not one—but two Metraxis heirs!
Titles in the Christmas with a Tycoon duet include: The Italian’s Christmas Child ~ The Greek’s Christmas Bride ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 9, 2026 by Marsha in Challenges, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Holiday Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Series, Sexual Content / 0 Comments
Italian tycoon Vito Zaffari is waiting out the festive season while a family scandal fades from the press. So he’s come to his friend’s snow-covered English country cottage, determined to shut out the world.
Until a beautiful bombshell dressed as Santa literally crashes into his Christmas! Innocent Holly Cleaver sneaks under Vito’s defenses—he wants her like no other before, and decides he must have her.
When Vito finds her gone the next day, he’s sure she’ll be easy to forget . . . until he discovers that their one night of passion has a shocking Christmas consequence!
Titles in the Christmas with a Tycoon duet include: The Italian’s Christmas Child ~ The Greek’s Christmas Bride ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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Posted January 8, 2026 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments
You can check out the 2026 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge on their official site through either the graphic link or the text link below. Maybe you’ll want to join in, too.
I’ve made a commitment to myself for 2026 to whittle down my TBR tower a lot. I’ve discovered that several titles now have series or duet titles attached. In an effort to keep myself motivated and on track, I’ve joined several Reading Challenges for 2026. So, before I get into the details of the Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge for 2026, please allow me to say: Thank you to the Harlequin authors (or the publishing house itself) for putting so many Harlequin titles on Kindle Unlimited. Frankly, there is no way that I could afford to purchase every title that I’d love to read, many of which are now parts of duets, especially in Harlequin Presents. Being able to finish those duets or series through KU is such a help to my monthly book budget, allowing me to read even more of my favorite authors’ titles.
We all have favorite authors. I’ve several in various genres, so joining the Beat the Backlist Challenge 2026 is one way to keep a record and myself on track as I chip away at the backlists of many of those authors I’ll always one-click (when the book budget allows). I’ll be doing a combination of reading owned (TBR) titles and catching up on backlists through Kindle Unlimited. It’s a help that I can combine some of the titles in at least two different Reading Challenges this year.
I’ll be adding a Goodreads shelf below the Beat the Backlist Challenge on the sidebar, as well as listing the titles (on my Beat the Backlist 2026 Page), where I can see my progress… and perhaps you’d find a title or author there that you’ve yet to discover. Good luck to all trying to get through their books this year!
Posted January 8, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Montana (Tule), Previously Published, Series, Small Town Romance, Tule Publishing / 0 Comments
Three weeks. One unfinished house. And the man who still knows exactly how to undo her.
Felicity Evans traded in hard hats for high heels the day she left Holly, Montana for Seattle. Now a rising star in the financial world, she doesn’t look back—until her father’s injury drags her home to finish his most important construction project. She’ll manage the crew, keep her heart locked up tight, and be gone before the snow melts.
Then Danny Montgomery shows up.
Once the boy who could make her laugh—and make her knees weak—Danny is now a man whose rough hands and easy grin make it impossible to breathe. She needs his help to meet the deadline, but working side by side only stirs up the heat they’ve been avoiding for years.
Danny’s waited a decade for this second chance, and he’s not wasting it. Every glance, every accidental touch, every long winter night is another chance to remind her exactly what she walked away from.
By Valentine’s Day, the house won’t be the only thing finished. Felicity’s convinced her resolve will be gone too…
Titles in the Big Sky, Small Town series include: A Montana Christmas Homecoming ~ A Holiday Wedding Rescue ~ Home to Montana ~
This story may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult 18+ audience.
Previously published as V is for Valentine’s Day.
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Posted January 7, 2026 by Marsha in Booksprout ARC, Mystery, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Series, Small Town Romance, This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments
A geologist with an unwanted psychic gift, a man on the run, a dead body, and a friend accused of…murder?
Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before. Although her paranormal powers are a burden, they’ve helped her solve several crimes and make friends in her new southwestern small town. She’s enjoying settling into her new job when her landlord, Shelley, introduces an “old friend.” Wayne seems cagey. He wants to keep his visit a secret and has recently adopted an energetic dog “for protection.”
When Petra stumbles over Wayne’s dead body, suspicions quickly turn to murder, with Shelley the prime suspect. Petra and her friends investigate and quickly uncover a slew of suspects, scams, and motives. Petra’s psychic abilities alone aren’t enough to reveal the true killer. To clear Shelley, Petra will need all of her cleverness, the help of her found family, some luck, and the dog that seems to have adopted her.
Titles in the Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery series include: A Stone Cold Murder ~ Death at Rock Bottom ~ Buried in Betrayal ~
This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.
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