A moving conclusion to an excellent historical romance series.
The final Luna sister searches for happiness.
Four years ago, Gabriela Luna and her sisters fled their home in Mexico City to escape the encroaching French army, then sailed to London to try to win supporters for the Mexican cause. Now, the rebellious and impulsive Gabby is the only one of the three who isn’t married, and after she’s nearly trapped into matrimony by a penniless earl seeking her healthy dowry, she decides it’s time to go home and prove her worth to her father. Onboard the ship, she’s dismayed to learn that one of her traveling companions is Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield, who’s heading abroad to check on an investment (and keep an eye on Gabby). Gabby has never been able to see him as more than a rake, after walking in on him and a partner in a very intimate moment, and the two have been arguing ever since. The long journey, however, gives them a chance to see each other in a new light. Once back in Mexico, Gabby is upset when she realizes that her father still doesn’t respect her work, but also pleasantly surprised that Sebastian steps up to defend her. Gabby quickly realizes that even on the other side of the Atlantic she’s still being assessed primarily for her value as a wife, and when she decides to escape back to England, Sebastian is the one who accompanies her. And since there’s only one cabin left, which they need to share, it isn’t long before the connection that’s been developing between them becomes intense and physical—but after they’re caught stealing one last kiss on the London docks, it looks as though Gabby’s journey may end up with a marriage after all. De la Rosa’s highly anticipated final Luna Sisters novel is a delight; the slow burn between Gabby and Sebastian is expertly executed, as is their enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Fans will be happy to see Gabby finally get her turn in the spotlight, as well as to get another glimpse at the lives that her sisters, Isabel and Ana María, have been leading since their HEAs. Through it all, De la Rosa delivers a complex, compelling story that celebrates the embrace of family alongside the thrill of true love.
A moving conclusion to an excellent historical romance series.Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9780593440926
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.
A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown.
Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story.
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593853979
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.
A happily engaged woman is pulled back to her hometown—and her first love—when tragedy strikes.
Billie Wright is living her dream, running a thriving fertility clinic in New York City and engaged to a wonderful trauma surgeon named Dean. Her happily-ever-after meant giving up her life in Wisconsin, where she left behind many friends as well as her high school sweetheart, Mick. Although they’d been deeply in love, when Billie’s ambition pulled her away from home and toward the city, Mick couldn’t handle either the distance or her busy schedule. Billie has finally moved on from that heartbreak—but then she receives a phone call from Mick, the first communication between them in years. Her best friend, Erin, died in a car accident, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter, Phoebe. Now Billie must return home to help sort Erin’s affairs and provide some kind of comfort to Phoebe while grieving the loss of her best friend. Of course, being back home also means being in close contact with Mick. Their feelings for each other may not have ever gone away, and their proximity leads to big decisions for Billie. Can she ever reconcile her current life in Manhattan with her past in Wisconsin? And which one will be her future? Giffin knows how to do drama, and she ratchets up the stakes with every page as she continues to reveal new obstacles for Billie. The ending wraps up quite neatly, but the nostalgia-filled ride is full of twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the pages.
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9780593600320
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
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