It took me a little while to settle into the story, but once I did, I found it to be such a heartwarming read with characters that were easy to care about.

Personally, I would have loved a little more detail in the ending. I felt like a few things wrapped up a bit quickly, but it didn’t take away from the heart of the story.

One thing to note is that commitment issues play a significant role in the plot, so if that’s a trope you tend to avoid, it’s worth keeping in mind. As well as the miscommunication trope.

Ethan completely stole my heart He was such a precious addition to the story, and every scene with him made me smile.

And all of the Princess Bride references? Absolutely loved them

Overall, this was a sweet, cozy romance with heartfelt moments and a message that lingered long after I finished reading.

Tropes
Best Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating
Slow Burn
Faith Themes
Lake Cabin Setting
Wildlife Photographer MMC

: Kisses Only 
: None

BLURB: Aspen won’t put down roots, and Mia is afraid to fly.

By-the-book Mia has every moment of her life laid out in glittery color-coded ink. Her world is neat and tidy, and she knows exactly what she wants. The one thing she can’t seem to keep organized is her travel-happy lifelong friend. Aspen—restless and endlessly chasing the next adventure—is building his career as a nature photographer, and spends his days anywhere but home. Each goodbye is chipping away at something Mia can’t quite put her finger on.

When Aspen announces he’s leaving on his longest assignment yet, Mia realizes she’s tired of waiting for a someday that never seems to arrive; tired of post cards, phone calls with bad reception, and emails in the place of real connection. When she decides it’s time to call it quits, a desperate Aspen tells one small lie: one that lands him an invitation to Mia’s family lake cabin for the week.

The catch? Everyone thinks they’re dating.

Now, surrounded by family, cozy bonfires, and a lake cabin that holds memories around each corner, Aspen and Mia must pretend their love story is more than fiction. With Aspen’s departure looming and Mia’s patience stretched to its breaking point, they have one week to figure out the real reason hurts so deeply to let go.

Because pretending to be in love seems easy, until real feelings get involved.

Click the photo above to read this story!

The post Love Is For The Birds by Halli M. Castro appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

The suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end, and the fast paced story made it so easy to fly through. I loved how the romance complemented the mystery without taking away from the action, creating a great balance between the two.

This is the third book in the series, and I definitely recommend reading them in order. Each book builds on the previous one, making the characters, relationships, and overarching story even more rewarding.

Second Chance Romance 
Sabotage 
Romantic Suspense 
Christian Romance 
Overcoming Pain Themes 
Animal Sanctuary 

: Kisses Only
: None
Mentions of past sexual assault and attempted murder

BLURB: Fifteen years of secrets. One chance for justice.

Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard–a chilling embodiment of Paradise’s deepest fears–is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can’t unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.

A conspiracy of lemurs is a family. But a conspiracy of people can be deadly.

Click the photo above to read this story!

The post Conspiracy by Colleen Coble appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

: Kisses Only
: None

OVERVIEW: She doesn’t know who she’s running from–and the man she loves may be someone else entirely

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she’s been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband–and answers–takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn’t know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.

The post No One To Trust by Lynette Eason appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Micah completely won me over. His patience, kindness, and steady support of Harper as she worked through her faith journey and her feelings made him such an easy character to love. I especially appreciated the way he gave her the space she needed while still encouraging her along the way.

One of my favorite parts of this story was watching Harper grow in her faith and confidence throughout the book.

While the pacing felt a little slower at times, the heartfelt character development and meaningful themes made it well worth the journey.

And that ending? So sweet
I immediately wanted to pick up A Season to Fall as soon as I finished.

Tropes
He Falls First
Faith Themes
ADHD Representation
Fake Dating
He Takes Care of Her
Golden Retriever MMC
Slow Burn

: Kisses Only
: None

Content Warnings:
Brief Mentions of Alcohol
Emotionally Distant Parents
Past Relationship Hurt
Faith Struggles and Spiritual Doubt
ADHD Rep

BLURB: My friends just dared me to ask the most annoyingly decent man I know to be my fake date to the gala.
One night. Show up, smile, make my ex jealous. Go home.
The plan is simple. He plays the part, I get closure, and we both walk away like nothing happened.
Except nothing about him has ever been simple.
He’s steady. Faithful. All dimples and thick-framed glasses, the kind of man who shows up when it matters—and somehow sees more than I ever say out loud.
And the longer we pretend, the harder it is to remember what’s real.
I’m so busy trying to make the wrong man jealous, I almost miss what’s happening right in front of me.
When I thank him for this favor, he answers like he’s teasing. “You’ve found my weakness.”
“And that is?” I ask, but I can hear the truth behind it.
“You.”
It was supposed to last one night—a fake date, a favor, a friend I was never supposed to fall for.
It doesn’t.

Because some dares remain forever.

Dare to Fall is a clean, slow-burn Christian romance filled with fake-dating tension, friends-to-lovers longing, achingly honest faith questions, and swoon-worthy almost-moments. Perfect for readers who love protective heroes with terrible dad jokes, heroines learning the difference between striving and remaining, and love stories that lead you straight back to grace.

Click the photo above to read this story!

The post Dare To Fall by Amber Nicole appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

I’ve seen people call this story an emotional masterpiece, and after finishing it, I completely understand why. This was such a beautiful, heartfelt read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
And that ending… It was everything I hoped for and more. Beautiful, emotional, and deeply satisfying.

If you’re planning to pick this one up, keep some tissues nearby—you may need them.

Neighbors
Enemies to Lovers
He Takes Care Of Her
Messy Mates 
Forced Proximity 
Transplant Recipient 
Faith Themes

: Kisses Only 
: None 

Content Warning: past loss of parent, heart transplant, past drunk driving, past loss of Sibling, grief, heartbreak

BLURB: Years after a life-saving heart transplant, Liv Karlsson lives in the fragile space between gratitude and fear—thankful for every heartbeat and afraid of when they might stop. Running her family’s cozy Swedish bakery gives her purpose, but mounting financial pressures and the shadows of her past leave her wondering: Is she truly living . . . or simply existing?

Then Hunter moves in next door. Guarded, cynical, and annoyingly attractive, he’s everything Liv avoids—and he’s also unfortunately her roommate’s cousin. But when he unexpectedly steps in to help Liv save the bakery with a new marketing plan, their reluctant partnership sparks something neither one is prepared for. He pushes her. Challenges her. Sees her. Suddenly, the girl who’s spent years protecting her heart finds it racing for someone who might just understand her better than anyone ever has.

But just as Liv begins to imagine a future worth fighting for, a devastating revelation threatens to unravel everything. Now Liv must face the ultimate test: Will she find the courage to love, or will fear take it all away?

Click the photo above to read!

The post Every Beat After by Sara B. Larson appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

This story felt like the warmest hug on a day you desperately need one. The kind of book that wraps around your heart and stays there long after you turn the last page.

The notes, the trip, the list… every little piece of this story felt so special. I laughed, I cried (a lot ), and I loved every second of it.

And Milo He was so beautifully imperfect in the most endearing way—the kind of character who feels achingly real and impossible not to love.

The faith elements were woven in so naturally and added such a beautiful layer of depth and comfort to the story.
This is 100% becoming one of my ultimate comfort reads

Second Chance Romance
Small Town 
Faith Themes 
Finding One’s Self Again 
It’s Always Been Her
Road Trip

: Kisses Only
: 1 use of h*ll-bent

Content Warnings: Things from the past that are recounted in the story: childhood abandonment, car accident, season of depression.

BLURB: Sadie Summers has spent her entire life being exactly who everyone expects her to be.

Responsible. Reliable. Rooted in Dusty Hollow, Texas.

But somewhere between checking boxes, keeping the peace, and making sure everyone else is taken care of, she forgot what it feels like to choose herself.

When she stumbles upon a list titled Try Something You’ve Never Done, Sadie begins to wonder what it might look like to step outside her carefully ordered world—to want more than what’s safe and familiar. What she doesn’t expect is for the list to lead her straight back to Milo Carter.

Milo was her first love. The one who left town—and the one who never really left her heart. Now he’s back, older, steadier, and certain about what he wants. And what he wants is Sadie.

As they begin checking off the list together, Sadie finds herself laughing more, hesitating less, and facing the one question she can’t avoid forever: who is she when she stops living for everyone else?

A heartfelt, small-town romance about faith, freedom, first love, and finding the courage to live a life that finally feels like your own.

Click the photo above to read!

The post Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes by Shelbey Kendall appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Neighbors 
Small Town 
Grumpy x Sunshine 
Faith Themes
Cute Nicknames
Protective MMC
Anxiety Rep
Summer Read

: 1 use of pr*ck
: Kisses Only 

Content Warnings: mention of extramarital affairs, emotional neglect and manipulation by a parent to their adult children, and depiction a of panic attacks. 

BLURB: Spring is a time for love and growth, whether you expected it or not.

Jesse Romano, an ex ER nurse, wasn’t interested in having useless small talk with the locals, participating in community events, or going to church like everyone else in town. He only wanted three things when he moved to the small town, Magnolia Meadows, Virginia: to open his own tea shop at the end of Spring, be near his family, and live a quiet life to help manage his anxiety. However, when he finds himself falling for Magnolia Meadows resident, Ms. Sunshine, he wonders if maybe everything he wanted to avoid is worth the involvement, after all.

Ophelia Bennett, Magnolia Meadows, Ms. Sunshine – as Jesse has coined her – has nothing to complain about. She owns and runs what she considers her second home: her grandmother’s flower shop. She lives with her best friend and grumpy cat, and she is surrounded by many friends and family. Life is great! Well…almost great. After her father’s affair came to light ten years ago, Ophelia has been living in fear. Fear of losing her relationship with her father. Also, fear of falling in love with someone who could change and walk away.

As Ophelia and Jesse grow closer to each other, they’re faced with learning how to address their own anxieties, while learning how to love each other for who they are and the people they can become.

Want to read this book? Get it down below!
Roses Painted Red by Carolyn G. Beus

The post Roses Painted Red by Carolyn G. Beus appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Best Friend’s Brother
She Stabs Him(kinda)
Novelette 
Faith Themes 
Shakespeare 
Chick-Lit

: Kisses Only 
: None

BLURB: Sam Martin is in a pickle.

The male lead in her play broke his leg, and her best friend’s brother, Ethan Jenkins, refuses to turn down the dare to replace him. To make matters worse, Esme, the best friend and sister, has started seeing a new guy, and she can’t seem to see the glaring red flags that Sam and Ethan notice. Together, they must find a way to break through Esme’s limerence while not ruining their relationship with her… or complicating their budding romance.

Risk is a prequel novelette to Reverie exploring a moment of Esme’s missing memories through the eyes of Sam

The post Risk by Drew Taylor appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Strangers to Lovers
Insta Love
Slow Burn
Swoony Moments
Jesus Filled
Girl Group

: Kisses Only
: None

BLURB: My friends just dared me to hold a stranger’s hand.
Dark hair, just messy enough. Inked arms. Relaxed and completely unbothered—like the kind of guy who doesn’t second-guess a single thing he does.
Before I can overthink it, I close my eyes, take a breath…
And grab his hand.
The moment my fingers touch his, everything changes. His hand is warm, and for a beat, he doesn’t move.
I look up—and everything else fades.
His gaze is intense. Like he sees right through me. Then his fingers tighten around mine.
My heart stutters.
“Um… are you gonna let go?”
He tilts his head, just a little.
“Do you want me to?”
It’s supposed to end there—on a crowded street, with a stranger I’ll never see again.
It doesn’t.
Because some dares lead to forever.

Dare to Hold is a clean, slow-burn Christian romance filled with strangers-to-lovers tension, second chances, and swoon-worthy moments. Perfect for readers who love a broody tattooed worship leader, a sunshine heroine learning what grace really means, and a love story where redemption leads straight to Jesus.

Click the photo above to read!

The post Dare To Hold by Amber Nicole appeared first on Lilys Reading Corner.

Click the photo above to read!

: Kisses Only : None

OVERVIEW: Despite being published more than a decade ago, New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock’s Predator, which follows a woman in search of justice and healing after her sister is murdered at the hands of an online predator, is more relevant than ever. Perfect for fans of Undercover Underage and high-stakes Christian suspense.

The murder of Krista Carmichael’s fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God’s justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, she is forced to confront the cost of vengeance and the limits of her own strength.

Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online predators. When his path crosses with Krista’s, the investigation becomes deeply personal. Together they pursue the truth, navigating danger, doubt, and growing trust as the killer closes in.

As hunter and hunted collide, Blackstock weaves a suspenseful story that examines justice, forgiveness, and the search for hope in the aftermath of tragedy. With taut pacing and emotionally resonant stakes, Predator is an unforgettable read for thriller fans and book clubs drawn to timely topics and faith-centered suspense–perfect for readers ready to dive into a story that will keep them turning pages late into the night.

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