Naomi's Reading Palace: March 2026

Review ~ The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann

The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, my heart! This book has all the angsty feels that I love and is a little forbidden with the age gap between the characters. However, Eve and Kyle were the perfect pair and I could not get enough of this read. I was intrigued from the start and became invested in their world.

Eve was the kind of preachers’ daughter that liked to break the rules, and babysitting for the cute new high school football coach was just what she needed. She made her feelings known early on and I could see the sparks igniting between them, even though they both knew it was forbidden. Eve built a strong friendship with Josh over the apple sauce that she made for him.

I liked the way their relationship grew and how Kyle saw deeper into Eve than she even realised. He slowly opened up to Eve and expressed his feelings to her in kind gestures. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, and when it broke my heart did too.

This book had it all; good banter, angsty moments, heartbreak, forgiveness and passion. The end of the book broke my heart, but I loved how it all came together. I need to read more of this series as I just love what this author can deliver!

Title: The Apple Tree

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Series: Sunday Morning #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: January 23, 2025

He’s a single dad starting over in a new town. She’s a relentless flirt with a penchant for trouble, ten years younger than him, and the babysitter. What could go wrong?

Eve has just graduated from high school, but she doesn’t know what’s next aside from working at the local motel, spying on Kyle, her neighbor, and stealing apples from his orchard. If she doesn’t figure things out soon, she’ll be stuck at home and treated like a child forever.

Kyle is a single dad and the new football coach who needs a babysitter for his adorable son. When he meets Eve, there’s an instant connection because she reminds him of someone—himself. But Eve is the preacher’s daughter, off-limits, and Kyle has already had his heart trampled by his ex.

After earning his son’s affection with her homemade apple sauce and youthful spirit, Eve asks Kyle to teach her things like driving his fishing boat and shooting his hunting bow. Despite his better judgment, he agrees, but swears Eve to secrecy so no one gets the wrong idea about them.

Their playful banter and innocent flirting crosses a line, and Kyle misses the heartbreaking secret Eve’s hidden in plain sight.

When tragedy strikes, can they find their way back to each other?

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Review ~ The Spark by Vi Keeland

The Spark by Vi Keeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Spark was actually a fun read and right from the bag swap incident I knew I would be hooked. I was hoping to see more of that incident, but no… we jump into the future where Autumn and Donovan meet again by chance.

I liked getting to see deeper into these characters. They were both similar really, where neither wanted to be in a relationship as they had trust issues and were burnt in the past. There was definitely chemistry between them and the longer they spent together the stronger it became. I liked seeing further into their pasts and the reasons why they were so closed off. I liked how much Donovan had changed and grew over time and how he was pushing Autumn to see the possibilities. Autumn slowly began to trust Donovan and opened up about the reasons she was holding back.

Although this was quite the light heated read, it touched on some sensitive matter for the characters, and I wasn’t sure how they would get through. I had hope that their connection and the passion that they shared would be enough. I felt that Vi Keeland pieced this story together perfectly and I was invested right to the end.

Title: The Spark

Author: Vi Keeland

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 10, 2021

A sexy new stand-alone from number one New York Times best seller Vi Keeland.

Before I even met Donovan Decker, I knew his shoe size. You see, I’d gone away for a few days, and in my haste to get out of the airport, I’d grabbed the wrong suitcase.

After checking out the expensive footwear and tailored clothes, I dialed the number on the luggage tag hoping maybe Mister Big Spender might have my bag. A deep, velvety voice answered, and as luck would have it, he had my suitcase, too.

Donovan and I met at a coffee shop to do the exchange. Turned out, it wasn’t just his voice that was sexy. The man holding my luggage was absolutely gorgeous, and we had an immediate spark. He got me to admit that I’d snooped in his bag and then convinced me to make it up to him by letting him buy me coffee. Coffee led to dinner, dinner led to dessert, and dessert led to spending an entire weekend together. Donovan wasn’t just handsome with a panty-dropping voice. He was also funny, smart, and surprisingly down-to-earth for a man who wore $700 shoes. Did I mention he also did my laundry while I slept? Definitely too good to be true. So what did I do to repay him for his kindness? I waited until he was in the shower, then ghosted him. My life was too complicated for such a great guy.

In the months that passed, I thought about Donovan often. But New York City had eight million people, so what were the chances I’d run into him? Then again, what were the chances I’d run into him a year later...when I’d just started dating his boss?

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Review ~ The Surrogate by Penelope Ward

The Surrogate by Penelope Ward
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The Surrogate was such a great read that warmed my heart. After Sig had lost his wife, he had thrown himself into his work. When his in-laws came to visit, all the emotions that he had buried resurfaced, and he was left with the dilemma of fathering a child for them to raise. Who would’ve thought that the surrogate would turn his world upside down, drawing out long lost feelings and leaving him craving to live and have Abby in his life.

Abby was the perfect surrogate for Sig and I loved how honest and sweet she was. She managed to get past his brooding persona and found the caring man beneath. She had lost someone close to her so was determined to bring this dream to life. There were a few hurdles thrown in to put distance between them, but I could see their bond getting stronger.

This was one of those reads that sat with me for a long time after I was finished. Both Abby and Sig deserved to find the right kind of happiness, and under different circumstances, they may have never met. This was a beautiful read that I was sad to see the end of!

Title: The Surrogate

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: February 26, 2024

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

ABBY
I’m falling for the father of the baby I’m carrying. The problem it’s not my baby. And the broody widower is not looking for a long-term partner. As a surrogate, the deal was that I’d only be in England long enough to give birth. At first, the man seemed as pretentious as his name: Sigmund Benedictus. He and I butted heads. Sig challenged my intentions, accused me of just wanting to do this for the money. Gradually, he learned to trust me. He even became protective. Over time, our heated animosity turned into fiery chemistry. I was falling in love with him. But my time here had a limit. I needed to protect my heart from the devastatingly gorgeous older man who’d end up breaking it

SIG
When my in-laws told me they wanted to use my dead wife’s eggs to conceive a grandchild, I wasn’t immediately on board. They swore that on her deathbed Britney told them it was what she wanted—but only if I fathered the baby. Her parents insisted they would be the ones to raise it. Against my better judgment, I agreed. I vowed to keep my heart out of it, though. I’d continue to pretend it wasn’t happening and live the empty, single life I’d become accustomed to the past five years since Britney died. And despite the fact that a certain younger American named Abby Knickerbocker had awakened things inside me that I thought were long dead… I most certainly wouldn’t fall in love with the surrogate.

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Audiobook Review ~ Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe

Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date by Lilian Monroe
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Considering how many books that Lilian Monroe has written, I am surprised that this is the first one that I have managed to devour. Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date was quite the enjoyable read, and I was swept away into the world that Monroe created. Daphne was amusing from the start, at her lowest and eating ice cream in the car while escaping her parents’ house. Crossing paths with Calvin and seeing the banter between them was amusing. They didn’t really like each other, but they soon had to work together and after a while they began to get long and their connection became stronger.

I enjoyed how the storyline unfolded, through the amusing moments there was a serious storyline that Daphne and Calvin were working on together. I liked how close they became, and how sweet Calvin was, winning Daphne over with small gestures. I liked the way that Bryant Walker and Leanne Woodward told their story and kept me engaged throughout the story. I don’t think this will be the last book by Lilian Monroe that I will read.

Title: Four Steps to the Perfect Fake Date

Author: Lilian Monroe

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: March 11, 2025

From the author of Four Steps to the Perfect Revenge comes a deliciously witty and lighthearted romance brimming with misadventures, misdeeds, misunderstandings…and one perfectly mismatched couple.

A notorious rule follower, the old Daphne Davis could do no wrong. But lately she can’t get anything right.

Jilted by her ex, ousted from her home, and laid off from her job, Daphne retreats to her little hometown, Fernley Island. But even there, she feels out of sync. So, bailing on her own sister’s engagement party, she suddenly embraces a brand-new no more goody-two-shoes.

Unfortunately, Daphne’s new mantra lands her squarely in the headlights—literally—of her high school nemesis, Calvin Flint. No longer a scrawny jerk, he’s Fernley’s acting sheriff, filling out his uniform waaay better than he ought to.

He’s also Daphne’s new boss.

As Daphne balances the books after a department scandal, a series of mishaps throws her and Calvin together. The sparks that fly take them both by surprise. But will a fake dating scheme and quest for a stolen heirloom ruin their chance at something real?

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Audiobook ~ From Nowhere by Jewel E. Ann

From Nowhere by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first met Maren in the first book of the Wildfire series, From Air, and I was excited to see who would capture her heart. She was a bit of a spitfire and despite having lost someone close to her, it really didn’t dampen her spirit. Maren and Ozzy’s first encounter was quite amusing, and the sparks continued to grow each time they interacted. Ozzy was such a sweet guy, and he too lost someone close to him, but I could see the growth in him over time. He harboured a lot of guilt and allowed his mother-in-law to treat him poorly. I was glad that he grew into the strong man he could be throughout the read. I loved how Lola was able to bring them both together and how Maren and Ozzy would do anything for her. At one time, my heart did break for Maren as she went through a tough time and wasn’t able to get the full support she needed.

From Nowhere was a nice book to listen to. I really enjoyed how Benjamin Sands and Amy McFadden narrated the story. They were easy to listen to and told Jewel E. Ann’s story perfectly. I enjoyed how the storyline continued to touch on other characters that I have met previously and look forward to the next book in the series.

Title: From Nowhere

Author: Jewel E. Ann

Series: Wildfire #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: March 4, 2025

From Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jewel E. Ann comes the exciting second novel in the Wildfire series, an emotional romance that burns up the page as it tugs at the heart.

When Maren Bernabe stops by the office to update some paperwork, she’s not looking for love. Then sparks fly during an awkward meet-cute with a stranger in the bathroom, and suddenly anything seems possible.

A seasoned air tanker pilot, Maren battles fires across the rugged Montana wilderness. With firefighters for roommates, she’s no stranger to tough guys—or tough situations. Ozzy Laster is the helpful stranger she meets, one of Cielo Aviation’s newest aircraft mechanics who’s faced his fair share of hardship too. Two years ago, his wife and father died in a car crash. Now Ozzy and daughter Lola shun cars in favor of bikes.

Maren and Ozzy fall hard, but guilt forces them to hide their relationship from Ozzy’s disapproving in-laws. And Lola. They all want to protect her from more heartbreak. But when tragedy strikes again, Lola’s reaction will surprise them all. And Ozzy could get a second chance at love after all…

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