BOOKS AND CHINOOKS

This is an entertaining romance with a brother’s best friend trope. Willow is dog-sitting for her brother while he is deployed, and she is also hiding out from a public humiliation meme that is making the rounds about her. Deacon has assured his best friend, Cruz, that he will look out for his sister, and that includes not getting romantically involved with her. As Willow and Deacon become friends, they decide to re-do all her romantic firsts to erase them from being connecte

This is a lovely character-driven story about second chances. Bonnie has been around antiques all her life, as her father owned an antique shop. After his death, she continued to work in antique shops, and luckily, her path eventually crossed with Lew as he struggled to keep his antique shop alive. Both Lew and Bonnie are also dealing with difficult marriages. These two were lovely, gracious, and warm characters and made the book a joy to read. The secondary characters connec

Tess is a successful Hollywood star best known for her superhero movies. She wants to change her image and pursue her love of the theatre, and is about to begin a play. After a director change right before rehearsals start, it turns out her ex, Rebecca, will be the director. Rebecca is a well-known stage director and, unbeknownst to anyone else, was Tess’s first and only love. Tess has still never come out with the worry about career and personal ramifications. Will Tess be a

This book may have a fake marriage trope but it isn’t the light, fluffy one we sometimes see. The fake marriage in this case is so Simi’s sister doesn’t have to return to India, where the girls lived a terrible life before going to the U.S. Simi has built a great life, but lives in fear of deportation while she waits for her green card. Rupi is in trouble now and has always helped Simi, and now it’s Simi helping her by allowing her boyfriend to be the groom so she can stay in