Author: Amy Clipston.

Series: Standalone.

Book Premise: Darcy Larsen has a new lease on life after her successful kidney transplant, but it doesn't feel like it. She's still grieving the loss of her fiance in a car accident and feeling like she's somehow to blame. Carter Donovan is also a kidney disease survivor. He's drowning in medical debt, which has forced him to live with his sister and her husband. He feels like a burden and that, after a hard breakup, he's out of luck when it comes to love. When Carter helps Darcy with her broken-down car, sparks fly almost right away. There's a special connection between them, but both are keeping secrets from each other. But then Carter discovers that his kidney transplant had a shocking connection to Darcy's late fiance, one that could tear them apart.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance. Ages 15+ for themes of grief and illness.

Profanity: None.

Violence: Mention of the death of Darcy's fiance in a car accident.

Spice Level: A thought of kissing and an almost kiss. A few lightly descriptive kisses. Some admiration of appearance and hugging. A dating couple calls each other "babe" a few times.

Faith Elements: Several mentions of prayer.

Additional Content: Mentions of adoption, grief, parental abandonment/divorce. Kidney disease and transplants are a central theme in the story.

My Take: Where do I even begin? I'm floored by how good this was! This might be one of the best Amy Clipston novels I've read. The story and the characters were SO precious, and there was amazing depth in the writing. I was near tears many times! I can't wait to buy my own copy of this!

Author: Pepper Basham.

Series: Skymar, Book 3.

Book Premise: The last thing Luke Edgewood anticipates to encounter on a trip to Skymar is a beautiful Grace Kelly look-alike. But her appearance is nothing like her personality, which is insufferable. And worst of all, Luke has to work with her. Meanwhile, Princess Elliana is looking for a fresh start after three years out of the media spotlight. She's determined to fix her tarnished image. When she meets handsome American Luke, she doesn't want to get close to him. Both of them don't expect to develop feelings for each other. And both of them, especially Luke, never thought they'd wind up in a real-life Hallmark movie.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, Christian. Ages 14+ for romance and some physical attraction.

Profanity: A single use of "sexy" and "hottie." No swear words.

Violence: A character is accidentally hit by a hammer and gets a black eye (not graphic). A character punches someone in a misunderstanding, not descriptive.

Spice Level: A mention of a woman having nice legs. Talk of/thinking about kissing. Several mentions of ogling. Description of lips. Frequent kissing, up to semi-descriptive. Some physical touch and thinking about it. A mention of revealing clothes. A few mentions of testosterone. A kissing scene that comes close to making out. Ellie falls asleep next to Luke while they're sitting on the couch. A thought (or worry? It's very hard to tell) of walking in on a woman "in a state of undress."

Faith Elements: A mention of God's plan, a few mentions of God having a sense of humor, and a mention of God's gifts. A mention of a preacher's kid. Characters say grace over a meal once.

Additional Content: A mention of a character's past cancer battle.

My Take: While this book was cute (and gave me Kate Middleton and Prince William vibes, if their roles had been reversed), the physical attraction was too much for me in places. It was light and cute otherwise, and I loved Ellie! It was also very fun to see Izzy and Penelope again, because they are some of my favorite female characters in this trilogy. Slightly disappointing for me, but a good conclusion to the series.

Author: Amy Clipston.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: When Emily gets a message from her childhood best friend about saving his family orchard, she can't say no. Even though she never thought she'd return to Splendid Lake after losing her parents and having her heart broken. She's thrilled to be reunited with Jake and his family-but cautious. His ex-girlfriend, Claire, who has always been rude to Emily, still wants Jake to fall in love with her. Emily knows she shouldn't get her hopes up about a future with him, but something is tugging at her heart, and the magic of Splendid Lake might be just the thing for both of them to leave the past behind and forge a future together.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance. Ages 14+ for romance and some mentions of grief.

Profanity: No curse words. A few uses of "hot" when referring to a guy's appearance.

Violence: It's mentioned that a character's parents died in a plane crash, and another character's dad had a heart attack in the past. Someone falls down the stairs, mild descriptions of injuries (mostly bruises).

Spice Level: A mention of someone's muscles, and a character observes another's figure. A few thoughts of kissing/staring at lips. Several mildly descriptive kisses.

Faith Elements: A mention of blessings.

Additional Content: None.

My Take: I'm starting on a positive note, because there's a lot to unpack. THE COVER IS STUNNING! It's the best part of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't love the story or the characters all that much. It lacked emotion and the characters felt flat. There was also no faith content, something that Amy Clipston usually does so well. It was disappointing for a Christian author. While I loved the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, the romance was too kissy, and the "longing" aspect was close to lustful at times. This book just wasn't for me, unfortunately!

*Special thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Author: Chrissy Q. Martin.

Series: Running on Love and Donuts, Book 4.

Book Premise: Chelsey is a crowd follower, and her mom has figured out a way to help her discover her own interests with a senior trip to Ireland. But by accident, Chelsey and her mom end up on a trip with senior citizens, not high school seniors. Oops. However, Chelsey isn't the only teen on the trip. There's also Declan, the grumpy bag boy who seems to dislike the whole world and everyone in it. As fate would have it, Chelsey and him are forced together for most of the trip. And as fate would also have it, Chelsey finds him pretty attractive. With the help of a few goofy grandmas, will Chelsey find love (and interests) on her Irish holiday?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, YA. Ages 14+ for romance.

Profanity: A cutoff of the s-word (but the speaker corrects herself and says something more appropriate). "Oh my gosh" is used, as well as the UK term "bloody." "Shoot" also shows up, as well as "hot" when referring to a boy.

Violence: No violence.

Spice Level: A few jokes about underwear. Characters see nude statues on a tour. A character says that she doesn't do hookups. Some hugging. A few kisses, up to semi-descriptive.

Faith Elements: A few mentions of bad omens. A reference to the Christmas Story in the Bible. Mentions of churches and cathedrals. Mention of a Catholic saint and blessings.

Additional Content: A mention of whiskey. It's also said that the legal drinking age in Ireland is 18.

My Take: I enjoyed Rebel on a Holiday, it was a great way to finish off a sweet, wholesome romance series! It could definitely be read as a standalone, because the original Donut Club didn't play a big part in it. I don't think the grandmas' appearance was necessary and was a touch distracting (I cringed every time Iris opened her mouth). But my goodness, the Irish setting was GORGEOUS, and I had such fun imagining the places Chelsey went! And I also thought her close bond with her mom was so sweet, it reminded me so much of my relationship with my mom!

Author: Julia DeVillers.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Coco did not expect to be stuck in a smelly moose costume at her family's struggling amusement park for the summer. But she's up for the task if it gives her a chance at winning Wonderland Adventure Park's MVP award. As luck would have it, there's a heatwave. So naturally, she emerges from Morty the Moose a sweaty mess when her manager introduces her to the cutest boy she's ever seen. Henry has no desire to spend his summer at a dorky amusement park, but a soccer injury left him with no choice. His only hope is that he can avoid riding the rollercoasters (he's afraid of heights). After their first awkward encounter, Coco and Henry begin to warm up to each other. But as the weeks go on, Henry's dad asks very strange questions about the resort, and he soon suspects that there's more to his dad wanting him to work at the park than meets the eye. Told from alternating perspectives of Coco and Henry, this clean romance is perfect for readers of every genre!

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, YA/middle grade. Ages 13+ for romance.

Profanity: No swearing. A use of "darn," "hot," and "heck."

Violence: A few mentions of horror movies, and a joke about an exorcism.

Spice Level: Mention of a guy's abs, and a non-descriptive kiss.

Faith Elements: A few mentions of blessings, and a reference to zodiac signs.

Additional Content: Henry's parents are divorced, and it's mentioned that Coco's mom had cancer.

My Take: This has gotta be one of the cleanest books I've ever read. I can't say enough positive things about this adorable rom-com, so buckle up! I loved all of the characters, even the annoying older sister (LOL). The dialogue was super realistic to how teens talk, which made me connect with the story even more. Plus, it was told from dual POVs, which made it much more fun and easier to connect with Henry and Coco. And last, but not least, the romance was on-point, with nothing more than a sweet kiss at the end to satisty the readers. Perfect middle grade/ YA romance that I devoured!

Author: Chrissy Q. Martin.

Series: Running on Love and Donuts, Book 2.

Book Premise: The Donut Club is back for one last adventure, full of humor, heartbreak, and yes, a box of donuts. Emma and Tyler's relationship is now being sold to the media, and gossip sites are eating it up. So what's the easiest thing to do when your relationship is in the public eye? Fake a breakup. But faking a breakup and still secretly dating takes a whole lot of secrets and sneaking around. The pressure of lying to everyone, including the Donut Club, might just be the thing that destroys their romantic relationship-and possibly their friendship, too.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, contemporary, YA. Ages 15+ for romance and mildly suggestive comments.

Profanity: A few mentions of swearing, with no words actually said. Use of "heck," "oh my gosh/OMG," "get a room," and "speak of the devil."

Violence: Emma's mom gives birth, not graphic.

Spice Level: Some kissing (ranging from mild description to no description), and wanting to kiss. Running hands through hair, hugging, and handholding. A mention of the marriage bed, and some talk of teen pregnancy (almost every time Emma or Tyler announced big news, people would as if she was pregnant, or if he got her pregnant). A joke about two older women acting like a married couple because of all their inside jokes (it never becomes anything, they're just close friends). An unmarried couple wants to move in together.

Faith Elements: Mentions of squirrels and mice being bad omens.

Additional Content: A character has been in rehab for alcohol problems in the past.

My Take: It's wild to think that this is the last book featuring the original Donut Club! I'll definitely miss their exciting and comedic adventures. The epilogue at the end was a wonderful little touch to give us a sneak-peek into the characters' futures. Sadly, a few content concerns that could've easily been left out lowered my rating. In my opinion, books 1 and 2 were cleaner!

Author: Chrissy Q. Martin.

Series: Running on Love and Donuts, Book 2.

Book Premise: Emma never expected her summer fling with Tyler to become a full-on senior year relationship. And, just like she thought, her new boyfriend is on the very top of the social ladder, and she's on the bottom...again. Turns out, all the girls would do anything to date him, and they're not very happy that he's not single. Fortunately, Emma and Tyler have the Donut Club to rely on for support (and sweet treats). But their whole relationship changes when Tyler reveals a shocking secret about him and his family, one that could tear their relationship apart. Will this couple handle the drama without crumbling?

Reading Level/Genre: YA, romance, contemporary. Ages 14+ for romance and thematic elements.

Profanity: Two uses of the d-word. A few variations of "hot." One of the grandmas uses the "WTF" acronym in a text without realizing the meaning. A use of "heck," and a couple mentions of swearing without words being said.

Violence: A mention of vampires.

Spice Level: Some physical touch (handholding, hugging, running a hand through hair), kissing with minimal description, a few mentions of cleavage. Emma runs into Tyler's mom while buying a pregnancy test for her mom, and has to explain that it's NOT for her. Emma says something that implies she doesn't want to go further than kissing while dating Tyler.

Faith Elements: Mentions of bad omens.

Additional Content: A side character is in rehab for a smoking and alcohol addiction. A joke about spiked coffee, and a few adults drink alcohol.

My Take: A sweet romance with surprising plot twists! I recommend reading this in the fall, it's very cozy and perfect to enjoy with hot cocoa.

Author: Chrissy Q. Martin.

Series: Running on Love and Donuts, Book 1.

Book Premise: Emma is a strict rule follower, and a self-described loner with few friends. The summer before senior year, her parents send her Florida for three weeks to visit her grandma. In order to help Emma step out of her comfort zone, Grandma issues a rule: break one rule a day or be sent home. And she has a way to help. Every morning, Emma meets with four other teens whose grandparents also want them to break habits. They're more different than you can imagine, and thinking the same thing. How is this gonna work? A fun, summer read with 80's movie vibes!

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, YA, contemporary. Ages 14+ for some romantic themes.

Profanity: Two uses of the d-word and h-word. A couple of uses of "hot" and "hottie." A use of "freaking," "heck," and "OMG." A few mentions of curses, no actual words are written.

Violence: A character accidentally cuts his foot on a shard of glass, minimal description. At the zoo, it's said that the monkeys carry a rare disease. There's a fire in a house, no serious injuries.

Spice Level: Two mentions of cleavage, a few mentions of a bikini swimsuit. Emma worries that a guy is staring at her chest (SPOILER: he isn't). A few mentions of bras. A few mentions of tampons. A mention of steamy romance novels, three mentions of skinny-dipping. Some kissing, minimally descriptive, and also some hugging and handholding.

Faith Elements: A mention of a cross placed in Emma's grandma's yard in memory of her grandpa. The author includes Proverbs 16:24 at the end of her acknowledgements. 

Additional Content: The past death of a grandparent is referenced. Mentions of divorce. Mention of a character having a habit of smoking and drinking (Emma catches her doing both once). Tyler's grandma has a glass of gin.

My Take: DISCLAIMER: Buy a box of donuts before reading this, or you'll find yourself with an intense craving for them! The story is so fluffy and fun, with dashes of humor in all the right places. It's the ideal summer read, whether that's by the pool, on the beach, or in the car!

Author: Becca Kinzer.

Series: Standalone fiction.

Book Premise: McKenna's photography career is stuck, and as soon as she helps her sister's boyfriend set up the perfect wedding proposal, she's moving on to something new. But her plans are derailed when a handsome stranger ends up with the ring, she hops on a plane to a quirky town in Tennessee to retrieve it. It'll be in and out, a piece of cake. Right? Nope. Turns out, the ring is in Nate's lost suitcase. So while McKenna waits, she gets caught up in helping the quirky townsfolk plan a concert by a surprise celebrity, and help Nate renovate his mom's struggling bed and breakfast. For the two of them, things going wrong might actually be things going just right, in the most romantic way possible.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, comedy, Christian. Ages 14+ for some romance.

Profanity: Use of "heck," and one use of "sexy" but not describing a person.

Violence: Someone nearly drowns after accidentally falling off a bridge, not descriptive. Mentions of cuts and stitches with minor mentions of blood.

Spice Level: Some talk of kissing, a few barely descriptive kisses. Two mentions of short running shorts. A few teasing jokes about eloping and "making babies" not anything worse. A few mentions of tops/dresses showing cleavage. A couple of mentions of ogling.

Faith Elements: A mention of Catholic confession. McKenna's friend tells her that she's praying for her. Nate watches an online church service. A few mentions of praying. Bible verses are quoted.

Additional Content: A few mentions of parental abandonment and parental death, and a few mentions of wine.

My Take: Where do I even begin? Thank you Becca Kinzer for writing my new favorite rom-com! I did exactly what readers aren't supposed to do while choosing this book...I judged it by its DARLING cover and wasn't disappointed. I loved the dual POVs, it fit right in. The allies-to-lovers, forced proximity trope was entertaining, and paired with Becca Kinzer's writing style, so quirky and cute! 

Author: Kasie West.

Series: Old Town Shops.

Book Premise: All her life, Caymen has been taught not to trust the rich. They have short attention spans, and will drop you at the first sign of trouble. Working in her mom's porcelain-doll shop, where the wealthy members of her hometown often visit, she hasn't seen anything to prove otherwise. Until Xander Spence enters her life. Handsome, friendly, very rich, and seemingly one of the only guys in her life who gets her, he's everything a girl would want. But Caymen keeps her guard up, knowing that his interest won't last long. But Xander is different. Just as he proves mom's warnings wrong, Caymen learns that money and social class play a much bigger part in their relationship than she thought. Will this close the distance between them, or open it even more?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, young adult. Ages 14+ for romance.

Profanity: No swear words. A few mentions of cursing, but no words are spoken, and some uses of "crap."

Violence: Caymen's mom has a health issue, and she coughs up blood, prompting her to go to the hospital.

Spice Level: Some kissing that ranges from not descriptive to barely descriptive. A passing reference to making out. Hugging, and arms around each other in an innocent way. Caymen was born out of wedlock and her dad left, which she is ashamed of. Her mom's health problems make her think that she is pregnant.

Faith Elements: Caymen prays while her mom is in the hospital.

Additional Content: Caymen's friend sets her up on a blind date, and he drinks alcohol, which she turns down. A mention of someone smelling like cigarettes.

My Take: Kasie West hits a home run once again! This was a delightful read. Caymen is a lot like me (especially in terms of her sense of humor) which made it all the more fun. Kasie West's books are a breath of fresh air in the YA romance genre, proving that you don't need excess profanity and high spice for a sweet romance.

Author: Kasie West.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Gia is completely caught off guard when her boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom. She's been telling her friends about him for a few months, and now they'll never get the chance to meet him. When she sees a handsome guy waiting to pick up his sister, she concocts a plan. He can be her "fill-in" boyfriend, just for the night. He agrees-but little does Gia know that their fake relationship won't end at prom. Fill-In Bradley's sister enlists her to be his date to his ex's graduation party. Three hours and a few white lies, what could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. Because Gia thinks she might be falling for her pretend boyfriend.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama, young adult. Ages 14+ for romance.

Profanity: Three uses of the p-word. "Crap," and "sucked/sucks" show up a few times. There's also one use of "douche." "Hooker" also shows up, in the context of a girl who goes from boyfriend to boyfriend, not in an explicit way.

Violence: No violent elements.

Spice Level: Some kissing, hugging, and handholding. A girl mentions how her mom has had many boyfriends.

Faith Elements: Mentions of going to church, and visiting a friend who is a member of Fill-In Bradley's church. A girl is named after a Bible character.

Additional Content: Talk of a "sober" graduation party, but no alcohol is discussed. Some drama between family members, and a mean girl.

My Take: This is definitely one of my new favorite romance novels! Gia was a relatable, sweet main character who learned valuable lessons throughout the book. Kasie West handled all the troubles and triumphs of high school, and I felt so many emotions while reading this. It was so light and wholesome, a fantastic read!

Author: Haley Pham.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Blair and Declan were the best of friends, until an impulsive kiss in high school took them to something more. But then one tragedy shattered everything and left them both heartbroken. Fast forward four years. When her beloved great-aunt's health declines, Blair returns to Seabrook to help out. She gets a job at the local coffee shop, owned by none other than Declan, who she might still have feelings for. Coincidentally, their paths keep crossing, and sparks are reignited. Will they move on from the wounds of the past to find love again...with each other?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama. Ages 14+ for some themes of grief and romance.

Profanity: A few, very rare uses of the p-word. One cutoff of the s-word. Mild expressions like "gosh," "crap," and "freaking" show up here and there. "Sexy" is used once or twice to describe things, not people. 

Violence: A car accident is recalled, not in detail. Aunt Lottie's aunt has cancer, so we see her health decline, but it's not graphic.

Spice Level: Kissing (some are a tiny bit descriptive), affectionate words.

Faith Elements: A few mentions of God.

Additional Content: A woman who has had previous alcohol problems (she explains later that she was from a rough background), has a relapse but gets called out.

My Take: I'M IN LOVE. Haley is a very promising debut author, and I can't wait to see if she writes any more books! This was a fantastic story of love and loss that kept me turning the page to see what happened next. Clean, without spice and strong language! And while you're at it, check out Haley's YouTube channel :-)

Author: Kasie West.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Indy's life was going great. Perfect friends, perfect grades, and she was cool, calm, and collected...until everything came crashing down and her life changed. Her closest friend group breaks, and the hardest part of it all is being estranged from Beau (not that she likes him or anything, at least she didn't think so). Beau was her best friend-turned-worst-enemy, and things couldn't get any worse, she gets stuck in the bathroom with him. Now Indy and Beau are forced to deal with the past...and forced to feel the real feelings towards each other.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama, young adult. Ages 14+.

Profanity: Some uses of "oh my God."

Violence: No violence.

Spice Level: Doesn't go beyond kissing.

Faith Elements: No religious themes.

Additional Content: None.

My Take: This book was the perfect mix of drama and romance. While the actual story was interesting and kept my attention, the romance made it all the more fun and enjoyable to read. It's the perfect read for the beach or to enjoy with a cup of cocoa and a warm blanket!

Author: Eva Marie Everson.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: It's 1941, and the United States has just entered WWII. Sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann confesses her love for her older brother's friend, Mack. Soon, they're writing letters back and forth, and she knows she is smitten. Until Alice-Ann begins caring for her friend's war-torn brother. Carlton is kind and genuinely wants to get to know her. As the years go by, Alice-Ann grows closer to him. Her heart is torn in two directions when Mack returns from war. Will she choose who she loves, and grow her faith in the process?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, Christian, historical. Ages 14+ for some romantic themes and references to war.

Profanity: No swearing. A few uses of "gosh."

Violence: Talk of the war and injured soldiers. A woman gives birth, but Alice-Ann doesn't witness it. Several mentions of soldiers who died in the war.

Spice Level: Some non-descriptive kissing and hugging. Also some uses of "I love you" and other sweet romantic phrases, but nothing questionable.

Faith Elements: Genuine, deep Christian faith is part of everyday life in Alice-Ann's hometown. Through her aunt and sister-in-law, she grows closer to God.

Additional Content: Occasional references to smoking, and Alice-Ann's aunt tells her that her former fiance was an alcoholic.

My Take: Such a beautiful, historical love story between a soldier and a small town girl, set during WWII. The tender romantic parts had me giggling! A definite reread.

Author: Britnee Meiser.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: In real life, Jane is an ordinary, clumsy, self-conscious high school freshman whose best friend is a boy she's known all her life. Online, she's the glamorous blogger, Anastasia, with a dreamy boyfriend and spontaneous trips to New York City. Under the pseudonym, Jane writes all about her life, including Brynn, the girl who seems to be cozying up with her best friend, Leo. When Brynn writes to "Anastasia," Jane decides to use the blog to get what she wants in real life. But will it totally backfire on her, and will she realize that the boy of her dreams is closer than she thought?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, young adult/middle grade. Ages 13+, since there are themes like dating and romantic relationships.

Profanity: No swearing.

Violence: No violence.

Spice Level: Some kissing, hugging, and hand-holding.

Faith Elements: A few mentions of Mother Nature.

Additional Content: Adult characters drink wine occasionally.

My Take: Jane Stays Dreaming may be labeled as a "romance," but it's a lot more than that. It's a sweet story of friendship, navigating high school, drama, honesty, and being true to yourself. Loved it! A great reading option for Christian girls.

Author: Becky Dean.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Evie Whitmore is thrilled to go to Venice on her class trip. Not only is it an educational opportunity, but it's a great way to find out if the secret fan club for her favorite book series, Elven Realms, really exists. Armed with elegant costumes and Venetian masks, she sneaks out at night to find it. What she doesn't count on is running into a masked fellow fan named Angelo. By night, they search the streets of Venice for the club. By day, Evie tries her best to befriend her research partner, the handsome and standoffish Gabriel Martinez. As she learns to overcome her insecurities and be herself, will she find unexpected romance in the process?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, travel, mystery. Suitable for ages 14+ due to romantic themes.

Profanity: The language is squeaky-clean throughout the entire book.

Violence: At the Elven Realms fan club, Evie and others roleplay and have sword fights with plastic weapons. One character "dies" and bleeds fake blood from his jacket.

Spice Level: Some kissing towards the end of the book, but it never goes any further.

Faith Elements: On their outings, Evie and her classmates visit multiple churches.

Additional Content: Evie gives some great advice to Gabriel's younger sister on going to a party (like, don't go if there's alcohol, don't drink anything you didn't open yourself, call your parents if you feel uncomfortable).

My Take: I want to go to Italy now! Becky Dean did an amazing job with everything about Love Unmasked. Lighthearted, adventurous, and romantic, with some surprising depth that didn't feel too heavy. And the masked ball? Absolute perfection!

Author: Kristy Boyce.

Series: Gaming and Romance, Book 1.

Book Premise: Riley is a theater geek and Nathan is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. They couldn't be any different, but when they both want to get a special someone in their lives, they devise a plan to act like a couple to make their exes jealous. But as time goes on, are Nathan and Riley still acting, or are true sparks beginning to fly?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, young adult. Ages 14+.

Profanity: No swearing.

Violence: No violent moments.

Spice Level: Some romantic themes like kissing and hugging.

Faith Elements: No religious themes.

Additional Content: Reference to a gay couple, but it doesn't go into detail.

My Take: I absolutely loved this book. It's perfect for teenage Christian girls who want a cheesy, fun romance without all the spice. As someone who doesn't always like romance, I was surprised that I really liked this book. It's so cutesy and fun! Definitely recommended!

Author: Morgan Matson.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Stella doesn't believe in fairy tales. She isn't even sure if she believes in romance anymore, after her boyfriend dumped her just weeks before prom. So instead of going to dinner with Cooper before the dance, she's going to Disneyland with her friends, Nisha and Allyson. However, she doesn't count on Nisha bringing her friend Reece, who happens to be single and handsome. Nor does she count on being sucked into Sleeping Beauty with him. Now they have to figure out how to get back to Disneyland without changing the story. And maybe, just maybe, Stella and Reece will realize how perfect they are for each other.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, fairy tale retelling, young adult, fantasy. Ages 14+ due to romantic themes. 

Profanity: No swearing. Clean alternatives such as "what the heck" appear instead.

Violence: A very brief (not gory) battle at the end of the book.

Spice Level: Some kissing and talk of dating.

Faith Elements: No religious themes. Some fairy tale-style magic is involved.

Additional Content: It's unclear whether or not Allyson and Nisha are good friends or a gay couple. However, they don't do anything that indicates the latter and seem to lean towards a close friendship more than anything else, and they're only in the beginning of the book and a tiny bit at the end.

My Take: I enjoyed this book! A slow start, but once you get past it a fun, clean romance starts to unfold. However, the potential gay couple definitely lowered my rating. But all that aside, there wasn't anything else that was concerning. And who doesn't love fairy-tale retellings?

Author: Pepper Basham.

Series: Skymar, Book 1.

Book Premise: Izzy is an introverted bookworm who'd rather marry Mr. Darcy than meet a guy online. But, with some nudging from her meddling cousin, she somehow ends up on a dating app. Not expecting (or wanting) to find her Mr. Right, Izzy decides to make the best of it. And surprisingly, a handsome man from Europe reaches out, wanting to get to know Izzy better. He's perfect for her, but there's also an equally attractive author in her hometown also vying for her affections. How can Izzy follow her heart when it's pulling her in two different directions?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, comedy, Christian. Good for ages 14+ due to the romantic themes.

Profanity: No questionable language.

Violence: No violence.

Spice Level: Some very brief (and not graphic) kissing scenes and discussions of being in love.

Faith Elements: The characters go to church, pray, and are open about their faith.

Additional Content: Brief mention of Izzy's parents deaths' in a plane crash when she was a child, which explains why she is so close to her cousins (their parents adopted Izzy).

My Take: The best Pepper Basham book I've read so far! Izzy is such a sweet character, and I loved all the book quotes and references. The fact that the story was told in 90% emails made it unique and enjoyable. Super cute little rom-com!

Author: Nicole Deese.

Series: Fog Harbor, Book 1.

Book Premise: The story follows Ingrid "Indy", a book editor in San Francisco, who is devastated by the sudden death of her best friend and client, plus the earlier loss of her father. Haunted by grief, unresolved guilt, and even anger tied to her ex-boyfriend and the many losses in her life, the book begins in a place of despair. But the narrative quickly gains momentum when Indy's ex re-enters her life, setting the stage for forgiveness, discovery, and a second chance at love.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, Christian, romance. Suitable for ages 15+ due to mature emotional themes and loss.

Profanity: Dialogue remains clean. Occasionally heated arguments occur but nothing too wild.

Violence: No graphic or gory descriptions.

Spice Level: Limited to kissing and light romantic description.

Faith Elements: Present but understated. I personally wish Nicole Deese would've added more.

Additional Content: Brief mention of drugs and one bar scene.

My Take: While the sad beginning may deter some readers, perseverance is rewarded with a heartfelt story of love, family, and forgiveness. Nicole Deese balances mystery with romance in a way that feels authentic and uplifting.

Author: Pepper Basham.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Katie Campbell is a young travel blogger who loves her job. However, various incidents and mishaps seem to follow her all over the globe, earning her the nickname "Miss Adventure." When her editor sends her to Scotland, Katie is thrilled. Her grandparents, who basically raised her and passed away not long ago, were born there! Not only does Katie go on the trip as a part of her job-she does it as a way to feel closer to them. Enter the cold, bear of a man named Graeme MacKerrow. In her full first day in Scotland, Katie has enough misadventures to make him strongly dislike her. But she isn't about to let Graeme (or anything else, for that matter) get in the way of her trip. And pretty soon, Katie finds herself falling for the burly Scot.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Christian, Adventure. Suitable for ages 14+ due to the romantic themes.

Profanity: Some mild Scottish insults sprinkled throughout, but nothing questionable.

Violence: Except for a brief reference to a car accident that is easy to miss.

Spice Level: More frequent kissing towards the end of the book, some light (not graphic) romantic description and dialogue. Kate also briefly admires Graeme's muscles from a distance.

Faith Elements: Christian beliefs are prevalent in this book. Characters attend church throughout the book, pray, and discuss their faith. Because this book is set in Scotland, there is some talk of local lore and legends.

Additional Content: Graeme's sister had cancer, so it is talked about throughout the book.

My Take: A lighthearted romp through Scotland! Wasn't a huge fan of Graeme (he wasn't my type of guy), but enjoyed it nonetheless. Kate is a great character, I love her can-do attitude and adventurous spirit. If you love Jesus, Europe, and the Hallmark Channel, go get a copy!