Monthly Archives: October 2025
Review: If You Were Mine by Carrie Ann Ryan
If You Were Mine
Carrie Ann Ryan
The Cage Family Series, Book 3
376 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2025
The last words I said to my best friend were “I trust you”. Then the world went dark, and I nearly lost everything.
While my best friend’s little sister lost even more.
I promised him that I’d take care of her—but if he knew my current thoughts when it came to Harper, he’d have never trusted me.
She’s too young for me. Too bright to my shadows. And too tempting.
Now I’m stuck in our small town, and I can’t escape her. I’d rather hide in my cabin, restoring what was one lost. Only Harper won’t let me.
I’ve already held onto more secrets than my family knows. I don’t know if I can keep what I feel about her secret too.
She sees beyond my scars and anger, and I know she hides her own just as tightly.
When one kiss changes everything, there’s no going back—even if it shatters everything in our wake.
**If You Were Mine is an age gap, best friend’s little sister, tortured hero, small town romance featuring Dorian and Harper. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. An HEA is guaranteed!**
4 Stars
Carrie Ann Ryan draws you in with emotion, drama, and love in If You Were Mine.
Dorian‘s life changed in a blink of an eye. After a tragic accident took the life of his best friend and left him with life-changing wounds and scars both physically and emotionally. After a year he returns to. Cage Lake to heal in peace and quiet.
Harper has been going through the day-to-day motions since she lost her brother. With the last of her family gone Harper struggles. Just getting through the day is sometimes hard. A year later Dorian, her brother‘s best friend returns to town. Which brings up mixed emotions.
Harper has had a crush on Dorian for as long as she can remember. Dorian thoughts of Harper are not the purist. He promised her brother that he would take care of her, but would he want him to if he knew the thoughts that we’re going through his head.
They both struggle to get through the days, but what a single kiss brings things to light. It begins to change everything. It’s a test to themselves and what they feel as they both tried to navigate the emotions in chemistry that they are feeling. Carrie Ann Ryan hits another one out of the park with If You Were Mine. Be prepared to feel all the emotions.
Like is short, buy the book! Or the bookish goodies.
I treated myself to a special addition book box bundle that had some adorable things in it, and I just wanted to share. As we say life is short by the book or the cute stuff to go with the book.
About a year ago on Facebook, I was scrolling and came across a reel of an author packing mystery book boxes. I thought to myself this is an awesome way to be able to gain new readers and to introduce them to several of your works.
That Author was Willow Winters. I quickly purchased one of her mystery boxes and I was not disappointed. I have purchased several of them and have a nice collection of not only her books, but useful and cute bookish items. I always say I am a sucker for pretty package and Willow definitely has a pretty package on her brand.
Pictured above is the latest box I have received. I love that they even wrap the books, even though I know what was included. It’s all the makings for a cozy night of reading. Willow and her team do an amazing job with all these boxes.
Review: When You Blush by Kristen Proby
When You Blush
Kristen Proby
The Blackwells of Montana Series, Book 4
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2025
Blake
I don’t do relationships, but I’m excellent at casual hookups. That’s not to say I’m a jerk. Not at all. I respect women—all women—and I know the value of love. But I’m married to my job as a physician. In fact, I’m married to the hospital, having a full-time affair with the clinic, and my family is my side piece. I don’t have time for a relationship with a woman.
But then the most beautiful human I’ve ever laid eyes on walks onto my plane, and my world tilts. Thanks to a Montana snowstorm, I spend one incredible night with Harper but wake up alone. She never told me her last name. She’s just … gone. It would figure that the one woman I could see myself breaking my own rules for is the one I can’t have.
Harper
It’s time for me to come home to Montana to help take care of my dad and pick up the slack for my siblings. I’ve been gone for a long time, but this beautiful corner of the world is my home. I’m excited to start my job as a NICU nurse at Bitterroot Valley General and begin a new chapter in my life. A fresh start. A clean slate.
Then he walks into the room, and it’s suddenly hard to breathe. Blake was the one-night stand who still haunts my dreams. The man can do things. Amazing things. But I never thought I’d see him again. Okay, that’s a lie. I knew he worked at this hospital, but he’s an ER doctor. I’m in a different department, so I planned to avoid him. Yet that didn’t last more than the first hour of my first shift.
Now, he’s pursuing me and saying things like forever. But with a past like mine, can I trust that he won’t tire of me and leave? Or is this finally my happily ever after?
5 Stars
Just when I think Kristen Proby cannot come up with another male lead that is going to make me go super swoony, she releases another book that tops the last one. Blake Blackwell is seriously my new book boyfriend and maybe the best fictional man ever written.
When You Blush is a small town, one night stand, forced proximity, he falls first type of romance story. Blake Blackwell admits he is married to his job. Being a doctor consumes almost all of this time and what spare time he does have he is dedicated to his family. He is an honest man and is upfront about what his intentions are from the get-go, but when he meets a certain woman on a plane, she stops him in his tracks. After a fantastic night together, she is gone when he wakes in the morning, yet Blake swears, he will never forget her.
Harper we’re returning to her adoptive family to help take care of the man who helped raise her. On a flight she meets a doctor, and they share an intense and scorching night together. They may have fallen asleep together, but as soon as Harper wakes, she is out the door. A few weeks later they come face-to-face while at work no less when all kinds of thoughts take over Harper’s head. Slowly, Harper learns that they truly are some good men left in this world.
Chemistry explodes from the get-go. Blake and Harper connect so naturally. Their attraction is undeniable. One night of passion made a lasting impression on both of them. In the not-too-distant future, the last place either one of them expected to run into each other would be at work. Both of them understand the nature of having a health field career and how important that job is. Blake is so patient and caring. Harper finds a confidence within herself just from Blake being the wonderful man that he is to her. There are two moments in this book that are so over the top in the best ways for me that truly has made my heart go pitter patter. It just goes to show that the little things truly do add up to big ones. Whether it be covering for a friend on the fly or a quick moment shared in the pouring rain. It’s undeniable that Kristen Proby knows how to make your heart swoon in all the best ways.
Coffee Books Life 