Wood You Be Mine, by Daphne Elliot

 

Publication Nov. 10, 2026

As an Alaskan, first let me caution you not to follow Alice's lead on dealing with a moose encounter. Moose are not only big but have no problems taking on grizzly bears, so throwing tampons (!) at them is unlikely to detour a moose. While I've grown accustomed to having moose frequent my yard here in Alaska, I enjoy them through the window. People who've tried to pet the moose, yes, pet, or simply were in the wrong place at the wrong time have been maimed and even killed. Okay, end of my wildlife cautionary moment. On to the story....

I've got to admit, the title is what first drew me in. Then, toss in a rugged outdoorsy, tough lumberjack  type and, well, moose, and I was all in. I liked the characters and enjoyed the sorta dueling points of view we get as we go along. It was fun seeing Henri be the one to fall first, gotta admit, especially given Alice's tendency to find herself in situations that aren't, uh, positive. Let's face it, Alice isn't a country kinda gal but is determined to make it in this small Maine town as its new principal despite her past and not initially fitting in. She has a great sense of humor, fortunately, and the back-and-forth banter between Henri and her comes across as natural and  full of life. Both characters, unbeknownst to each other, are also facing difficult situations. Henri is struggling to save his late father's home/heritage, while Alice is struggling against being trapped by the expectations of others. She suffers from insecurities of never quite living up to those expectations with even her own mother chiding her frequently about her weight. I won't go into detail but it's obvious she's got a long way to go before being confident about any relationship. Henri's life in a seemingly male dominated world certainly did him no favors, either, when it comes to winning a non-rural woman. 

Bottom line, while I'm tempted to ramble on about some favorite and both fun and revealing scenes, I'll simply say it's a good read with both laughs and thoughtful, timely issues that come into play.Small town life isn't all smiles and happy, perfect citizens and I give kudos to the author for fleshing out a real world community with all its good and bad. It seems likely this is to be a series, too, so all my questions weren't answered, so I'll definitely be looking for the (I hope) follow-up. Watching Henri and Alice find a common ground was fun to watch as was seeing them finding their way through their own barriers not just to romance but a full life. I'm trying not to give away too much more of the story but will say you're likely to enjoy the read if you're into small town romance (with bumps), out of their comfort level characters, and seeing them make a difference in each other and their community. And, oh, yeah, moose. Can't forget the moose. Grin. There's even a bit of a mystery woven into the story that makes me all the more anxious to get my hands on the next chapter in this story. Thanks #BerkleyPublishingGroup for this early introduction and peek into Alice and Henri's world. I think they'd feel right at home in my own Alaska world so I felt quite comfortable with them while enjoying some of Alice's humorously absurd experiences. 

Chasing the Clouds Away, by Debbie Macomber

 

Publication April 28, 2026

Ah, a Debbie Macomber book. It somehow always makes me feel like it's time to cozy up in my most comfy PJs and curl up in the recliner under a nice warm blanket to settle in for what I just know will be a sweet read. While an opposites attract type, it rather morphs into a read emphasizing not just family but the dynamics of family that shape us. Both Maisy and Chase have faced dark days in their past so while it's fair to say they're opposites, you'll also discover that they have common ground.

That's good as, quite frankly, their not exactly meet cute doesn't showcase Chase well.  He's brusque and short tempered. Even worse, poor guy. He's going to have to fly commercial rather than in a private jet. Well, at least he gets a seat in first class, expecting never to see the woman who called him on his behavior. It's obvious from the beginning that Chase is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. Maisy is apprehensive his misplaced anger may endanger her friend's job but maintains her calm. She's been taught from an early age that anger is often a cover for deeper feelings, hence she gives Chase the benefit of the doubt. She's absolutely delighted to be upgraded to first class where, you guessed it, she discovers her seatmate is none other than the rude guy from the airport. Chase is also less than excited to find the troubling woman there and pretty much tries to short circuit her tendency to engage in friendly chatter early on. Much to his surprise, after discovering the flight delay lead to his rental car not being held, Maisy offers him a ride. He's doubly shocked when she refused payment, simply telling him to pass it on. Let's just say, for someone used to money being able to get almost everything, that's a foreign policy to him.

I'm not going to detail the plot but that's pretty much where the story takes off. Chase is practically engaged but to his annoyance finds Maisy intriguing. As you'll discover, family dynamics have impacted both. The story moves along smoothly, albeit with the expected bumps along the way. I mean, Chase is practically engaged to the "perfect wife" for success. Maisy is just busy trying to help her family after giving up her dream of being a nurse. The chapters essentially alternate between them, giving us a good idea of their thoughts and past, which adds to the understanding as the story goes along. 

Bottom line, this was exactly the feel good story I was hoping for. In a sense, it was a reassurance that life can be full of joy if we only learn to get out of our own way. I mean, there is a difference between being proud and too proud, which you'll come to understand as you read. I found myself liking the main characters. Heck, even Chase's almost "perfect wife" turned out to be someone I think I'd have liked, not to mention Patrick, the baseball nut from Maisy's family was a fun character, too. I also noted that Macomber's early mention of a homeless vet outside the area of Chase's offices wasn't just there for word count. Nope. Not telling what I mean by that. You'll just have to read the book. Thanks #Ballantine for the early peek at this heartwarming, feel good romance. The epilogue was an extra nice touch.