It’s February, but winter has made it very clear it’s not finished with us yet. It’s been bitterly cold in Virginia, and the snow and ice (mostly ice) have kept me firmly indoors. The silver lining is that I’ve had plenty of new books to keep me company. As we endure a few more weeks of freezing temperatures, I’m going to work my through my TBR pile and dream of spring. These are some of the books that have kept me company as the frigid days blur together.

*****

The Re-Do List (Berkley) by Denise Williams is a warm, witty, and deeply affirming romance about reclaiming yourself after heartbreak — and discovering that second chances can be even sweeter than firsts.

After her humiliating public breakup goes viral, Willow Lewis escapes to a small Iowa town to dog-sit for her deployed brother, hoping time and distance will help her regroup. What she doesn’t expect is Deacon, her brother’s best friend: He’s charming, thoughtful, and absolutely off-limits.

Willow’s solution to her predicament is a do-over list — reliving the important firsts she experienced with her ex and reclaiming them on her own terms. Deacon agrees to help, intending to keep things strictly platonic, but the chemistry between them crackles from the start. As concert outings, camping trips, and tentative kisses pile up, so do real feelings, complicated by loyalty, timing, and Deacon’s own uncertainty about his future after being medically discharged from the service.

Williams excels at blending humor, heat, and emotional depth. Willow’s journey from a woman defined by her first real relationship to one rediscovering her confidence and desires is especially satisfying, while Deacon’s struggle to redefine his worth outside the military adds depth to his character. Their romance unfolds with a delicious slow burn grounded in friendship, mutual support, and genuine care.

The Re-Do List is funny, sexy, and sweet — plus, it has dogs!

*****

A Killer Kind of Romance (Gallery Books) by Letizia Lorini is a blend of swoony romance and twisty suspense that knows exactly what it’s doing — and has a lot of fun doing it.

Scarlett Moore is a crime-fiction podcaster who doesn’t do romance — until her job security is threatened and she reluctantly agrees to take on the network’s struggling romance podcast, too. She may not believe in happily-ever-afters, but a girl has to eat (or at least pay her mortgage), and suddenly Scarlett finds herself dissecting steamy love stories alongside her usual murder plots.

Things turn dangerous when real-life homicides begin echoing the crimes she discusses on air, pulling Scarlett into an investigation of her own. Complicating matters further is the return of Rafael Gray, the brooding boy-next-door who broke her heart years ago and vanished under suspicious circumstances. Now, he’s back in town and checking every box on the list of “romance-novel hero” traits while also looking like a prime murder suspect.

Lorini’s easy, fast-paced style makes this an ideal binge read. The mystery is neatly plotted with plenty of red herrings, while the romance simmers alongside the story rather than overwhelming it. Scarlett may not have her act together, but her determination and loyalty make her an engaging heroine, and Rafael’s steady, quietly sexy presence gives the love story real weight.

With clever chapter titles built around romance tropes, small-town charm, and a satisfying final reveal, A Killer Kind of Romance delivers a smart, self-aware mix of danger, banter, and heart.Top of FormBottom of Form

*****

Heather McBreen takes a married couple’s second-chance romance on a scenic ocean voyage in Sunk in Love (Berkley).

Roslyn and Liam have been together for nine years when grief, miscommunication, and long hours pull them out of orbit. After Roslyn asks for a divorce, neither of them quite knows how to let go — especially when her family invites them on a Hawaiian cruise to celebrate her grandparents’ vow renewal and asks Liam to officiate. Rather than confess the truth and ruin the celebration, they agree to pretend they’re still happily married — a setup that quickly turns deliciously awkward. Forced proximity, shared memories, and sun-soaked excursions make it impossible to ignore what they’ve lost, or what they might still save.

It’s not often that we get to see a married couple rediscovering their love for each other. McBreen balances angst with warmth, weaving dual timelines that show both the joy of Roslyn and Liam’s early relationship and the quieter hurts that led them astray. The cruise setting brings levity and escapism, while family dynamics, career insecurity, and unresolved grief give the story emotional heft. Their romance is spicy and all the more meaningful because it’s deeply rooted in shared history.

For readers craving a love story about a couple fighting their way through the difficult parts of life to choose each other again, Sunk in Love will feel cathartic in the best way.

Kristina Wright lives in Virginia with her husband, their two sons, two Goldendoodles, and a ginger cat. She’s a regular contributor at BookBub and a lifelong fan of romance fiction. Find her on Bluesky at @kristinawright.