What do you think?
Starlight River #1
The Paradise Proposal
Kate Cooper comes home to Cypress Grove broke, uninsured, and running out of time. A chronic condition requires expensive medication she can't afford. Her solution? A quiet life tending bar at her mom's tiki hut, making herbal remedies, and hoping the healthcare system fixes itself.
Then Damien Hastings walks into her bar. The firefighter who defended her in high school. The boy she never got over. The man who proposes marriage so she can access his health insurance. It's practical. Logical. Completely platonic. Except the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to remember this is supposed to be fake.
But Damien's leaving for California soon to fight wildfires. Kate's afraid to trust that anyone would choose her for real. Can a marriage that started with paperwork become the kind of love that lasts forever?
Find out in The Paradise Proposal, a heartwarming small-town romance featuring marriage of convenience, gentle magic, and a hero who falls first and hard. Grab your copy to fall in love with Cypress Grove today! The Starlight River Cozy Romance series takes place in Cypress Grove, the same magical town in the Crescent Moon Mystery series. Happy-ever-afters guaranteed.
Then Damien Hastings walks into her bar. The firefighter who defended her in high school. The boy she never got over. The man who proposes marriage so she can access his health insurance. It's practical. Logical. Completely platonic. Except the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to remember this is supposed to be fake.
But Damien's leaving for California soon to fight wildfires. Kate's afraid to trust that anyone would choose her for real. Can a marriage that started with paperwork become the kind of love that lasts forever?
Find out in The Paradise Proposal, a heartwarming small-town romance featuring marriage of convenience, gentle magic, and a hero who falls first and hard. Grab your copy to fall in love with Cypress Grove today! The Starlight River Cozy Romance series takes place in Cypress Grove, the same magical town in the Crescent Moon Mystery series. Happy-ever-afters guaranteed.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2026
About the author
Tara Lush
30 books634 followersTara Lush is the cozy mystery pen name of author and former journalist Tamara Lush. As Tara, she writes cozy mysteries filled with fresh starts, found family, and usually a murder.
Her paranormal cozy mystery series include the Crescent Moon Mysteries, a witchy series set in the fictional Florida town of Cypress Grove, beginning with Eat, Pray, Hex, and the Hemlock Hollow series, set in a magical Vermont town. She also writes contemporary cozy mysteries, including the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series, the Critters & Criminals series, and the Beach Blooms series.
Before writing fiction full time, Tamara spent nearly three decades as a journalist, including many years with The Associated Press. Her journalism received the George C. Polk Award for environmental reporting, and she was an Amtrak Writing Fellow.
As Tamara Lush, she is a USA Today bestselling romance author and a RITA Award finalist. Her Formula One romance Drive has been adapted for Prime Video and premieres October 28, 2026.
Tara/Tamara lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and a Shih Tzu. She loves strong coffee, vintage pulp fiction covers, witches, Florida Man, and baking sourdough bread.
Her paranormal cozy mystery series include the Crescent Moon Mysteries, a witchy series set in the fictional Florida town of Cypress Grove, beginning with Eat, Pray, Hex, and the Hemlock Hollow series, set in a magical Vermont town. She also writes contemporary cozy mysteries, including the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series, the Critters & Criminals series, and the Beach Blooms series.
Before writing fiction full time, Tamara spent nearly three decades as a journalist, including many years with The Associated Press. Her journalism received the George C. Polk Award for environmental reporting, and she was an Amtrak Writing Fellow.
As Tamara Lush, she is a USA Today bestselling romance author and a RITA Award finalist. Her Formula One romance Drive has been adapted for Prime Video and premieres October 28, 2026.
Tara/Tamara lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and a Shih Tzu. She loves strong coffee, vintage pulp fiction covers, witches, Florida Man, and baking sourdough bread.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 4, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance
This was a completely random pick. I noticed I already had it sitting on my Kindle and thought, why not? I wasn't looking for anything particularly memorable, just something light to fill a couple of evenings. The story follows Kate, who enters a marriage of convenience with Damien, someone she knew years earlier, after life throws her into a difficult situation. The story begins as a practical arrangement and turns into something more as the main protagonists reconnect and bond.
The story takes place in a small town called Cypress Grove. It is a small town where everyone knows everybody else. The plot is straightforward, and its main focus is on Kate and Damien’s relationship. The narration is from their POVs, too. It's a gentle romance from beginning to end, one that's clearly aiming to leave readers with a warm feeling instead of putting its characters through endless obstacles.
That was actually what appealed to me. I wanted something comfortable with very little tension. On that front, this delivered. I never felt anxious about where the story was heading, and sometimes that's exactly what I want from a romance. Not every book needs earth-shattering conflict to keep me turning the pages. At the same time, I occasionally wondered if things were too easy. Without much friction, parts of the story drifted by rather than pulling me in.
The small-town setting was another reason I kept reading. Cypress Grove is a charming town for sure. However, the atmosphere never fully worked for me. It's puzzling to me, because all the factors were there—the friendly neighbors, the cozy community, and the slower pace of life. Yet I was not fully immersed in the town itself. It almost seemed as though I was being told it was cozy more often than I actually experienced that feeling while reading. Others may connect with it more than I did, but I was hoping the setting would leave a stronger impression.
As for the romance, I liked Kate and Damien well enough, even if I never became deeply invested in them. Their shared history gives the relationship a believable foundation, and it makes sense that old feelings would resurface. Even so, some emotional moments came and went before they had much chance to settle. That may simply be the downside of a shorter novel. A little more time spent exploring their conversations and vulnerabilities could have made the payoff more satisfying.
Looking back, I don't regret picking this up at all. It gave me exactly the kind of reading experience I was in the mood for: quiet, easy, and comforting. At the same time, I don't think it'll stay with me for very long. The story was pleasant while I was reading it, but once I finished, very little lingered in my mind beyond the general feeling that it was... nice. Sometimes "nice" is enough, and sometimes you hope for just a little more. For me, this landed somewhere in the middle, which is why three stars feels about right.
https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...
Genre: Contemporary Romance
This was a completely random pick. I noticed I already had it sitting on my Kindle and thought, why not? I wasn't looking for anything particularly memorable, just something light to fill a couple of evenings. The story follows Kate, who enters a marriage of convenience with Damien, someone she knew years earlier, after life throws her into a difficult situation. The story begins as a practical arrangement and turns into something more as the main protagonists reconnect and bond.
The story takes place in a small town called Cypress Grove. It is a small town where everyone knows everybody else. The plot is straightforward, and its main focus is on Kate and Damien’s relationship. The narration is from their POVs, too. It's a gentle romance from beginning to end, one that's clearly aiming to leave readers with a warm feeling instead of putting its characters through endless obstacles.
That was actually what appealed to me. I wanted something comfortable with very little tension. On that front, this delivered. I never felt anxious about where the story was heading, and sometimes that's exactly what I want from a romance. Not every book needs earth-shattering conflict to keep me turning the pages. At the same time, I occasionally wondered if things were too easy. Without much friction, parts of the story drifted by rather than pulling me in.
The small-town setting was another reason I kept reading. Cypress Grove is a charming town for sure. However, the atmosphere never fully worked for me. It's puzzling to me, because all the factors were there—the friendly neighbors, the cozy community, and the slower pace of life. Yet I was not fully immersed in the town itself. It almost seemed as though I was being told it was cozy more often than I actually experienced that feeling while reading. Others may connect with it more than I did, but I was hoping the setting would leave a stronger impression.
As for the romance, I liked Kate and Damien well enough, even if I never became deeply invested in them. Their shared history gives the relationship a believable foundation, and it makes sense that old feelings would resurface. Even so, some emotional moments came and went before they had much chance to settle. That may simply be the downside of a shorter novel. A little more time spent exploring their conversations and vulnerabilities could have made the payoff more satisfying.
Looking back, I don't regret picking this up at all. It gave me exactly the kind of reading experience I was in the mood for: quiet, easy, and comforting. At the same time, I don't think it'll stay with me for very long. The story was pleasant while I was reading it, but once I finished, very little lingered in my mind beyond the general feeling that it was... nice. Sometimes "nice" is enough, and sometimes you hope for just a little more. For me, this landed somewhere in the middle, which is why three stars feels about right.
https://constantinebooks.blogspot.com...
March 25, 2026
“two trees with intertwined branches, separate roots, and a shared sky.”
Excerpt From -
The Paradise Proposal by
Tara Lush
I have been meaning to do a book review on this wonderful, fun read. This was an Advanced Reader Copy generously given to me by Tara Lush.
Tara Lush @lushbooks, known for her Crescent Moon Mysteries Series, has written a cozy love story.
Taking place in Cypress Grove. As this is also the home of the Crescent Moon books, you will find a few familiar characters which is quite an enjoyable addition.
The quote from the book (above) sums up the love story between Kate and Damien.
Kate is working at her mother’s beach side bar, The Lime and Salt serving up drinks and tinctures. In walks Damien, a firefighter, whom she hasn’t seen since high school.
Fans of fun love stories will definitely enjoy this one.
In Tara’s words “Cozy stories about love, magic, and justice - always with a happy ending “
Excerpt From -
The Paradise Proposal by
Tara Lush
I have been meaning to do a book review on this wonderful, fun read. This was an Advanced Reader Copy generously given to me by Tara Lush.
Tara Lush @lushbooks, known for her Crescent Moon Mysteries Series, has written a cozy love story.
Taking place in Cypress Grove. As this is also the home of the Crescent Moon books, you will find a few familiar characters which is quite an enjoyable addition.
The quote from the book (above) sums up the love story between Kate and Damien.
Kate is working at her mother’s beach side bar, The Lime and Salt serving up drinks and tinctures. In walks Damien, a firefighter, whom she hasn’t seen since high school.
Fans of fun love stories will definitely enjoy this one.
In Tara’s words “Cozy stories about love, magic, and justice - always with a happy ending “
August 29, 2026
i do love myself a second chance/fake marriage/small town romance but unfortunately, not this one.
i don't known it it's because it's the first book i've read and heard of this author but i'll break it down to three things;
— the writing style is giving early wattpad vibes. there are a lot of unnecessary fillers (sound effects fillers) that ruined the moment for the characters. also did not like how some dialouges are too much in a sentence that sometimes does not make sense at all
— it is a short book, i know, but things are just happening so fast. one minute we're one this scene the next we're on a different one. the fast-paced type does not really sit well for me which also affected the characters (third why)
— i didn't really feel the characters at all. there's no depth into their relationship and it just feels like everything is so rushed for it to be a happy ending love story of high school lovers
it was a very short and quick read which i was looking for but i just felt like it was also a waste of time after reading it. saved the rest of the series' books as it is available in kindle unlimited and surely i'll give this author another chance —just prolly not soon enough, we'll see.
i don't known it it's because it's the first book i've read and heard of this author but i'll break it down to three things;
— the writing style is giving early wattpad vibes. there are a lot of unnecessary fillers (sound effects fillers) that ruined the moment for the characters. also did not like how some dialouges are too much in a sentence that sometimes does not make sense at all
— it is a short book, i know, but things are just happening so fast. one minute we're one this scene the next we're on a different one. the fast-paced type does not really sit well for me which also affected the characters (third why)
— i didn't really feel the characters at all. there's no depth into their relationship and it just feels like everything is so rushed for it to be a happy ending love story of high school lovers
it was a very short and quick read which i was looking for but i just felt like it was also a waste of time after reading it. saved the rest of the series' books as it is available in kindle unlimited and surely i'll give this author another chance —just prolly not soon enough, we'll see.
May 18, 2026
The Paradise Proposal is the start of a new series set in our beloved Cypress Grove, has us meeting Kate Cooper, a graphic designer who moved back to Florida to help her mom manage her tiki bar, and Damien Hastings, firefighter son of the Hastings family who own the Magnolia Resort. A decade has past since they have seen each other after a kiss in high school lead to some pretty nasty rumors and Damien getting in a fight; Damien one day walks into the Lime and Salt to see Kate behind the bar. Instantly drawn to each other, or was it Paradise Springs giving them a gentle nudge, they are quickly swept up into each other's arms, and beds. Damien soon learns of Kate's illness and troubles with insurance which leads to a marriage proposal that neither knows that the other really wants not just because of the convenience but because they both love each other. This book is a cute, cozy, magical closed door romance featuring some beloved characters from the Crescent Moon Mystery series. Cannot wait to start on Paradise Fling!
August 17, 2026
I loved the Crescent Moon series so much I wish I could have lived there. This spin-off series is lackluster and just plain boring. The characters were poorly developed and still stuck in high school mentality. There was absolutely no plot structure. I got tired of the constant characterization of their impending marriage as fake. Though the main purpose in the beginning was to get her covered by his health insurance, they took the pre marriage class and got got the license. They were going to have the ceremony. They were already sleeping together, so it would be consummated. They wouldn't live together at first because he was contracted to be part of a fire fighting team out of state. Military families face such separations all the time! There would be no fake about it. It would have been a legally binding marriage that would have required a divorce to get out of. And since when was love a requirement for marriage? I am so disappointed because I was really looking forward to spending more time in the Crescent Moon universe—but not this watered down version of it.
January 20, 2026
The Paradise Proposal is the first book in the Starlight River Cozy Romance series with magic!
Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVED this book! I love every book this author loves and the fact that Cypress Grove is the location, I am obsessed. If you haven't read the Crescent Moon Series yet, set in the same Supernatural town, go NOW!
I love the Starlight River and where we meet Kate Cooper, who has recently moved back to Cypress Grove. She has no money and is working at her mom's Tiki bar which is right next to the Paradise Springs.
Ah, enter Damien, her very first crush. He is back for a few months, did I mention he is a hunky firefighter? :)
I loved their chemistry and their banter, and most of all the magic.
Second chance romance and found family. No spice, which I love in cozy magical romances.
I am so excited for the expansion of the Cypress Grove Universe to include cozy romance!!!
Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book!!!
Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVED this book! I love every book this author loves and the fact that Cypress Grove is the location, I am obsessed. If you haven't read the Crescent Moon Series yet, set in the same Supernatural town, go NOW!
I love the Starlight River and where we meet Kate Cooper, who has recently moved back to Cypress Grove. She has no money and is working at her mom's Tiki bar which is right next to the Paradise Springs.
Ah, enter Damien, her very first crush. He is back for a few months, did I mention he is a hunky firefighter? :)
I loved their chemistry and their banter, and most of all the magic.
Second chance romance and found family. No spice, which I love in cozy magical romances.
I am so excited for the expansion of the Cypress Grove Universe to include cozy romance!!!
Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book!!!
Did Not Finish
August 11, 2026DNF, I genuinely just could not get through this book.
The story jumps into things so fast, with almost no detail. It's all just one random moment to another. I can't understand how this book has such high ratings when by page 3 the romantic interests were already spiraling toward a relationship with very little details of each individual known to the reader. It felt unrealistic and juvenile.
It might just not be my type of book, but to me it lacked any foundation that would make me want to continue reading it.
The story jumps into things so fast, with almost no detail. It's all just one random moment to another. I can't understand how this book has such high ratings when by page 3 the romantic interests were already spiraling toward a relationship with very little details of each individual known to the reader. It felt unrealistic and juvenile.
It might just not be my type of book, but to me it lacked any foundation that would make me want to continue reading it.
February 15, 2026
Beautiful
Kate has come home to Cypress Grove feeling somewhat lost.
Damien is home between fire fighting assignments.
They knew each other in high school, but rumours and gossip barred their way.
The Paradise Proposal is their love story.
It is closed door romance.
The culmination of their wedding day was emotional and beautiful to me.
Thanks Tara for this wonderful story. I'm all for love stories set in the same place as quirky magical mysteries.
Kate has come home to Cypress Grove feeling somewhat lost.
Damien is home between fire fighting assignments.
They knew each other in high school, but rumours and gossip barred their way.
The Paradise Proposal is their love story.
It is closed door romance.
The culmination of their wedding day was emotional and beautiful to me.
Thanks Tara for this wonderful story. I'm all for love stories set in the same place as quirky magical mysteries.
July 30, 2026
Excellent
Honestly good book! I loved this story. This is a comfortable, angst free, affirming tale. I liked the blurb and description of this book, but almost turned it down due to the name of the author. I thought that indicated raunchy and erotic. It was lovely, and sweet, with sensual moments.
Honestly good book! I loved this story. This is a comfortable, angst free, affirming tale. I liked the blurb and description of this book, but almost turned it down due to the name of the author. I thought that indicated raunchy and erotic. It was lovely, and sweet, with sensual moments.
January 11, 2026
The author is one of my favorites, and I always enjoy her work.
A high school romance that was interrupted by small town pettiness resumes ten years later when the couple both return to their hometown.
Excellent! And looking forward to the next one!
A high school romance that was interrupted by small town pettiness resumes ten years later when the couple both return to their hometown.
Excellent! And looking forward to the next one!
July 24, 2026
Short but cute
Very cute story with a little magic thrown in. Damian and Kate have been circling each other since high school, their timing was just off. Now they may have found the right time. Through some ups and down, you will laugh and cry along with them in their journey.
Very cute story with a little magic thrown in. Damian and Kate have been circling each other since high school, their timing was just off. Now they may have found the right time. Through some ups and down, you will laugh and cry along with them in their journey.
July 29, 2026
sweet and fun
A sweet story with a situation that really does happen! Insurance / Love. I enjoyed the book, its characters, and the beach location. Recommended!!
A sweet story with a situation that really does happen! Insurance / Love. I enjoyed the book, its characters, and the beach location. Recommended!!
August 16, 2026
Content note: contains mild references to witchcraft. That’s not why I didn’t finish it. I just found it rather boring. I may come back to it later.
August 22, 2026
Such a cute sweet and clean romance! It moves along fast and is a short read!
There is a hint of magic and spells which didn’t go into a lot of detail at the beginning but I loved the characters!
There is a hint of magic and spells which didn’t go into a lot of detail at the beginning but I loved the characters!
Did Not Finish
August 23, 2026Got to chapter two and it doesn’t seem to be my vibe.
Read
September 25, 2026Didn’t finish it after a few chapters. It’s fine, just not anything I’m interested in. It’s too short and things are happening too fast.
March 11, 2026
✅My thoughts:
What a fun cozy romance read! The touch of magic throughout the story was perfect.
Main characters, Kate and Damien, come back to Cypress Grove…..not looking for love. Their past history has them not wanting to have anything to do with each other. But…..there is a chemistry between them that they cannot deny.
I love reading a second chance romance with fun banter that gives me all the feels. And, that is what The Paradise Proposal gave me.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, fun read….this is the book you need to pick up.
What a fun cozy romance read! The touch of magic throughout the story was perfect.
Main characters, Kate and Damien, come back to Cypress Grove…..not looking for love. Their past history has them not wanting to have anything to do with each other. But…..there is a chemistry between them that they cannot deny.
I love reading a second chance romance with fun banter that gives me all the feels. And, that is what The Paradise Proposal gave me.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, fun read….this is the book you need to pick up.
August 11, 2026
3,5 ⭐️
Knygoj, atrodo, nieko nepritrūko, tempas - greitas. Trumputė, aiški istorija tarp dviejų, isimylėjusių žmonių. 💌
Katie ir Damian you stole my heart 🥰
Knygoj, atrodo, nieko nepritrūko, tempas - greitas. Trumputė, aiški istorija tarp dviejų, isimylėjusių žmonių. 💌
Katie ir Damian you stole my heart 🥰
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews