The Valentine Lines by TK Sheffield
Published by: Making Hay Press LLC
Publication date: December 11, 2025
Length: 320 pages
Genre: Romantic comedy
Reviewed by: Gloria Johntel
When Cupid Falls in Love, Romance “Reins”!
Meet Cupid Bartholomew McGee—Bart, for short.
For Eons, he has used his magical arrows to pierce human hearts with love. But, what happens when he gets a taste of his own magic?
This cozy winter/spring mythological rom-com is set in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and it follows Cupid “Bart” McGee as he launches his consultation firm, the Romance Realm, with the goal to revive romance in this digital era. All the while, he navigates his budding love for Monet, a local bakery-owner, and tries to hide these feelings for Monet from his terrifying Aunt Hera, who rules Mount Olympus with a diamond-clad fist (and sometimes Zeus’s lightning bolt!) Along with his Uncle Apollo and best boy, Pegasus, Bart enlists the help of human friends along the way—Dierdre, the horse gal; Mrs. Bradshaw, a septuagenarian firecracker; and Mickey, a local potter and a CROWN (Cool Rural Older Woman, No kids) in search of her prince charming. Together, they work to get the Romance Realm up and running and do their best to find and celebrate love along the way.
TK Sheffield’s The Valentine Lines is a sparkling, sometimes silly, and delightful romp through the Wisconsin winter wonderland in search of true love. The author writes with a fun turn of phrase, including lots of puns and jokes to keep things light. For the foodies, Monet’s bakery serves up delicious treats that will make you crave a trip to your local patisserie. While our tale begins with the anticipation of Valentine’s Day and its related excitement and shenanigans, the story unravels to capture the fun of winter and early spring in Southwestern Wisconsin— snowshoe softball, ice fishing, and the pleasure of a crackling fire and hot cocoa on a cold, snowy day.
TK Sheffield also pours effort into showcasing the historic beauty of Mineral Point with rich depictions of the Mineral Point Opera House and highlighting the city’s Cornish roots and artistic inclinations with descriptions of cottages and the infamous Shake Rag Alley—she even gives a shoutout to the nearby American Players Theater in Spring Green. Overall, Sheffield does a great job displaying a vibrant small-town life in Wisconsin.
The Valentine Lines is an artistic blend of sweet contemporary romance with a dash of poetry, a cup and a half of laugh-out-loud hilarity, and a whole bag of mythological characters stirred in for a little extra zing! Throughout, Bart learns how to handle the tension between his earthly desires and his obligations to Mount Olympus. He grows as a person, deepens old bonds, and forges new friendships. Even Cupid can learn a new thing or two about love!
Bart’s romantic interest, Monet LaFleur, is also an enigma. Bart continually describes her as magical and goddess-like. We are left to question that perhaps she, too, has a secret identity? We’ll have to stick around for Sheffield’s next book to find out!
Reviewer Mini Bio:
Gloria Johntel lives in Portage, WI, with her loving husband and two big beautiful babies. She is kept busy as a stay-at-home mom, but in her few moments of free time between snacks, naps, and entertaining a 6-month-old and a toddler, she loves to read and write! Her favorite book genres are romance and Western.
