Title: Meant for You Series: Valentine Bay #2 Author: Samantha Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Small Town/Enemies to Lovers Release Date: June 1, 2023
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He’s my ex’s best friend. The man I love to hate. A total temptation who is totally off-limits.
And he’s everywhere I turn.
My life’s a disaster. My ex-boyfriend is getting married, my house is falling apart, and I haven’t slept with anyone in… Well, long enough that I’m not sure I remember where everything is supposed to go.
The last person I’d ever ask for help is my childhood enemy, Logan Reeve. He’s smug. He’s infuriating. He’s gorgeous. And lately, he’s caught me in one too many weak moments. A cocky carpenter who knows how to work a sledgehammer, Logan promises he can renovate my house before my parents sell it out from under me.
I can’t deny it. Logan’s got the skills I need to turn things around—in life and in the bedroom.
I’m craving some old-fashioned action, and Logan is always—irritatingly—there. As the tension takes us dangerously close to a line we shouldn’t cross, we find ourselves flirting with forbidden territory. Flirting, flirting… until finally, we fall.
Why does it feel so good when it’s so, so bad?
It won’t last. Nobody can ever know.There’s nothing real between us, right? Logan Reeve was never meant for me.
But one thing I know for sure. The man I can’t have loves nothing more than proving me wrong.
Meant For You is a first-person, dual POV contemporary romance with lots of steam and a satisfying happily ever after.
Samantha Leigh is the author of steamy small town romance. Her first series is set in a fictional beach-side town called Valentine Bay, and because she’s the writer and it’s within her power to do so, she filled the Bay with a disproportionate number of divine, dirty-talking surfers. It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.
In the tiny slices of time she has between all the word wrangling, Sam likes to hit her yoga mat, go for walks in the bush or on the beach, continue her search for the perfect poke bowl, drown herself in coffee and hot cacao, and binge-watch bad television.
Title: Kissing My Brother’s Bride A Kissing Games Series Standalone Author: Molly McLain
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Wrong Brother/Jilted Bride/Friends to Lovers Release Date: June 1, 2023
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My brother’s fiancée should have been mine.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. Linc was running late for their first date and he begged me to stand in until he could get there.
I only went to tell the girl to run. To warn her about my brother’s selfish ways and promise she wanted no part of it.
But then I saw her. The stunning woman with auburn hair, sky blue eyes, and freckles I wanted to memorize.
The hour I spent with Audrey was hands down the best date of my life. Until my brother showed up.
Now, I’m covering his butt again. This time at their wedding rehearsal, because Linc hasn’t learned a damn thing. Work still comes first and that says a lot, doesn’t it?
So, sure… I’ll hold Audrey’s hand at the altar. And I’ll look into her eyes and wish like hell she would realize she deserves so much more.
I should have told her to run that night two and half years ago. Because all I want to do now is what I wasn’t bold enough to do then…
This is the first book by Molly McLain that I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and her writing style.
Going into the read I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but the story was a delight!!
Liam and Audrey are fabulous friends, even though Liam felt something when he initially met her, she was supposed to be meeting his brother and our leading man was respectful and didn’t try to dissuade her from meeting Linc, didn’t let his attraction be known and was ready to watch her marry his brother if that’s what she wanted.
I have to say that Liam was a much better partner for Audrey than his brother ever was. I did wonder if there was an element of Linc continuing to date Audrey, even going as far as proposing, because he suspected how his younger brother felt?! 🤷🏼♀️
When things went wrong Liam was there for Audrey and slowly she began to see what she had had in front of her for the past few years. We saw Audrey’s life growing up and got an understanding of why she put up with things with Linc for as long as she did.
I loved how sweet, caring and protective of her Liam was. How much he knew about her, understood her and was prepared to be patient until she got to the same place he’d been for a while.
Throughout the story there was a couple of things going on and hints dropped about the next couple or two.
This was a great start to what I’m sure is gonna be a fun series!!!
Molly McLain lives in a tiny Wisconsin town with her husband, three kiddos, and two adorable German Shorthaired Pointers. She’s addicted to 80’s ballads, 90’s rock, cheesecake, and office supplies, and she’s been scribbling down love stories in spiral notebooks since she was old enough to daydream about hunky boys and happily-ever-afters. Now, she turns those daydreams into steamy, small town romance novels.
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend/Billionaire Romance Release Date: May 30, 2023
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They say monsters are made, not born. He was both…
Chase As the second youngest Ravage brother, I’ve spent my entire adult life rectifying our tainted family name and keeping my urges behind closed doors. Until my best friend’s little sister shows up at The Hunt ready to play, and I lose control. I tell myself it’s just a taste. Except, with her, I should’ve known a single taste wouldn’t be enough. And then the good girl I’ve known most of my life drops to her knees. For me. From that moment on, I knew she would only ever be one thing. Mine.
Juliet Presenting my brother’s best friend with a pros/cons list of why he should take my virginity seemed like a good idea at the time. I thrive on information, data, and lists, and it made sense on paper. Until he rejected me and walked out of my life. Now, eight years later, my life is beginning to fall apart despite my careful planning. Tempted with an invite to Ravage Castle, I show up seeking answers to questions I’m not sure I can handle. Except, a furious Chase finds me talking to another man. Under his gilded, arched roof. I soon learn that despite his controlled exterior, Chase seems to have one weakness. Me.
Prey Tell is a full-length, brother’s best friend/billionaire romance with primal play themes. It is book one in the Ravaged Castle series. All books can be read as standalones.
Amanda Richardson writes from her chaotic dining room table in Yorkshire, England, often distracted by her husband and two adorable sons. When she’s not writing contemporary and dark, twisted romance, she enjoys coffee (a little too much) and collecting house plants like they’re going out of style.
A jaded single dad. A woman returning to her small-town roots. Neither was prepared for their paths to collide…
I should have known I was in trouble when I backed my old, beat-up truck into the shiny Range Rover.
The driver looked like a gorgeous fallen angel – one who’d been booted right out of paradise for being a giant prick.
Good thing I’ll never have to see him again.
Except when I show up for my new job to teach a little girl how to ride her horse, I find the same icy blue eyes glaring back at me.
Paisley Dae is completely reckless. She’s also the best trainer in this small town. And Evelyn gets the best.
Protecting the little girl is my one focus.
Only the sassy trainer in her cut-offs and cowgirl boots quickly gets under my skin. Distractions are dangerous, but she soon becomes everything I crave.
One reckless night of giving in, and Caleb and I spiral into a web of passion.
But when I begin to unravel the secrets hiding in this place, I find there is more riding on this job than I thought.
Caleb and Evelyn are worth any sacrifice – only Caleb has to decide what he will sacrifice for me…
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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
Title: The Sex Variable Series: Romancing the Geek #2 Author: Emi Leon
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Forbidden Love/Women in STEM/Age Gap Cover Design: Melody Jeffries Release Date: June 15, 2023
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What’s a little secret when the chemistry is off the charts?
Everyone has a dream. Mine is to make perfume, where the science of aroma converges with the art of experience.
To fund my new business, I join a paid drug trial that’s for her pleasure, if you know what I mean. I figure the risks are worth it, but the one variable I didn’t factor in is biochemist Dr. Bradley Zimmer.
After taking my first dose, I literally run into the man of my dreams, a hot geek, who catches me. His disastrous style can’t hide the kindness behind his glasses, and he’s irresistibly appealing. But I’m running late, so I don’t get his name.
When our paths cross again, it’s like magic between me and the gorgeous geek aka Bradley. Despite our age gap, every touch between us is electric. I’ve never felt like this. Is it real or is this the trial’s little blue pill for v@ginas?
But after I learn dating Bradley is off-limits as a trial participant, I have to decide: perfume or my hotty scientist. I want both, so when he mistakenly assumes why I’m at his pharmaceutical company, I don’t correct him.
What’s a little secret when the chemistry is off the charts?
But, like any explosive reaction, the truth invariably comes out… Can we survive the unexpected results of this love equation?
Sex, science, scents, and secrets—a formula designed to either ignite passion or combust spectacularly.
Emi Leon lives in Washington state and writes steamy rom-coms. She believes love and laughter go hand-in-hand. Nerdy and grumpy heroes are her favorites. The fact she married one has nothing to do with it. She’s a STEM girl turned romance writer, who hangs out in coffee shops reading. Just look for the woman in smart girl glasses and ponytail with a steaming beverage in front of her, who may blush when she gets to the good parts (i.e. sexy times.) She thinks everyone needs a happily ever afters. And a dog. Oh, a cat, too!
Title: An Inconvenient Marriage Author: A.K. MacBride
Genre: Billionaire Romance Trope: Arranged Marriage Release Date: May 25, 2023
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He wanted revenge but found her instead.
Revenge is finally within reach when the man I ache to ruin offers his daughter for marriage. A woman who stands for everything I despise but, in a strange twist of fate, turns out to be nothing like the ugly rumors surrounding her.
Her warm smile and kind heart chip at the walls I so dutifully erected around my heart. And as they crumble to the ground piece by miserable piece, secrets from our pasts emerge and threaten to destroy us.
The right thing would be to walk away, to let go of my need for revenge. But I can’t. I won’t.
Even if it means destroying her–destroying us–in the end.
**An Inconvenient Marriage has previously been published in 2018. And although the core of the story remains the same, a lot has changed. With almost 30k added to the initial story, readers both old and new can jump in and enjoy the tension-filled ride Zach and Natalie take to their happily ever after.
Introducing A.K. MacBride, whose pen flows with love, passion, and longing.
When she’s not busy crafting captivating love stories, you can find her indulging in her two guilty pleasures – a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a decadent piece of dark chocolate.
Hailing from a quaint small town in South Africa, she finds inspiration in the charming beauty of her surroundings and the warmth of her family. Speaking of family, she shares her cozy abode with her loving husband and adorable daughter—and don’t forget the two lovable furbabies—who never fail to inspire her writing.
With her heart on her sleeve and her pen in hand, she weaves tales of heartbreak, forgiveness, and true love. Join her on a journey of passion, romance, and pure bliss, and experience love like never before.
Genre: Contemporary Ménage Romance Release Date: May 25, 2023
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It should have been an in-and-out job Find the girl and bring her home. But we’re not the only ones who came for her And when our rescue mission goes horribly wrong, We find ourselves stranded and alone in the unforgiving jungle. With death stalking our heels Every day becomes a battle for survival A battle not all of us will win.
They pulled me from the clutches of a madman Risking their lives to keep me safe Just a pretty girl with an odd name and strange eyes They don’t know why I was captured or why I’m being hunted They don’t know the things I done, the things I’ve seen But it’s safer this way because if they knew the truth They’d become collateral damage Or worse, they might just hunt me too.
Authors note: The Brutal Strike is a ménage romance intended for 18+ readers.
Trigger warning: As with most of my books, The Brutal Strike contains some scenes that readers may find upsetting, so please proceed with caution.
Candice Wright is the international bestselling author of the Underestimated Series. Hailing from the UK, Candice lives with her three slightly unhinged children and the long-suffering partner. When she isn’t busy raising the next generation of crazy, you can find her sitting at the computer writing words she hopes will resonate or snuggled up reading stories by the authors that cultivated her love of the written word.
Title: The Trade Series: Underdogs #2 Author: Kata Čuić
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance Tropes: Second Chance/Fake Relationship Release Date: May 18, 2023
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What’s a woman to do when she’s faced with the impossible decision to give an old flame a second chance?
Shore up her defenses to ward off his charms, of course.
Once upon a time, Merrick Jovanovitch was my everything. I fell fast and hard and forever. Then, I pushed him away. The end.
He’s suddenly back in my life, the newest addition to my fresh-start city’s football team. When I’m blackmailed by a vicious wife of one of Merrick’s teammates to help the team land a reality TV series, I don’t have the option to run from my problems this time. The secret I’ve been keeping from Merrick for three long years needs to stay where it belongs—in the past. With pressure mounting on my unsteady shoulders, I need a release valve to keep juggling all these very fragile plates.
Enter jagoff42. Yeah. That’s…an online handle from a language-learning app.
I know it sounds bananas but hear me out. My internet pen pal is the only man for this job because he’s a third-party bystander with no skin in the game. I don’t have to worry about him getting hurt or spilling my deepest, darkest secrets to anyone. Because we’ve never actually met.
No, I don’t know his real name. No, I don’t know if he’s a creepy old dude. No, I don’t know if he lives in his mother’s basement. He’s only ever told me that he’s close. So, yeah. He’s probably creepy.
The only problem with all these brilliant plans? To land the new reality series for the team, Merrick and I have to rekindle our relationship. For the cameras. That’s fine. As long as I remember all of our kisses are for show, I can get through this.
Even though he lights my body up like a five-alarm fire. Even though more and more of our kisses are in private instead of in public. Even though I swore to myself that I’d never give my heart away again.
Merrick can’t be my happily ever after. I walked away the first time for a reason. Right?
Kata Čuić lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and three teens. No one told her life was gonna be this way. She holds a degree in Linguistics with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Her plans of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon were foiled by OChem 1. Fortunately, she’d been making up stories in her head since the days of her imaginary friend, Choosy. Putting pen to paper, er…fingers to the keyboard…came surprisingly naturally after her aforementioned teens decided it was time for them to cut their respective cords.
Kata writes everything from angst-filled YA series to standalone rom-coms and has been known to dabble in a bit of paranormal on the free stories section of her website. She believes nice guys shouldn’t have to finish last (except in the bedroom where she prefers an alpha between the sheets but a gentleman in the streets), and that the surest way to a woman’s heart is through laughter and food.
I love my job. Bartending is more than just serving drinks to customers at the hottest bar and restaurant in Stewart Grove. It’s the people I work with and those I meet along the way. I know how to have a good time. Just one flirty little grin and the ladies are like putty in my hands. But they know the score: I’m a one and done guy, not looking to ever fall into the trap of love.
Then, a sweet, gorgeous coworker needs help, and I find myself offering up more than I should.
With Cameron Wright temporarily living with me, pretending to be my girlfriend, the lines begin to blur fast. She’s in my space and I suddenly have free rein to hold and kiss her.
Helping her might very well be my downfall.
Cameron
I keep to myself. Despite working as a server at the popular gourmet burger joint, I make sure my eyes are always ahead, focused on the prize: make enough tips to pay off my debts. When you carry around this much guilt every day, the weight slowly starts to drag you down, but I’m determined. My past will not define me.
Until one day, that past returns and is ready to rekindle our old relationship.
Cocky playboy Kellen McGregor steps up, not only offering a place to stay, but also a way to put space between me and my ex. Problem is, in no time, I find I like being with him.
I just need to remember he’s not the forever kind of guy.
Don’t you just love the Burgers and Brew Crüe…. Lacey Black keeps hitting it out the park with this series.
We’ve met Kellen and Cameron earlier in the series and I liked them both.
Cameron had had trouble before thanks to her drug stealing boyfriend. Being in her own with not a lot of family support she lives her life quietly and keeps out of any kind of trouble. She’s become friends with Garrett and Reagan who look out for her. Things have been going well for her when her ex all of a sudden reappears in town and seems to be everywhere she turns.
Kellen is a player. He’s a really good person, cares about those he considers friends and family but dienst see himself getting seriously involved with anyone given his upbringing. He knows something happened with Cameron but doesn’t know the full story and doesn’t speculate as others do.
Things take an unexpected turn for the worse and Cameron needs somewhere to stay for a little while. Kellen is more than happy to help her out as he can accommodate and so things with them start to develop.
I liked how easy these two were with each other. Kellen made Cameron feel safe and she made his house feel less empty and lonely. Watching their relationship grow from colleagues to friends to more was great.
As ever we had the Crüe gang and their other halves, they really showed what being part of the bars ‘family’ meant. These folk are there when needed and are loyal to a fault!!!
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and hope it’s the couple I’m thinking it might be.
GUSA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
Jewelry heiress Lucienne Peery needs a husband in order to take full control of her company and arranges for a mutually beneficial marriage. When she catches her fiancé in bed with her sister, she demands to marry his older brother instead. And his family agrees to avoid handing over 30% of their own company for breaking the marriage contract.
She only plans to stay married until her control is firmly established. But she does the unthinkable and falls in love with her husband…
When the ruthless and iron-willed Sebastian Lasker is forced to marry a woman fully as scandalous as his embarrassing, disreputable father, he vows revenge. Nobody manipulates him and gets away with it. He’s going to strip her of what she wants from the marriage and get rid of her.
But pride and fortune aren’t the only things at stake as he realizes he can’t let her go…
Contractually Yours is full of a yummy arranged marriage, dislike-to-love, forced proximity, my wife moments, man-grovel and a happy ending.
My ex gives me a once-over and smirks. “Oh, I get it. Looking for a husband.”
I try not to snort. He doesn’t watch the news—thinks it’s boring—and his family apparently hasn’t updated him about my new status. Maybe they disowned him. Wouldn’t that be great?
He continues, “I don’t know why you waste your time like this. Look, I’m happy to let it go if you’ll just see the light and change your mind about our—”
“Don’t hold your breath.” He’s dumber than I thought, bringing up the engagement when I still can’t find enough mind bleach to erase seeing him with my sister.
“There you are,” comes Sebastian’s voice from behind me. “Oh, hello, Preston.”
When he stops next to me, I put my arm around his waist. “What perfect timing.” I smile up at him.
He gives me a mildly curious look, but wraps an arm around my shoulders.
See? This is what you get when you’re with a smart man. He knows the role you’d like him to play without your having to spell it out. The fact that he’s willing to play along without some prior commitment to reciprocate warms my heart. So many people want something first before doing anything for me.
Preston’s brow knits as he takes in the tableau. “You guys are together?”
I triple the wattage of my smile. “Preston, have you met my husband, Sebastian Lasker?”
“What?” His shout rings in the wide-open space. “You can’t marry him!”
“I can’t? Oh, that’s too bad.” I tighten my hold on Sebastian, pressing my side against his. “’Cause I kinda already did.” I extend my left hand, so Preston can see my gorgeous Toi et Moi ring and the wedding band.
Sebastian flashes his as well. Man, we make a great team.
Preston blinks rapidly, his eyes fixed on our hardware. Finally, he jerks his head up, his face blotchy. “Why would you want him when you could have me?”
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I ask.
“I can see well enough to know those diamonds are tiny compared to the one I was going to give you!” He points at my finger.
I drop my gaze to his crotch for a second before lifting it back up. “His is both bigger and better than yours.”
Preston looks like he just got punched in the face by Mike Tyson. Sebastian shakes against me in silent laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Preston snarls.
“You.” Sebastian lets the laugh out. “You’re third-rate comedy, but at least you’re entertaining.” He wipes tears from his eyes.
Preston turns to me. “You bitch! It’s all your fault he’s mocking me!”
Sebastian steps forward, pulling away from my arm around his waist, as the mirth melts from his face. “Watch your tone if you want to keep your teeth. Nobody talks to my wife with disrespect.”
I pat his back a few times, to let him know it isn’t necessary for him to react like this. Part of me is flattered and moved that he’s defending me, but another part feels a bit unworthy of his protection because… Well, I did force him to marry me.
Preston slashes the air with his arm. “She’s my fiancée!”
“She was. You call my wife your fiancée again, and I’ll break your face.”
AUTHOR BIO
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.
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