A marriage proposal from a deliciously handsome and wickedly charming prince sounds like a fairytale.
But for a nerdy scientist with severe social anxiety, it’s a horror story.
Prince Torin O’Grady, with his mischievous blue eyes and cocky grin, is always in the spotlight. And he needs to marry me to inherit the crown.
But we have nothing in common. He’s a future king. And I’m perfectly happy slogging through mud in my work boots.
So why can’t I stop thinking about him?
Maybe because he won’t stop texting me. And sending me gifts. And making me feel like everything I find awkward and weird about myself is special and amazing.
And there’s also that little detail of him offering me my dream job and telling me that together we can change the world.
Well, I could probably 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 for him.
And if I have to marry him 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 to get what we both want, then fine. It’s for the greater good.
It has nothing to do with the way he kisses me. Or that dirty mouth. Or the 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 he gives me in the bedroom.
Fine. Maybe it does. Still, it’s only a year. Then I can turn in my tiara and come back to my normal, boring, behind-the-scenes life.
But Torin is determined to turn me from reluctantly royal to royally 𝘩𝘪𝘴.
She presses her lips together, takes a breath, then asks, “What else do you want?”
I decide to be honest. “I want to whisk you away on my private plane to an actual palace and give you everything and anything you could ever want or need.”
Her eyes widen. “You don’t even know me.”
I tuck my hands into my back pockets. To try to look casual. But also to keep from reaching for her.
“I’ve read all about your work,” I tell her. “I started by just wanting to know about that job you said you hated so much. But then I kept reading. I know all about you.”
She’s staring at me. She’s sitting up straighter now and even in the pale light, I can see her shock.
“You…read about me?”
“Not just about you. I read all of your papers. Your work in college. Your dissertation. The articles you’ve published. I even stumbled upon some social media posts.”
“I…Oh…” She shakes her head. “I thought you wanted to sleep with me.”
I chuckle softly. “Oh, Abigail, I most definitely want to sleep with you.”
She swallows hard.
“I wanted that before I knew you are a damned genius who could come to my country and revolutionize agriculture and completely overhaul our economy.”
I can see that she’s breathing faster now.
“So you want to hire me?” she asks. “Which means we can’t sleep together because you’ll be my boss.”
I step up on the first step.
“I don’t want to hire you. But I do want to bring you to Cara to do your work.”
“I don’t understand.”
I step up onto the next step, but she doesn’t back up. There’s only a step between us now. “I want you to marry me.”
Her eyes widen. But she says nothing.
“Be my princess,” I go on. “You’ll have influence and resources. You can do anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to do.”
She’s staring at me. Then when she realizes I’m done talking, she laughs.
“Marry you? Is that how things work for you? You just smile that smile, waltz a couple of waltzes, and women just say yes to anything? Even marriage?”
Well…
“I’ve never asked anyone to marry me before, so I don’t really know,” I answer.
She’s still smiling. “Thank you for the offer. But I’m not going to marry you.”
“As princess of Cara you can see your plans in action. Right now, they’re all just on paper. You’re not actually doing any of it. Don’t you want to see it come to life?”
Now she’s not smiling. She’s just watching me. She takes a deep breath. “Of course I do.”
“This is the perfect way. There’s no red tape. Nothing between your amazing brain and making it all happen for real.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. My country needs a prince and princess in place before my grandfather steps aside. The country deserves to know who will be there to step up and take care of them. My grandfather needs a successor in place before his heart gives out.”
“He has a bad heart?” she asks.
“He’s already had three heart attacks. I really need to get married to give him and the country peace of mind.”
“So you’re serious about finding a wife?”
“I am.”
She steps down a step.
“Abigail.”
“Yes?”
“If you step down one more step, I’m going to kiss you.”
She wets her lips.
“So if you want to just keep talking, you need to keep your sweet ass right there on that step.”
She looks down at the step that would start the kissing.
“And if you don’t want to keep talking…or anything else… you need to go back inside.”
She’s staring at me. But she seems more fascinated than anything. “Okay. I understand.”
“Good.”
Two heartbeats pass.
Then she steps down onto the step right above mine.
I groan and cup her face, bringing her mouth in against mine.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
While Erin Nicholas is better known for The Landry Family and the small town of Autre – some of my favourite books and series – I’m so looking forward to what’s to come from her alter-ego, Erin Nicolle.
I adored Torin & Abigail. We’d met Torin previously on his trips to visit Fiona and Saoirse in Autre, while Ani had been introduced via her sisters’ stories.
We knew a bit about Cara. That they needed a new king ti take over from Torin’s grandfather as he’s getting older and his health hasn’t been good but the level of expectation on Torin from the old boy was a little more than anyone expected I think!!
I liked how Torin knew Abi was the one for him and even though she seemed set on the end date of their he never listened to sight of the future he wanted with her. Torin grew up quite a bit throughout the read and for me, he was gonna be a really great leader…. if he has the right partner (hint, hint… Abi) by his side.
Then there’s Abi. For someone with social anxiety she definitely bloomed in this book….. her confidence, self belief and understanding of what she could do if she set her mind to it all developed during her first few months with Torin as he was so supportive and proud of her, which he never failed to convey.
This pair were made for each other. They were sweet, funny, engaging and smoking hot in equal measures and I’m hoping we see more of them in future ‘Royals Gone Rogue’ books.
A really fab start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what Erin has in store for Torin’s brothers (and hopefully their best friends/bodyguards!!! 😉)
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** My thanks to Erin for an advance ecopy of Reluctantly Royal. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I’ve also got my kindle copy on pre-order. **
Erin Nicholas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty sexy contemporary romances and rom coms. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy, and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).
While Erin Nicholas is known for her blue-collar book boyfriends and big, boisterous found families in small towns, her alternate pen name, Erin Nicolle writes rich and royal rogues. But they both love a dirty talking cinnamon roll, a damn grump who is reluctantly wrapped around a feisty little finger, and a gruff, protective guy who falls first and hard.
And Erin also writes spicy, why choose rom coms as Emma Foxx with her author bestie, Erin McCarthy (yes, another Erin)!
You can find all three pen names on Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram and Tik Tok!
She thinks happily ever after only happens in romance novels. He can’t wait to prove her wrong…
Falling in love is not on Raven Walsh’s agenda. Running from her past keeps her way too busy for that. She can, however, handle a friends-with-benefits scenario with the hot billionaire who co-owns The Back Door bar. But trusting him with her heart? Not a chance…
Remington Sterling has had his eye on the smart and sexy Raven since she started waitressing at his bar. He knows she’s gun-shy where relationships are concerned. But he’s ready to do whatever it takes to convince her he’s worth the risk…
When Raven’s secrets catch up to her in a big way, she must decide if the potential cost of trusting Remy is more than she’s willing to pay—and Remy will need to figure out how far he’s willing to go for love…
Just One More Moment, book 1 in the Sterling Family series (all can be read as standalones), is a spicy contemporary romance featuring a ready-to-run heroine and the possessive, protective alpha hero who is more than ready to catch her.
“So I thought we could have an arrangement,” she said.
“Such as?”
“I’ve seen you in occasional relationships through the years… well, not relationships exactly, but you tend to have flings.”
He winced because she had a point. Until Raven, he’d never considered something serious.
“So I figured, we could be… you know, friends with benefits. At the bar, you’re my boss, and there are boundaries, but other times when we’re alone… we’d have the benefits. Would that be good for you?”
F%ck no, he thought. He wanted so much more. But that was the caveman in him talking. The rational, understanding human inside him knew he couldn’t have all of Raven without slowly winning her trust. Which meant giving her what she needed. Time. Space.
He placed his finger on her moist lower lip, running the pad over her flesh. “If that works for you, it does for me,” he said in a gruff voice.
Her shoulders sagged in what must have been relief and his heart squeezed as he realized what it must take for her to hold herself together. She was wound so tight and pressed down so much fear. Something had to give. He wanted to be her safe place.
“So we’re good?” she asked.
Meanwhile, as she sighed and wriggled on his lap, his X#$% grew hard and he gritted his teeth against the desire he wouldn’t be acting on.
“We’re good,” he assured her.
She hugged him, placing her head on his shoulder and her chest against his, as she breathed against his neck. “Thank you, Remy. I feel safe with you.”
And those words both solidified his decision to go slow and caused a warm feeling in his chest, and his heart beat in time with hers.
When she decided to go home anyway, he understood, and let her go.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
*****
Meet Carly Phillips:
Carly Phillips is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty sexy contemporary romances featuring hot men, strong women, and emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and lives in Westchester County, NY. She is the mother of two adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.For more information on upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive two free books!
One look across the aisle at a wedding and I fell in lust.
Last First Kiss, an all-new single dad, forced proximity, contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan is now available!
The Montgomery Ink Legacy series continues with a workplace fling romance that starts off with a literal bang. Daisy Montgomery Knight is about to meet her match when it comes to Hugh Hendrix.
One look across the aisle at a wedding and I fell in lust.
He’s on the bride’s side. I’m on the groom’s.
But by the end of the night, we’re against a wall, over a table…and in bed.
I’m prepared never to see him again except in my memories.
Only the next week things become awkward: I’m his new boss.
And it turns out he’s just as demanding outside of the sheets as beneath them.
We need to stay away from each other—he has his demons, as well as an adorable little girl, and I’m trying to heal after a job gone wrong.
I know I need to walk away…even if neither one of us wants to.
I turned the corner and bumped into a woman in sky-high heels, yet was still quite a bit shorter than me. I cursed and reached out, gripping her shoulders. She had her hand on my wrist in a moment, squeezing with a twist that surprised me. I knew that move. And if I wasn’t careful, she was going to twist my arm around my back. Interesting.
Why did that make me hard? There was something wrong with me, and I needed to either get laid, or get some sleep. Probably both.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going, and I’m trying to be quick about it. I apologize.” I gently moved my arms from her shoulders and tried not to stand agog with my mouth open. She was quite possibly the most gorgeous woman I had ever met in my life.
And, in my line of work, I tended to meet a lot of beautiful women.
She had stunning green eyes that looked as if they were crafted within the ocean. In fact, I bet in sunlight they looked gray or even blue. The mystery of it compelled me, and that probably should have been a warning sign. Her long dark hair was neatly crafted into some form of updo thing that I didn’t understand. I wondered what it would look like if I pulled it out of its style, just to see it fall down her back. Would it be wavy? Would it easily wrap around my fist?
She was strong, muscular, a little above average height, but still short next to me.
She had curves, beautiful breasts that filled out her dress achingly well, and slightly widened hips, the perfect width for my grip.
I shook myself out of whatever the hell was going on with me. I did not react to women like this. Hell, I barely reacted at all these days. I was too busy trying to keep up with my daughter, this move, and the fact that I would start a new job on Monday. I didn’t have time for this wedding.
“It’s okay,” the woman said, her voice slightly smoky. It was a voice that drew me.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Anyway, I should hurry. Don’t want to be late.”
Her red tinted lips quirked into a smile, and I swallowed hard.
“No, I don’t think Henry’s bride will appreciate that.”
“You’re on the groom side then?”
She nodded. “And with that accent, I guess you’re on the bride’s side?”
“You know, you’re not the first person to say that today. Your friend could know more than one British person, not just the one he’s marrying.”
“True. But statistically, I think Rina knows a few more.”
“You know, you’re probably right.”
“Anyway, I will see you. At least across the aisle.” She winked, before she turned towards the wedding center, her hips swaying just right. I didn’t think she was doing it on purpose either. It was those damn heels, and those legs that went on for days. And she was so damn strong. So muscular.
I shook that off, because I didn’t want to walk into the wedding after it started, and ran to the bathroom, cleaned the back of my neck, washed my hands, and let out a breath as I leaned on the sink.
“You can do this. One more day of being normal.”
Whatever normal was.
I made it to my seat in the middle pew right as the processions began. I was grateful that I hadn’t had to slip in the middle of it or hide behind a pillar during the damn ceremony. That would’ve been just my luck.
Of course, it seemed my luck was changing, because as I turned to watch the procession, I saw the dark-haired beauty right across from me. She winked as the man next to her spoke into her ear and she laughed, a nice husky laugh that went straight to my groin.
She had brought a fucking date. I guess that answered that.
Now to just get my cock to agree.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
*****
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Talon Pack, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She’s the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over one hundred novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
The Rock Point series chronicles the stories of each of the agents of the La Plata County FBI office. These books will take you on a wild ride of romance, danger, passion, and betrayal. Durango, Colorado has never been more adventurous and exciting.
***
Keeping 6
When Special Agent Damian Gomez walks into the small Books and Brew store looking for coffee, he doesn’t expect to find Kerry Emerson manning the espresso machine. She seems equally surprised but that quickly turns to anger when the annoyingly handsome FBI agent seems to have her confused for a criminal.
***
Cabin 12
EMT Bella Greene thinks Special Agent Jasper Greene is a narcissistic hotshot, and he, in turn, believes her to be a high maintenance snob. But the moment the first cop is gunned down, they’re forced to work side by side and amid corruption and murder, they quickly discover how misleading first impressions can be.
***
HWY 550
Investigating a string of robberies places Special Agent Luna Roosberg undercover and on the back of Arrow’s Edge MC President Ouray’s bike. He does not have much choice because with pressure both in- and outside the club mounting, he no longer knows who to trust. Except perhaps the pretty agent who is shaking up his life—and stirring his blood.
***
10-CODE
Single mom, Marya Berger does not want to be attracted to Special Agent Dylan Barnes. Not only is he several years her junior, but he is also the father of one of the boys on her son’s soccer team. But when the disappearance of a child hits a little too close to home, she finds herself responding to the agent’s need to protect her and her boys.
***
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
I read these books prior to the Collection being put together. ~ T xx
Keeping 6
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Freya Barker‘s and have been since her very first book…. Her writing, characters, storylines, attention to detail and descriptions of the story locations all combine to give excellent reads with relatable leads.
Keeping 6 is the first book in the new Rock Point series (which I’ve been looking forward to since Ms B mentioned it!!) and for me was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I love that the MCs are that little bit older, that they are flawed and, in the leading man’s case, possessive and protective from the get go. We had met Damian in previous books in another series and, while I wasn’t sure I was gonna be a fan of him from what we’d seen before, he definitely won me over in his own story! I enjoy the strength, character, snark and sass of Freya’s ladies but for some reason it took me just a little to warm to Kerry – admittedly it wasn’t for long and I did get there (I still can’t quite put my finger on why it happened this time around), but it was an unusual feeling to say the least!!
Loads of action, heat, attraction, great supporting characters who I hope we meet again in the future, Keeping 6 was a great start to this new series and I’m looking forward to more from Ms B!!
If you haven’t already experienced the joy of reading a book by Freya, this is a good place to start though I’d recommend that you go back to the start and begin with the Cedar Tree series to fully appreciate the characters we meet and the setting of the story in Keeping 6.
A rock solid 4.5* read for me!
Cabin 12
!!! FLOVED IT !!!
The above was what I thought once I’d finished Cabin 12 and I’ve finally got round to writing my full review….. Real life has inconveniently interrupted my reading and blogging lately…… and talking of real life, I’m pretty sure I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating… one of my favourite things about Freya Barker’s books is the realness of her characters and how I can get their life struggles, worries and issues!
I really loved Bella and Jasper together (ah, Jasper, le sigh, reminds me of another book ‘hero’ I absolutely adore….. Ms Barker did well with this character name!). They were in equal parts frustrating, funny, adorable and fabulous.
The intertwined story lines don’t start out real obvious and you have to think about where things are maybe going – which I love, as I don’t necessarily like or need an author to hand hold me through every event in their story!! The heat, affection, love and camaraderie/sense of family are excellent and the intimate scenes are scorching hot!
I’m excited about what’s coming next in this series… a few possibilities that I think I saw while reading …. but I’m gonna keep my thoughts and patiently wait and see if I got it right or not!
A definite must read, the Rock Point series is fast moving up my table of ‘favourite Freya reads’
5*
HWY 550
I finished this book with the biggest smile on my face!!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Freya Barker keeps raising the bar when it comes to her books….
I’ll be the first to admit that I found it hard to connect or understand Luna Roosberg when we’ve previously met her in the series. I could never quite put my finger on why I couldn’t get a handle on her but Ms B worked her magic as usual and pretty much from the outset of HWY 550 and Luna’s character totally won me round. She’s tough and brusque on the outside but we soon discover that this hardshell covers a very different woman!
Ouray….man, what can I say about this guy!! He’s kinda brusque and tough himself but that’s a given seeing as he’s the president of an MC club, but he’s another one who has a completely different hidden centre, it’s just taken one particular woman to bring it to the fore (not that he lets everyone see the sweet, protective side of him that Luna releases – he has an image to protect after all!)
With a couple of interesting and complex storylines running through the story, there was plenty of action and characters, new and old, that all added to the fun and made for a fabulous read. Hot, steamy and a touch of sweet with a load of heart, Freya let us catch up with favourites from previous stories and teasingly introduces us to a possible couple for a future book in the series….. YAY!!
As well written as you would most definitely expect from FB, this was another excellent instalment in the La Plana County FBI ROCK POINT series and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
5*
10-CODE
Freya Barker is one of my favourite authors and in my opinion has only gotten better with each book that she’s written.
The fourth book in the Rock Point series is Dylan and Marya’s story and with a hard hitting and sadly, very realistic story arc, this was a great read and another hit in Ms B’s catalogue.
I love that her characters are older, with life experience, emotional baggage, health and emotional issues that can be related to most of the time. Marya and Dylan were perfect for each other and their kids were a great addition to the story – and the easy acceptance of each of their families made for good reading.
10-Code was a sad reminder of just how awful people can be and how you can never judge a book by it’s cover – in more ways than one. It was also a reminder of how the capacity to give and accept love can change and enhance your life in many ways.
Action, suspense, tons of heat and some seriously hot down and dirty times, along with catching up with some of our fave characters from previous books made this another smasher of a story and one I’d most definitely recommend.
Author bio:
USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.
Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
As soon as we’re alone, the air shifts. Shadows dance across the tabletop. Megan’s jasmine perfume scents the air, and my body temperature rises.
I struggle to remember our conversation yesterday. I remind myself that my child—the same one that occupied the seat next to me a minute ago—is my priority. Over and over, I replay all the reasons why I can’t afford to get off track.
Why I can’t touch Megan Kramer.
My muscles tighten in my stomach and across the back of my neck as I lift my gaze from the tabletop to her.
She grins. It’s simple, but when coupled with the heat in her eyes, there’s nothing sweet about it. “That was fun.”
I hold her gaze, unable to look away.
This is the first day, Chase. Twenty-nine more to go. Don’t blow it already.
I smirk and push away from the table.
I need to put some distance between us before things get really fun.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
4.8* – love, Love, LOVE an Adriana Locke book….
Chase and Megan were awesome. Their initial meeting was not great (though Meg’s complaining about him in the bar later that night was amusing) and then the next day Chase was not ready for Megan to turn up on his doorstep (quite literally, she was not the person he was expecting to arrive to help with his daughter – but his mother didn’t tell him about a change in plans!!)
Megan had returned home after her dream job ended but after her mum suffered an accident she agreed to help out with her mum’s best friend’s grand-daughter, Kennedy, for the summer. The night before she’s due to start she gets a bit lost and a grumpy but hot guy stops to help her – the not so great interaction. Their conversation and thoughts here gave you an idea of how explosive they could be together….
Chase’s biggest problem and the reason why he was so reticent to Meg helping with Kennedy was the strength of his attraction to her. Megan, once things were decided that she would stay with Chase and Kennedy, tried to quell her attraction to him but after a bit neither of them could deny how they felt and they stop fighting the connection.
I really loved how Meg bonded with Kennedy and that she jumped in to stand up and protect her, listening and doing the right thing where Kennedy was concerned. This is where it missed 5* for me. I got that chase was tired and all when he got the story of what had happened but his reaction and words completely p’d me off.
I loved Chase’s brothers and I’m looking forward to their books and heading back to Peachwood Falls.
Adriana always hits the mark and ‘More Than I Could’ is another fab example of her great characters, funny banter, and the angst, emotion and heat she writes for her MCs.
USA Today Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.
She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.
Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty-five years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.
𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭 by USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly is LIVE!!!
This is a friends to lovers, second chance hockey romance set in the Slayers Hockey series.
“Dirty Flirt was sweet, swoony, flirty deliciousness. Ben and Lara’s second chance love story is pure perfection and this lighthearted read is one of my favorite in this fun series.” – Amy, Goodreads
What to expect:
✔️Friends to Lovers
✔️Second Chance
✔️Off Limits
✔️OTT Golden Retriever Hero
✔️Roommates
✔️Secret Crush
✔️Friends with benefits
✔️Reformed Puck Boy
✔️Secret Relationship
✔️Good Girl Bad Boy
✔️Smexxy times in inappropriate places
Blurb:
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧
I’m Ben Boerboom, the NHL’s favorite puck boy, and Lara’s my slamming hot, former bestie. She’s also the friend who got away and my dirty, dirty accomplice from those two insane weeks that weren’t supposed to change anything… but did.
I wanted it all. Would have wrapped my forever around her finger if she’d let me. But if making bad decisions is my special skill, Lara’s is making good ones… Like prioritizing her career goals and the kind of security she didn’t have growing up.
Hard pass on that kind of heartbreak again. So cue the bunnies. Years of bunnies.
Now Lara’s back in my city. Temporarily. And thanks to a burst pipe and a miscommunication with my sister, she’s living in my spare room.
A lot has changed, but two things haven’t. Her goals and the way she sometimes believes my bad ideas are good… like crossing those lines I swore we wouldn’t cross again.
I’ve had a number of MLK’s books on my TBR list for ages…. Man, what a mistake on my part… I should have been actually reading Mira’s books before now!!
I started this series way late I know but I’m actually really glad I started with Ben (Boomer) and Lara – though I’m definitely gonna be reading the other books in the series!
I ADORED this pair. Miscommunication is a pet peeve of mine but if these two hadn’t had that when they were 18 they wouldn’t have become the people they are now and know exactly what they want!!!
I liked that they took time to get to know each other and became friends again – especially after that awkward first meet up in present day (though I’m still feeling that this ‘mixup’ was maybe kinda deliberate on the part of Ben’s little sis!!!!)
I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other again, remember what it was they liked about each other and how they actually felt about the other before things fell apart.
Ben’s determination to not lose Elle again was just wonderful and seeing Lara realise what was important to her now just showed how much both of them cared and realised what they truly wanted.
This is one of my fave reads of the year. Seriously recommend and without doubt I’ll be reading this again soon.
* Grab the bonus scene and check it out…. Just another little piece that adds to this couples relationship!!! *
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** Thanks to Wordsmith Publicity & the author for an advance copy of Dirty Flirt. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Loved this so much I bough the ebook on release!! **
*All titles in the Slayers Hockey series are loosely connected but can be read as standalones.
About the Author
Hard core romantic, stress baker, and housekeeper non-extraordinaire, Mira Lyn Kelly is a USA TODAY bestselling author with over a million readers worldwide. She writes sizzly love stories with hot, possessive heroes who know how to laugh, heroines who give as good as they get, friends as close as family, and happily ever afters up-against-the-wall style!
Growing up in the Chicago area, she earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University and met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy… only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home. Mira now lives in Minnesota with her husband, four amazing children and two ridiculous dogs.
Title: Love at First Write A SEAL Team Alpha Series Standalone Author: Kat Baxter
Genre: Steamy Short Romantic Comedy Tropes: Secret/Mistaken Identity, Military Pen-Pal, Small Town, Forced Proximity Release Date: February 26, 2024
BLURB
I had a crush on my best friend’s older brother even before he joined the SEALs and became a hometown hero. I didn’t fall in love with him until I started sending him care packages and exchanging letters. The bond we’ve built over the past two years made me believe he was my soulmate.
But then the man I thought I was writing just returned from overseas with no recollection of our letters. Plus he’s brought home a fiancee!
Enter Ethan Fox, tough guy, loner, war hero. Liar.
He says he fell in love with me through our letters, but how am I supposed to trust the man who’s been lying to me for years?
USA Today Bestselling Author Kat Baxter writes fast-paced, sweet & STEAMY romantic comedies. Readers have dubbed her books “laugh-out-loud funny,” “hot enough to melt your kindle,” and “The Queen of Adorkable.” She lives in Texas with her family and a menagerie of animals. Kat is the pseudonym for a bestselling historical romance author.
Title: Killing Booth Series: Welcome to the Circus #6 Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Romantic Suspense Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Sports Romance Release Date: February 27, 2024
BLURB
Every single thing you want is going to require you to be uncomfortable.
Those words had been shared with her by the one man she didn’t think she could take a chance on. She just didn’t know that he was right, or that he was going to be the one making her uncomfortable.
Nash Wilder Christopherson was the world’s golden boy.
For fifteen years, she watched Nash race from the safety of her phone. Every single race, PR event, ESPN interview—she was there for it. He was the one thing that kept her sane while having to live the life her father forced her to.
That was all he’d ever be to her, though. A face on the other side of the screen.
Until he showed up at her apartment complex, carried her sister down hundreds and hundreds of stairs during a fire, and changed her opinion of him.
Nash Christopherson was Mean. With a capital M. And he couldn’t stand her.
***
He thought he had everything under control. Then he met her.
Nash knew from the moment he saw Zip waiting in her apartment, looking panicked, that she was going to damage him. She was going to pull him in, chew him up, and spit him out.
What he didn’t know was just how much damage he could take.
Nearly a year passed as he tried and failed to stay away.
A full year of her smiles, her playful jabs, her teasing, her eyes on him.
Then he got news that changed his life, and she finally took matters into her own hands, forcing herself into his life and pretty much giving him everything he ever wanted.
Everything was great, until it wasn’t. Life smacked him hard, and when the dust settled, she was gone. The only sign that she was ever there was the cracked and bleeding heart, half beating inside his chest, that yearned to hold her one more time.
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
Falling for Mr. Bad by Melissa Foster is now live!
A BAD BOYS AFTER DARK CROSSOVER NOVEL
Releasing February 21st, 2024
World Literary Press
Blurb
She’s a badass musician with no patience for overinflated egos. He’s a billionaire tasked with wrangling her into submission. Going head-to-head has never been so much fun. Especially since neither one is afraid to play dirty.
In FALLING FOR MR. BAD…
Sable Montgomery loves her single, do-as-she-pleases small-town life. She sees family often, spends her days working in her auto shop and many evenings playing at a local pub with her band, Surge. She has no desire to settle down or let any man tell her what to do. When Surge is offered what most people would consider the chance of a lifetime to tour with and open for Bad Intentions, the hottest rock band of the decade, her bandmates are all in, but she’s determined to walk away. Sable has no patience for glitz, glamour, or overinflated egos, and that includes the infuriatingly hot billionaire sent to wrangle her into submission.
Taking over as manager for his brother’s band wasn’t on business mogul Kane Bad’s agenda last year, much less negotiating with the stubborn and beautiful lead singer for Surge, but there’s nothing he won’t do for family. Including trying to stifle his desire for Sable. He needs to convince her to accept the contract, but he’d rather wrangle the sexy, headstrong, boot-wearing, tough-talking musician into his bed.
Loyalties are tested, lies are told, and greedy pleasures are satisfied. Are they just a chorus between chaotic verses, or will falling for Mr. Bad be Sable’s greatest love song?
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and happily ever afters guaranteed to leave you breathlessly in love with the fiercely loyal and wickedly naughty characters in the Love in Bloom series. All Love in Bloom books are written to stand alone or be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right in and enjoy the ride!
I’ve said it before, I’m not a huge fan of Billionaire Romance stories, BUT there is a tiny handful of authors who write this trope that I will read without hesitation…. Melissa Foster is up there in the top 2 of these authors!!!!
Sable & Kane’s first meeting was entertaining. I knew at that point that I was gonna love her but I wasn’t entirely sure I was gonna feel the same about him. I really should know better by now though; Melissa always writes MMCs that I end up loving. I adored Sable’s snark and in all honesty, Kane’s arrogance didn’t annoy me like I thought it might.
This pair were definitely two peas in a pod. Emotional walls higher than Mount Everest, both avoiding relationships and commitment but they’re all in when it comes to their family and friends who were important to them! Their stubbornness to not get involved or attached then their hesitation to admit their feelings when they were falling had my heart going out to them and made me like them even more…. especially when the reasons behind their emotional lockdowns were revealed.
The one thing that I couldn’t quite get on board with for a bit was BDK, especially Kane calling himself ‘Big Daddy’… but the story of the origins of the name won me over.
I loved seeing this pair fall. Reading about them finding out more about each other, realising they were nothing like they initially thought, then seeing them grow together as a couple while dealing with the difficulties and concerns they faced was awesome.
There was so much emotion, some heartache, heat that was OFF THE CHARTS, surprising sweetness at how determined Kane was to take care of Sable and no third act break-up (which always makes my heart happy!!) as well as loads of interactions and great banter with family and friends.
The angst Sable faced was just enough – and entirely understandable – and how Kane supported her throughout was fab.
Can I just say grand gestures!!!! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
I would honestly read a shopping list if Melissa wrote it, I just adore her books, characters and worlds.
I’m so looking forward to more from Ms Foster and cannot wait to find out what’s going on with Kane’s sister, Aria.
This is definitely on my reread list and a solid 5 🌟 recommended read.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues. Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
Fall for the sizzling new rivals-to-lovers rom-com read from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe! Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, and Emily Henry.
Josh Carlyle is charming, sexy as hell, and the perfect destination wedding hookup… At least, that’s what I think when I touch down in paradise with four days to pull off a lavish ceremony fit for Hollywood royalty. The groomsman in the next cabana with baby blues and a chiseled jawline that could crack a coconut? He’s the cherry on top of my tropical cocktail, and exactly what I need to shake off my single status and get my head (and, um, other parts) back in the dating game.
Then Josh reveals the truth: he’s vowed to sabotage the big day and send the gold-digging bride running before his uncle even gets to ‘I do’. Suddenly, we’re on opposite sides of the great wedding war, and I refuse to let this happily-ever-after – or my career – go down without a fight.
But Josh plays dirty… and he talks it, too. Even as I scramble to keep his sabotage shenanigans from derailing the happy(ish) couple, I can’t deny the chemistry between us. Sleeping with the enemy is looking awfully tempting…
They say all’s fair in love, war, and wedding planning… But whose happy ending am I chasing here? And can Josh and I turn our rivalry into real romance before it’s too late?
Find out in the sizzling new romance from “the reigning queen of rom-com,” Lila Monroe!
From their first interaction this pair were attracted but both chalked their airport meeting up to a missed opportunity….. until they met again at a celebrity wedding on a Caribbean island.
Hazel is a single mum, way out of the dating game who has a tendency to chatter on and on when nervous – where Josh was concerned she also had a tendency to fall over! She’s overseeing an OTT, mega $$ celebrity wedding but things are not going entirely to plan.
For his part, Josh had been bitten before in a relationship and wasn’t at all expecting his reaction to Hazel. I did like his tenacity when it came to spending time with her and then when he wanted to see where things could go between them.
When Hazel found out Josh’s motivations behind his attendance at the wedding I got why she was so mad, especially as it was her job to make sure the wedding went ahead without a hitch.. Josh did overstep a little but I liked how he realised where and when he’s gone wrong and that he did have regrets.
This pair were funny together. I loved their banter and their heat… Lordy, they were combustible together.
I adored Lottie and how quickly she and Josh connected.
Lila Monroe gave us a fun, laugh inducing, entertains read with Hazel & Josh’s story.
I do have to admit that I laughed a lot when things were going wrong with the wedding and even though I couldn’t quite make up my mind about the bride, my heart hurt for her when the dust settled, so I’m now desperately waiting to find out how Avery’s story goes!!!
About the Author
Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe writes sassy rom-com romances about hard-headed men and the strong women who try to tame them. Her books are extensions of her own fantasy life and take readers from the boardroom to the Berkshire Mountains, with keen character development, unique plot lines, and fanciful romance.
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