Category Archives: book reviews

Romance Book Review ~ Wilder Presley Says He Loves Me by Winter Travers

Title: Wilder Presley Says He Loves Me
Author: Winter Travers
Release: October 1, 2022
Genre: Small Town Romance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60169653-wilder-presley-says-he-loves-me
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/wilder-presley-says-he-loves-me-by-winter-travers

Blurb:

From Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller Winter Travers comes a small town romantic comedy that will have you laughing and swooning all at the same time.

Nine years ago, Shelby Lyn told Wilder Presley she loved him. Wilder hopped in his red SUV, and left without a word or a goodbye.

Now, Wilder is back looking as fine as the fireworks on the fourth of July lighting up the Jefferson county sky, and he’s here to stay.

Shelby always knew that Wilder was out of her league. He was the popular country boy who was loved and adored by everyone while Shelby was the shy, quiet girl who was invisible to everyone.

It shouldn’t matter that Wilder is back, but he just pulled into Shelby Lyn’s driveway, and he’s got something to say…

Continue reading Romance Book Review ~ Wilder Presley Says He Loves Me by Winter Travers

New Release & Book Review!!! ~ The Book Boyfriend by Kate Stacy

In THE BOOK BOYFRIEND by Kate Stacy, Mila Cross never expected to find love, but when bad boy Crossland Parker comes into her life and sweeps her off her feet, suddenly she’s falling hard for the man from the wrong side of the tracks. But when a secret from his past is exposed, will its revelation destroy everything? Fans of small-town, opposites attract romances will enjoy this must-read wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.

Read Now! 

Amazon https://amzn.to/3SiLB11

Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club, where meet cutes don’t happen only between the pages of romance novels, and one by one, all the members find their own happily ever afters.

Continue reading New Release & Book Review!!! ~ The Book Boyfriend by Kate Stacy

Release Tour & Book Review!! ~ The Hometown Dilemma by Julie Archer

In THE HOMETOWN DILEMMA by Julie Archer, when Jaime Harlow returns home in hopes of starting over, she is forced to rethink her plans, and an old friend from college, Wade Dempsy offers to help, leaving her second-guessing everything. Old times, new feelings – and one stormy night – are all they need to ignite the desires they never realized existed. Fans of The Lawton Ridge Series by Kennedy Fox will devour this must-read swoon-worthy, return to hometown romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series. 

Read Now! 

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3BAhQmc

Jaime

Who says you can’t go home?

Coming back to Abbott Ridge and starting over was my plan. But, just like everything in life, plans change. Especially when the interior design reality tv show I dreamed of being a part of gets canceled before filming even begins. Now I’m stuck without a job and forced to rethink how I’ll start my own company.

Insert, Wade Dempsey.

Owner of Dempsey’s bar, and one of my closest friends from college. He immediately offers me a temporary job working with him, like old times.

It’s an offer I can’t refuse. Oh, and did I mention that my new boss is even sexier than I remember?

Things between us are going great…until a call from New York presents me with a new offer that has me second guessing my stay in Abbott Ridge.

Wade

Home is where the heart is.

I’ve spent my whole life in Abbott Ridge, running in and out of my family’s bar until I was finally old enough to take over. Now I’m in charge, but it’s a struggle to keep the place from going under. I need fresh ideas to compete with all the fancy bars and clubs popping up downtown.

Insert, Jaime Harlow.

Having Jaime back behind my bar seems like a good place to start. She’s an inspiration and a breath of fresh air, in more ways than one.

Old times, new feelings – and one stormy night – are all we need to ignite the desires I never realized existed.

When New York calls for Jaime and the only future I’ve known goes up in flames, we find ourselves faced with a huge dilemma that threatens our new found relationship. Can we really make this work when right now it feels like we can’t even see eye to eye? There’s only one way to find out.

The Hometown Dilemma is a standalone, return to hometown romance that is part of the multi-author series, Meet Cute Book Club. Escape with this swoon-worthy collection of romances where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.

Add to Goodreads!

Goodreads https://bit.ly/3v07wzj 

Continue reading Release Tour & Book Review!! ~ The Hometown Dilemma by Julie Archer

New Romance Release & Book Review!! ~ The Asshole Heir by Whitley Cox & Ember Leigh

Title: The Asshole Heir
Series: Winter Harbor Heroes, Book 2
Authors: Whitley Cox & Ember Leigh
Release: August 16, 2022
Genre: Small Town, Second Chance, Secret Baby, Estranged Family Secret Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60733713-the-asshole-heir

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-asshole-heir-winter-harbor-heroes-book-2-by-ember-leigh-and-whitley-cox

Blurb: 

Mending fences with my brothers as I uncover family secrets is easy compared to winning back the woman carrying my baby…

Carson

Six months ago she ghosted me.
She stopped taking my calls and didn’t even answer her damn door.
Now, with my world upside down and my arm in a cast, where do I find her, but Winter Harbor, seven months pregnant with my baby.
Despite her keeping this secret from me, I want her. I’ve always wanted her. And even though I was dead-set on never having kids, given my own garbage dad, seeing Amaya pregnant and knowing that the baby is mine changes everything. I’m ready to right my father’s wrongs and be there for my kid.
I want the family life, and I want it with Amaya.
But she’s not convinced. And for good reason. Now I just have to prove to her that taking a chance on love–and building a family with a man who’s ruined more romances than started them–is a risk worth taking.

Continue reading New Romance Release & Book Review!! ~ The Asshole Heir by Whitley Cox & Ember Leigh

Romance New Release & Book Review ~ Without A Hitch by Avery Maxwell

Title: Without a Hitch
Author: Avery Maxwell
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: July 27, 2022
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61410870-without-a-hitch
Tagline: Never fall for the bridesmaid. 

Blurb: 

“A wedding is the beginning of the end.” —Lochlan Blaine

Look, I’ve seen firsthand what marriage does to a man. I’m not interested. You want to take the leap? Fine. But have the decency to elope. Leave me out of it.

And then I see her. The happily-ever-after-loving bridesmaid at the wedding I couldn’t get out of.

This flower-wielding bombshell is all wrong for me. But one night together is enough to convince me that she could be the answer to my problem. All I need is three weeks with her…

“Weddings are magic.” —Tilly Camden

I love love. And weddings. That’s how I land the best job in the world: professional bridesmaid. Brides hire me to make sure their big day goes off without a hitch…usually while dressed in taffeta.

I can’t wait until I find the one. The cranky, three-piece-suit-wearing Adonis who smirks at the idea of happily ever after is definitely not him. Lochlan Blaine has “heartbreaker” written all over him.

I should know better. But when a panty-melting one-night stand turns into an offer I can’t refuse, what’s a bridesmaid to do? It’s only three weeks. It’s just business.

I can’t possibly get my heart broken. Can I?

Buy Links: Kindle Unlimited

Universal: https://mybook.to/WOAH

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ea7Irj

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Without-Hitch-Avery-Maxwell-ebook/dp/B0B647MN5G

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Hitch-Avery-Maxwell-ebook/dp/B0B647MN5G

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Without-Hitch-Avery-Maxwell-ebook/dp/B0B647MN5G

Teasers:

I absolutely LOVED Loch & Tilly together and I kind of loved them on their own as well. He’s a grumpy AF billionaire who has no use for love and Tilly is all about the love, so much so that she wants her own wedding planning business and stumbles into a genius side hustle as a Bridesmaid wrangler!

The moment they meet, sparks fly. They are both a different, more relaxed and confident version of themselves which was all kinds of awesome. Even though they had an end date, everything about their time together was fun and sexy.

Loch brings out the sexy and sassy version of Tilly who often lets herself fade into the background, making others comfortable and happy first and foremost. And she well, let’s just say you’ll love the baby trackies part of the story!

Let’s not forget the supporting cast because they were colorful and awesome and only served to enhance the fun time I had reading Without A Hitch. Such a wonderfully fun romantic comedy with an incredibly satisfying ending.

Author Bio: 

An American Romance Author, Avery loves wine, sexy stories, pizza, and her family.

Avery is a hot mess of a mom to four wildly sweet mini-humans and two fur babies. She spends far too much time in her pj’s and trips over herself multiple times a day. Accident-prone is probably a fair assessment.

Having grown up in small-town Vermont, Avery often jokes about being the most naïve person in the room. Luckily, she’s used that small-town charm to write character-driven contemporary romances that have you laughing one minute, and crying the next.

When she isn’t refereeing (three little boys require a lot of whistle blowing), or cuddled up with her real-life Prince Charming, you can find her tucked away with a bottle of wine (because those steamy scenes don’t write themselves!), or coaching her daughter’s basketball team.

Avery now lives in North Carolina where she brings life, love, and a happily ever after to every character she writes.

Social Media Links: 

Website: https://www.averymaxwellbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AveryMaxwellBooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averymaxwellbooks/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averymaxwellbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AveryMaxBooks

New Romance Book Release & Book Review ~ One Kind Soul by Christine DePetrillo

Title: One Kind Soul
Series: One Kind Deed Series
Author: Christine DePetrillo
Release Date: August 25, 2022
Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3SfMkA7 

Tagline: When hot farmer Christian Henley agrees to give her a ride to Maplehaven, bartender Nicole Travers can’t help noticing everything about him. It’s going to be a long drive. 

Blurb:

Christian probably attracted the attention of supermodels. Nicole was no supermodel.

She isn’t enough. She isn’t worthy. No one will ever want her. Nicole Travers believes this to her core. Her older sister made sure to remind Nicole of these truths on a daily basis when they were kids. Now, many years later, her sister’s voice still rings in her ears every time a guy catches her eye. She’s better off focusing on waitressing and tending bar. At least she knows how to do those two things. Attracting a soul mate? Forget it. Although watching her best friend meet her true love makes Nicole wish for the same. Too bad she doesn’t have what it takes.

When her only option to get to her best friend’s wedding is to accept a ride with sexy farmer Christian Henley, Nicole’s self-doubts heckle her from the back seat. Loudly. But she promised to be the maid of honor, and she’s not going to bail on the bride. Besides, a handsome Vermont mountain man with a body full of muscles won’t even notice someone like her. Except he does, and when Christian comes to her rescue on a busy Boston street, Nicole can’t help noticing everything about him. It’s going to be a long drive.

Is one kind soul enough to quiet the voices?

One Kind Soul is a one-night-stand, forced-proximity, small-town, contemporary romance that features a bartending heroine and a farmer hero who rescue each other in every sense of the word.

Buy Links: 

Universal link: https://books2read.com/One-Kind-Soul   
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zLoeGn 
Nook: https://bit.ly/3BsASLN 
Apple: https://apple.co/3NTY3B2  
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3zMIGqc 
Google: https://bit.ly/3OWmNds  

Teasers:

He was, apparently, a nice guy in playboy’s clothing. He’d gone so far as to try not being so nice, but it went against everything inside of him. 

Mostly inside his heart.

****

The moment Nicole’s hand slid against his palm and the rough skin there scraped along hers, her libido took note. It’d been a while since her libido took note of anything.

****

Christian Henley was a great surprise.

****

“It might be hard for you to believe, but you are extraordinary.”

****

“Just because I have a penis—a stunning one—doesn’t mean I’m a barbarian.”

****

His body was stiff and sore. His brain was a scattered mess of thoughts. His heart bled. Only Nicole could fix that last one.

****

 He kissed her as if his survival was in jeopardy. Quite possibly it was.

 ****

“Let it all out, baby. Leave it all on the floor in here and then we’ll figure out a way to sweep it all away. Together.”

****

Excerpt #1:

“Tell me you’re not going back to Room 513.” Christian sifted his fingers through Nicole’s hair, fanning it out on the bed beneath her. “Tell me you’ll stay right here with me.”

Nicole rose to her elbows then sat up, nudging Christian off her. She slid off the bed and walked, naked, to the adjoining door that was still open. She peeked into her hotel room then looked back to Christian, whose pout was absolutely adorable. As if he might throw a tantrum if she left him alone.

“I’m thinking we ought to see if that bed is as good as this one.” She pointed into her room then at his bed. “I didn’t only buy a single condom, you know. Those things come in boxes.”

The smile that bloomed on Christian’s face was something Nicole would never forget. She couldn’t remember a time she’d ever made a man that happy. When he got up from the bed and stalked toward her, his naked body drool-worthy in every sense of the word, she knew they’d make excellent use of both rooms tonight.

One Kind Soul is the story of two people who have not met their person, the one who just gets them. Who loves and accepts them for exactly who they are. Nicole and Christian may not seem like great partners at the start. He’s confident and flirtatious and she is not confident—at all—and kind of put off by his confidence.

Why?

To put it simple, family issues. Nicole is plagued by self-doubt through not fault of her own mostly and at times it is painful to read but at other times it is just downright annoying. I liked them together, as a couple they worked well together. I even liked the bit of mystery that was wholly unexpected based on the book description. It was a nice hint of confusion through a story that sometimes was a bit too sweet.

This is a good romance and the thing I liked/appreciated most was just how capable Nicole was, how much they both changed and grew as the story came to an end. The secondary characters were fun and endearing, and it was wonderful to watch Nicolle finally found her niche.

Her place in the world.

Excerpt #2:

“Technically, I didn’t give you a choice. I kissed you first. Remember?” Nicole nudged Christian to his back and climbed onto his lap. Boy, did he wish he hadn’t put his sweats back on.

“Oh, I remember. I remember in vivid detail.”

“So I don’t need to remind you then? Okay.” She inched back, but he grabbed her around the waist, keeping her in place.

“Remind? No. Re-kiss? Yes.” He caught her lips with his and his anger quickly dissipated. How could anyone stay angry at Nicole when she kissed like this? 

Author Bio:

Christine DePetrillo can often be found hugging trees, conversing with dragonflies, and walking barefoot through sun-warmed soil. She finds joy in listening to the wind, bathing in moonlight, and breathing in the fragrances of things that bloom. If she had her way, the sky would be the only roof over her head.

Her love of nature seeps into every story she tells. As does her obsession with bearded mountain men who build, often smell like sawdust, and know how to cherish the women they love. Today she writes tales meant to make you laugh, maybe make you sweat, and definitely make you believe in the power of love.

She lives in Vermont with her husband and cat who defend her fiercely from all evils.

Author Links:

Giveaway: 

Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81aa78942513

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Happy Release Day!! ~ Not For You by Kathryn Shay (book release & review)

Title: Not For You
Series: The President’s Daughters #4
Author: Kathryn Shay
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: August 15, 2022

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59848005-not-for-you

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/not-for-you-the-president-s-daughters-book-4-by-kathryn-shay

Blurb:

While living in Italy, Andraya Manwaring isn’t looking for Prince Charming. Too bad she finds him in Ben Moretti, a man who’s lost too much in life to risk love again.

Andraya Manwaring lives in Casarina, an island of lush landscape, surrounded by the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. She was drawn here after she graduated college, and was thrilled to be able to teach in the Marcello Schools, a renowned, innovative educational system. She anticipates a good year again, and getting to know the new staff, particularly the agricultural faculty’s Ben Moretti. She’s drawn to him, too.

Ben has lost everything he cared about. His family farm, which fell victim to drought, his way of life and a wife who abandoned him and his kids years ago. Now, he lives in the city, where he will teach agriculture and try to help his rebellious daughter adjust. So what if he’s attracted to the lovely Andraya Manwaring, who even shows interest in him? He has nothing to offer her but a lot of problems, and he won’t drag her down into his dysfunctional life.

But both circumstances and an undeniable attraction throw them together and he sees what a beautiful person Andraya is inside as well as outside. He gets close to her as they work together on integrating journals into his classes. Mistakenly, he spends time with her outside of school.

Andraya comes to really care about Ben. She’s also particularly interested in his twins. His son is a doll, but his daughter Meli has a big chip on her shoulder. Eventually, though, her tenacity in showing Meli she truly wants to help her, brings his daughter close too. They have fun together, spend time with each other’s family, and everybody’s happy.

This leads to Ben and Andraya falling in love. But when Meli learns of their relationship, all hell breaks loose. Ben and Andraya must end their relationship to save Meli. Her father, former President of the U.S. steps in and tries to help.

Can Meli ever believe Andraya’s interest in her wasn’t just to get to her father? They both lied for so long.

The outlook for their relationship is grim if his daughter doesn’t see the truth. If they could convince her of their honesty, they could be one happy family.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BZAOn8
Nook: https://bit.ly/3QmnqOe
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3pcjPGl
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3pdhWZX
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3JKMZGd
Smashwords: https://bit.ly/3vWQP9A

In the Series:

Never My Love – available now

Lie With Me – available now

Be Mine Again – available now

Lost to Us – preorder

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zXAkel
B&N: https://bit.ly/3rdonOH
Kobo: https://bit.ly/32HN1gK
iTunes: https://apple.co/3s1AIo7
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3rb37cm
Smashwords: https://bit.ly/3Hh4mvY

Author Bio:

A NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Kathryn Shay has been a lifelong writer and teacher. She has written dozens of self-published original romance titles, print books with the Berkley Publishing Group and Harlequin Enterprises and mainstream women’s fiction. One of her firefighter books hit #20 on the NEW YORK TIMES list. Her novels have been serialized in COSMOPOLITAN magazine and featured in USA TODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and PEOPLE magazine. There are over ten million copies of her books in print and downloaded online. Readers call her work heartwarming.

Social Media links:

Website: www.kathrynshay.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathrynshay  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KShayAuthor
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Shay/e/B000APY3GW
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynshayauthor/

Continue reading Happy Release Day!! ~ Not For You by Kathryn Shay (book release & review)

BOOK REVIEW ~ Heinous by Yolanda Olson

I just finished reading Heinous by Yolanda Olson and it is a duet (I think, I hope) and Book 2, Hideous comes out 9.11.2022

ABOUT:

Someone once said that if you talk about the devil, he’s bound to appear.

Most would keep silent, hoping that they’d never be found by such a monster, but I prayed for his touch every night.

I knew the devil when I was a child and fell in love with him the first time he taught me that I wasn’t as damaged as I was led to believe that I was.

He cared for me, helped me learn how to smile, and see the world in a different way even though he didn’t realize that he had done so.

But they feared him; hated him.

So seventeen years ago, they ripped him away from me.

What they didn’t know was that he had already created a monster in his very image.

I thought I’d never see him again—I finally resigned myself to that. But then he came back, just like he promised he always would through that smile of his.

We’re together again.

And now, no one will be able to keep us apart ever again.

Continue reading BOOK REVIEW ~ Heinous by Yolanda Olson

New Release & Review! ~ Stirred Up by a SEAL by Kait Nolan

ABOUT:

Can a SEAL without a mission and a widowed baker help each other learn to live again?

Jonah Ferguson never wanted to be anything but a Navy SEAL. But after an injury sidelines his military career, he finds himself back home in small-town Tennessee. Opening a bakery with his best friends and daring to re-imagine his life is a whole new mission, but his biggest challenge yet is sticking to the friend zone with the woman who helped give him new purpose.

Two years after losing her husband to a traumatic brain injury, baker Rachel McCleary needs a change. With the proceeds from the sale of her business, she’s exploring what a new life would look like. For the short-term, it means helping one of her former students make his fledgling business thrive. And hopefully adding some benefits to the friendship that helped bring her back to life.

All Rachel wants is temporary, and that’s the one thing Jonah can give her. But when the trouble that’s stalked his business from the start lands her in its crosshairs–and the hospital–he can’t deny that there’s nothing short-term about his feelings. Determined to protect her at all costs, he enters into a dangerous race to neutralize the threat before it torpedoes everything he holds dear.

Bad Boy Bakers Book 3 – Stirred Up by a SEAL
Continue reading New Release & Review! ~ Stirred Up by a SEAL by Kait Nolan

ROMANCE BOOK REVIEW!!! ~ The Redo by Max Monroe 

Title: The Redo
Author: Max Monroe
Release: July 17, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cover Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography
Cover Model: Andrew Biernat

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60808973-the-redo
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-redo-by-max-monroe

romantic comedy The Redo by Max Monroe

Blurb:

Put a finger down if you’ve ever been a single woman who got stuck in a New York City elevator in the middle of a summer blackout with your former high school sweetheart—whom you haven’t seen in years—while pregnant with a baby that isn’t biologically yours. And you can’t believe how handsome that blast from your past is, so you unwittingly flirt with him a little even though your life is so crazy complicated you’re barely keeping your head above water, but everything about him makes you think you could totally still be in love with him.

*puts a finger down*

What? Just me?

Needless to say, my current status is thorny. And no, I didn’t miss how close that word is to another one.

Even though he’s the epitome of tall, dark, and incredibly handsome, Remington Winslow has been a single bachelor for most of his life. It’s clichéd and basic—until you consider the fact that once upon a terrible time, he got left at the altar.

He doesn’t do relationships. He definitely doesn’t fall in love.

And I’m just trying to survive a tangled web of unexpected motherhood and running one of the top real estate firms in the city that never sleeps.

He’s the jaded guy who doesn’t want to settle down, and I’m the career-focused woman with more baggage than a 747 can hold.

We’re just two friends who used to be in love.

Now, if someone would tell my hormones I’m not a teenager anymore, I’d be set.

This book sucked me in right from the start. I’m a skeptic like Remy but I loved that he treated Cleo with respect and even if he didn’t realize it, their friendship kept him open for love when it finally came.

I don’t want to give away too much about this wonderful story but Maria is a badass. Running into Remy for the first time in ages and getting stuck in an elevator? While pregnant? I’m surprised the poor woman didn’t keel over from absolute humiliation. There was something about Maria that was just fun and endearing and it made me root for her from the very start.

Remy’s growth over the course of the story was heartwarming and I really loved his relationship with his siblings. They were a fun, rambunctious bunch and I loved every moment of this story from beginning to end.

I really wish I’d been aware of this series from the first book because it seems like a fun ride and now I guess I’ll go backwards since I know how it all turns out!

Buy Links: Kindle Unlimited

Universal: mybook.to/TheRedo_Ebook
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3B5UJjs
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3OEOojf
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3OJ2LTy
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3R2tHiG