Category Archives: book reviews

Blog Tours, book reviews, grumpy sunshine romance, New Releases, Novellas, Romance, small town romance

Romance Book Review!! ~ Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy by Lily Love

June 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

Title: Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy
Collection: Rules for Dating a Single Dad
Author: Lily Love
Release: June 1, 2025
Top Genres: Sweet romance, Small Town Romance, Closed Door Romance
Tropes: Small Town, Billionaire, Single Dad, Nanny, He Falls First, Instalove, Forced Proximity, Grumpy/Sunshine

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222133189-rule-1-never-call-him-grumpy
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/rule-1-never-call-him-grumpy-a-clean-rules-for-dating-a-single-dad-romance-by-lily-love

Blurb:

I’ve been called a lot of things in my life—gruff, intense, overprotective—but grumpy? That’s a new one.

After losing my wife, I left the noise of professional hockey and billion-dollar boardrooms behind, trading city chaos for small-town peace in Passion Pointe, Tennessee. I’ve got one mission: raise my son right and keep our world calm, quiet, and free from emotional chaos.

Then Linda Carter shows up, all curves, sass, and bright opinions wrapped in a nanny application.

She’s completely wrong for the job… and somehow, exactly what my son needs.

What I didn’t expect? That I’d need her just as much.

One smile from her turns my world upside down. One laugh makes the walls I’ve built start to crack. And the way she looks at me? It’s dangerous.

But she’s got rules, and so do I.

Rule #1: Don’t get attached.

Rule #2: Don’t mix business with pleasure.

Rule #3: Definitely don’t fall for the nanny.

Too late.

Because the more time I spend with Linda, the more I realize this fiery, big-hearted woman isn’t just helping us heal—she might be the piece we didn’t know we were missing.

And if breaking every rule is what it takes to make her ours?

Well then…

They can call me grumpy all they want.

“Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy” is a heartwarming closed-door hockey romance featuring a protective billionaire single dad, a sassy curvy nanny who refuses to be intimidated, and the small town that might just help them heal. Perfect for readers who love emotional stories with all the feels but none of the steam. A Sweet, Closed-Door Hockey Single Dad Romcom – Mistakes & Promises Book 2.5 & Rules For Dating A Single Dad #1

Each story in ‘Rules For Dating A Single Dad’ series celebrates the unique journey of finding love as a single father, showing that sometimes the most rewarding relationships are built on a foundation of Lego bricks and soccer practice sidelines.

Continue reading →

book reviews, New Releases, Novellas, Romance

Romance Book Review! ~ The Sun Never Dies : A Novel by A.R. Hadley

May 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

Do you believe in love at first sight?

A laconic novel fraught with exquisite tension and arresting beauty, The Sun Never Dies is the unforgettable story of one woman’s journey back to self after encountering a strange young man twenty-three years her junior.

Meet Beth, a newly single woman in the late 1990s, and Liam, a recent college grad backpacking his way across the world — as the two collide unexpectedly one fateful night.

Liam’s philosophy on life greatly conflicts with Beth’s. She’s also concerned her family won’t approve. Over the course of two years, this couple sifts their way through a series of life-changing events, ultimately resulting in growth and lessons learned. Namely two:

That we meet people for a reason.
And there are no coincidences.

Leaving the reader to beg the question…

Does the soul plan out this miraculous trip we call life?

Get your copy here –> https://amzn.to/3Zwabkr

Continue reading →

book reviews, friends to lovers, New Releases, Romance, Romantic Comedy/RomCom, small town romance

Romance Book Review!! ~ The Pretend Fiancé Fiasco (Copper Valley Bro Code Book 6) by Pippa Grant

May 2025 writinstuff 2 Comments

A reclusive former celebrity, a recovering good girl, and small town trouble…

It started as a joke. After a string of bad boyfriends, I made up a fake boyfriend so people would quit asking when I was going to meet a grumpy lumberjack trying to save his mama’s inn in my adopted hometown.

When my grandma demanded proof from afar, I sent her a picture of me and my “boyfriend.”

Spoiler alert: He wasn’t really my boyfriend.

He was actually a reclusive former boy band member who swings through town sometimes and is friends with my friends.

As much as a reclusive former boy bander can be friends with anyone, that is.

He doesn’t know I told anyone he’s my boyfriend. Or that his name is Steve. Or that my grandma judges him by his tattoos and manbun.

So when Grandma sends the guy she’d rather me marry to town to make sure “Steve” is good enough for me—and to talk me into marrying him instead—I have something of a problem.

But I got myself into this mess, so I’ll get myself out.

By proposing.

Relax, relax, I’m proposing a fake wedding.

And when he turns me down, I can say we broke up.

Except he doesn’t turn me down.

Instead, he offers me a trade.

He’ll pretend to be my groom, but I have to do something for him in return.

And that something?

Hoooo, boy.

I liked the man better when he was my pretend boyfriend Steve.

The Pretend Fiancé Fiasco is an action-packed romcom featuring the reclusive final member of the boy band Bro Code, a recovering good girl with too many men interested in her for all the wrong reasons, a treasure hunt, a fake engagement, and the best surprise to hit the Copper Valley universe since the Fireballs’ new mascot was revealed. This small town romantic comedy stands alone, but you wouldn’t go wrong to read both the Copper Valley Bro Code and Copper Valley Fireballs series, along with Dirty Talking Rival, to catch all of the easter eggs.

Get your copy TODAY: https://amzn.to/4kkG5Za

Continue reading →

book reviews, enemies to lovers romance, Romance, romantic suspense

Billionaire Romance Book Review!! ~ Billionaire Protector (The Secret Billionaires Book 6) by Melanie Knight

May 2025 writinstuff 3 Comments

ABOUT:

Sarah Sloan: Harmony Creek Sheriff, former town criminal (possibly), purveyor of secrets (definitely)

After a rough childhood, Sarah fought her way to become Harmony Creek’s top cop. She hides the secrets of her past, forging the future she’s always desired. Exploring the scene of an arson late one night, she spies a shadowy figure prowling the darkness. Just as she’s about to arrest him…

He captures her instead.

Cole Carter: Harmony Creek Deputy, son of former sheriff, military hero

After a life-changing stint in the military, Cole Carter is back home and ready to jump into his new law enforcement career. He’s already catching criminals his first night on the job when he finds a trespasser. He’s not at all surprised when he discovers it’s his childhood nemesis a.k.a. former town crook. Only, she’s not actually a criminal.

She’s his new boss.

Now he’s working under her, discovering an entirely new woman from the girl he knew. Every moment reveals a new truth, as the attraction he once thought gone is back and growing. She might be in charge, but he’s not giving up control.

He’s going to discover every secret… and why she affects him so much.

Get it on Amazon, FREE on KindleUnlimited

Continue reading →

book reviews, interracial romance, multicultural romance, New Releases, Romance, summer love

Second Chance, Age-Gap Romance! ~ It’s Only Forever by N.D. Jackson

May 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

ABOUT:

After our one night together I never expected to see Lance again.
I definitely never expected to see him sitting at one of the ultra cool bistro that populate the French Quarter.
My town.
My home.
My refuge after finding out I was pregnant in the middle of my poli-sci fellowship
But there he was, still handsome as ever.
Still rockin’ a three-piece suit like nobody’s business.
He was here for the summer to write his next bestseller
In my town
There’s no way I’ll make it an entire summer without falling for him
Or keeping our daughter a secret

Get your copy on Amazon or read for FREE on KindleUnlimited!

book reviews, Fiction, Novellas, summer love, women's fiction

Book Review ~ Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind by Scarlet Ibis James

May 2025 writinstuff 2 Comments

ABOUT:

A Summer of Passion. A Lifetime of Consequences.

They say love is the most powerful inheritance. But what if your birthright is both the fire that destroys and the flame that heals? A mesmerizing tale of Trinidad passion that transcends death itself.

When free-spirited Joromi Enoch falls hard for a mesmerizing dancer on a humid 1969 night in Trinidad, their brief but fiery affair ignites everything he’s ever known. Yet under his father’s harsh gaze—and faced with an unexpected pregnancy—Joromi abandons the woman he loves and flees to America, leaving behind his unborn daughter.

Decades later, in Port of Spain, that daughter, Trisha, grows up sheltered by grandparents who refuse to let her feel unwanted. Still, questions of identity, longing, and the heartbreak of her father’s absence shape every choice she makes. Torn between following her own fierce desires and living a life of caution, Trisha’s journey echoes her parents’ fateful decisions—and dares to rewrite their legacy.

From the sizzling backyards of 1960s Trinidad to the punishing winters of 1980s New York City, Scarlet Birthright brilliantly contrasts two worlds, uniting them through the bonds of family, the ghosts of the past, and an unbreakable pull toward home.

Continue reading →

Blog Tours, book reviews, Comedy fiction, enemies to lovers romance, New Releases, Romance, Romantic Comedy/RomCom

Enemies to Lovers Romance Book Review! ~ Game Change by Evelyn Sola

May 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

Brynne and Colin meet by chance on a sun-soaked island getaway and indulge in a whirlwind romance filled with dreams and promises. However, when Brynne returns home, fate takes an unexpected twist when she discovers her promotion has been handed to Colin instead. Caught between their undeniable chemistry and growing animosity, Brynne and Colin are forced to navigate the rocky path from lovers to enemies while managing tricky office politics. Readers who enjoy forced proximity and office romances will devour Game Change by Evelyn Sola, a steamy, diverse, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance.

Read Now! Amazon → https://amzn.to/4jMRIIG

As a shocking revelation looms, will fate create a divide too deep to cross?

On a sun-soaked island getaway, two architects, Brynne and Colin, meet by chance and indulge in a whirlwind romance, blissfully unaware that their paths are tangled by fate. Their passionate affair ignites a bond filled with dreams and promises. Colin vows to find Brynne once they’ve left paradise behind, and Brynne promises to welcome him into her life with open arms.

However, fate takes an unexpected twist when Brynne learns that Colin is tied to her life in ways she never anticipated.

Brynne is blindsided when she discovers that the promotion she was promised has been handed to Colin instead. Suddenly, their connection spirals into hostility and resentment.

Caught between their undeniable chemistry and growing animosity, Brynne and Colin navigate a rocky path from lovers to enemies while managing tricky office politics. But as tensions mount, both must confront their feelings and the cruel twist of fate that has driven them apart.

Will they be able to reconcile their love as they unravel the tangled blueprints of their hearts?

Add to Goodreads!
Goodreads → https://tinyurl.com/3t8hmdny

Continue reading →

Blog Tours, book reviews, friends to lovers, New Releases, Romance, small town romance

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! ~ Baited (Bering Sea Crabbers Book 1) by Jessica Buss

April 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

Title: Baited
Series: Bering Sea Crabbers Book 1
Author: Jessica Buss
Release: April 14, 2025
Genre/Tropes: Small Town, Blue Collar, Alpha Male. Grumpy MC, Curvy FC, Past Trauma, Long time Crush, Sister’s Best Friend
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223501483-baited
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/baited-sister-s-best-friend-bering-sea-crabbers-book-1-by-jessica-buss
Cover Designer: Karen Hulseman at Feed Your Dreams Designs

Blurb:

When you’re crab fishing in the Bering Sea, one misstep can have devastating, even deadly, consequences.

Henrik, a grumpy crab fisherman living on Kodiak Island, has never been swayed by anything—not until Carina, a curvy, sweet-tempered marine biologist, catches his eye. He’s drawn to her by an unquestionable attraction that he can’t shake.

A former resident of the island, Carina returns home because the rapidly declining population of crabs in the Bering Sea troubles her. And although years have gone by, she’s still incredibly attracted to the brooding object of her teenage fantasies. And now he’s the captain of a crabber, and determined to protect the crabs too.

But getting to know him means she must face the childhood trauma that made her fearful of her first true love—the ocean. Will she be able to conquer the anxiety she’s held for so long? Can she once again entrust someone she loves to the sea?

Quotes:

Henrik-

Lord, this woman. The adjectives in my limited vocabulary don’t do her justice.

From the moment she opened her front door, I was completely captivated and mesmerized. And that fascination never wavered. It only grew stronger, reaching epic heights I’ve never experienced before.

Carina-

After years of harboring my fears, I’ve realized each one has made a delicate slice in my fragile heart, leaving it in ruins. But his words are sincere, honest, and full of love. The perfect salve to my anxiety.

Continue reading →

book reviews, enemies to lovers romance, Romance, small town romance

Romance Book Review!! ~ Jaded Until Jax by Theresa Paolo

March 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

ABOUT:

Return to Red Maple Falls for this newest installment to the steamy small-town series where a wounded Marine and a grieving single mother help each other find light in the darkness.

Being a Marine is all Jax Marshall knows, but a tragic event has him honorably discharged from the service and back in the last place he wanted to be–his hometown. Struggling to come to terms with his injury while dealing with PTSD, his life is further rocked when his younger siblings are less than welcoming. Encouragement from his eldest sister provides him with the push he needs to give therapy one more shot. Not once expecting that decision to change his life.

Kristen Morgan never imagined she would be a single working mom, but a house fire left her widowed and grappling to rebuild life for her and her two boys. In the midst of a panic attack while waiting for her son to finish his therapy session,she strikes up a conversation with a handsome, brooding ex-Marine who turns out to be a complete jerk.

As their encounters become more civil and the attraction too hard to ignore, these two broken hearts begin to find comfort in each other. But when one of them ends up in danger, they have to decide if being together is worth the fight.

Download TODAY ~~ https://amzn.to/4hCmcer

Continue reading →

book reviews, Comedy fiction, grumpy sunshine romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy/RomCom

Romance Book Review!! ~ Salty Pickle by JJ Knight

March 2025 writinstuff Leave a comment

ABOUT:

I’m headed to New York to confront the man I met on New Year’s Eve eight months ago.
I had to bring my goat.
And…I’m eight months pregnant.

The man I’m meeting in his fancy New York office is the saltiest hunk of male beauty you never want to cross. He wouldn’t know a smile if you drew one on his face.

I slept with him on a dare. Yes, we used protection.

Faulty protection, apparently.

I was going to raise the baby in my Colorado yurt with my pet goat Matilda. My two best girlfriends were going to be the other moms, but their lives moved on.

I’m a yoga teacher with forty dollars to my name. I had to hitchhike to get here.

I didn’t have a goat-sitter, so I’m loading Matilda onto the subway and headed to Wall Street.

It’s time to confront a salty baby daddy in a place called Pickle Media.

—
Salty Pickle is a salty-sunshine story between a city boy and a country girl who are thrown together with a newborn, a goat, and a goat baby, and more poop cleanup than should ever grace the pages of a romance novel, but here we are. It’s part of the Top 100 Pickleverse of rom coms, but you do not need to read any of the other books before this one. You can start your wild adventure with the Pickle family right here.