Review: Stand Your Ground by Kandi Steiner

October 24, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

STAND YOUR GROUND
Series: Kings of the Ice #5
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: October 24, 2025

I wrote up the contract myself.
Legally binding. Crystal clear.
No strings. No feelings.
Just sex — and two million dollars in exchange for my time and expertise.

Carter Fabri may be Tampa Bay’s newest rising star, but off the ice, he’s all Bambi eyes and inexperience. He’s a virgin in desperate need of lessons in dominance, seduction, and everything in between.

And I happen to be just the woman to teach him.

I don’t need his money.
But I do need what it can give me.

I’m thirty-two, cut off from my family, and one bill away from drowning in student debt. The fantasy I’ve built around my lifestyle is getting harder to maintain. This pay day would secure the lifestyle I’ve worked too hard to let slip through my fingers and finally give me the chance to save for something I’ve always wanted — something I’ve never told anyone about.

So, I take Carter on as my student. I lay out every rule, every boundary, every carefully controlled term of our arrangement.

What I don’t plan for is how quickly he’d catch on — or how much I’d enjoy letting him take the reins.

This was supposed to be a lesson in power.
But somewhere along the way, I stopped being the one in charge.

I thought I could keep my heart out of it.
I thought I’d accounted for every risk.
But some consequences you can’t predict — no matter how carefully you draft the terms.

AMAZON

We were exact opposites; her dominant and me submissive, her confident and me insecure, her living carefree while I struggled to feel adequate every day I woke up.

My whole heart right now. Carter Fabri stole it and I never want it back!

Livia Young was elite in every way, and I’d been ruined from the first sight of her.

Would you believe me when I tell you that this was the book I was least looking forward and almost decided to skip on? I know, I’m judging my own self right now. But in my defense, my fictional tastes tend to gravitate towards dominant men. I love them possessive, dominant, cocky, and a little mean. And Carter? He’s the golden retriever that I never saw coming. So while a Domme FMC with a submissive MMC isn’t usually my cuppa, something about this blurb just called to me. And I am so glad that I gave it a shot because it just became one of my favorite books in the series.

Livia Young was impossible not to love. I. love a strong and fierce FMC, and this woman was a true bad b*tch. A woman who made an amazing career for herself, was confident, and had no qualms about taking what she wants when it came to her sexuality. So was it any wonder that inexperienced and bumbling Carter was infatuated with her.

Haven’t you figured it out yet?” I leaned in, my voice low and steady. “I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

And while golden retriever MMCs aren’t usually my thing, I fell so hard for Carter and his insecurities. And there’s just something about an eager to please virgin MMCs, especially when said MMC is the rising star in the NHL. I loved his quirkiness, his insecurities, his honesty, and his pining. GOD did I love his pining.

Carter goes to Liv with an unorthodox proposal; to teach him how to be confident and to be a rockstar in the bedroom. Enter a mutually beneficial contract for them both that doesn’t quite stay as emotionless as Liv hopes.

The more I learned about Livia, the more I realized that still waters run deep with her. My heart broke for her in parts but I absolutely loved the way that Carter was there for her. He’s so supportive of her and notices her every quirk, even those that her closest friends may miss. I loved the way that he knew her.

I was in love with Livia Young. And I had no fucking clue how to survive it.

Their chemistry was absolutely incendiary and this may have been one of the spiciest books in the series. Because those spicy lessons of theirs? HOLY OVARIES on fire batman!

I adored this book. And the preview into the next one? I AM FERAL. FERAL. I need it!

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Review: The Villain by Natasha Knight

October 23, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

THE VILLAIN
Series: War of Hearts #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Natasha Knight
Release Date: October 22, 2025

My life changed the moment I saw Cassian Trevino standing in the shadows of my father’s study.

A ruthless villain in a suit, he’s the head of a rival mafia family.

I should have been safe.

Instead, I was trapped by the man my brother betrayed.

Cassian came for blood.

But he took me instead.

Now I’m his possession.

His obsession.

He demands my surrender. He wants my body, my heart and soul.

And the most dangerous part? My heart has already betrayed me.

But the truce between our families is fracturing. We stand on the brink of a mafia war.

Loving my enemy isn’t only forbidden. It could be the deadliest betrayal of all.

Author’s note: This is a dark mafia romance. NO cheating. Check TW on my website.

AMAZON

Let me tell you something about our world. There are no heroes. We are all villains.”

I don’t know what Natasha puts in her books that make me inhale them each and every single time. It’s the best sort of book crack and this book was no exception. I inhaled it in one sitting was shacking in need for the conclusion.

Allegra Moretti finds herself in the crosshairs of a dangerous man with an even more dangerous bargain. Following the death of her father, her bumbling brother takes over the criminal empire. Only he ends up owing the wrong man a lot of money. And that man is going to take his sister as collateral until he pays it back.

Cassian Trevino is a brutal man and I know what brutal men are capable of.

When grown man tremble at his feet, Allegra fights Cassian tooth and nail. Sometimes almost too much that it made me want to shake her. But I also loved watching her rile him up. This woman is no victim, she fights him with everything she has and I loved her viciousness almost as much as I loved her inevitable surrender to their connection. Because who doesn’t love them some hate sex?

I’m going to make you come so fucking hard you forget how much you hate me,”

But I digress.

There are just as many questions raised for every answer that we get. The more you learn about Cassian and his secrets, the more questions we get for Allegra. I was so intrigued by Cassian and his tumultuous relationship with his step brothers, especially Jet (who I’m hoping will be getting his own book).

And that cliffhanger? Luckily I have book two already or I would have been rocking myself in a corner somewhere, because it was BRUTAL.

And it’s not just sex. Sex would be easy. A simple, human need satisfied. No, this is something far more dangerous. This is possession. A whole other level of need.

 

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Review: Half-Light Harbor by Samantha Young

October 23, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

HALF-LIGHT HARBOR
Series: Scottish Isles #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Samantha Young 
Release Date: October 23, 2025

I went to Scotland looking for answers about my past. The last thing I expected was getting trapped on a private island with my stoic, brooding, gorgeous contractor.

Ramsay McRae is a man with secrets. He prefers the company of his dog to people and silence to any semblance of politeness. He says I’m too young, too sweet, too innocent.

Only he doesn’t know the truth. That I’m haunted by a crime that tore my life apart two years ago. I’ve come to Half-Light Harbor not just to start over, but to bring the monster who killed my parents to justice.

The last thing I need is a tortured Scot distracting me from my mission. But when his restraint snaps and my walls crumble, the results are explosive.

We say it’s only a no-strings-attached affair. A temporary moment to burn out this fire between us.

However, when my search for the truth brings danger to my door, it’s Ramsay stepping in to protect me. But it might be the secrets from his past that tear us apart forever…

AMAZON

“You don’t have a ‘me problem.’ You just want a domineering bastard in your bed.” He took a step toward me. “Domineering bastard at your service and happy to oblige. Now take off the bra.”

A brand new series from one of my favorite authors? YES please and thank you. And make it a romantic suspense, with a broody, reclusive, and mysterious alpha male with a dirty mouth and a past shrouded in dark secrets? *kicks feet giddily*

You, sir, have a very dirty mouth.”
His eyes roamed my face. “You liked it.”
“I did.” I blushed inwardly. “To my surprise.”
“I liked how much you liked it.”

Tierney is a woman who grew up not wanting for much, with successful parents and the life of a socialite. But they also raised her to appreciate everything that she has, so this is not your spoiled society princess. When the tragic death of her parents turns out to be something more than it seems, Tierney is determined to get to the bottom of it. She moves to Half-Light Harbor not only to escape but also to continue to work to bring those responsible for tearing her world apart to justice.

Tierney was impossible not to love. There was such a fierceness to her. This woman is loyal to her friends and loved her parents. She’s not afraid of doing the right thing, even when it costs her everything.

Ramsay is the island recluse. No one knows much about this man and his past is shrouded in mystery. He won’t ever let anyone close enough to know what still haunts him, aside from his best friend Quinn. When Tierney hires Ramsay as the contractor for her in, the sparks between them is immediate. And while the attraction definitely goes both ways, Ramsay is determined to fight it. He thinks Tierney is too good for him, too young for him, and just too close for comfort. So what’s a man to do? Agree to a no strings hookup situationship, that definitely is going to have strings that are going to come out in the best of ways.

Her gaze dropped to my crotch where my c*ck proudly tented my joggers. “Well, you certainly have a lot of stamina for a man of your advanced years.”
Little brat. I curbed my smile, covering it with a glower. “In ten seconds, I’m going to take care of my situation myself and leave you to deal with your own. Unless you bend the f*ck over.”
“You know you should really psychoanalyze why you are able to string together so many fully formed sentences when it comes to sex but not when it comes to normal, everyday conversation.”

We also get to meet secondary characters, like Ramsay’s best friend Quinn, his sister, and Tierney’s best friend, London. And while I’m excited for all of their books, I’m especially excited for Quinn and his second chance romance because you just know that the grovel should be epic. But I digress.

There is a strong suspense element that runs flawlessly in parallel with the romance. And I absolutely loved the way it all came together. Would I have loved a bit of a longer grovel from Ramsay? Sure. But he also did make up for everything in a way that only he was capable, so I couldn’t stay mad at him.

I’m also a sucker for dogs in books, and I loved Ramsay’s adorable alaskan malamute pup who also fell for Tierney as hard as he did. 

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She’s been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.

She resides in Scotland.

 

Connect with Samantha

Website: http://authorsamanthayoung.com

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Review: Test The Ice by S.J. Sylvis

October 23, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

RUSH THE EDGE
Series: Blue Devils Hockey #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: October 23, 2025

A flirty, fake-engagement, single-mom, hockey romance by Amazon Top 50 and USA Today Bestselling Author S.J. Sylvis

I swore off men the second I trusted the wrong guy and ended up pregnant by a wealthy playboy. I was ready to prove I didn’t need him–or anyone else.

At least, until Malaki Young, Chicago’s hottest pro hockey star, slid into the backseat of my car and proved me wrong.

He’s relentless on and off the ice. Especially when it comes to pursing me. Not to mention his charming smirk and annoyingly smooth one-liners have me testing the ice and thawing every boundary I swore I’d never cross again.

But my ex is out for revenge… and Malaki makes an offer I never saw coming: a fake engagement.

One oversized diamond. One perfectly fabricated love story. One mission: convince the world–and my revenge driven ex–that this single mom just landed one of Chicago’s most sought-after bachelors.

Malaki swears it’s just pretend. But the deeper we get, the harder it is to tell where the lies end and we begin. And I can’t help wondering how long before the ice beneath us gives way.

AMAZON 

The last thing I think about before falling asleep myself is how on earth can I get this girl to be my real fiancée, instead of my fake one?

This was, hands down, my absolute favorite book in this series. And considering I love this series so much, that’s saying something. But the giddiness that I felt reading Malaki and Reese’s story simply cannot be matched. And Malaki Young just shot up on my top five favorite MMCs list. The man was PERFECTION.

…I’m willing to give her whatever she asks for. Money? It’s hers. My bed? As long as she doesn’t mind sharing. My last name? Let’s make it official.

If you love a fake dating trope, this is easily one of my favorites. Reese is a single mom who is barely making ends meet by driving an uber at night. If you’ve read Rush the Edge, then you’d remember Reese and the way she quickly became besties with Daisy. Well now you get to see her through Malaki’s eyes, and the man was instantly enraptured with her the first time he laid eyes on her. And this reader? WAS SO HERE FOR IT.

My pretty Uber driver with secrets that she’s unwilling to spill is doing nothing but tempting me by running off like that. She’s about to find out the hard way that I’m relentless.

The way that Malaki relentlessly pursued Reese, even though she fought him at every turn. Reese was burned by her ex and father of her baby and to say that the ex was insufferable was an understatement. I have never wanted a secondary character to get hit by a bus more. Alas, he lives, but he does get what’s coming to him. But I digress.

The romance between Reese and Malaki was very much a slow burn, but the chemistry between them felt electric. I loved their banter and their dialogue made my whole heart happy. Malaki gives total golden retriever vibes, and I loved the way he was always there for Reese. And don’t even get me started on his connections with her adorable daughter. But did I mention his chemistry with Reese?

You’re insane.”
“I’m not insane,” he argues. “I’m persistent.”
“You mean annoying,” I quip.
“Charming.”
“Irritating.”
“Handsome.” I can’t help but laugh.
He shows me his heart-stopping smile. “I’m funny too.”

Reese had it tough growing up, so she definitely struggles with Malaki’s attention. She’s fierce and strong, but there’s also this layer of vulnerability to her that I connected with. But nothing made me happier than the way Malaki never shied away from his feelings and his interest.

Hey, fiancée.”
Reese, to my surprise, smiles. “Are you ever going to stop calling me that?”
I grin. “Yes. When we get married, I’ll just start calling you wife.”

The romance was everything. EVERYTHING. And the story was sheer perfection. I loved Reese’s adorable daughter and I also loved her close relationship with her sister (who I’m hoping get a story next).

If you’re looking for a swoon, steamy, and absolutely unputdownable romance with an MMC who would move mountains for his woman, then look no further. This series and this book is not to be missed!

S.J. Sylvis is an Amazon top 50 and USA Today bestselling author who is best known for her new adult romances. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two small kiddos, and pets! She is obsessed with coffee, becomes easily attached to fictional characters, and spends most of her evenings buried in a book! 

Connect with S.J. Sylvis

Website | https://www.sjsylvis.com/

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Review: Secret Haven by Catherine Cowles

October 21, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SECRET HAVEN
Series: Sparrow Falls #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Catherine Cowles
Release Date: October 21, 2025

The first time I met Kyler Blackwood, he was a bruised and battered boy with fire in his eyes and nowhere safe to land.

Since the first time he kissed me, he was my best-kept secret, my quiet rebellion, my haven in the storm.

But fate forced us apart, making us pretend to be strangers because it hurt too much to be anything else.

Years later, time hasn’t dulled what we felt, has never erased the way we fit. And when Kye’s past collides with my present, everything shifts.

It’s a choice neither of us expected.
A bond that never really broke.
A line we were never meant to cross.

We tell ourselves it’s only temporary, that the arrangement is just a means to an end. But with each passing day, the lie feels more like the truth. And with each stolen touch, Kye feels more like mine. Because some things were never meant to be pretend.

And some dangers are closer than we ever imagined…

AMAZON 

I’ve been dreaming of you since I was sixteen. You’ve been my one spark of light in the hellish dark. The only good thing in my life.”

Oh the way I love this series. And I was beyond excited to learn this would be Kye and Fallon. Now if you’re looking at my rating and judging already, don’t be. I think most would absolutely adore this book. And don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this story. But this was also a bit of my own personal tastes that entered the chat and I just couldn’t silence. But I digress.

It’s always been you, and it’ll always be you.”

These two give new meaning to the It’s Always Been You trope, because my whole heart. And while you may think, but they’re foster siblings, how can they? Well silence your non believing ways! Because trust me when I tell you that the second you learn their history, you will whole heartedly understand that they were always meant to be. Their connection started way before they ended up foster siblings and when Kye’s tragic circumstance lands him on the doorstep of Fallon’s loving foster family.

And while years may have passed, their connection never lessened. Fallon has given up hoping that the boy that she never stopped loving would see her the same way. And Kye still feels like he’ll never be good enough for Fallon because his history will always be the barrier between them that he can’t escape. But when Kye’s past comes back in the most unexpected way, Fallon may just be the solution and a marriage of convenience may be the answer. But is it really a convenience only when they both still have feelings?

I know most readers would absolutely love the way that both Fallon and Kye chose to spend their years apart. But I found it to be a bit of a stretch for my personal tastes. I struggle with this, especially on Fallon’s side. But ultimately I did also understand it.

The twist at the end definitely caught me off guard and it’s not often a twist catches me by surprise. I did not see that coming and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. It felt both like connecting a puzzle but also, almost out of left field. I can’t really explain it, but I didn’t fully love it.

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely! I love Catherine’s blend of small town romance and suspense. And I do love me the pining of the it’s always been you trope. Were there parts of this book that didn’t fully work for me? Yes, but the romance stole the show and it helped smooth the edges of the parts that didn’t quite click for me.

Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt. Fans of this series will adore this story. And if you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend that you do yourself a favor and start from the begging. While each book is a standalone, you’d enjoy the connections so much more if you’ve met the other side characters already.

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Review: Of Spindles and Nightfall by J. Ann Curtis

October 11, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

OF SPINDLES AND NIGHTFALL
Series: The Villain’s Kiss #3
Genre: Dark, Gothic, Fantasy Romance
Author: J. Ann Curtis
Release Date: October 1, 2025

Rumpelstiltskin meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night in this spicy, fairy tale retelling.

Never make a deal with a demon—especially the demon arch king.

Aryana, the vampire princess, has spent her life as a weapon in her uncle’s cruel kingdom. But when the demon arch king, Zarathos, steals her away, she is thrust into a world more treacherous than anything she could have imagined.

Zarathos’s presence is suffocating, his dark power intoxicating. He claims she has the ability to turn straw into gold—a lie. But the real truth is far more terrifying. He needs her for the deadly demon trials, and he’ll stop at nothing to bend her to his will.

Bound together by a bargain neither can escape, Aryana must fight for Zarathos in the trials, even while the magnetic pull between them grows with each passing moment. The more time they spend together, the deeper she’s pulled into a world of lust, power, and ruthless peril.

Zarathos will never let her survive the trials. She’s nothing more than a pawn in his plans. But as the fire between them burns hotter, Aryana wonders if the demon king has claimed more than her life—has he taken her heart as well?

Of Spindles and Nightfall is a standalone, dark gothic fantasy romance—a reimagining of the Rumpelstiltskin tale, filled with vampires, demons, and a deadly love that could destroy them both. Perfect for fans of possessive shadow daddies, forbidden passion and dangerous bargains.

AMAZON 

She had once been the flax, and he the expert spinner, but somewhere along the way, their roles had reversed. Now, he would gladly be a thread woven into her masterpiece.

I am a sucker for a fairytale retelling. And my obsession with Once Upon a Time show also instilled my obsession with all things Rumpelstiltskin. So when I saw the blurb for this dark gothic fantasy romance, I couldn’t jump on it fast enough.

I was immediately sucked into the story, though I did wish it was written in first person POV at times.

If you love a true enemies to lovers, this story delivers an epic one with a vampire princess and the arch demon king who she strikes a dangerous bargain with. I immediately loved Aryana and her fierceness. A vampire princess who grew up under her cruel uncles brutality disguised as training, it assured her feelings of being the outsider. Her drive to protect humans was single minded and the more you learn about her past, the more you understand it.

Zarathos kidnaps Aryana and thrusts her in a world even more cruel that her uncle. Stuck in an impossible situation, she strikes a deal with the arch demon for what she thinks may be her salvation, but she doesn’t even know the true dark depths of.

I will say, if you’re expecting a full fairy tale retelling, this isn’t that. It’s more of a nod to the original fairy tale but with its own unique twist that I really enjoyed. You have two equally tortured characters who don’t know just how alike they are.

This story is dark and gritty, with parts being truly gruesome and hard to read. The reader is thrust in the middle of a vicious demon trial, where only the strong survive. It’s kill or be killed and Aryana proves to be a strong contender. I loved watching Zarathos fall for her almost as much as I enjoyed her fall for him, despite their best efforts not to and being enemies.

The story is a slow burn but has plenty of sizzle mixed into a dark and gritty world building, action, secrets, betrayals, battles, and deals signed in blood.

It was an entertaining read that kept me turning the pages well into the night!

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Review: Unveil By Greer Rivers

October 10, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

UNVEIL
Series: Frayed Satin #1
Author: Greer Rivers
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2025

A dark Swan Lake retelling where the ‘villain’ steals the girl, set in a world of secret pacts, feuding families, and primal obsession.

He’s her curse, but she’s his salvation, and he’ll do anything to keep the ones he loves safe.

Rebellious ballerina Luna Bordeaux may be the darling of the New Orleans elite, but she’s destined to dance in her parents’ shadows. Her twenty-second birthday was supposed to be her escape. One last performance, one necessary breakup, then? Freedom.

Except her white knight of a boyfriend just proposed on stage.

And now her masked stalker has crashed the engagement party…

Orion Fury has protected Luna for years, counting the seconds until he can claim his future wife, honoring a vow made between their fathers decades ago. His discipline has only ever slipped once, but his enemy just crossed the line. All bets are off, and a night that began with a party ends in kidnapping and murder.

Now Luna is a stolen bride with blood on her slippers and a target on her back, trapped in the wilderness with the man who hunted her. But Orion isn’t the only predator in these woods, and the men coming for her will do anything to stop the Fury-Bordeaux alliance.

Her villain may be the one person she’s determined to hate, but is he the only one dangerous enough to keep her alive?

Tropes:
Arranged marriage
Masked stalker
Primal play
Touch her and die
Hidden identity
Stolen bride
Villain gets the girl

Unveil is Book 1 of the Frayed Satin Series, a Tattered Curtain second-generation legacy series of interconnected standalones reimagining classic ballets with dark and twisty HEAs. Each series can be enjoyed separately. TWs will be available in the front of the book.

AMAZON

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
My voice is hoarse. “Do what?”
His thumbs lift my chin, pressing my jaw as a low growl rumbles from his chest. “Make you mine.”

*kicks feet giddily*

Now if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love an obsessed MMC. And Orion Fury is the unhinged kid of obsessed that I absolutely DEVOURED in this book.

Now if you haven’t yet read Greer’s Tattered Curtain series, I highly recommend you start with that first. You’ll have a much easier time wrapping your head around the history of these characters since Frayed Satin is the next generation spinoff.

Our FMC, Luna, is the daughter of none other than Sol from Phantom. She’s a talented ballerina who’s eager to break out on her own but has the looming years long rivalry and a potential marriage pact that’s looming over her head on the day she turns 22. She’s dating a guy who barely stirs anything more than friendship in her but when he proposes, the man who has been stalking her for years finally makes him move. After all, Luna is promised to be his wife and Orion Fury will stop at nothing to both have her and protect her with his life. Especially when a dangerous rivalry between families lands her in the crosshairs of the Wildes.

The story was fast paced and the premise of it super interesting. Unfortunately, I struggled to really connect to both Luna and Orion. And while they did have chemistry, I still struggled to connect to them as a couple. Orion was obsessed from the very beginning and Luna took a minute to get there. But there was just something missing for me to fully connect with them as a couple. I can’t really put my finger on what it was exactly. Perhaps having a snippet of how Orion watched her through the years may have helped develop that bond for me.

The other quibble I had with the story was the part in the woods. I don’t want to spoil it, but it felt very out of left field and I struggled to understand why it had to happen that way and if it really was necessary for the plot.

I had fun reading it, but it just didn’t grab me by the throat the way the Tattered Curtain books did. It did suck me into the series and I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the books. I still enjoyed this one and would recommend for those who enjoy a dark romance with an obsessive and possessive FMC. I also really loved the mental health representation and loved the way it was written into the story. 

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Review: Scorned Beauty by Victoria Paige

October 8, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

SCORNED BEAUTY
Series: Scorned Fate #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mafia
Author: Victoria Paige
Release Date: September 26, 2025

She can never be seen on his arm in public because she’s the hired help.

Sloane Scott has a reputation.
She’s the go-to cleaner for the New York mafia.
Discretion is unspoken if not written in blood.
No sleeping with my clients is her unwritten rule, so why the hell does the arrogant boss of the De Lucci crime family play a starring role in her steamy dreams.

Dominic “Dom” De Lucci has a reputation.
He’s the scion of two prominent crime families and New York’s most eligible villain.
Sought after for alliances, he has his pick in an arranged marriage.
But no one makes his blood simmer more than the off-limits beautiful cleaner for the mob with a voice made for seduction and a body made for sin.

When their attraction sparks to explosive levels, they give in and agree to certain rules.
What they have isn’t a relationship.
No dating. No giving gifts. No drama.
And, especially, no falling in love.
Just sex exclusively with each other.

So when Dom takes another woman as his “fake” date to formal events, Sloane understands because it helps cover their affair.
And their arrangement works for a while, until the most important rule is broken.

AMAZON 

I wanted to fight her demons, even if one of her demons was me.

When a grovel is listed as one of the tropes, you best believe I will be all over it. And all over it I was. I binge read this story in one sitting!

Debating what to do with you,” I murmured. “Debating what to call you. Girlfriend sounds so immature.”
“And what have you decided?”
“Wife sounds better.”

Sloane is a nurse student by day and a cleaner for the mafia by night. Her troubled brother inadvertently ensuring that she continues to stay in the crosshairs of the Russian Bratva, while her friendship with Bianca kept her in close proximity with the Italian mafia.

Dominic is Bianca’s cousin and a man who’s been obsessed with Sloane. I loved his single minded intention with her even though I wanted to throttle him for always keeping her at arm’s length. Sloane is not exactly looking for the complications of a relationship herself, so when Dom offers her a mutually satisfying arrangement that centers around multiple orgasms, she agrees. Though she keeps him at arm’s length herself.

But then Dom screws up and he does so epically. And as the dominoes of his mistake begin to fall, they unravel the man he knows himself to be. To say that he’s tortured by what happens is an understatement. I loved the way the author chipped away at his human side with the regret of his choices. But I will say, it made his grovel so much more satisfying.

I would call this mafia light. It touches on some dark undertones but doesn’t fully get immersed in the dark depths of it all. There is a sassy dialogue and witty banter with humor that adds another lighter layer which helps offset some of the darker themes and topics that are touched on in this story.

I loved Dom’s grovel to his HEA with Sloane and I loved the way that Sloane made him work for it. If you’re looking for a sexy mafia romance with a possessive MMC who messes up big but grovels bigger, definitely give this one a shot!

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Review: Beyond The Blue Horizon by A.L. Jackson

October 7, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON
Series: Moonlit Ridge #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: A.L. Jackson
Release Date: October 7, 2025

I should have known I’d break the promise I made when I found her stranded in a blizzard…

Feisty as hell and the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.
With the cutest kid and her grandmother in tow, she’s completely off limits.
I don’t get involved with women like that.
I learned long ago I don’t have the ability to love.
My life is sordid and danger is always hiding in the shadows.
Only I can’t turn my back on them when I realize she’s in trouble, and I insist on them staying in a cabin at the motel I own.
As penance for my sins, I promised my life to protecting others.
Except she becomes so much more.
A need I don’t recognize. A desperation that burns beneath my flesh.
One kiss, and I’m falling for her.
One touch, and I’m at her feet.
But when my dark past comes back to haunt me, I’m in a race against time to save the only woman I’ve ever loved. Only it may be the demons that have been chasing her that destroy what we built…

AMAZON

I told you I had nothing left to give, so why do I want to give you everything?”

Oh Theo Mallin, the man you are.

I have been obsessed with the Moonlit Ridge world since book one, and the chokehold it now has on me is beyond words. Ever since the small preview in the previous book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Theo’s book. And don’t you just love when a book you’re eagerly anticipating not only meets your expectations but blows them away.

Now if you’re like me and love the heroine in trouble trope, you’ll love this series but especially this book. Piper is clearly running from something when she comes crashing into Theo’s life. And I mean that literally. He rescues her when her car loses control on a snowy road and crashes with her adorable son and sassy grandmother. Luckily they’re all unharmed, but her car is totaled, and leaves her stranded. But of course, not on Theo’s watch, who immediately steps into rescue mode. Now while this had the insta attraction/connection vibes, which aren’t usually my cuppa, it simply worked here.

Theo is a protector through and through. He will stop at nothing to help Piper, even if she pushes him away at every turn.

I shouldn’t be thinking of you every second of the day and every long moment of the night. But there you always are, in the periphery of my sight.”

Piper is clearly running and her secrets run deep, but we don’t know the full extent of them. And I love the way that AL Jackson feeds you snippets of it, morsel by morsel, through flashbacks and revelations. The puzzle pieces slowly connect and the twists were absolutely jaw dropping. Though, I did put the pieces together pretty quickly, it was still a non stop action packed ride that I enjoyed thoroughly.

The chemistry between Theo and Piper was absolutely incendiary. It was a slow burn full of chemistry and angst.

Fine.”
“That seems to be your favorite word when it comes to me.” His mouth was suddenly back to my ear. “And I can promise if I had you, it wouldn’t just be fine.”

If you love heroines in trouble with an absolutely SWOONY protector MMC who will spare nothing to protect the woman he cares about, you need this book in your life. I adored Piper’s little boy. He was one of the best secondary characters and the connection with him and Theo was everything. And I also loved her sassy grandmother who doesn’t mince words.

The romance was epic and the action was non stop. I simply can’t get enough of this series and I’m already dying for the next book.

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.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, and REDEMPTION HILLS novels. Get her latest enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, NEVER LOOK BACK, available now!

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.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClubB  or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

Newsletter: https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClubB

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#DGRFave & Review: Bitter Burn by Sierra Simone

September 30, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

BITTER BURN
Series: Lyonesse  #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, MMF
Author: Sierra Simone
Release Date: September 30, 2025

I think it’s important that you know this about me, that you understand this: I’m not sorry.

I’d do it again.

After my husband died eight years ago, I made vengeance my only purpose, my religion, my destiny. But to get to my enemy, I had to make myself like him. He had a kingdom of secrets? Then I would make an empire. He had blood on his hands? Then I would bathe in it.

But Tristan and Isolde changed everything. I hadn’t counted on wanting them, needing them; I hadn’t counted on how it felt to watch the two of them fall in love. I’d thought I had everything under control—I’d thought I was safe from my own long-dead heart. I’d never imagined that the wronged husband, the jealous king from my childhood fairy tales, would be played by none other than me.

It no longer matters what I used to believe. My enemy is ready to finish the game, and for the first time in eight years, I have pieces on the board I can’t afford to lose. I’ll burn the entire world to keep Tristan and Isolde safe, I’ll scorch the earth—but as any good assassin will tell you, fire will only get a man so far, because there’s always something left in the ashes. And for the three of us, it’s the cold, bitter bones of the truth: their story begins and ends with me.

And every story needs a villain…

AMAZON

if I were the god of my own little world, I would have you and Tristan at my fingertips, and I would spend my days and nights afflicting you with my attention.

ALL OF THE STARS. ALL OF THEM. I am left utterly speechless and completely in awe. Sierra Simone’s words are an out of body experience. And that’s what this story was, an experience. Having read the books in this trilogy as they came out was a torture in its own right. But the wait for the conclusion after the jaw dropping cliffhanger in Honey Cut was extra painful. Having finished Bitter Burn, I can say with utmost certainty that this story was worth every agonizing second of the wait.

I was a man with muffled morals who’d made a god out of his country, so they offered me an altar to sacrifice on.

We got to be fully in the heads of Isolde and Tristan and it was finally Mark’s turn. And Mark Trevena, the man you are…

Oh God.”
“I’ve already told you that sir will do.

This beautifully broken soul completely enraptured me. Being inside his head was an experience like no other. Seeing his cunningness, his longness, his desperation, his fierce protectiveness and his sacrifice was something altogether holy.

If I could contain what I feel for the two of you,” breathes Mark, “if I could even express it, if I could even shape it to myself… my God. You have unmade in months what took years to create, and fool that I am, I am letting you.”

But the masterfulness that was this story is what had me binge reading well past my bedtime. And I’m old, so my bedtime is like 8:30. I was up until midnight, people. This was crazy for me. But I digress.

Though there were parts that felt a bit too focused on religion, it was all so masterfully woven together, that I barely noticed something that would likely bother me in any other book. Just when I thought I had my head wrapped around something, a twist would fly at me and leave me reeling…until the next one, and the next one. You can clearly see Sierra was playing the long game with Mark and oh man, the sheer brilliance of it left me speechless.

I might resent them for it some days,” he finishes softly, a little bitterly, “but they are forever safe from me. And I am no longer safe from them.”

Did I finish this book, or did it finish me? Definitely the latter. I finished it 2 nights ago and I still can’t seem to stop thinking about it.

If you loved Sierra’s New Camelot then you will be feral for Lyonesse. This is easily one of my top 3 favorite books I’ve read this year and that’s saying something because I’ve read some fantastic ones. This story had me in a chokehold and I’ll be thinking about it for weeks if not months.

If an MMF retelling of Tristan and Isolde with spies, secret societies, revenge, and some of the hottest sex scenes you will ever read sounds good, then you need this trilogy in your life.

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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