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: 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! 

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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.

 

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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: 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.

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#DGRFave & Review: Beautiful Torment by A. Zavarelli

September 26, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

BEAUTIFUL TORMENT
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Author: A Zavarelli
Release Date: September 26, 2025

They call him Il Diavolo

When the devil dressed in black crashes my wedding

I know he didn’t come to offer me his blessing

He came to collect what was always his

For months, he’s watched me from the shadows

Haunting me

Biding his time

Planning his revenge

Before he was King of the Cosa Nostra

I was fated to be his queen

I promised him forever

Now, he’s here to remind me what forever really means.

 

AMAZON

Beautiful torment. That’s what he is.

The way I have been waiting for this story! If you’ve read Zavarelli’s Society Trilogy, you may remember Angelo. And if you’ve read Kingdom Fall then you should definitely remember Angelo as Alessio’s best friend and a man set on revenge to find those who are responsible for setting him up and stealing years from his life.

He radiates darkness—the kind most people cross the street to avoid. It’s in the way he moves, the unmistakable imprint of danger some men carry in their DNA.

They call him Il Diavolo for a reason. He’s ruthless, methodical, soulless. His only focus is his vengeance. Once upon a time, Angelo and Abella were everything. And then she became his ruin and he became her most cherished memory.

Something feral lives inside him. It’s more than obsession. It feels like starvation laced with fury.

You will also remember Abella from Kingdom Fall and I loved being inside her head in her own. Even though she knows the fate of a woman inside the society is to be nothing more than an ornament, she’s made peace with it. Or at least in the only way she knows how. She’s engaged to a man who she will never love because the only man she ever did is lost to her forever. Until he shows up at her wedding to steal her away and to make her pay for the role she played in his downfall years ago.

Now let me tell you, the chemistry between these two was INCENDIARY. The way that Angelo hates that he wants her and yet can’t stay away from her is simply delicious. I couldn’t get enough of the push and pull between them.

Oh God,” she whimpers.
“I like it when you remember to say your prayers,” I tell her. “Such a respectable Italian principessa.”

I absolutely devoured this book. And I mean DEVOURED. I finished it in one sitting both needing answers and dreading being done. A Zavarelli’s books are simply my crack and I will never get enough. And now a new Society series spinoff? I am SHOOKETH and obsessed.

If you love dark mafia/secret society romance with an obsessed stalker, touch her and die vibes, and all the steam, look no further!

She was the softness to my brutality.


A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli: 

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Review: Finding The One by Kristen Ashley

September 14, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

FINDING THE ONE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: River Rain #7
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: September 9, 2025

Their parents being family friends, American/English aristocrat, Blake Sharp, and Scottish playboy Alasdair Wallace were thrust together all through their childhoods.

Blake thought Dair was a filthy, obnoxious, little boy bully.

Dair thought Blake was a spoiled, prissy wee miss.

Then Blake grew up to be a beautiful, loving woman who took care of everyone and made amazing pistachio muffins. And Dair grew up to be a protective, fun-loving, hard-living professional rugby player.

In the meantime, they’d both been deeply betrayed by lovers.

When their paths cross again, Blake is still reeling from her fiancé’s treachery and what she learned about herself during it.

Dair thinks he’s recovered from a marriage to a woman who was not at all what she seemed, and now he’s smitten by the woman Blake has become.

So smitten, he has every intention of exploring what they can grow to be together.

But their combined family history is filled with secrets and lies. Secrets and lies that explode in their faces.

And while they deal with that, ghosts from the past rise up and threaten to haunt their future.

Is what they built together strong enough to hold true?

Or will their personal demons tear them apart?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

 

You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But when you laugh, I see a wee bit of that little girl I knew, except she isn’t unhappy like she was always unhappy.”

Now I love me a good redemption story ARC, particularly when it’s a female one. And Blake had a beautiful story to boot. Growing up with the mother she had and the family dynamic she did, it’s no wonder that she had some rough years. But seeing the way it molded her into the woman that she is today; caring, compassionate, yet oh so vulnerable to the hurts of the past, was all that more satisfying.

Alasdair Wallace was a typical KA alpha but with a Scottish brogue. Did we get the usual “babe”, no we got “hen”, and I was so here for it.

This was a beautiful story of redemption and soul mates, and I loved the way that Blake and Dair got together. They grew up together, but there was no love lost between them. Well, mostly Blake, who felt like Dair picked on her when they were kids. Now here they both are, years later, at Blake sister’s wedding. Dair, now divorced for several years and knows exactly what he wants and who he wants it from. Blake, narrowly escaping a disastrous wedding to a cheater and not looking for a repeat. Dair sees Blake and goes after her with a single minded intent. And while she tries to fight the pull for a little while there, Dair is impossible to resist.

If you’ve read any KA book, then you already know how well she can write a beautiful relationship development and this was no different. I loved the way that the family dynamic was effortlessly woven in to their story to make it all that much better. The interworking of Dair and Blake’s broken families healing something in this book was incredible to read about. And right as I was starting to grow a bit bored with everything being just too relationshipy for these two, we got the tension in the best of ways.

I have to say that I loved the conflict in the romance because it also just fit. It fit both of these characters so well that the conflict happening felt as natural as them resolving it.

If you’re looking for a beautiful romance with some crazy family twists, amazing secondary characters, a conflict with a delicious grovel, and a two characters who are entirely too easy to root for, you’ve found your next read!

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Review: Brutal Reign by Monica Kayne

September 12, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

BRUTAL REIGN
Series: Bratva Kings #3
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Author: Monica Kayne
Release Date: September 12, 2025

Hope King was supposed to die by my hand. Instead, she became my obsession.

For five years, I’ve hunted the Triad princess. The daughter of my enemy. The woman who haunts my every waking moment.

When I find her on her wedding day, I don’t eliminate her like I was ordered to—I marry her instead.

She thinks I’m the monster who destroyed her world, and she’s right. But she also shattered mine—carving a void in my soul that only she can fill.

Now she’s trapped in my compound, in my bed, in my life. She can fight me all she wants, even plan her escape. But Hope is mine now, and I’m never letting her go.

Brutal Reign is a dark mafia romance that includes forced marriage, accidental pregnancy, and a secret child. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. Can be read as a complete standalone.

AMAZON 

“You can run from me, angel moy. I love to chase. But when I catch you, and I will, I won’t let you go.”

Oh but I am loving this series. Monica has quickly become of my favorite dark mafia romance authors and this book hit every spot, even those I didn’t know I had.

Hope and Pavel’s story was deliciously addictive. A Triad princess and the Bratva king? Yes please!
Pavel’s syndicate and the Triad ran by Hope’s father have been at war, until everything comes to a deadly end one night. When the syndicate realizes that the woman who managed to escape was the daughter of the now dead triad leader, Pavel is sent in to eliminate the threat. But when he comes face to face with Hope, he knows he can’t kill her, so he lets her go. Only to come crashing back into her life on her wedding day to the next Triad leader and marry her instead, whether she wants it or not.

The story was such a thrill ride of a story. It had non stop action and I loved the dynamic between Hope and Pavel so much. The way that he’s so ruthless and deadly but will burn the world down for her? Swoon. And while she hasn’t yet come to terms with her reality, you see her feelings for the brutal man who’s fiercely protective of her bleed through every passing day.

And the mouth on this man? Lord have mercy. The dirty talk was definitely hitting. I also loved Hope’s tenacity. She wasn’t brash or impulsive, but quietly thoughtful. I appreciated that she wasn’t the cliche FMC in a forced marriage that runs into danger at the slightest inconvenience. I loved her balance of vulnerability and understated strength.

If you’re looking for a dark and sexy mafia romance with great characters and an addictive story, look no further!

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Review: Wild Card by Elsie Silver

September 9, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

WILD CARD
Series: Rose Hill #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Elsie Silver
Release Date: September 9, 2025

Sebastian Rousseau is a grumpy, hot as hell fire pilot who is too damn good with his hands.

It’s the perfect combination. But unfortunately for me, he’s also my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

A chance meeting brought us together and a missed connection has kept us apart.

One year later, a stroke of fate has us living under the same roof—which makes everything between us downright messy.

Because even after all this time, he’s still the man I think about when I fall asleep. The one I can’t get over no matter how hard I try.

He’s working on mending a fragile relationship with his son and we both know acting on these urges would be the ultimate betrayal.

But I see the heat in his eyes. That look of need that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

The mutual longing is borderline unbearable and the simmering heat between us is downright palpable.

We both know there are rules when it comes to situations like this.

But then again…following the rules never has been my strong suit.

AMAZON 

You’re a fucking wild card. Unpredictable and never what I expect.

Elsie definitely saved the best for last with Bash, because I can say with my whole chest that this was my absolute favorite MMC in this series. The way I loved him!!

Soon, all I can hear is her breathing, and it makes me realize I’m not breathing at all. After all the time I’ve spent dreaming of this moment, I need someone to pinch me so I know it’s real.

Now the ex boyfriend’s dad trope can be a hit or miss for me, depending on how it plays out. And it hit so good in this book. While it didn’t have that taboo feeling to it, it had the forbidden and angst vibes which I gobbled right up. Especially since the age gap wasn’t that wide with Bash being 40 and Gwen is 27 (Bash’s son is 20).

A chance meeting at an airport initially brings Gwen and Bash together, but fate is not in their corner. Then when they run into each other by chance a year later, they both receive the shock of a lifetime to realize their new connection.

Gwen was impossible not to love. She was this perfect combination of fierce and vulnerable. She’s not had an easy life but she didn’t let that beat her down. I loved the way that she stands firm for who she is and what she wants. I loved the way that she doesn’t easily cave but isn’t brash or impulsive about it either.

Bash’s son, Tripp, took me a minute to warm up to. Frankly put, I mildly tolerated him, until I hated him for a minute, and then ultimately he grew on me a bit too. Clyde, was easily my favorite side character ever. I loved the way he filled that fatherly missing piece for Gwen and I absolutely adored his connection with Bash.

The romance was very much a slow burn, which made it all the more delicious when it finally happened. The tension between these two was so palpable that it almost hurt. I loved the emotion and tension of it all. I would have loved to spend more time seeing Bash in his element as a firefighting pilot, but at least we got a good dose of that towards the end.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and fell hard for Bash and Gwen. The epilogue was absolute perfection too!

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