Review: When You Stayed by Ashley Munoz

May 15, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

WHEN YOU STAYED
Series: Generations of Rose Ridge #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Author: Ashley Munoz
Release Date: May 15, 2026

was never meant to stay in Rose Ridge.

My father was the president of a notorious motorcycle club, so if something rattled him enough to request that I go, I should have listened.

In my defense, at the time, it seemed more terrifying to give up the only dream I ever had than to leave like everyone else.

I should have known that chasing that dream would lead back to the club, because everything in this town eventually did.

I wasn’t expecting to see a familiar face, glaring as usual, amidst the chaos surrounding the Stone Riders. For years, I had endured scowls, glares, and scoffs from Ford Ryan. However, there was something new and different about his heated stare, and even that oddly protective touch.

Something dangerous and addictive.

I should have left when I had the chance, because my proximity to Ford and the club meant I was close to danger. Even worse would be discovering exactly why Ford chose to stay when, out of all of us, he had every reason not to.

AMAZON

I was only ever falling for her. And I was fucking tired of it.

I love a next gen spinoff, but this one just hit especially good. And suffice it to say, I’m wholly obsessed with this new series from one of my favorites! A next gen MC series? Say less!

Now if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I am a sucker for the male yearning trope. And the way that Ford yearns for Royce? It’s on a whole different level. The man has been obsessed with her since they were young. But she also happens to be his best friend’s ex.

I didn’t care how long it was going to take, I knew that one day we’d be here. With you in my arms, and me confessing how fucking insane I am for you.”

Royce is the daughter of Killian from Where We Belong. I love the overprotective father Killian in this book. But I also wanted to throttle him for the way he goes about doing it at multiple parts. Royce is the MC princess. She’s a free spirit and as fierce as her parents. She also had the biggest crush on Ford when they were kids, but Ford has never treated her as anything more than an inconvenience he has to tolerate. The secret mutual pining was as amazing as it was frustrating, because what do you mean they went for years without this conversation. It did make their coming together that much more satisfying. But I swear, I also wanted to throttle Royce for some choices she made as well.

Ford is rough and gruff but he doesn’t play around when it comes to Royce. And when he finally has the chance, he’s not about to blow it. And oh my god, the mouth on this man. Delicious.

We fuck once, and it’s as good as havin’ a fucking ring on your finger, Rose. You’re mine for always. I won’t ever share you with another.”

See what I mean? This man breathes for Royce. And who doesn’t love a man obsessed? I know I sure do.

Much like the previous series, there is a story arc that continues throughout the books. So while we do get a HEA for Royce and Ford and one piece of the puzzle is figured out, there are still plenty of questions left for the next book.

The threat against the club still exists and there are plenty of appetizing plot twists that are thrown in that we will see reveal themselves in the next books. All I will say without spoiling anything is that the set up for the next books couples is utterly DELICIOUS.

I loved Royce and Ford’s much deserved HEA and their slow but inevitable journey to each other.

I might not know how to tell you everything, Royce, but one thing that has never changed is that I have stayed. Even when you weren’t mine. Even when you were just a dream. When it didn’t make any sense, when it cost me a future. I stayed right the fuck here. I might not always know how to explain shit, baby, but I’d never leave you. I know you better than anyone else, and if you tried to run, I’d find you. Because you’re mine, Royce. You’re always going to be mine.”

If you enjoyed Ashley’s Stone Riders series, you will absolutely love this one! I can’t recommend it enough for any of my fellow MC romance lovers out there.

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Review: Falter by Aly Martinez

April 26, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

FALTER
Series: Guardian Protection #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Author: Aly Martinez
Release Date: April 26, 2026

Welcome to Guardian Protection Agency—a sizzling series of interconnected standalones featuring alpha bodyguards and the women who bring them to their knees.

I once made the mistake of falling for a client, and it nearly cost me my career.
Jaded and disgraced, I used my attitude as armor so it could never happen again.

Until I was assigned to protect Lofton Beck.

Hollywood’s golden girl had a stalker on her tail—and two dead bodyguards.

She was a nightmare from the start. Didn’t follow orders. Had no concept of boundaries. Worst of all, she was so damn gorgeous I couldn’t build my walls strong enough to keep her out.

As the threats escalated, we were forced into hiding at her family’s farm. Keeping my distance became impossible with her sleeping in the room next door.

Somewhere between our early mornings together and the quiet moments when the world disappeared, it became clear her stalker wasn’t the most dangerous part of the assignment.

Protecting her was never the problem.
Falling for her could cost me everything.

AMAZON

There was nothing professional about this. Not even a little. But dear God, it felt incredible.

Devon is the one character whose book I didn’t even know I wanted, but now that I have it, It’s one of the most deserved HEAs that I could have asked for. And if you don’t know who Devon Grant is, do yourself a favor and read The Fall Up and The Spiral Down. First, they’re phenomenal books. But also, it will give you a good snippet into Devon’s origin story. And it was a hot mess. Hence me having no idea that I wanted his book. But man oh man did he win me over in this book!!!

Fuck me. Fuck my life. And fuck good deeds that led to an ungodly beautiful woman kissing me. I might have been the first man in all of history to say that last part. I didn’t suspect many men would’ve gone into full panic mode after a kiss from Lofton Beck. Honest to God, I didn’t know I had a panic mode before her lips touched mine.

The last thing Devon is looking for is to return to being a bodyguard for a famous client. The first time he did, it ended in disaster. And now his assignment is to protect the beautiful actress, Lofton Beck, who is in the crosshairs of a dangerous stalker who has recently turned lethally violent. She needs to hide and Devon is assigned to ensure nothing gets to her. But the woman will also be the end of him because the instant hit of attraction that sizzles between them is unwanted at best and dangerous at worse. So what’s an elite bodyguard to do? Be a complete and total a*hole to her, obviously.

The man who could clear a room, read a threat, and talk me off a ledge without breaking a sweat stood at the foot of my bed with absolutely no idea what to do with his hands.

I love a confident FMC, and Lofton won me over immediately. I loved the way that she relentlessly pursues Devon but not in a brash or overly zealous way. Just a woman who knows what she wants and also understands her own appeal. And Devon, poor Devon, didn’t stand a chance.

I dragged in a breath that did nothing to quell the storm brewing inside me as I stared at the woman who I had no doubt was going to ruin me. “Jesus Christ,” I breathed. It wasn’t a prayer. But it was definitely a surrender.

This is a romantic suspense that was the perfect balance of action and romance. I love the way that Aly weaves both together so seamlessly that tone just amplifies the other. I also love the way she packs an emotional punch that never fails to hit all the feels. And I’m not sure whose story did that more; Devon or Lofton’s. The pacing was fantastic, the chemistry was sizzling, and the character development was so satisfying that I couldn’t get enough.

I was hoping that Aly would write more in this series and she seriously delivered with this book. It may have been my favorite in this series and I hope she continues because I need more!

If you’re looking for a bodyguard romance that has suspense, a little splash of hate to love, and one heck of an emotional punch, then do yourself a favor and read this one immediately!

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Review: Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner

April 21, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

LOVE OVERBOARD
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: April 21, 2026

From USA Today, #1 Amazon, and BookTok bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes a sizzling, second-chance romance set on the high seas—perfect for fans of Below Deck and readers who crave angsty, high-stakes love stories.

Ember Reed is finally living her dream: chief stew on a Mediterranean superyacht, sun-kissed days at sea, and the star of Close Quarters, the hottest new reality TV show. But just as she finds her stride, the producers throw her a curveball—by hiring the one man who nearly sank her.

Finn Pearson was the one that got away. The boy who kissed her like they had forever, then left without a word. But now he’s the chef in her new crew, and the cameras are watching their every move, innocent, or not.

Even on a superyacht, there’s nowhere to hide from the past. Every stolen glance, every whispered argument, every lingering memory threatens to ignite what never fully burned out. And as the tension spills into their day jobs, even the dinner service is spiralling into disaster.

They’ve crashed before… but could eight weeks at sea be their second chance to get it right? Or will it be the storm that finally sinks them for good?

————————————————-

TROPES:

  • second chance
  • reality tv
  • forced proximity
  • forbidden
  • high stakes
  • angsty
  • Below Deck vibes

AMAZON

One touch, one look, one breath from him had me ready to risk it all.

There’s just something about angst written by Kandi Steiner that just hits different. And boy did this one hit. Hit in all the feels.

If cutting him out meant bleeding for a while, I’d take the pain.

Picture this. You’ve worked for your dream for years and finally landed a dream job as a chief stew on a reality TV show. But now you’re stuck on the boat with your ex that you never got over who is working on the boat as the chef. Oh and you’re also stuck rooming with his girlfriend. Sounds messy, right? Oh but it was. DELICIOUSLY messy.

The tension between Finn and Ember is absolutely palpable the second these two see each other again. Their romance was fast and fiery> it burned hot and then it fell apart in the most painful way. It may have been two years, but it becomes very clear than neither is over the other and time didn’t heal wounds. Ember’s anger and pain over how they fell apart felt like a living thing between them. Even though her own ambition was as much to blame for their end as Finn’s choices. But Ember didn’t know all the why’s of it, so I don’t blame her for the anger she carries. With each fiery fight they have on the boat, more details about their past revealed, you get to understand each of them in a way that you can’t help but root for them all while knowing it will end in disaster.

I loved the way the story is written primarily in Ember’s POV, but you also get to get a preview during the cast production interviews. You get to understand each of the secondary characters that much better. The pacing was perfect, the angst was angsting, and the romance once it finally lights up…is sizzling.

Sit that pretty c*nt on my face. Let me taste you, love. I want to drown in your next orgasm before I fuck you into your third.

If you’re looking for an agnsty second chance romance with reality TV drama and all the feels, look no further. Because this one hit every spot I didn’t even know I had!

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Review: The Woman From Nowhere by Kristen Ashley

April 14, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

THE WOMAN FROM NOWHERE
Series: Misted Pines #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: April  14,  2026

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Mabel Adams reinvents herself for the fourth time. Regardless of the alarming reputation of the deceptively sleepy town of Misted Pines, she decides to move all the way across the country to start yet again.

Mabel has a one-night stand with a mountain man who rocks her world in bed but doesn’t tell her his name.

The next day, after receiving a threatening note from her neighbors, she discovers she’s living next to an extremist cult where the women go in and are never seen again.

After serving, former Navy SEAL Hutch Hutchison is living a peaceful life on his patch in the mountains outside Misted Pines. He’s been burned so many times by women, he’s happy to train his guard dogs, play his guitar, live remote, and most of all, quiet.

Until he hooks up with a beautiful woman who lives just down the way. And then he discovers she’s been threatened by the cult next door.

Hutch’s protective instinct sparks, and he decides his next mission is to keep Mabel safe at all costs.

But there’s something even hinkier about that cult than Hutch or local law enforcement expect.

As Hutch executes the riskiest mission of his life—keeping Mabel safe at the same time keeping both of their hearts intact—Hutch and the Sheriff’s Department try to unravel the mystery of The Lion and The Lamb before it’s too late.

Because Mabel is in their crosshairs.

And Hutch is not about to allow her to disappear.

AMAZON

I knew it from the first song I heard him sing. He was the biggest risk I ever took. But he was the only risk that was worth anything.

You can’t see me right now but just know that I am giddily clapping my hands and kicking my feet because OMG this book hit the spot just right. But then again, I haven’t met a KA book that didn’t. But this one in particular just did it for me. Maybe it was that I was in exactly the right mood for me. Maybe because it was one of those addictive swoony romances. Or maybe it was a combo of both. Whatever the case may be, I came for the vibes and I stayed for the story. And I loved every part about it!

Are you always this much of a dick?” I demanded.
He stepped away from me but didn’t lose eye contact. “Nope,” he said casually. “It only comes out when I got a woman on my hands with more sass than sense.”

What’s a girl to do when her one night stand not only ghosts her but turns out to be your new dog trainer? And you need said dog trainer after you get a dog for protection because you have some super kooky neighbors who may or may not be a cult living next to your property and judging you by leaving oddly threatening notes on your door. Well, if you’re Mabel, you buckle up for the ride is what you do. Oh and you also adopt a sweet husky named Tonks who also loves to be bossed around by your grumpy one night stand turned dog trainer.

Quiet,” Hutch ordered a still-howling Tonks with so much authority in his tone, even I was thinking I wouldn’t utter a word for the next two days. For sure Tonks shut up and sat down.

Oh and said one night stand is also retired SEAL. So there’s that. YUM. But I digress.

Ranger Emmett “Hutch” Hutchison is a mouthful in every sense of the word. *wagges eye brows*. He’s also your typical KA tortured MMC and I loved the hell out of him. He’s all loe wolf until he finds out that the one night stand he can’t seem to get out of his mind is in danger. And then he’s all growly, overly protective, manly intensity and OMG I was obsessed.

This is a man who has been through it and his heart can’t take any more so he’s given up on relationships. They’re just not meant to be for him and his history.

Mabel comes with a story of her own and this poor woman has been through it herself. But instead of letting it take over, she’s allowed it to bloom her into her new self. She was such a well rounded, even keeled, self assured FMC and I absolutely adored her. She’s take charge and doesn’t stand for any non sense. But she also allows her vulnerability to shine through in spite of what she’s been through. I couldn’t think of a better match for Hutch.

There is an underlying element of suspense that is weaved into the romance but the romance was primary. I adored it. I binge read it in one day and never wanted it to end. And while I love a bit of drama with a third act breakup, this one had none of that. Just two people slowly healing each other and their relationship growing and evolving organically in the best of ways.

If you’re looking for a swoony and steamy romance with a grumpy MMC and sunshine FMC with a splash of suspense, look no further! I can’t wait for more in this series!

For more information on Kristen Ashley, visit: https://www.kristenashley.net/

Connect with Kristen Ashley
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Review: Right Your Wrongs by Kandi Steiner

March 10, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

RIGHT YOUR WRONGS
Series: Kings of the Ice #6
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: March 10, 2026

What happens when the youngest, most successful coach in the NHL comes face-to-face with the woman he never got over — only to find out she’s married to his new General Manager?

Everything I’ve spent my life building is suddenly at risk.

I loved Ariana Ridley long before the world knew my name. Before the NHL. Before the pressure of being one of the youngest coaches in the league. Before I learned how to survive by locking my heart down tight.

Leaving her was the hardest thing I’ve ever done — and the one choice I never made peace with.

Now she’s back.
And she belongs to another man.

My new General Manager.

I tell myself I can handle it. Discipline is my job. Control is my strength. I know how to keep my distance — how to respect the lines that should never be crossed.

But every glance drags the past to the surface. Every quiet moment reminds me the love I buried never died.

I see the cracks she tries to hide, the fear she’s learned to live with, and the way she still looks at me like I’m the one place she can breathe.

I want to protect her.
I want to fight for her.
And I want things I have no right to want.

Because if I cross that line, I don’t just risk my career — I risk shattering the woman I never stopped loving.

Some choices haunt us forever.
Some loves never let go.

And trying to right my wrongs might just ruin us both.

AMAZON

If a heart was tied to a person, mine was inextricably bound to her—and it stopped beating the day I left her behind.

Kandi Steiner definitely left the best for last. And considering I have absolutely loved this entire series, that’s saying something. But this book? Oh the emotional damage of it all. Coach McCabe finally gets his much awaited HEA and what a hard earner HEA it was. My heart strings are still recovering.

He looked like a man who knew exactly who he was. And worse—like a man who still knew exactly how to undo me.

Now there is nothing better than male yearning in my book. And Shane wears his yearning on his sleeve.

Now let me set the scene for you. Imagine you meet the love of your life in college. You fall hard and fast. But then everything in both of your lives is turned upside down and he leaves. He’s never forgotten about you or gotten over you in the twenty years that you’ve been apart. And when you suddenly find yourself back in his orbit, he doesn’t play games or pretend he doesn’t know you. Oh no. His love for you shines through his eyes in ever blink. But there’s one problem; you’re married, and your husband is the new General Manager of the hockey team he coaches. Sounds utterly heart wrenching and delicious, right? That’s because it really was.

I’d failed her back then. I wouldn’t fail her again. That girl was still everything to me. And I’d be damned if I’d be the man who walked away from her twice.

You know what I hate? When the reason for the couple parting when they’re young is some long winded miscommunication trope where one leaves for the supposed good of the other without saying anything or talking about it. The fallout between Shane and Ariana was painful but it was real. Both of them talk about it and try their hardest. This was the most perfectly painful right person, wrong time type of scenario. First, Shane’s life falls apart and then both their youthful inexperience does.

When Ari ends back in Shane’s orbit, he doesn’t steamroll her to get what he wants. He watches her every move and his ability to see her doesn’t seem to fade. It doesn’t take him long to clock into things and when he does, he’s determined to do everything in his power. And while yes, this technically has a little cheating, I can’t imagine a man who deserved it more than Ari’s husband. There’s no gray area there. I hated it from the second he appeared on the page.

But enough about that man. Lets talk about Shane, because this man stole my whole heart.

She could run from the moment, from the intensity, from me. But I would never run from her again. And I didn’t care what I risked in the process.

Imagine a man who doesn’t mince words, doesn’t hide his feelings, doesn’t play games, and has been yearning for the FMC for as long as they’ve been apart. He’s a professional hockey coach, sexy as sin, and with a dirty mouth that I couldn’t get enough of.

I want to live here, Ariana. I want to die here. You were made for me. You and this perfect fucking cunt.”.

I adored this book. I couldn’t get enough of this story. I loved every word, every page, every chapter. And I binged it from cover to cover.

If you love a second chance romance with one of the most satisfying HEAs, then you need this book in your life!

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#DGRFave & Review: Across The Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles

March 3, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

ACROSS THE VANISHING SKY
Series: Starlight Grove #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Author: Catherine Cowles
Release Date: March 5, 2026

He spent a lifetime trying to escape his dark past…but to save her, he’ll wade back into the shadows.

Braedyn Winslow never expected to return to Starlight Grove—the town that took everything from her. Not after her best friend, the one who’d sacrificed so much for her, vanished without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that won’t stay buried, Brae is back…and determined to uncover the truth.

She just didn’t count on the brooding, reclusive mountain man living next door.

Dex Archer is the stuff of local legend—silent, rugged, and surrounded by whispers of his and his brothers’ violent father. But Brae sees through the scowl and his parentage to the man beneath: fiercely loyal, unexpectedly kind…and just dangerous enough to protect her when someone starts warning her off her search.

The closer she gets to the truth, the harder it is to stay away from Dex. And as things get more perilous, Brae realizes the only person she can rely on is the one man who swore never to trust again.

Only someone isn’t happy that Brae has been digging, and they’ll do anything to stop her. But Dex? He’ll do anything to save her, even slip back into the dark…

AMAZON 

“Tell me you want this. Tell me you need it, consequences be damned.”

Well, Catherine Cowles has done it yet again. She gave us a cast of characters in a new town that I am swooning hard for. Let me paint a picture for you, shall I?

First we have our MMC, Dex. And if you love a tortured MMC, prepare to fall and fall hard not just for Dex but for every single one of his brothers. And he’s got four of them. That’s right, we get five Archer boys and oh boy are they intriguing in their own way. But I digress. We’re talking about Dex. Dex is a gray hat hacker who worked for the FBI for ten years and now he’s back in the small town that still haunts him. But that town is where his brothers are, and although their history is dark, the Archer boys are as close as brothers get. Dex also has tattoos and slutty little glasses. So of course I fell for him immediately.

Braedyn is a woman on a mission. A year ago, her best friend vanished into thin air. She’s told that the case is cold, that her best friend likely fell into a river or got caught by wild life. But she refuses to believe it or give up searching for her. So she finds herself in the small town where she lost her, with determination in tow, along with her tracker trained dog and her young son.

She soon discovers that her grumpy neighbor who she immediately clashed with, may also be exactly who she needs. Dex doesn’t usually take cases on that are close to home, but something about Braedyn pulls at every heart string he has and suddenly he finds himself just as invested in the search for her best friend as he is in Braedyn herself.

The romance is a slow burn that was oh so satisfying. These two are such a perfect match. Braedyn with her abandonment issues and Dex with his fear of the blood that runs through his veins and getting. Both of them have their own trauma and I loved the way they help heal each other.

The one thing that I absolutely love about Catherine’s books is how utterly unpredictable they are. Every time I think I know who our bad guy is, she leaves me with my jaw on the floor. And this story was no different. I was absolutely blindsided by the ending, in the best of ways. I love a story that can surprise me, especially when it’s suspense. And no one does small town romantic suspense quite like Cowles. It hit every single spot for me and I am wholly obsessed with the Archer Brothers. I don’t even know whose story I’m more desperate for now; Orion, Maverick, Kol, or Wylder. Orion’s uber tortured self calls to me but I just know his book will likely be last.

If you’re looking for an addictive small town romance with an unputdownable suspense plot and a swoony romance seamlessly woven in, then you need this book in your life. I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing new series!

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Review: Perfect In Every Way by Kristen Ashely

February 17, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY
Series: Manors and Mysteries #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: February 17, 2026

The Downs is peaceful…but steeped in mystery. 

The Duke is arrogant, gorgeous and loyal..and maybe Perfect In Every Way. 

Perfect In Every Way, an all-new compelling forced proximity, mystery romance in the Manors and Mysteries series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley is now live!

Historical fiction writer, Vivienne Dupree, is hoping to unravel the mystery of her WWII soldier, great-grandfather’s doomed love affair with the lovely Lady Harmony. A woman he met convalescing at the sweeping English country estate, The Downs.

Vivienne jumps at the invitation to spend time at this magnificent property, doing so with unfettered access to family papers.

What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face—and immediately go head-to-head—with Battle Talyn, the ludicrously handsome, imposing, ridiculously arrogant Duke of Burleigh.

From the start, Vivi and Battle match wits, but it doesn’t take long for Vivi to realize something is amiss at The Downs. She dives into her research to figure it out, at the same time Battle launches a campaign that Vivi doesn’t quite understand.

The game is on, and a mystery is afoot.

What kept the doomed lovers apart all those years ago? What’s happening in the ballroom? Is there a curse on The Downs?

And what does all of this have to do with Battle and Vivi?

AMAZON | B&N | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

“Oh my God, I just fucked an arrogant, bossy duke.”
His amazing face filled my vision. “No, darling, an arrogant, bossy duke just fucked you.”

If there’s one thing that you’re absolutely guaranteed when you’re reading a KA romance, is an absolutely swoon worthy MMC. And Battle was the epitome of swoon.

Vivi is a historical fiction writer whose online friendship with one of the Talyn sisters, gets her an invite to The Downs estate and the opportunity of a lifetime to dig into the mystery of a doomed love affair that is the inspiration for her current book. Here she meets the Talyn siblings, including the imposing and grumpy Duke, Battle Talyn.

These two initially bump heads because while Vivi is eager to unearth the mystery, Battle is determined to protect his family and their privacy. For all the fortune, the Talyns are notoriously private, especially Battle. But it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly between him and Vivi.

Outside of the romance, I just loved Vivi’s dynamics with the Talyn sisters. I loved the way she brought her sunshine along everywhere she went and the way she just fit like a puzzle with them. The romance was swoony and perfectly paced. No third act breakup to be found here. So if you’re looking for a lighthearted read with a steamy romance and an intriguing mystery, definitely give this a try.


For more information on Kristen Ashley, visit: 

https://www.kristenashley.net/

Connect with Kristen Ashley

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Review: Overtake by S.J. Sylvis

February 12, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

OVERTAKE
Series: Vanstone Racing #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: S.J. Sylvis
Release Date: February 12, 2026

A sexy Rivals to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Formula One romance from Amazon Top 50 bestselling author SJ Sylvis

Rome Pierce is Formula One’s golden boy—reckless, ruthless, and wrapped in an ego as polished as his race suit. Arrogance isn’t just a trait; it’s his personal trademark.

As the daughter of Vanstone Racing’s chairman, I’ve spent my life loathing everything about him—and the family name he carries. The rivalry between our teams runs deeper than lap times and podiums. It’s personal.

So when my father steps back for health reasons and hands me a front-line role, I don’t hesitate to prove to the world that I’m more than just the pretty Halston daughter in the paddock.

I plan to beat Rome Pierce fair and square.

Except the promotion comes with a catch I never saw coming.

Rome Pierce isn’t driving for his father anymore.

He’s driving for mine.

Now I’m the crew chief for the one man I swore I’d never work with—the rival who knows exactly how to get under my skin. Every race is a power struggle. Every briefing feels like a war. And somewhere between late nights in the garage and two hundred mile an hour battles on the circuit, the thin line between hatred and heat starts to blur.

I think Rome Pierce came here to overtake my team.

I just never expected him to also alter the course of my heart.

AMAZON 

I follow after her, but before she leaves, I grab her from behind and press her back against my chest. My mouth hovers over her ear, “I expect you to be in my room after this race, Princess.”
Her voice is quiet. “I think that depends on how well you race, don’t you?”

I cannot remember the last time that I read a book in one sitting. I’ve been firmly in my drag ass era for over 10 weeks now and I thought I would be there forever. And here comes this delicious BANGER of a book and I suddenly remember what it’s like to be so engrossed with the characters that you can’t help but read it cover to cover in one sitting. And this book deserves 5 stars just for that alone.

Now if you love an F1 romance, this one will hit all the spots you didn’t even know you had. And if you’ve never read an F1 romance, prepare for this book to hit all the spots you didn’t even know you had. It was rivals to lovers gold; the banter, the chemistry, THE SIZZLING CHEMISTRY! That and the family chat had me giggling and kicking my feet like a giddy teenager the entire time.

First we have Rome Pierce, a talented Formula One driver who suddenly joins Vanstone Racing, his father’s biggest rival who also happened to be his father’s best friend for years. There is definitely no love lost between these two families, but Rome is determined to make it work with Vanstone. It also brings him back face to face with Tessa, daughter of Vanstone Racing’s chairman and his new head engineer.

Tessa has just learned that her father is stepping back as chairman and giving his kids the chance to step up. So the last thing she needs is Rome and his arrogance getting in her way. But Rome is definitely not all that he seems, and still waters (and secrets) run deep with this man. And it doesn’t take long before their banter rivalry begins to turn up the heat.

Are you racing me, Princess?”
I stop dead in my tracks, but this time, I make an effort not to pop my hip and cross my arms. I wouldn’t want him to call me a brat again. “Stop calling me that,” I say, voice chilled.
A few steps behind me, he asks, “What should I call you, then?”
I grin and peer over my shoulder. He’s waiting with his eyebrows raised high. “How about boss?”
His hot chuckle hits the back of my neck, and goosebumps rush to my arms. “Not a fucking chance.”

I loved this book. I genuinely found myself checking to see if it was a novella when I finished because of the way I devoured it so quick. But while it read quick, it was still wholly satisfying. The romance, the story, the family dynamics, the racing, all of it was woven together seamlessly to make one unputdownable read full of banter and heat.

I fell so hard for this family and can’t wait for more in this series. Leave it to SJ to own hockey romance and then come in and make F1 her b*tch. Because ohmygawd was this so much fun! Can’t recommend it enough!

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: On The Brink of Bliss by A.L. Jackson

February 10, 2026 by · Leave a Comment

ON THE BRINK OF BLISS
Series: Moonlit Ridge #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: A.L. Jackson
Release Date: February  10, 2026

A sizzling single mom, fake marriage, heroine in danger romance from New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, A.L. Jackson

The last thing I expected when I found the trespasser bathing in my river was for it to be her…

Daisy Adair has always been my dream girl. From when we were best friends in high school to finding her now.
A gorgeous mother who shows up on my property with three kids in tow.
But I became a recluse for a reason.
The life I chose is full of wickedness and peril. The last thing I need is the object of my every fantasy invading my space and risking her life because of me.
Only when she tells me she’s on the run from her ex, I promise to do anything to keep them safe, even marry her to protect her kids.
That single kiss at the altar rips through every barrier, our passion unleashed.
Now, living under the same roof blurs the lines I’ve drawn.
Each glance of her down the hall and I am splintering.
Each brush of her hand and I am brought to my knees.
Our future—bright, hopeful, and almost within reach—hovers on the edge of becoming real…
Until we discover the threat surrounding her is grimmer than either of us imagined.
Now I’m fighting to save her and her children before our second chance at forever is burned to the ground…

What to Expect in On the Brink of Bliss:

Single Mom
Fake Marriage
Grumpy Recluse x Sunshine Wallflower
Morally Gray Hero
Heroine on the Run
Roommates-to-Lovers
Mutual Pining
Ex-Motorcycle Club
Found Family
Small Town
Secret Society

AMAZON

He was like a falling star that blinked out too soon. So bright and blinding in my life before he faded away. And here I was the fool who wanted to stand in the remnants of his glow.

This was such a bittersweet read because (1)Cash was one of my most anticipated MMCs but (2) his story marks the conclusion of the Moonlit Ridge series.

Now if you know anything about me, it’s that I love a tortured hero. And Cash is the epitome of that. This is a man who has lived through the worst tragedy and came out on the other side a different man. Once a high school football star golden boy, now he’s a recluse who has hidden his heart deep beneath his pain and demons. Until the past comes back in the shape of the one woman he could never forget.

Daisy was his childhood best friend who he hasn’t seen since the fateful night that everything changed. Now she’s back and begging him for help. On the run from her dangerous ex husband, she wants Cash to marry her, so that if anything were to happen to her, he can get guardianship of her three small children.

The story builds with bits and pieces of the past, seamlessly woven in to help the reader understand the road that brought Cash and Daisy to where they are today. And while I fell head over heels for Cash instantly, Daisy took a minute for me to connect to. Granted, timid FMCs aren’t generally my cuppa, but I just struggled with Daisy a bit more than expected. Especially so when we got the flashbacks of young Daisy. I felt for the shy girl she was in high school but I also hoped for more from the grown woman she became. She did grow on me by the end, but I just didn’t love her the way I hoped I would.

Much like everything AL Jackson writes, I absolutely love her voice. The lyrical and romantic whimsy that she weaves into her writing is absolutely dreamy, even when writing the most gritty of stories.

And I stood on the brink of bliss. Teetered on the edge. Before I tumbled right into it. Then I kissed my wife like I fucking meant it.

And the set up for the next series? OMG the way I need it. I can’t wait for Silas and his MC to get their stories.

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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Review: Bad Medicine by Kristen Ashley

December 17, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

 

BAD MEDICINE
Series: Avenging Angels #4
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 16, 2025

Willow Knightley has just been through it with her ex-mooch of a boyfriend. But sadly, he’s just the latest in a long string of men (starting at birth) who didn’t treat her right.

She decides her only recourse is to give up on men forever.

The problem is, her friend/acquaintance/one-time bodyguard, member of the Nightingale Investigations & Security team, Gabriel Stark, has targeted her as His One.

Gabe’s been through it at the hands of women too, so he knows exactly what he wants.

And he wants Willow.

Willow states her case against them being an us, but she doesn’t count on the fact that not only does Gabe love a challenge, he lives for them.

Up against an onslaught from a man who rinses his own whiskers out of the sink, Willow might not stand a chance.

But then, while the Angels are trying to figure out what’s got one of their informants very jittery, she gets a hint that there are demons in Gabe’s history, and she has to know.

The bets are on…

And luck favors a Stark.

AMAZON

You can lie to yourself,” he went on. “You can lie to me. You can fight this. Fuck, I want you to fight it. But we both know, you are not gonna win.”

No one, and I mean no one, writes an MMC quite like KA. Do they all mostly sound the same? Sure. Do I care? Not even a little. This woman has a formula that is downright addictive when it comes to her characters, and I will never get enough of it.

Bad Medicine was such a swoony read. I love when a man knows what he wants and goes after it with single minded intent. And when Gabe sets his sights on Willow, she has no hope in resisting. Though resist she tries. Willow hasn’t known a good man, though she knows what they look like, since she works with the hot commandos. Unfortunately for her, she always goes for the ones who don’t deserve her. And her most recent ex has her self esteem so far below gutter, she doesn’t know if she’ll ever date again. She wants to concentrate on herself and her business. But when the broody and handsome Gabe makes it know he wants to take it there with her, it’s too good to be true. And so she treats it as such, by pushing him away at every turn. But Gabe will have none of it. And being related to Luke Stark from Rock Chick Revenge, you know you’re in for a good time. Because those Starks don’t mess around when it comes to their women and getting what they want, or their protection. But I digress.

This was one of those stories that felt like a cozy warm blanket. There was no unnecessary drama, outside of the standard trouble the Angels find themselves in. There’s a good man who fights for his woman and the woman finally coming to realize her worth and fighting for it right along with him.

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