Review: Unholy Vows by Mila Kane

UNHOLY VOWS
Series: Original Sin Series #1
Author: 
Mila Kane
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Release Date: November 8, 2023

Forgive me father, for I’m about to sin…

Renato
 
We never should have met. She wandered like an innocent lamb into my world, and the door slammed shut behind her.
 
Leaving her alive and free was a risk no capo would take.
I’ll let her live, for a price.
Her freedom.
 
She isn’t what she seems, but it’s already too late.
I’m obsessed, and nothing, and no one will keep her from me.

A forced marriage, age gap dark mafia romance with a jealous, possessive Italian boss anti-hero and the feisty young nurse that wandered unwillingly into his dangerous world.

Unholy Vows is a standalone dark age-gap romance with a guaranteed HEA and no OWD.
 
This is a dark mafia romance and as such contains themes which some readers may find triggering. Please read with caution.

AMAZON

I don’t need or want a white knight to sweep in and take care of me.” A chuckle left me at that comparison. “I’m no white knight, Miss Burke, as I’m sure you realized last night. I’m the dragon who guards the maiden in the keep and will swallow you whole if you try to escape me.

I have a new addiction and it’s name is Mila Kane books. I’m a self proclaimed mafia romance connoisseur. But I’m also a picky sh*t and truly good mafia romance is hard to find. Either the heroine is insufferable, it’s shock value for the sake of shock value, or it’s not even remotely dark. But this one? This was deliciously dark, with an antihero who was to die for and a heroine who never lost an ounce of her fierceness or backbone. And this girl was so addicted that I’m immediately planning a binge of Mila’s mafia backlist. But I digress. Let’s talk about this book.

She was an intriguing mix of contradictions. Good and pure, and mercenary as hell.

Charlie has been taking care of her troublesome younger sister since losing their parents years ago. When she follows her sister and her new boyfriend, she lands in deeper trouble then she ever expected when they witness something that they never should have seen. Suddenly Charlie finds herself in the sighs of a devil of a man who’s as alluring as he is dangerous. Renato De Sanctis, King of Atlantic City, and the capo dei capi of New Jersey. And Rentato will take nothing less than her soul in exchange for not killing her sister and her for what they saw. Better yet, he’ll take her unwilling hand in marriage to keep her quiet. The pesky attraction to the man doesn’t stop her healthy fear, but it also makes it that much more fiery.

“Have you ever been properly fucked?”
“Are you asking me if I’m a virgin? I’m twenty-six.” “I’m not talking about a little piece of inconvenient skin. I didn’t ask if you’d ever been pawed by some sucker who was punching above his weight. I meant have you ever been fucked properly… Have you ever seen stars behind your eyes while some lucky bastard pumped his cum into you? Have you ever come so hard, you forgot how to talk… how to breathe?”
“You can’t expect me to answer that,” she muttered.
“I don’t need you to, bambina; it’s obvious. But don’t worry…We’ll remedy that soon enough.”

I loved the development their relationship goes through. Charlie doesn’t just fall into lust and forgets her whits. She knows that she made a deal with the devil and she doesn’t disillusion herself that he’s a good man.

“You tell me to let it go, and I don’t have to worry about paying the bills. Do you think seriously that’ll comfort me? A woman who has worked her entire life to be independent and free? You think I’ve just been waiting for a man like you to come along and save me?”
“I told you already that I’m no white knight, Charlotte. I’m the villain in your story, and no one is coming to cut you free from the belly of this beast. No one.”

Ren was everything I love in an anti hero. He’s dark, dangerous, and as possessive as he is protective. The story is fast paced and addictive. I binged on this story and can’t wait for more in this series.


I’m obsessed with cats, coffee, and anti-heroes just the right side of insane.

I write dark and dirty romance with the alpha-holes of your most filthy nightmares.

While I like my heroes obsessed and powerful, I like my heroines smart and independent. My headstrong, capable women will bring their own personal demons to their knees, and capture their hearts at the same time.

I only write SAFE stories, there is never a place for another woman in my heroes sights, once he’s caught the scent of the heroine, and there will always be, no matter how dark and twisted the story might be… a HEA guarantee xx

 

REVIEW: Heresy by Lily White

HERESY
Genre: Contemporary Romance Romance
Series: Antihero Inferno #4
Author: Lily White
Release Date: April 26, 2023

Sixth Circle
Heresy
Also Known as Shane Carter

There are no rules with this man.
No courtesies.
No acceptable behaviors he’ll conform to in order to be accepted.

He marches to his own beat.
Gives the finger to expectations.
And does whatever pleases him because nobody can control him.

Arrogant.
Aggravating.
Absolute Chaos.
Shane is the last person you want walking into your world.

It’s too bad he walked into mine.
Now I can’t get rid of him.
Not that I’m sure I want to.

He wants something from me.
He’s playing a game.
And every time we come together, I can’t help feeling like I’m dancing with the Devil.

It all started with a chance meeting.
With the exchange of a few angry words.
And now that I’m trapped in this man’s maze, I fear I won’t be strong enough to resist being seduced.

*** Each novel in the series depicts a unique romance, but the plots through each book connect in one world. For the best experience, read the series in order.

Nine Ruthless Men. Nine Unrepentant Sinners. Nine Irresistible Manipulators.

 AMAZON

 

In the Series (Kindle Unlimited)

Treachery (Book 1) – FREE APRIL 26-30, 2023

Series Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Fraud (Book 2)

Violence (Book 3)

 

I’ve known him for less than five minutes, and already I know I want nothing to do with him.

When I saw Lily announce that she’s back to writing, I was thrilled. When I saw that she’ll finally releasing book 4 in her Antihero Inferno, I was damn near rabid. So you best believe that I was on this book immediately after it hit my kindle. And while it’s over 500 pages, I devoured this in one sitting. And it was worth every painful second of the wait.

He truly is a drug, this man. A high so damn addicting that I’ll never recover if I lose him.

Now did I remember anything from the previous books? Absolutely not. So I did have to reread the last few chapters of Violence to jog my memory. So when I tell you that you need to read this series in order, believe me. As I’ve come to learn in the previous book, the author is ending us with her endings. This is a continuing story arc that you simply need to read in order to understand.

Heresy is Shane’s story. Shane was the bad boy that instantly caught my attention with his irreverent ways in Treachery. I was dying to meet the woman that would bring this playboy to his knees. And Brinley definitely delivered. This was a woman that was no pushover. Growing up, her private investigator father raised her to trust no one and always watch her back. As a grown woman desperately looking and whose father dissapeared, the last thing thing she needs is a complication in the form of Shane. What starts with barbs and banter when they randomly run into each other, soon turns to something else entirely when Shane realizes who she is. And then what he has to do to get answers that she holds to the Inferno’s plans.

As always, it was packed with a layer of suspense in along the steamy romance. And while we get a little satisfaction with the romantic HEA, the story leaves you with more questions than when you started. And the tease at the end for Damon’s book? BRING. IT. ON.

 

Lily White is a romance writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and Asylum. In addition to dark romance Lily writes contemporary romance, taboo romance, and psychological thrillers. Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

Social Media Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

REVIEW: The Kiss List by Maya Hughes

THE KISS LIST
Series:
STFU #1
Author: Maya Hughes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 3, 2022

If I were on fire, she’d break out the marshmallows.

It’s not that we don’t like each other, more like hate with the fury of a thousand suns. But it wasn’t always that way.

I still remember how her lips tasted. How they felt pressed against mine. How I wanted more.

How I still crave her. Our disastrous night together ended with her storming out, me wondering if I’d ever be able to show my face on campus again and us as bitter enemies.

When a campus competition is announced to find the most in love couple, she’s the last person I thought I’d turn to for help. But the prize could change both our lives. An internship for her and a chance to finally connect with my father. It’s too hard to resist. Just like her heated glares and tempting curves.

To win, we’ve got to prove to everyone we’re a couple. Head over heels, can’t keep our hands off each other in love. Fake the hell out of it for our chance at glory.

Maybe we’re a little too good at selling it to the whole campus because the lines haven’t just been blurred, they’ve gone up in flames.

Can I convince her I want us to be together for real and keep the prize? Or will I lose them both?

A Fulton U rivals standalone. Explore a whole new campus with the rivals in this enemies to lovers, fake relationship romance.

AMAZON

COMING SOON IN STFU SERIES

ADD BOOK 3  – EVERY LITTLE KISS – COMING SOON

GOODREADS https://bit.ly/EveryLittleKissSTFU

I wanted her. I craved her. I needed her.

The second these two appeared on the pages of Kiss and Tell I was itching to get my hands on their book. I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and antagonistic banter laden in sexual tension and these two had it in spades. I was dying to figure out their history, because clearly they had one. I was so excited for this book, so truth be told I wasn’t fully expecting to like it less than book one.

And though it took me a minute to really get into this story, the second we get the full truth of Cole’s secret, I was all in. Cole and Kennedy have history that turned in the matter of one night. Now they hate each other, though we don’t know why. I have to say kudos to the author for writing a subject matter that you won’t often find in romance, and doing so realistically. I really appreciate having a hero with faults like this simply because you don’t often see it. It was refreshingly different.

Kennedy took a bit to warm up to. She clearly has trauma from watching her parents volatile relationship and has let it define who she is when it comes to men. This is why she’s not interested in anything beyond a casual hookup.

The whole premise of the puppy love competition and fake dating to win it wasn’t my favorite, but it was cute. I loved watching these two fall for each other. This was really a solid four star read for me, until the last third of the book. To have these two fall apart for the same reason for the second time was just too much. It was over the top dramatics for me and took me out of the romance entirely. And while I loved Cole’s grand gesture, considering all of their issues, it wrapped up entirely too quick to be believable or satisfying.

The other thing is Coach Mikelson. At this point the man is basically a villainous caricature and I’m entirely over him. Honestly I was over him in book one, but to continue to have him as the main driving force of the drama in each book is tiresome at this point. I hope that we can move past this in book three, because if I have to keep reading about this man, I don’t think I’d be able to continue with the series. I love Maya Hughes books, and I adore her sports romance. I didn’t dislike this book, but I also didn’t love it either. It took me a few days to finish, and that’s telling in itself. Was it cute? Sure. Is it something I’d ever come back to? No.

 

Maya Hughes, that’s me!, can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I love writing stories that capture the possibilities of the paths less travelled and enjoy experiencing life through my characters’ eyes.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe, traveling with my family and Jeff Goldblum. 

AUTHOR LINKS 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mayahughes

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maya-hughes

 



 

Review: The Man From Sanctum by Lexi Blake

THE MAN FROM SANCTUM
Series:
Masters and Mercenaries: Reloaded Book 3
Genre: Romantic Suspense, BDSM
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date:
March 8, 2022

A painful past

Deke Murphy and Maddie Hall should never have worked as a couple in high school. She was the class valedictorian and he the jock who took nothing seriously…except her. Together they formed an amazing team, and young love blossomed into something that strengthened them both. Until tragedy struck and Deke made a sacrifice that split them up forever.

An unexpected reunion

Seventeen years later, Maddie is living her dream working for a brilliant tech guru in the beauty of Southern California. She’s made a life for herself and it’s first class all the way. She rarely thinks of the jock who dumped her all those years ago. But when Maddie realizes her boss might be part of an international conspiracy, she can’t deny Deke might be her best bet to solve the mystery. Her one-time sweetheart works for one of the world’s premiere security and investigative firms. She’ll hire him and prove to herself their relationship could never have worked.

A dangerous future

As Maddie and Deke begin to uncover her boss’s secrets, they can’t deny the chemistry that has reignited. But before they can explore the connection growing between them, they must survive the deadly forces hunting them down.

AMAZON

The girl he’d loved was now a woman in trouble. He wasn’t going to let her down. But she might not like how he did it.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: I will never get tired of this series. Doesn’t matter how many books or spin offs, it’s like book crack and I can’t get enough.

Deke Murphy is a character that didn’t fully catch my attention in this series if I’m honest. But if there’s one thing that Lexi is good at, it’s throwing out one hell of a hook at the end of her book. And the hook at the end of The Dom Identity? Let’s just say I was salivating. I love a good second chance romance.

Maddie and Deke were high school sweethearts. She was the brainy one with a golden future, and he was the sexy jock. Maddie thought she’d spend her life with him until he broke her heart and broke up with her so she’d pursue her dream in Yale. Now it’s twenty years later, and Deke is the only person who can help Maddie, who finds herself in a deadly situation. Her tech giant boss may be doing something that could be behind something dangerous, and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it.

Now I have to say I like a bit more tension and angst in my second chance, and this didn’t quite have that. Though, if you like pining heroes, this will do the trick nicely. Because Deke knows exactly what he lost and he’s determined not to make the same mistake twice. I loved his growth and maturity of his character. He owns his mistakes. He doesn’t go all caveman on Maddie, though he is super protective of her.

Maddie was one it took be a bit to warm up to. She’s someone who’s too smart for her own good types. Like she’s so busy looking at things from a black and white perspective, that she misses the little obvious things.

The suspense here is what ultimately stole the show for me. Who is Jane and what secret is she hiding? And holy shit, y’all! When the truth is revealed, my jaw was on the floor. I didn’t see it coming at all. And the set up for Drake’s book? DELICIOUS.

All in all, this one hit the spot nicely, though it wasn’t all the things I hoped. I got my Ian banter, and steamy BDSM with some high octane suspense, so it’s a win.

Review: Wait for Me by Tia Louise

WAIT FOR ME
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tia Louise
Release Date: December 17, 2019

Dear Taron,
I should have told you this a long time ago…

Dear Taron,
Is there a time-limit on forgiveness?
If there is, I haven’t reached it…

Dear Taron,
I still love you…

A letter never sent.
Heck, I never even finished it.

Taron Rhodes was my brother’s best friend.
He was sexy as sin.
But he was more than that…
He was ponytail-pulling, ice down your shirt teasing, throw you in the lake screaming…
Strong, tanned arms and blue-green eyes over a heart-stopping, naughty grin…
Did I mention his tight end?
I gave him my first real kiss, my heart, my everything.
I said I’d wait for him…

I’m still waiting, because Taron Rhodes is still the man of my dreams,
And I have a secret that has his blue-green eyes.

Noel LaGrange stole my heart when she was only eighteen —pushing me off a flatbed and calling me a city slicker.
Her brother Sawyer would kick my ass if he knew how many times we made out that summer, how close we got.

Everything changed when Sawyer and I joined the military.
We were honorably discharged, but I didn’t go to her.
Instead, I went back to the city… where no amount of money, no amount of pills can heal this wound.
Only her whiskey eyes and dark hair, her slim arms and her sweet scent, give me hope.
I broke her heart just as surely as I broke mine, but I’m going back to make it right.
If she’s still waiting…

(WAIT FOR ME is a STAND-ALONE small-town, second-chance romance with a guaranteed HEA. No cheating. No cliffhangers.)

AMAZON

Heaven is finding the thing you can’t live without and being able to hold it. Hell is knowing you’ll have to let it go.

I love an emotional second chance romance, and when I read the blurb to this book, I was immediately hooked. Tia knows how to pack one heck of an emotional punch in her writing, so I knew I was in for plenty of feels.

Wait For Me is told in two halves; the first half telling the sweet and steamy story of Taron and Noel meeting and falling in love. Taron is best friends with Noel’s older brother and finds himself in their small town in the short interim before he takes off for the Marines. Noel is eighteen years old but really has an old soul to her. It doesn’t take long for these two to fall head over heels with Noel promising to wait for Taron. But unfortunately fate has other plans for them, and as beautifully as things first came together for them, they fall apart in a devastating and fiery crash.

As much as I loved the premise of the story and both Taron and Noel, I found myself wishing parts of both the first and second half were further fleshed out. I couldn’t help but feel like I was getting a very surface level of what this story could have been. I loved the first half of this book, but also wished for Taron’s characterization to take me a little deeper. Yes, they’re both young, and I can totally buy into their quick connection because of it. But I also wanted more. I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly, but something felt missing.

The second half is ultimately where it really fell short for me, though. The story moved quickly and I wanted parts to be more fleshed out; Taron’s issues being the epicenter of this. I felt like this was really just grazed over and couldn’t help but wish we got a deeper dive into what he went through. The second half of the story ultimately felt rushed and too quick paced. I wished it were flipped and we got to spend more time with them in the present rather than their past. This was such an emotional and touching part of their story, that I really wanted more from it. Ultimately, I still really enjoyed this story that still delivered on the emotional punch I was hoping for. There was plenty of steam and feels to make it for a page turning read.

Spotlight: Fall of Legend by Meghan March

THE FALL OF LEGEND
Series:
Legend Trilogy #1
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Author:
Meghan March
Release Date:
November 12, 2019

From New York Times bestselling author Meghan March comes a new deliciously dangerous alpha hero in The Fall of Legend, the first book in the brand new and utterly addictive Legend trilogy.

We come from two different worlds.

I’m from the streets. She might as well live in an ivory tower.

I made my living with my fists. I doubt she could even throw a punch.

Our paths never should have crossed.

We never should have met.

That doesn’t change the facts.

I would sell my soul to taste those red lips.

Fight the devil himself to hear her laugh.

Burn in hell to have a single night.

Scarlett Priest shouldn’t even know men like me exist, but sometimes temptation is stronger than will.

If this is how I go down, it’ll be worth every second of the fall.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY


Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.

Sign up for Meghan’s newsletter and receive exclusive content that she saves for her subscribers:
 http://meghanmarch.com/subscribe

To get the inside scoop on a daily basis, search Meghan March’s Runaway Readers on Facebook and join the fun!

FACEBOOKWEBSITE | INSTAGRAMAMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

Review: Good Guy by Kate Meader

GOOD GUY
Series: Rookie Rebels #1
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Kate Meader
Release Date: July 30, 2019


He’s a Special Forces veteran making his pro hockey debut. She’s a dogged sports reporter determined to get a scoop. She’s also his best friend’s widow…

Fans can’t get enough of Levi Hunt, the Special Forces veteran who put his NHL career on hold to serve his country and fight the bad guys. So when his new Chicago Rebels bosses tell him to cooperate with the press on a profile, he’s ready to do his duty. Until he finds out who he has to work with: flame-haired, freckle-splashed, impossibly perky Jordan Cooke.

The woman he should not have kissed the night she buried her husband, Levi’s best friend in the service.

Hockey-stick-up-his-butt-serious Levi Hunt might despise Jordan for reasons she can’t fathom—okay, it’s to do with kissing—but her future in the cutthroat world of sports reporting hangs on delivering the goods on the league’s hottest, grumpiest rookie. So what if he’s not interested in having his life plated up for public consumption. Too bad. Jordan will have to play dirty to get her scoop and even dirtier to get her man. Only in winning the story, she might just lose her heart…

AMAZON

he was head over skates for her.

I adored Kate’s Chicago Rebels books and was super bummed to see that series come to an end. It became my go-to when I wanted a fun and sexy hockey romance. So when I saw that she’s writing a spin-off series I jumped on it quicker than you can say “puck”. What? Too cheesy? Whatever. You get what I’m saying here, ok?! But whatever. I digress. My point here is I was uber excited for a brand new sports series from one of my favorite authors. Plus have you SEEN that book blurb? Talk about your book crack.

I just so happen to love the broody grumps. And just when I thought no grump could out grump Bren St. James from Hooked On You, in skates Levi Hunt. The man was the most endearing grump I’ve read in a while. The man is a retired veteran, a Green Beret with battle scars and a heart of gold. With his military career behind him, he’s now become hockey’s oldest rookie. And just when he thinks he’s finally got things together, a blast from his past blows it all out of the water.

Jordan is a sports reporter that’s working her tail off in order to prove that a woman is just as deserving of a coveted reporting spot as a man. So when she sees a chance to use her history with Levi as an in to get the chance she’s been waiting for in her career, she’s not above using it. Jordan also happens to be the widow of Levi’s service teammate and best friend. But worse than that she’s always been the woman he coveted from afar but never allowed himself to get. At first she was his buddy’s wife and then she was his widow, so she’s always been hands off.

Levi wasn’t hard to love. The man just tugs at every heart string you have. And the more you learn about his connection with Jordan and peel back the grumpy layers, the more you fall for him. Jordan, admittedly, was a little harder to love. While I love that the relationship with her husband was never diminished, I also struggled with seeing her as a widow. She loved her husband, yes, but I struggled to feel that connection to her. And yes, it’s been 5 years since the loss, but I just never felt that grieving for her. Perhaps that makes it easier to see her move on, but I wished that I got little more emotion from her. She seemed almost standoffish to me at times. And I get that she put her career on the backseat for her husband’s military career those years ago, she was almost a little too…hard…with her career aspirations here. She reminded me a little bit of Harper when it came to how hard she was in order to prove herself, but I just had a tough time connecting to her. She did ultimately win me over, but it did take some time.

If you’ve read the Rebels series, you’ll definitely appreciate all of the cameos in this book. And if you haven’t, I highly recommend you check it out.

Good Guy was a sweet romance that shined a spotlight on several issues like gender inequality in sports, which I really enjoyed. And though the story wasn’t my favorite of Kate’s, it definitely did the trick of hooking me on a new series.

New & Upcoming Releases: May 6-9

New releases coming at ya this week!


AVAILABLE NOW


HE’S A BRUTE by Chloe Liese

One dark and handsome control-freak sports star meets one smarty pants bioengineer with hair to match her fiery temper. It’s an experiment straight out of sexual thermodynamics.

Every good scientist knows the second law of thermodynamics: the universe’s disorder, entropy, is always increasing. Professionally and personally speaking, Nairne’s familiar with the principle. After a streak of costly fame, now she’s set on saving the world, microscope in hand, and there’s no time for romance. Problem is, when a rude, despicably sexy Adonis shows up to run their board meeting, chemistry and its ensuing chaos become more than a formula—now they’re a burning hot reality.

Mafia prince. Professional footballer. Bad boy demeanor and a reputation for being as talented between the sheets as he is on the pitch. Rumors are the man’s an absolute brute. And he turns out to be just as demanding, controlling and vicious in person as he is on paper. The Law of Attraction’s proven true, as Nairne finds herself accepting Zed’s proposal: rough, wild stress release, more orgasms than she can count, and most importantly—no falling in love.

Agreement in place. End date secured.

No attachments. No forever.

What could possibly go wrong?

Book One in the Tough Love Series—an enemies to lovers, suspenseful romance, full of sexy Italians, bedroom negotiations, feisty heroines, and an ending that’ll both satisfy you and leave you ready for more!


REVERB by Ana Zabo

The tougher they are, the harder they fall.

Twisted Wishes bass player Mish Sullivan is a rock goddess—gorgeous, sexy and comfortable in the spotlight. With fame comes unwanted attention, though: a stalker is desperate to get close. Mish can fend for herself, just as she always has. But after an attack lands her in the hospital, the band reacts, sticking her with a bodyguard she doesn’t need or want.

David Altet has an instant connection with Mish. A certified badass, this ex-army martial arts expert can take down a man twice his size. But nothing—not living as a trans man, not his intensive military training—prepared him for the challenge of Mish. Sex with her is a distraction neither of them can afford, yet the hot, kink-filled nights keep coming.

When Mish’s stalker ups his game, David must make a choice—lover or bodyguard. He’d rather have Mish alive than in his bed. But Mish wants David, and no one, especially not a stalker, will force her to give him up.

This book is approximately 105,000 words


THE DATING PROPOSAL by Lauren Blakely

Watch out world — I’m ready to date again.
The seven years I invested in my ex left me with nothing but scorch marks from the way he peeled out and left me at the altar. I’m not looking to put my heart into a relationship any time soon. But getting back out there? That sounds like a helluva good idea to get my groove back.

Then I bump into Chris….Clever and funny, with a sexy surfer’s bod and a brilliant nerd brain, he has just the right screwdriver to fix my hard drive. (Yes, the one for my computer.) I wouldn’t mind dating him. The trouble is he just proposed to me–to be the new dating guru on his TV show–and now he’s my new business partner.

What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?

Note: Back in the day, I wrote a book called TROPHY HUSBAND, and though it’s no longer available for sale, the characters of Chris and McKenna seemed to demand another chance in the spotlight. THE DATING PROPOSAL is a complete reimagining of their romance, with 85 percent brand-new material, a fresh plot, and vastly expanded characterizations so you can come to know and love Chris and McKenna like I do. Enjoy!


THE BOYFRIEND BARGAIN by Ilsa Madden Mills

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you take a chance on love.

Special Release Day Price

Wanted: one hot guy with rock-hard abs and a big stick.

Broke and desperate, Sugar Ryan has no use for arrogant, bad-boy athletes…until she’s forced to bargain with the cockiest of them all.

If only he knew she was alive.

Her mission? Get on this hockey player’s radar any way possible.

Zack Morgan is the king of the ice and the bedroom, but nothing prepares him for the mystery girl who shows up everywhere he does—frat parties, his favorite bar, and finally his front door with an offer he can’t refuse. The only rule in her boyfriend bargain: no falling in love.

But after one (um, two) smoking-hot hookups, he’s done with pretending and vows to make their fake relationship real. Too bad she can’t trust a player with a reputation for breaking hearts.

Will this hockey star score his forever girl, or will this boyfriend bargain end in heartbreak?

“Who can turn down a bad boy hockey star with a big . . . stick? Zack is hot hot hot, and Sugar is the perfect blend of sweet and sassy! Their chemistry sizzles in Boyfriend Bargain!” ~Melanie Harlow, USA Today bestselling author⁣


RELEASING MAY 7


TOP SECRET by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

 

Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male / Male romance in 3 years.

LobsterShorts, 21
Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.

SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.

LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?

SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?

LobsterShorts: [crickets!]

SinnerThree, 21
Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?

LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.

SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries…

LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?

SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.

LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing…

Q&A about Top Secret:

Q: Have we met these characters before in another book?
A: No! These guys are brand new, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.

Q: Is this story MM? Or is it a MMF / MFM / menage?
A: This book is MM.

Q: Is this a love triangle story?
A: Not really. You’ll see.


THEN CAME YOU by Kate Meader

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love?
 
“I love Kate Meader’s books!”—Kelly Jamieson

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships.

The woman I used to call . . . wife.

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln.

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammy, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.

A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.”

Kate Meader’s super-sexy Laws of Attraction novels can be read together or separately:
DOWN WITH LOVE • ILLEGALLY YOURS • THEN CAME YOU

This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.


THINGS WE NEVER SAID by Samantha Young

The New York Times Bestselling author of Every Little Thing returns to Hart’s Boardwalk in this searing and emotional new standalone romance…

Local metalsmith and gift shop owner, Dahlia McGuire, likes her quiet life in Hartwell, Delaware. It’s the perfect place to hide from her family and the tragic events that led to their estrangement. However, when her father, the person she loves most in the world, needs her Dahlia has no choice but to return to Boston to face her ghosts. One of those happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Michael Sullivan. The man she was never supposed to fall in love with.

Michael Sullivan has never forgotten Dahlia McGuire. Some might say he’s never gotten over her. For years he lived with the anger of her desertion, and now, newly-divorced, he’s finally ready to move on. That proves impossible when Dahlia returns to Boston and reawakens their explosive connection. Despite everything, Michael wants her back, but Dahlia can’t seem to let go of the tangled emotions of the past. When she flees home to Hartwell, Michael follows, determined to do everything in his power to convince her they belong together.

However, when the unthinkable hits the quiet seaside town, Michael finds himself trying to unravel more than the mystery of Dahlia’s broken heart. It’s time for truths left unsaid to finally be spoken or Michael and Dahlia might find themselves torn apart forever…


TIGHTROPE by Amanda Quick

An unconventional woman and a man shrouded in mystery walk a tightrope of desire as they race against a killer to find a top secret invention in this novel from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick.

Former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn moved to Burning Cove to reinvent herself, but things are not going well. After spending her entire inheritance on a mansion with the intention of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast, she learns too late that the villa is said to be cursed. When the first guest, Dr. Norman Pickwell, is murdered by his robot invention during a sold-out demonstration, rumors circulate that the curse is real.

In the chaotic aftermath of the spectacle, Amalie watches as a stranger from the audience disappears behind the curtain. When Matthias Jones reappears, he is slipping a gun into a concealed holster. It looks like the gossip that is swirling around him is true—Matthias evidently does have connections to the criminal underworld.

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.


ASK ME ANTHING by Molly E. Lee

“Edgy and smart with a sweet and sexy core.” —Rachel Harris, New York Timesbestselling author of Eyes on Me

I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

But Wilmont Academy’s been living in the Dark Ages when it comes to sex ed, and someone had to take matters into her own hands. Well, I’m a kick-ass coder, so I created a totally anonymous, totally untraceable blog where teens can come to get real, honest, nothing-is-off-limits sex advice.

And holy hell, the site went viral—and we’re talking way beyond Wilmont—overnight. Who knew this town was so hard up?

Except now the school administration is trying to shut me down, and they’ve forced Dean—my coding crush, aka the hottest guy in school—to try to uncover who I am. If he discovers my secret, I’ll lose him forever. And thousands of teens who need real advice won’t have anyone to turn to.

Ask me anything…except how to make things right.


ONLY EVER HER by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

It was to be the perfect wedding—until the bride disappeared.

Annie Taft’s wedding is four days away, and it will be one of the grandest anyone can remember in her small South Carolina town.

Preparations are in order.

Friends and family are gathering in anticipation.

Everything is going according to plan.

Except that Annie herself has vanished.

Did she have second thoughts? Or has something much worse happened to the bride-to-be?

While her loved ones frantically try to track her down, they’re forced to grapple with their own secrets—secrets with the power to reframe entire relationships, leaving each to wonder how well they really knew Annie and how well they know themselves.


HOPE AND OTHER PUNCH LINES by Julie Buxbaum

The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Nextdelivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.

Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.

Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka “Baby Hope”) wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.

Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She’s psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.

Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it’s a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?


BETTER THAN ME by Kimberly Kincaid

 

Remington’s most notoriously single,
notoriously sexy
surgeon is about to fall for the one woman he can’t have…

Did I mention that she’s
A) his best friend
B) immune to his panty-melting charm, and
C) sleeping on his couch for the next six weeks?

But Jonah’s not made for commitment,
and a good man is the one thing Natalie deserves.
Not someone who can only offer up a couple of sizzling hot, no-strings-attached nights
of pure pleasure.

Unless that’s what she wants.

Because Jonah wants her. And with each
moment they spend working together–
living together– the harder it is to resist temptation.

And even harder to resist the fall that
might break them both…


A steamy medical contemporary romance from USA Today best-selling author Kimberly Kincaid. Watch this cocky hero fall head over scalpel for his sweet and sexy BFF. Full-length standalone story with action in the emergency room and the bedroom, and a sweet-and-sexy happily ever after.


THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart…

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.


THAT SECOND CHANCE by Meghan Quinn

USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn delivers a smart and cheeky romance about love’s power to lift hearts . . . and curses.

It was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after all . . .

But it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love curse. Ha!”

Boy, was I wrong.

Word spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.

It would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.

Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?


AGAIN, BUT BETTER by Christine Riccio

From one of the most followed booktubers today, comes Again, but Better, a story about second chances, discovering yourself, and being brave enough to try again.

Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal — but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that?

Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change — there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure!

Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart.

Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic – the possibilities are endless.


HOT TO THE TOUCH by Jaci Burton

Love burns white-hot in this first scorching romance in an all-new trilogy about a family of firefighters from the New York Times bestselling author of the Play-by-Play novels and the Hope series.

Firefighter Jackson Donovan doesn’t look back—as a rule. So when his past comes roaring back to life in the form of not-so-damsel-in-distress Becks Benning, the last thing he wants to do is relive old times. No matter how tempting she makes it seem…

Now thanks to his two interfering brothers, Becks is living with them while she looks for a new place and tries to pick up the pieces of her tattoo business that went up in flames. Which means a grown up, smokin’ hot Becks is in his house, sharing meals, and digging up old wounds. And despite his better judgement, the more time he spends with this smart, artistic, incredible woman the more he wants her in his bed—and his future.

Becks always had it bad for Jackson. Unfortunately for her, not much has changed–he’s still honorable, hard-working, sexy as sin—and closed off. But there’s more than one way to get to a man’s heart and if Jackson doesn’t want to recall old memories, she’ll just have to help him make new ones. Because now that she’s found Jackson again, she’s not letting him go.


STORM CURSED by Patricia Briggs

In this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves…

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter.

And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe.  As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word.

We will die to keep it.


BAD SAINT by Monica James

I was kidnapped on my honeymoon by three masked men.

Blindfolded.
Bound.
Destination unknown.

I was told to stay silent and abide by their rules. But they didn’t realize I wasn’t a victim…not anymore.

The open sea was my backdrop for nine torturous days. During that time, glimmers of my fate were revealed by a man with the mysterious chartreuse-colored eyes. He should have scared me, but he didn’t.

He intrigued me. And I intrigued him.

He punished me when I didn’t listen, which was every single day. But beneath his cruelty, I sensed he was guarding a grave secret.

I was sold.
And in a game of poker, no less.

My buyer? A Russian mobster who likes to collect pretty things. Now that I know the truth, I only have one choice.

Sink or swim.

And when one fateful night presents me the opportunity, I take it. I just never anticipated my actions would leave me shipwrecked with my kidnapper.

He needs me alive. I want him dead.

But as days turn into weeks, one thing becomes clear—I should hate him…but I don’t.

My name is Willow.
His name is Saint.

Ironic, isn’t it? He bears a name that denotes nothing but holiness yet delivers nothing but hell. However, if this is hell on earth…God, save my soul.

**BAD SAINT is a DARK ROMANCE containing mature themes that might make some readers uncomfortable. It includes: kidnapping, captivity, strong violence, mild language, and some dark and disturbing scenes.
This twisted tale is not intended for the fainthearted. So, if you’re game…welcome to the madness.


SWEET HOME LOUISIANA by Erin Nicholas

A sexy, small town, second chance rom com! 

Thanks to a drawn-up-while-drinking-moonshine partnership agreement, Madison Allain has to spend thirty days back on the bayou before she can sell her part of the family business.

And if the heat and humidity and freaking alligators of Louisiana aren’t enough to agitate the cool and in-control California girl, then Owen Landry, the equally hot guy who stole her heart twelve years ago, will sure do the trick.

Owen just has to remember three simple-ish rules: Do not fight with her. Do not fight overher. Do not kiss her. He can do this. He’s charming and friendly for a living after all. But this is Maddie. The only woman to ever shake up this laid-back bayou boy.

Besides, she’s not staying. No way. These people and this town make her crazy. She doesn’t want to be crazy. She definitely does not want to own a swamp boat tour company. She just wants to paint. In her quiet, beautiful, alligators-not-allowed, air-conditioned art studio.

As for that hot bayou boy? Well, he’s…amazing. But he belongs here in the South. And she definitely doesn’t. Even if her heart stays behind when she leaves.


BEAUTIFUL EVER AFTER by Georgia Cates

Everything in my life has changed.
This woman, my paid companion, has turned my world upside down
… while making it right for the first time ever.

We were brought together by need.
Hers was money.
Mine was companionship. And sex.

Caitriona Louden gave me the girlfriend experience.
All of it.
And now she’s gone.

I’m not supposed to miss her.
I’m not supposed to love her.
But I do. Both.

Our contract expired, and she walked away.
Now my world is falling apart without her in it.
Because she is my everything.

A fairy-tale romance.
It’s ours to have.
And this woman I’ve come to love so dearly is my beautiful ever after.


CODE NAME: GENESIS by Sawyer Bennett

Years ago, they were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and he was the devilishly handsome security professional hired to keep her safe. They fell hard and fast, no matter how they tried to resist one another. But not everyone around them was happy about their relationship, and a string of lies and deceit destroyed what they once had.

Having just taken the helm of a nationally renowned protective services company, Kynan McGrath is looking to rebrand and revamp his career. The newly crowned Jameson Force Security is moving from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to the mountainous steel town of Pittsburgh, and the last thing Kynan has time for is to deal with his past.

More than a decade has passed since their split, but even a bruised and battered heart remembers its first love. So when Joslyn Meyers comes to him for help, Kynan reluctantly agrees to keep her safe from a terrifying stalker who keeps threatening her life.

As the danger they face continues to intensify, Kynan realizes he’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman who turned her back on him all those years ago. Because one thing is certain—no matter how hard he tries to convince himself otherwise, Joslyn still has his heart.


THE COWBOY AND HIS BABY by Jessica Clare

From New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare comes a contemporary Western romance about a cowboy who is in for the ride of his life…. 

Dustin is a ranch hand with a reputation around town as a ladies’ man. He loves flirting and the thrill of the chase. When he tilts his cowboy hat just so, no one can resist his charms. It’s all fun and games for Dustin until he meets a woman who sparks real feelings in him, and he’s blindsided by love.

Annie is an animal trainer working on set for a film. Other than her furry, canine coworkers, she hasn’t connected with the rest of the movie’s crew. It’s only when a certain cowboy catches her eye that Wyoming becomes interesting. She intends for their romance to be a fling, but by the time filming wraps up, she’s unexpectedly pregnant.

While Annie is prepared to walk away and raise her baby by herself, Dustin isn’t so ready to say good-bye. He has to prove to Annie that she has a future in Wyoming and capture her heart before it’s too late….

DANCE WITH ME by Kristen Proby

From New York Times Bestselling Author Kristen Proby comes an all-new novel in her beloved With Me In Seattle Series, Dance With Me.

Starla. Just Starla.

She doesn’t have a last name, and she doesn’t need one. Not with that many Grammys on her mantel. Everyone knows her kick-ass, no-holds-barred style of singing, dancing, and living.

No one knows that America’s Sweetheart is still living with the wreckage of four years ago, when her world was torn apart. Losing her fiancé was devastating, but she’s channeled all of that into her music. Closing off her heart opened a hundred new doors.

Officer Levi Crawford, Seattle PD.

For almost twenty years, Levi has been consumed by the law. He eats, sleeps, and breathes work. Not just because he’s a workaholic, but because he loves it. Sure, he doesn’t have time for a woman and barely sees the rest of his family, but it’s a trade he’s always been happy to make.

Until Starla.

Two lonely hearts could learn to beat again, if they’re willing to dance together.


PRIDE, PREJUDICE, AND OTHER FLAVORS by Sonali Dev

Award-winning author Sonali Dev launches a new series about the Rajes, an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty, who have built their lives in San Francisco…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

·       Never trust an outsider

·       Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations

·       And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life.

As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with…

A family trying to build home in a new land.

A man who has never felt at home anywhere.

And a choice to be made between the two.


NO LONGER LOST by Angel Payne & Victoria Blue

Lost…

Lovesick has never been in my vocabulary, but now that Maclain Stone has entered my world, I’m practically dying of heartache. And there’s nobody to blame but myself. But his brushoff has made me never want to see his sexy, smug face again.
When a stalker forces me from my home and lands me on Mac’s front door—and into the warmth of his bed—I can’t avoid the truth any longer. I’m in love with him. I need him. I’m lost without him…

Found…

What the hell was I thinking, falling in love with a stubborn spitfire like Taylor Mathews? For the first time in my life, a woman is driving me insane with need. If I can win her back, I vow to never let her out of my sight again.

Though it takes the threat of a maniac to drive her into my arms, I’m not letting opportunity pass me by, and everyone needs to learn this woman is mine—especially the woman herself. Without each other, we’re nothing. But together…

We’re no longer lost.


BOSS by WS Greer

I was never supposed to be anything special. Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, I was supposed to know my place, and grow up to be absolutely nothing. But what they never knew was that I’ve always been special, just not in the way the world defines the word.
I’m special because I’m more ambitious than them. I’m smarter, and much more violent. When you add it all up, you get a man who’s capable of creating something out of nothing… a brand new mafia family right in the heart of New York. They have no idea what I’m willing to do, or how far I’m willing to go to make my family unstoppable.

I don’t care which Italian mob family thinks they run this city. Their rules don’t apply to me. Tell me I can’t take over this borough, I’ll take it. Tell me I can’t overpower the mafia, I’ll crush them. Tell me I can’t touch a mob boss’s daughter, and I’m gonna touch her up-and-down with my hands and tongue until she screams she belongs to me loud enough for her father to hear, and then the two of us are going to bring the entire structure of things crashing down around our enemies. She’ll be my Bonnie, and I’ll be the baddest Clyde the world has ever seen.

They say we’re angry for how we’ve been treated. Well, she and I are smart enough to know that if you get angry enough, and you harness your emotions just right, you get two things: passionate love, and a wildfire hot enough to burn down everything that ever held you back. This time, two wrongs will make it right.

*Due to graphic scenes and sexual scenarios, this book is recommended for readers 18+.*


BECAUSE HE’S PERFECT

Because He’s Perfect is a charity anthology with all proceeds being donated to the Movember Foundation. Twenty-one authors ranging from first time writers to long-term storytellers, seek to dispel all the myths from the romance world about what a perfect hero should be. Emotional or physical disabilities and illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of; in fact they can make a man. With the inclusion of a poignantly emotional foreword by NYT best-selling author, Carrie Ann Ryan, this anthology will take you on a journey through comedic laughs, sweet contemporary romance, and into the world of darkness and bizarre.

Joining the authors on their quest are one graphic artist, two photographers, and two models donating their time and efforts to this project, which has inspired all involved.
We hope you will enjoy what you read, ‘Because He’s Perfect’.

Foreword – Carrie Ann Ryan
Authors:
Alice La Roux
Ally Vance
Anna Blakely
Anna Edwards
Claire Marta
Dani René
Danielle Dickson
Elle Boon
Jo-Anne Joseph
KA Sands
KL Humphreys
Lexi C Foss
Lexxie Couper
Maria Macdonald
Morgan Campbell
Murphy Wallace
Renee Harless
Samantha Lewis
Tracie Delaney
Victoria L. James


DOWNWARD DOG by Alana Albertson

You’ve followed my Instagram, you’ve watched my sex tape, you think you know all about me.

I’m Kira Morgan. Yoga instructor to the stars turned tabloid kicking toy. I lost everything when the sex tape with my ex-boyfriend was leaked to the press by his shady best friend. Producers on my television show fired me, my boyfriend left me, and my reputation had gone to the dogs. Only my rescue beagle Lady has remained loyal to me.

When I meet Britain’s bad boy Prince Henry, I refuse to give him the time of the day. It doesn’t matter that he’s gorgeous, charming, compassionate, and rich. I won’t get involved in a high-profile relationship. All I want is my privacy.

But when he asks me to teach yoga at his charity fundraiser, I agree. All the money will go to save dogs, like my Lady, from laboratories.

One week and I never have to see this handsome, dirty-talking prince again.

I don’t want his diamond ring but I’m happy to play with his royal jewels.

I may want him but I can never be part of his life.


RELEASING MAY 8


BECAUSE OF YOU by Jenika Snow

THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN AUDIO ON THE READ ME ROMANCE PODCAST.

Listen for FREE here:

iTunes – > geni.us/A888vRA
Google Play -> geni.us/7lB4UBK
Website – > readmeromance.com

It started with a kiss.

It shouldn’t have led to anything more because of what we were to each other.

But I loved him, even if he was my stepbrother.

He was called a bad boy, a degenerate, and was rough and raw in every male way that counted.

But I loved him still.
And that one night, those taboo touches, the softly, filthily spoken words he whispered changed my life forever.

He gave me his baby.
Before I had a chance to tell him, he was sent away, ripped from my life and leaving this open wound.

But I waited for him.

A year has passed and now he’s back, wanting us to start where we left off.
And I want that, but I can’t hide the truth anymore. He has to know this baby is his.

Warning: It’s sweet. It’s dirty. It features a hero that will do anything to be with the girl he loves. A secret baby romance that gives you all the swoons but doesn’t leave you hanging! Includes an all-new, never-before published epilogue to wrap everything up in a perfect HEA.


RELEASING MAY 9


INSPIRED by Jessica Florence

Call it pure desperation, or maybe we’d agree it was the lack of sleep that had me signing six weeks of my life away to be bossed around by a life coach. Either way, I was trying to get my life together, and Logan Woodland was going to help.

I thought he’d make me eat healthier, drink more water, and do yoga. What I wasn’t expecting, was to be forced to see myself as I was and how far I’d fallen.

But then his program worked.

He’d shown me a life filled with passion and desire. A life where I was stronger and could be the woman I’d never known existed inside me.

I did have a six-week life-changing experience, but now, I wanted more than I’d signed on for.

Him.


UNATTAINABLE by Jamie Schlosser

The last person I expected to see on this tropical island is my ex.

 

Although, since I never actually broke up with her, isn’t she technically still my girlfriend?

Yeah, I’ve got some explaining to do.

And groveling.

Probably some begging, too.

Good thing we’re stuck at this resort together for the next three weeks.

Corrine Harper is the only girl I’ve ever wanted, and I won’t let her slip through my fingers again.

They call me Aiden the unattainable.

Consider me attained.


SCORING WITH THE BOSS by Delancey Stewart

Mr. Match has the formula for love. So why is he still single?

MAX:

Being Mr. Match has been fun. And while it’s nice that thousands of couples have found love thanks to me, that was never really the point. The one guy I most wanted to match?

Doesn’t have one.

Now the vultures are circling, and it won’t be long before all of San Diego finds out exactly who I am. And then the questions will begin. Why hasn’t Mr. Match found his match?

If I answer that one, it’ll discredit everything Mr. Match is, and call into question all the matches I’ve made so far. It’s time to step away.

But when the venture capital analyst arrives to help divest me of the business, I’m starting to wonder if love really is as easy as a mathematical formula. Because Tatum Archer does something to me that defies logic and confounds reason. I feel feelings for her, even though the algorithm says I shouldn’t.

Have I been wrong all along?

TATUM:

My life was set. Divorce, check. Kickass job, check. Enormous dog… well, okay, that wasn’t part of the plan, but Charlie is my sidekick now and I’m okay with that.

A weeklong trip to San Diego to help set up the sale of a matchmaking business sounds like just the kind of challenge I thrive on. I just didn’t expect Mr. Match himself to be quite so…

Arrogant.

Frustrating.

or HOT.

When my manager suggests I take over the company and stay in San Diego temporarily, it makes perfect sense from a business perspective. But getting involved with a client would be the end of everything I’d spent years building.

We have to keep things professional. Max assures me we’re not a match anyway.

So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?

* * *

Tatum Archer doesn’t date clients, and Max isn’t signing up for a romantic liaison that hasn’t been mathematically guaranteed. 

So why can’t he stop thinking about Tatum? Or about her ridiculously enormous dog, Charlie? Not that he’s thinking about Charlie romantically, of course. But the dog is part of a package deal. And maybe he’s thinking about Tatum a little bit romantically…

The final book in the Mr. Match series see Mr. Match finally find his own match! Don’t miss the laughs in this hilarious series finale!


FIX ME UP, COWBOY by Stina Lindenblatt

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the sexiest cowboy of them all…

As a Beverly Hills princess, I prefer Egyptian sheets, designer labels, and shopping on Rodeo Drive.

Cleaning stables? Definitely not my thing.

After my great-aunt dies, I volunteer to go to Copper Creek, Montana to tie up loose ends and put the house she willed me on the market.

The last thing I expect to find is irritating, yet sexier-than-sin Noah Daniels.

***
Nine years ago, I left town only to return with a broken heart, a love for restoring vintage cars, and the plan to never leave Copper Creek again.

When hotter-than-hell Kate Snow decides to fix up her great aunt’s house, turning down her offer isn’t an option. She needs the extra hands so she can meet her deadline.

And I need the extra cash.

But the job comes with additional perks: Hanging out with Kate. Teaching her about horses.

The mind-blowing sex with her.

What I haven’t planned on is for my heart to be a willing part of the deal—a deal that could result in Kate landing her dream job. In Beverly Hills.


MARRIAGE FOR ONE by Ella Maise – buy link TBA

Jack and I, we did everything backward. The day he lured me into his office-which was also the first day we met-he proposed. You’d think a guy who looked like him-a bit cold maybe, but still striking and very unattainable-would only ask the love of his life to marry him, right? You’d think he must be madly in love.

Nope. It was me he asked. A complete stranger who had never even heard of him. A stranger who had been dumped by her fiancé only weeks before. You’d think I’d laugh in his face, call him insane-and a few other names-then walk away as quickly as possible. Well…I did all those things except the walking away part.

It took him only minutes to talk me into a business deal…erm, I mean marriage, and only days for us to officially tie the knot. Happiest day of my life. Magical. Pop the champagne… Not. It was the worst day. Jack Hawthorne was nothing like what I’d imagined for myself.
I blamed him for my lapse in judgment. I blamed his eyes, the ocean blue eyes that looked straight into mine unapologetically, and that frown on his face I had no idea I would become so fascinated with in time.

It wasn’t long after he said I was the biggest mistake of his life that things started to change. No, he still didn’t talk much, but anyone can string a few words together. His actions spoke the loudest to me. And day after day my heart started to get a mind of its own.

One second he was no one. The next he became everything.
One second he was unattainable. The next he seemed to be completely mine.
One second I thought we were in love. The next it was still nothing but a lie.

After all, I was Rose and he was Jack. We were doomed from the very beginning with those names. Did you expect anything else?


SOMETHING THAT COULD LAST by Ashley Cade- buy link TBA

They say opposites attract. I never believed that until I met Abby.

I was an Ivy League student, the eldest son of an affluent family, living a life of luxury and rubbing elbows with D.C.’s elite. Sounds great, right? Too bad prestige comes with a price.

When the expectations became too much, I decided to escape to the hills of West Virginia with my best friend for a summer of fun, some R & R and a little white water rafting. I wanted to lose myself in the outdoors, but instead found Abby. A petite waitress and all around spitfire, she knocked me off my game, making me want more than the casual, no strings attached relationships I was used to.

To me, she’s not just another summer fling. She’s something that could last.


A CRUEL LOVE by SM Soto

As a hitman for hire, Percivale is no stranger to violence.

From the moment he saw Blossom Jaymes through the window of her bakery, he knew he was in too deep. Not only was she as sweet as her perfectly crafted treats, but she was a soft-spoken, golden-haired angel that shone like a bright beacon in his dark world. And Percivale didn’t deal in angels. He dealt in death and crime. The even bigger issue? Percivale’s next hit is on said sweet little baker who doesn’t seem to realize how much danger lurks around her with each passing day.

If he doesn’t get the job done, who will?

When Percivale has to decide what’s more important to him—the life of a woman who may very well be innocent or getting his revenge on the men who murdered his family—the lines become blurred. Morals are twisted and a deathly chase ensues that can only result in one thing—Blossom buried six feet under.

Or can it?

Can Percivale let his lust for revenge go in order to save Blossom from the bounty on her head, or will the power she unknowingly holds over him be what gets her killed?


 

DGR’s 2018 Favorites: Geri’s Picks

I know, I know. It’s 2019 already and everyone and their mothers have already published their list. BUT I am a firm believer of the BETTER LATE THAN NEVER mantra. So here you go! Here are my picks for best books of 2018 in no particular order.


GERI’S FAVORITES OF 2018


MAGIC TRIUMPHS by Ilona Andrews


You and me, Kate. We’re forever.

I think I have run out of words to describe how much I love Ilona Andrews. They have forever changed my reading life for the better.

Magic Triumphs delivered an ending to my favorite series that I will not soon forget. Ilona Andrews had painstakingly laid the foundations of this finale over the course of 10 books and several novellas.Everything that happened in this book was foreshadowed in previous books and delivered in a way that only Ilona Andrews can. I finished this book satisfied and yet oddly, craving for more.

I’m gonna miss Kate and Curran and the whole gang but knowing Ilona Andrews, they’re going to be writing more stories, and I’m gonna be ready to read them all.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


REBEL HARD by Nalini Singh

Forget about internet dating. All this traditional meet and greet and reject stuff was brutal.

There isn’t a sub-genre in romance that Nalini Singh can’t do.

I was blown away by just how good she is the moment I started reading Rebel Hard. It is, hands down, my favorite Nalini Singh contemporary to date!

The romance between Raj Sen and Nayna Sharma will make you swoon and will put a dopey smile on your face. Seriously. This book is one of those books that makes go, “This is why I read and love romance!”

Rebel Hard was a joy to read from start to finish. Hilarious, poignant, and sexy, Rebel Hard is everything I wanted in my contemporary romance. Nalini Singh’s writing shines through as she takes us through Nayna and Raj journey to HEA.

Seriously. You guys need to read this book!

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


A DUKE BY DEFAULT & A PRINCESS IN THEORY by Alyssa Cole

“You’re my liege. You’re the person I’m fighting for.”

I LOVED THIS SERIES with all my heart!

Alyssa Cole quickly became one of my favorite authors after delivering not one, but two favorite books on this list.

A Duke by Default captured my heart from the get go. Not only does it have a swoony, Scottish hero in Tavish, but it has one of my favorite heroines ever in Portia! I ADORED Portia Hobbs so much. The way Ms. Cole wrote her struggle with ADHD, her relationships with her friends and family and Tav were the best things about this book.

The tone, the chemistry, the banter — all of it was perfectly done. My one wish for 2019 is that more readers will discover and love Alyssa Cole she’s a talented writer who writes unique stories about unique characters.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


IRON AND MAGIC by Ilona Andrews

This marriage is in name only.” 
“Sweetheart, you couldn’t pay me enough.”
Pink touched her tan cheeks. “If you betray us, I’ll make you suffer.”
“We haven’t even married yet, and I’m already suffering.” 
“We have that in common,” she snapped.

Listen. I’m not into anti-heroes at all. I’m not the kind of reader who falls for the villain. But if there’s an author who can manage to make me root for the villain, it would be Ilona Andrews.

It would be an understatement to say that I hated Hugh D’Ambray in Kate Daniels. I hated him. Loathe even. But by goddess, Ilona Andrews managed  the impossible. They actually made me like the bastard. I’m so offended by this, I can’t even. Also, how in the hell did they manage to take a loathsome character like Hugh, give him a character arc, a heroine to match and make him sympathetic? It’s magic, really.

Well the authorlords certainly knew what they were doing with this book, and I cannot wait to read more of Hugh and Elara!

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


WHAT KIND OF DAY by Mina Esguerra

Mina Esguerra continues to wow me with her stories. It’s one of the reasons why she continues to be a mainstay in my end of the year lists.

What Kind of Day reads to me like a love letter to the city of Manila. The heroine, Naya, run a specialized tour around the city. Ben, the hero became one of her passengers after getting fired from his job as a political aide. Sparks fly and the rest, as they say, is history.

I adored both Ben and Naya. Loved their HEA, but there’s another character in this book that captured my attention: Manila. The city that is. I feel like Manila was the third main character in this book. It came alive in Mina’s descriptions that I actually promised myself to find a similar tour that Naya runs and just explore the city that way.

I adored this book. The writing, the characters, the city…it just all came together perfectly for me.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


RAINY DAY FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis

“I’ve learned that life is a crapshoot, and at any moment someone can walk into it and change it forever.”

This book also has one of the most emotionally intense confrontation I’ve read in a Jill Shalvis book.

The conflict and the road to that confrontation was so well written that it really hits you when it happened. And it’s not just that one moment in particular, it’s the way Lanie processed her emotions when confronted with that something that got to me. That, in my opinion, is great writing.

Rainy Day Friends also delivered on the romance and I’m so happy it did. I was wary because this was marketed as women’s fiction but my wariness was unfounded because there’s a lot to swoon over in this book.

I highly recommend this book. If you loved Jill Shalvis, then this is a must read. If you’re just starting out reading her books, this is a great book to start.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | MY REVIEW


SCORING OFF THE FIELD by Naima Simone

No commitment.
No relationship.
No changes.
Just sex.

Wowza! This book checked all my boxes!

Sexy.
Steamy.
With the right amount of angst thrown in!!

Naima Simone did an exceptional job with Tenny and Dom. I loved them as individuals and loved them together. I sound like a broken record saying this but the romance in this book was so satisfying.

It’s no secret that I love the two tropes equally: unrequited love and friends-to-lovers. Scoring Off Field has both. So yeah definitely one of my top reads of the year.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


BEST OF LUCK by Kate Clayborn

She’s handed my heart back to me, and I’m unsure of how I’ll handle its new broken rhythm. 

Best of Luck is the third book in Kate Clayborn’s Chance of a Lifetime series about 3 friends who won the lottery together. It has one of my favorite tropes: best friend’s brother and filled with flawed, complex characters. It’s emotional and sexy, sweet and funny, and so well written.

I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series so I expected to enjoy the third one too. But I was unprepared by how much this book spoke to me on every level. I liked Kit & Zoe but Greer…oh man, Greer I understood so much.

I won’t spoil the story or the journey she went through but let me just say that I love her so much. And Aleksandr ? I love him too. His vulnerability and his flaws makes him one of my favorite heroes ever.

There are not enough words to express how much I love this book. Go forth and read it!

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang

“I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe.”

Oh my gosh, this book!

The Kiss Quotient not only met my expectations, IT EXCEEDED IT! Not an easy feat considering my expectations were sky high!

These characters that Hoang brought to life in the pages of her book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with them.

This book is definitely one of the best I’ve read this year. Everything about it worked for me. The romance was excellent and the characters are interesting. It’s no wonder that this book has been making the rounds lately. It’s an excellent debut by Helen Hoang and the accolades are well deserved.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW


That makes it for me, dirty birds! I’d love to hear about some of your top year favorites in comments below. And may 2019 bring us all plenty of books to rave about.

Review: Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

HATE NOTES
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland
Release Date: November 6th 2018

From New York Times bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward comes an unexpected love story of secondhand hearts and second chances…

It all started with a mysterious blue note sewn into a wedding dress.

Something blue.

I’d gone to sell my own unworn bridal gown at a vintage clothing store. That’s when I found another bride’s “something old.”

Stitched into the lining of a fabulously feathered design was the loveliest message I’d ever read: Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.

The name embossed on the blue stationery: Reed Eastwood, obviously the most romantic man who ever lived. I also discovered he’s the most gorgeous. If only my true-love fantasies had stopped there. Because I’ve since found out something else about Mr. Starry-Eyed.

He’s arrogant, cynical, and demanding. I should know. Thanks to a twist of fate, he’s my new boss. But that’s not going to stop me from discovering the story behind his last love letter. A love letter that did not result in a happily ever after.

But that story is nothing compared to the one unfolding between us. It’s getting hotter, sweeter, and more surprising than anything I could have imagined.

Something new.

But I have no idea how this one is going to end…

AMAZON

I tried. I really did. I DNF’d but decided to finish it anyways despite my reservations.

Yeaaaahhh. It went over as expected lemme tell you.

The most interesting thing about this book was the blurb and the whole “found a wedding gown with a romantic personal note in it that touched me.” In theory. But the story was boring and contrived. Things happen because they had to and the characters react to them because the story needs them to no matter how confusing and illogical it is.

The heroine acted like a creep stalking the hero on his social media and then his job because she wants to believe that romance isn’t dead. I have so many things to say about this but I’m gonna refrain. For now.

The heroine is…incompetent but she’s pretty and cute. I guess her incompetence is supposed to be cute and endearing but it ended up really annoying. Like who the hell air types when they’re angry? I have no idea if the author was going for because if it was humor, then she failed.

Anyway, Ms. Incompetent was embarrassed after being thrown out by the hero (gee, I wonder why) and because she is the heroine, she meets a wonderful old lady who offered her a job because grandma apparently has a good feeling about her. *sigh

Guess who old lady actually is? That’s right. She’s actually a high-powered CEO who just happens to be the hero’s grandma.

Anyway, Ms. Incompetent suddenly becomes uber competent (don’t ask me when the changed happen because we weren’t exactly shown this in the book either) and indispensable to the hero because the story needs it, you see. No need for character development. There’s no need to show us either, I guess, just make her do stuff because the plot needs it. Easy peasy.

So yeah, this book is contrived as hell. The characters were bland with no personalities whatsoever. I can’t even remember the name of the hero or what he looks like. All I know is that he’s hot and rich and an asshole. The hero is exactly the same iteration as the other heroes these authors have written before. Different names but they’re essentially the same character.

These characters are there to serve the plot and the plot was to get them to fall in love despite his “secrets.” Which brings us to the worst thing about this book that I’ve really come to despise: the secret, or the nature of the secret. I won’t spoil it (unless you guys ask) but can we stop using illnesses as a plot device in the year of our Lord two thousand and eighteen? I mean, it’s great if you want to highlight an illness to bring awareness into it but this ain’t it.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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