Review: My Best Friend’s Dad by Sadie Black

MY BEST FRIEND’S DAD
Genre: 
Contemporary Romance
Tropes:
Age gap/Best friend’s dad/Forced proximity
Author: Sadie Black
Release Date: May 24, 2023

Ever meet the right guy at the wrong time?

I knew how it would end the minute I met him. Hayes was just a little too good-looking to be real, and just a little too old to be appropriate for me. Not to mention, he already has a girlfriend.

I never stood a chance.

I was fresh off the plane that had delivered me from my threadbare past into an uncertain future. Even in the luxurious world of our resort, his wealth was obvious. I couldn’t believe my luck that a man like him would only have eyes for me. But it was no coincidence we found each other under the stars outside that bar on that particular night.

Hayes Sterling is a name that means something. Generosity. Protectiveness.

Getting the job I so desperately need.

It also means he’s completely off limits. Forbidden. Taboo.
Not just because he owns the guesthouse I’m living in.
Because he’s my best friend’s dad.

A standalone new adult forbidden romance with no cheating and a HEA.

AMAZON 

 

Now look, I’m a sucker for the forbidden age trope okay? Hard to believe I used to shudder at the thought of daddy tropes and here we are. Greedily devouring everything in my sight. So of course when I saw the blurb to this, I knew this would be my very first Sadie Black book. And after finishing it, I’m happy to confirm it won’t be my last.

Generally I love my forbidden trope with a bit more angst. This one was more on the fluffier side. But you know what? I don’t even mind. It hit the spot just right with just the right dose of drama and just a touch of forbidden feels.

Piper and Lincoln have been best friends for years. When he invites her to Aspen to stay at his father’s resort. Hayes is Lincoln’s father who he just recently grew closer to following his divorce from his mother years ago. Hayes is. workaholic and barely has time for anything outside of his resort. I do want to highlight that if you’re thinking this has cheating, since Hayes has a girlfriend, it doesn’t. All is not as it seems there though I wouldn’t have minded the additional angst if it had it.

The chemistry with Hayes and Piper is instantaneous though they do try to fight it. It doesn’t take long for things to get steamy and boy does it get steamy.

If you like a good age gap that’s well written and not drowning in uber angst or drama, give this one a shot.

Sadie Black lives in her head as an ex-member of the British royal family, a current fashion icon, and couldn’t be more annoyed that she has to pay taxes on a job called “governess.”

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Review: His Rule by Natasha Knight & A Zavarelli

HIS RULE
Series: THE RITE TRILOGY #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Natasha Knight & A Zavarelli
Release Date:
April 26, 2022

I live in a world where secrecy reigns.

A Society rooted in power, wealth, and long-held dynasties.

Where men are Kings, and women are pawns.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of escaping the shackles of my expectations.

But it can only ever be a dream.

I made a fatal mistake, and those shackles became a cage.

Now I’m trapped in a war with a man who controls my every move.

He’s my brother’s best friend.

My enemy, my tormentor, and my solace.

His words have the power to wound me.

His touch just might break me.

But this is his kingdom, and as long as I’m here I only have one choice.

I’ll play by his rules.

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

Her Rebellion #2 releases on May 24 & Their Reign #3 releases on June 21!!! 

 

Stop fighting me,” I tell Mercedes. “I will never stop fighting you.” “Then you will never stop losing.”

I feel like I have waited forever for this story. FOREVER I tells you. And to finally have it in my grabby little hands is the most bittersweet satisfaction ever. Bittersweet because to be left with that cliff dang near killed me. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s talk His Rule.

The mere second that Judge appeared on the pages of The Society Trilogy, I was intrigued. When we saw the sparks fly between him and Santiago’s sister, Mercedes, I was hooked. Mercedes was a character who was hard to love in the trilogy. She was standoffish, mean, cold, yet fierce. She loves her family and she’ll do everything for them. Until her decisions and choices take a deadly turn and she brings consequences to her brother’s door that he can’t forgive her for. The punishment? Bring her to Judge’s command.

Enough!” he roars, the blistering heat of his anger searing my lips. “You watch your goddamn mouth, Mercedes. I’m not going to tell you again.”
“Is that an order, your honor?” I purr against him. “What will your verdict be if I don’t?”

Judge is the man the society turns to in situations like this. He’s known for his ruthless justice and ability and what better man to put Mercedes under. This book really peeled back the layers on all things Mercedes and showed her human side. We get to see what makes this woman tick and why she is how she is. And with each new revelation, I found myself more endeared to her and understanding her better. She loves her brother beyond reason, but she’s also not the spoiled little debutant either. She won’t bend to Judge’s rule that easy. And I loved watching her give as good as she gets. And trust me, this woman gets a lot.

In true Zavarelli and Knight fashion, they give just enough to hook you while leaving you begging for more. For every answer we get, we have a hundred more questions. This book was just as deliciously dark and twisted as The Society Trilogy and I can’t wait to see what the next installment brings. And if you haven’t read The Society Trilogy yet, I highly recommend you read it before this trilogy to appreciated all the nuances that much more.

About A. Zavarelli:

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

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

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

Connect w/A. Zavarelli: 

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About Natasha Knight:

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over half a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.

Connect w/Natasha: 

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Review: Don’t Kiss The Bride by Carian Cole

DON’T KISS THE BRIDE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Carian Cole
Release Date: February 1, 2020

I guess you could say I was a damsel in distress, and he was my knight in shining armor.

But more accurately, I was a girl with a lot of bad luck, and he was a guy with a lot of muscles and tattoos.

Jude “Lucky” Lucketti wasn’t just a sexy, brooding construction worker. He was my own personal hero who seemed to be in all the right places at the right times. Like when my car broke down and I needed a ride home, and when I face planted on the sidewalk right in front of him and had to be taken to the emergency room.

Those weren’t exactly my best moments, but they were his.

We became friends, and it didn’t matter that he was sixteen years older than me. We had a lot in common—like our love of old rock music and vintage fast cars, and our aversion to relationships.

When he approached me with a crazy idea to help me out, I couldn’t say no.

The arrangement was supposed to be temporary. A marriage on paper and nothing else.

It should’ve been easy, but it wasn’t.

Because here I am, eighteen years-old, still in high school, and married to a man I was never supposed to fall in love with.

We had just one rule—no kissing the bride.

But we broke that rule, and it sealed our fate forever.

AMAZON

Somehow, she’s squirmed her way under my skin, and surprisingly enough, I don’t want to dig her out.

Carian Cole is one of those authors for me that I don’t even bother to read the blurbs of her books. There’s no point because it’s an auto read for me no matter what. She’s the master of writing poignant, beautiful and emotional romance that sticks with me. As an avid romance readers, I can’t say I remember every book I read, but somehow, each Carian Cole book I’ve read, does. And this one certainly won’t be the exception.

Now if you love a good age gap romance, you won’t want to miss this one. Age gap for me can be a tricky one, because when you have a pretty young heroine, there’s a line where it can skate on the line of…well…meh. Ya know? And considering the heroine here is 18, I knew that I wouldn’t have to worry about that because this author just manages to hit the mark every time.

Skylar is an 18 year old high school senior who hasn’t exactly had it easy in life. Her home life is anything but happy and her living situation even more so. She makes the best out of the crappy hand she’s been dealt, but luck has never really been on her side.

Jude is a thirty four year old, tatted up construction worker and high school drop out. His teenage years are riddled with plenty of regrets, but when he sees Skylar lose consciousness and learns of her situation, he knows he needs to help her. So he offers her a solution; marriage, but in the most nutritional sense. She gets his insurance and puts herself on her feet, and he gets to know that he helped her. Nothing more and nothing less. But the feelings between them and the chemistry is not easy to deny.

Now admittedly, I struggled a bit with the first half of this book. It was very slow paced and quite detailed in parts that I felt maybe shouldn’t have been. I found myself skimming some chapters, waiting for things to pick up. It was most definitely a SLOW burn. But then when things pick up? I couldn’t put it down. I loved the progression of Lucky and Skylar’s relationship. I love how he struggles with his feelings for her and I love how Skylar fought for him. The age gap is significant, but I never felt Skylar’s age. Outside of her being in high school (though fair to note she was held back a year so she’s a touch older senior), her age never felt like 18. She’s wise beyond her years because of the life she’s lived. She was forced to grow up fast and I loved her strength. Lucky’s past comes back to really haunt him here and my heart broke for him in so many ways.

This was such a beautiful, gripping story full of emotion and romance. I adored Lucky and Sparkles together. Theirs was one of the most satisfying slow burns I’ve read in a while and I can’t recommend it enough. And there’s a surprise cameo by a certain character that I absolutely LOVED but won’t give away because it’s the best surprise.

Carian Cole has a passion for the bad boys, those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles, and of course, the sweet girls who try to tame them and win their hearts.

Born and raised a Jersey girl, Carian now resides in beautiful New Hampshire with her husband and their multitude of furry pets. She spends most of her time writing, reading, and vacuuming.

 

Connect with Carian

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Text COLE to 31996

 

 

Review: Welcome To The Dark Side by Giana Darling

WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE
Series:
FALLEN MEN #2
Genre: Dark, MC Romance
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date: April 18, 2018

 

I was a good girl.

I ate my vegetables, volunteered at the local autism centre and sat in the front pew of church every Sunday.

Then, I got cancer.

What the hell kind of reward was that for a boring life well lived?

I was a seventeen-year-old paradigm of virtue and I was tired of it.

So, when I finally ran into the man I’d been writing to since he saved my life as a little girl and he offered to show me the dark side of life before I left it for good, I said yes.

Only, I didn’t know that Zeus Garro was the President of The Fallen MC and when you made a deal with a man who is worse than the devil, there was no going back…

This is Daddy Zeus Garro’s story from Lessons In Corruption. A standalone in The Fallen Men series.

AMAZON

I was sick. Sick with lust for a girl nineteen years younger than me and morally sick because of it.

I’ve been eyeing this series for forever it feels like. But I was somewhat burned out on MC romance, or at least on the poorly written ones masquerading as MC romance, that I was a little trigger shy. What? I’m judgy! This shouldn’t be news to you here. But the allure of a taboo romance with a dirty talking MC prez proved to be too much, so I finally bit the bullet and dove in. And I am so glad I did!!!

He was breathtaking in every sense. Terrifying beyond comprehension and so gorgeous, it was a physical blow to the senses.

This book was everything I didn’t know I wanted. If you’re a fan of a good age gap, this one delivers in spades. It was like a love child of Undeniable and Motorcycle Man. Or as I call it, my catnip. Me-Ow! *purrs contentedly*

Now before all of you pearl clutchers come after me for liking a book between a 17 year old and a man 19 years her senior, I’d like to say that this is set in BC where the age of consent is 16. The heroine is also wise and mature well beyond her years as a product of her circumstance. That was probably one thing that worried me with starting this. Naive, immature heroines are my kryptonite. I can’t deal with it. Louise was great! She definitely had her teenage moments, which just made it believable. But she wasn’t an immature brat. Being the daughter of a corrupt mayor and parents who barely pay attention, and surviving leukemia has forced her to grow up quick. She first meets Zeus Garro in a hail of bullets as a young girl, when he saves her life. And the rest, as they say is history. They’re reunited again when Zeus gets out of jail and Louise is now a teenager with an entirely different form of hero worship for the dangerously lethal biker.

Zeus was perfection. The man is a dirty talking god. He’s utterly electric on the pages. I swear I got tingles just reading about him. He’s an MC Prez that doesn’t shy away from blood shed, but he’s also a devoted father. And he’s so dirty. I mean DURTY. GOD but it was delicious.

Now look, I’d be lying if I said this book was perfect. There were pacing issues. Quite a few of them. This messed a little with the flow of the story. However, I was so invested that I barely batted an eye lash at it. What did get me, though, were the KA-isms. And by KA-isms, I mean it was almost too much with the similarities at times. Now considering I had just finished a Kristen Ashley book right before this, clearly this was very fresh on my mind. I’ve read plenty of books that emulate her style, and I don’t usually mind it. However, this author clearly has writing chops, and her work can stand on its own and I would have loved if it resonated here. But the characters all sound like KA men with their aversion to any words ending with a consonant, amongst other things, yeah? What frustrated me was this was not just in dialogue but with inner monologue as well. I get that a character should stay consistent, but it was just too much. Then there’s the chapters that start in the middle of a sex scene, much like KA. What I’m saying is, the similarities were there, and it’s worth a mention.

Now, aside from that, this book was SOLID. I’m talking page-turner. Full of action, hot romance, and all of the grit. It read like a good MC book should. It felt authentic. These men were not innocent by any means, but you can’t help but love them. Zeus is just a god amongst men. This is a character that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. There’s just something about him that sticks with you.

If you’re a fan of gritty MC romance, this is an absolute must read. Take it from this cynic, you want to meet daddy Zeus. Do it and thank me later.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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