Wild River by Laura Pavlov is now live!ย A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Boy Obsessed, Found Family, Standalone Romance from USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author, Laura Pavlov.
Wild River
Magnolia Falls series
by Laura Pavlov
Blurb:
Ruby Rose declared me the enemy before I had a chance to defend myself.
I may be an attorney, but this girl had appointed herself judge and jury.
And Iโd never minded a good verbal sparring.
There was a comfort in going to battle against the evil queen.
Maybe it was just the recognition of one damaged soul to another.
But the more we foughtโthe more I craved her.
Until our arguing turned into a bit of a wager.
One I was determined to win.
One time. Sixty seconds. A secret only we would share.
Iโd work my magic and sheโd declare me the winner.
Iโd gloat, sheโd sulkโthat was my plan.
She was determined to prove me wrong.
But from the minute we crossed the line, there was no turning back.
She was so far under my skin I couldnโt think straight.
Feeling things that Iโd never felt before was one thing.
But knowing the clock was ticking was another.
Ruby Rose may have given me more than sixty seconds, but she wasnโt offering forever.
And now my world doesnโt work without her in it.
But how do I convince her to stay, when she already has one foot out the door?
Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves to hear from readers!
Rope the Moon by Ava Hunter is now live!ย A Sexy, Small Town, Military standalone romance by bestselling author, Ava Hunter.
Rope the Moon
A Runaway Ranch novel
by Ava Hunter
Blurb:
I was a good girl who played by the rules. Except when it came to Davis Montgomery.
A handsome former Marine with a rough touch and a filthy mouth. A man I loved.
But when he didnโt ask me to stay, I took it as a sign to leave my small town and chase my dream. What a mistake that turned out to be.
Now, Iโm back, running from the flames of my past to find a fresh start.
But fresh doesnโt always mean easy. Not when Iโm now the town outcast. Not when I canโt hide my bruises or the baby Iโm carrying.
When Davis finds out what happened to me, his protective nature comes out and he does the unthinkable. He moves me onto Runaway Ranch, determined to keep me safe. He says heโll do everything he can to get me back on my feet. But I never expected the deep feelings and scorching attraction between us to come back even stronger.
One night, the embers of our past are rekindled and I remember all the reasons why Iโve loved him for so long.
That one spark gives us back our second chance. But second chances donโt come easy, especially when the shadow from my past is lurking. And ready to take back whatโs hisโฆ
Ava Hunter is an Amazon top 50 bestselling author. She writes romance with heart, humor, and heat.
Her bestselling books include Babymoon or Bust, an accidental pregnancy rom-com, and Tame the Heart, a grumpy/sunshine cowboy romance with Yellowstone-vibes.
When sheโs not at her computer with a hot cup of coffee, youโll either find her reading the latest true crime book or traveling with her family. Otherwise, sheโll be behind her desk, plotting out or typing up her next dreamy love story.
When Hudson and I met, somehow things just clicked between us. We had the same sense of humor and the same carefree attitude about our lives and goals. Neither of us wanted to lay down roots, we wanted to explore the world.
Then one night, too much alcohol and uncontrolled hormones led to the line blurring, and we fell into bed together only to discover a month later that we were more careless than we thought.
Like the upstanding guy he is, Hudson followed me back to my hometown of Lake Starlight, Alaska, where you canโt throw a penny and not hit one of my family members. We gave them the news that yes, we were having a baby but there would be no wedding. We loved each other but we werenโt in love.
Fast forward three years and we live side by side to make co-parenting our daughter easy. Iโm a writer, and heโs a ski instructor. Weโve worked out all the rough edges. Life is good.
Until out of nowhere, things start to change. He has a girlfriend, weโre arguing more than ever, and it feels as if someone has come along and popped our perfect bubble. Iโm not sure weโre ever going to fit back inside it now because things are developing. Things like feelings.
Duet Narration by Jason Clarke & Kit Swann coming mid-May
*****
Review:
I’m trying to figure out how to convey my feelings for this one without spoiling anything so I think I’m going to have to just go with a generic warning that there MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD.
Together, Palmer and Hudson are pretty awesome co-parents. They’ve got the sharing things down, living next door and supporting each other. It’s sweet that they’ve figured out how to be friends and raise a spirited, confident daughter. Butr of course we know that things have to change or it wouldn’t be a romance, right?
And I like the way that Piper Rayne showed the progression of their feelings. It read true, the way things changed for them and they start to realize that maybe there is more than friendship between them. Which everyone else has known for years ๐
I also like the way we get their backstory through Palmer’s writing. It’s an interesting way to do flashbacks, which can easily overpower a story when authors have us jumping back and forth in time. It was a little weird that Palmer seemed a little surprised that she was writing their story when I assume it was pretty straight on the way things actually happened but that’s a tiny nitpick.
The other one was the catalyst to get us to the HEA. It was pretty obvious and I kinda hoped they weren’t going to go there, just because it seemed a little too easy. But I have to say they definitely made up for it with the epilogue. It was cute and sweet, a perfect ending to their romance.
I love Piper Rayne’s books. The characters are always interesting and they show me with every story that they can make any plot line work. I always know that if their name is on the cover, it’s a must for me.
Having said that, I’m a little late on the Piper Rayne bandwagon so I’ve only read a few of the stories in this (and related) series. And while each can stand on its own I always feel like I’m missing just a little something. It seemed a tad bit more with this one because I think I might have understood the drama with Piper & her parents better. Don’t let it stop you from jumping in wherever works for you, just be prepared for a lot of people and a lot of interesting stories. Might make your TBR pile multiply! I know it has mine.
*****
Author Info:
Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write “heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle” about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they’re married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they’re both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!
A Small Town, Second Chance, Firefighter, standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase – Teasing You by Samantha Chase is now live!ย
Teasing You
The Donovans Series
by Samantha Chase
Blurb:
Sheโs being suspected of setting her workplace on fire.
He needs to prove it wasnโt her.
Now heโs on a mission to convince the one that got away that they belong together.
Ashlynn Donovanโs life just hit rock bottom. She lost her job, there are no prospects on the horizon, and she just unknowingly flashed the hot new firefighter in town. This isnโt the first time sheโs embarrassed herself in front of him, but she was prepared to react the same way she did years ago โ by running away. But Reidโs persistent and isnโt ready to let her get away a second time.
Reid Baylor always hoped to return to Sweetbriar Ridgeโthe only place heโs felt a connection to after a lifetime spent moving from place to place. When he learns of an opening in the fire department, he jumps at the chance to return to the small town he wants to call home again. And just when he thinks life canโt get any better, he runs into the one girl heโs never been able to forget. But reminding Ashlynn of their embarrassing first meeting might not have been the best move, especially when he wants to prove that heโs the man for her.
When Ashlynn is suspected of arson for the fire at her former workplace, Reidโs dream of becoming a fire inspector is on the lineโand so is any chance he had with Ashlynn. Will his chance at getting both his dream job and the girl of his dreams go up in flames?
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance thatโs hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt โ including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! Sheโs a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80โs rock. When sheโs not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Mayleneโฆoh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Vito Bianchi has never been lucky in love, but the hot single firefighter is about to have his world turned upside down. Never Too Close by Chelle Bliss is now live!
Never Too Close
Star Falls series, Book 3
by Chelle Bliss
Blurb:
Vito Bianchi had given up on love years ago after his wife walked out the door. He immersed himself in his work, letting one day pass into the next so he didnโt dwell on what was missing in his life. But when heโs called out to a fire at the home of Star Falls newest resident, he couldnโt stop himself from being sucked in to her world.
Eden Byrne moved to the small town of Star Falls for a fresh start. The single mother wanted a better life for herself and her daughter far away from her past in Los Angeles. She promised herself she wouldnโt get involved with another man, but when the hot fireman becomes her newest friend, she canโt outrun the world of possibilities.
Never Too Close is a friends to lovers, single mother, protective alpha, family saga, cinnamon roll romance, and the third book in the Star Falls series.
Star Falls Series: Book 1 โ Never Too Late Book 2 โ Never Too Soon Book 3 โ Never Too Close
Chelle Bliss is the Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of Men of Inked Series and Misadventures of a City Girl.
She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, ex-high school history teacher, and currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. Chelle loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers.
In the heat of victory, I asked her to be mine forever.
We’d both triumphed in our own way:
Nova broke free from her past.
I led my team to a championship and discovered life beyond the court.
Our journey to “I do” was supposed to be easy.
Except…
The hottest resort in Aspen is only available on short notice.
A new season with the Denver Kodiaks looms on the horizon.
My parents are too obsessed with my career to get to know the woman who stole my heart.
Add dueling bridesmaids, last-minute chaos, and a life-changing decision.
With love and loyalty on the line, it’s time to score the most important win of our lives.
GAME DAY is a King of the Court wedding novella and should be read following Play Maker (King of the Court #3). Get ready for fun and games with Clay, Nova and all your favorite Kodiaks!
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!ย
Game Day is pretty much just a really long epilogue to the King of the Court series and I enjoyed every minute of it. We get to see Clay and Nova figure out how to manage the expectations of those around them, especially when they conflict with their own wants. There’re moments of steam but also big emotions and support, humor and fun. It’s a wonderful way to end their story … and a quick look at what’s coming up next for the Kodiaks.
*****
Author Info:
Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart and steamy romance.
She writes women who follow their dreams, best friends who know your dirty secrets and love you anyway, and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for.
Piper lives in Canada with her tall and brilliant husband. She’s a sucker for dark eyes, dark coffee, and dark chocolate.
I’ve been in love with my best friend and roommate since the first day of boarding school over a decade ago. But Preston has always been oblivious, obsessed with his PhD research, and more importantly, straight.
When the new, sexy grad student walks into my gym, I have to wonder… is it time for me to move on?
Preston
Some guy is trying to steal my best friend. I won’t let him. Sawyer’s mine.
Maybe I haven’t appreciated Sawyer enough over the years, but that’s going to change now. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him by my side. Even if it means kissing him.
Stacked is a best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, nerd/jock MM romance between possessive, protective, and co-dependent roommates. Expect the most tender caretaking, slipping into each other’s beds in the middle of the night, and adorable clinginess. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.
In the doorway is another boy, shorter than me and scrawny. The school uniform heโs wearing is wrinkled, one pant leg is caught in a sock, and the tie is loose and off-center. Heโs got a mop of black hair and thick black-framed glasses, but what really catches my attention are his eyes.
Theyโre blue. Like the ocean. Like the sky. And theyโre zeroed in on me with such intensity that my lungs stop working. My brain stops working. The only response Iโve got is whoa and cool.
Beside me, Mom clears her throat and steps forward. She puts on her mom voice when she speaks. โThis is Sawyer and Iโm his mom, Ms. Paige. Heโs moving into this room today. And you are?โ
The mom voice works because the boy shrinks back and clutches the textbook heโs holding closer to his chest. โPreston Boyer,โ he says, eyeing Mom warily.
โSo nice to meet you, Preston.โ Then she hooks her thumb over to my side of the room. โWould all this be yours?โ
Prestonโs eyes dart from Mom to the bed, piled high with clothes, to me. Thereโs a little furrow in his brow like heโs trying to think of a response and drawing a blank. Like maybe all this stuff isnโt actually his.
Then he blurts out, โYouโre not my roommate.โ
Momโs in front of me, so I canโt see her face, but I know exactly what it looks like. Her eyebrows are halfway up her forehead and her lips are pursed into her โWhat did you just say?โ expression.
Oh shit. Prestonโs in trouble.
โAs a matter of fact, he is. Sawyerโs enrolling as a student at Westbourne and heโs been assigned to this double room. So your choices are to become friends and get along or find another room to sleep in. Either way, you need to move your things. Now.โ
With each word coming out of Momโs mouth, Preston shrinks into himself even further. I kind of feel bad for him, even if heโs being a jerk. Getting on Momโs bad side is never a good idea.
โHey, Pres. Whatโs taking so long?โ A pretty blond girl wearing a cheerleading uniform materializes behind Preston. It takes a second for her to notice me and Mom in the room. โOh! Hi! You must be Sawyer.โ
She squeezes past Preston and approaches Mom with a big smile plastered on her face. The girl is brave. โIโm Madison. Prestonโs girlfriend.โ She extends a hand for Mom to shake, then does the same with me.
โMads!โ Preston hisses like Madison is consorting with the enemy. โWhat are you doing?โ
Madison glances back at him. โIโm welcoming them. Come on, Pres, donโt be a jerk. You knew you were getting a roommate.โ
โNo, I didnโt!โ Preston shuffles into the room, staying behind Madison like she can protect him from Mom. Madison looks like she can hold her own, but no one can stand in Momโs way if sheโs determined.
โYes, you did.โ She rolls her eyes and turns to the mess on Prestonโs desk. โThe Residence Office sent you a letter, remember?โ
She shuffles through his things, tossing them around as Prestonโs expression grows pained. Heโs probably one of those people who has some weird ass filing system that only makes sense to them.
โHere it is!โ Triumphantly, Madison holds a crumpled piece of paper high in the air. Itโs the same thick cream-colored stuff that my acceptance letter was printed on. โSawyer Paige. Moving in September twentieth. Please clear away any personal items that have been stored on the other side of the room.โ
As one, we all stare at the personal items that have definitely not been cleared away.
Silence stretches for long moments before Madison breaks it. โNo worries! I can help! It shouldnโt take too long.โ She marches over with a big grin and grabs a stack of books off the desk.
โNo! Wait!โ Preston drops the textbook heโs holding and reaches for the ones in Madisonโs hands. โYou canโt just move stuff around! I have a system!โ
Ha. Called it. This guy is strange. Living with him is going to be a drag, but at least I donโt have to worry about being the token loner.
โFine, here, Iโll hand you the stuff and you put it wherever you want, okay?โ Madison takes him by the shoulders and spins him around so heโs facing his side of the room again. โJust keep it all over there.โ
Did she say she was his girlfriend? How the hell did a confident, pretty cheerleader end up with this disaster of a guy? I exchange a look with Mom, who has to be thinking exactly the same thing.
Then she sighs and pats me on the shoulder. โLooks like youโre all going to get along just fine.โ
Itโs going to be a long year.
*****
Author Info:
Linden Bell writes contemporary MM romances that heat you up and make you smile.
Check out Book 1 in the Mars Fitness Series: Ripped
Sometimes heartache is a blessing in disguise.
I thought my life was perfect. I lived with my amazing boyfriend. I worked with my ride-or-die best friend. I was on track to made-it-ville.
Then I came home one day to find my boyfriend sleeping with my best friend.
Now Iโm lost with no one to turn to except Donnie, the silver fox who lets me crash at his house until I can figure out what the hell went wrong and how Iโm supposed to fix it.
But once Iโm there, Iโm not sure I want to leave.
Donnieโs a lot older than me and heโs still grieving the death of his husband. My life is a trash fire and my career is non-existent. Heโs a svelte spin instructor and Iโm a film geek. We couldnโt be more different, but we need each other like we both need to breathe.
So maybe my boyfriend sleeping with my best friend wasnโt the worst thing to happen. Maybe it was the best. It brought me to Donnie.
Ripped is an age gap, nerd/jock, opposites attract MM romance between roommates who cuddle on the couch while watching classic movies. Expect steamy shower rooms, teary confessions, disapproving family, and brand new starts. It is the first book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.
CW: off-page sudden loss of a spouse, off-page homophobia, cheating secondary characters. Happily ever after guaranteed.
A delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course…
Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that sheโll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. Itโs actually fineโafter her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.
Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.
Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip canโt lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she canโt fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, heโs trying to win back his true love. Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solveโat least sheโs prepared for that.
โTubati Alexander is a writer to watch!โย โEmily Giffin
“In a Not So Perfect Worldย by Neely Tubati Alexander was a delight from start to finishโฆWhen I reread this book, let it be on a beautiful tropical beach, please!”ย โAlicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author ofย Love in the Time of Serial Killers
“Neely Tubati Alexander does it again, and this time even dreamier than ever. I felt like I was right there with Sloane in beautiful Turks and Caicos, and for a lighthearted vacation read, this tackles some real issues of sexism in the game industry. I loved every second and cheered for Sloane every (mis)step of the way!” โJesse Q. Sutanto, author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Tropes youโll love: Love on vacation, forced proximity, fake dating
Laugh-out-loud moments: Neelyโs signature voice shines in this release โ bringing humor to the relatable moments in our own not-so-perfect worlds
Relevant: Sexism is a barrier many women face today when pursuing their passions in male-dominated industries
*****
Author Info:
Neely Tubati Alexander is originally from the Pacific Northwest and resides in Arizona with her husband and two children. Her debut novel, LOVE BUZZ, won the Zibby Award for Best Beach Read and was hailed by Good Morning America as “the perfect escapist read…absolutely delightful.” Her books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Nerd Daily, with starred reviews of her work from Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Kirkus. Booklist declared her “an exciting new romance writer.”
Will Aster excels at two things: soccer and self-sabotage. Following a viral incident involving him and the club ownerโs wife, his only option to continue playing is overseas on FC Kluvbergโa team known for not tolerating scandal. A last chance and a harsh wake-up call.
Sophia Beck has spent her life avoiding football. Growing up in the shadow of her familyโs stratospheric success in the sport left scars. About to begin her final year of university, sheโs eager to pursue a career in photography, not receive an internship assignment involving her brotherโs team. The last thing she expects is to meet a guyโa playerโwho makes her want to watch a game.
He loves soccer.
She resents it.
Those contrary viewpoints collide when Will and Sophia discover something stronger than their conflicting emotions toward the sportโtheir feelings for each other.
Five years ago, Astrid OโMalley experienced the ultimate in public humiliation. Being dumped at the altar by her childhood sweetheart was horrifying enough. That fact that he was a professional hockey goalie and her dad was his coach? It was all anyone in sports could talk about.
Eff hockey. Eff goalies.
These days, Astrid lives a life (mostly) free of hockey and free to pursue whoever she wants with exactly zero shame in her game. Like tonightโs hook-up. This guyโs nailed the lumberjack aesthetic perfectly. Especially when he has the stamina and creativity to back it up.
Because the rule is: itโs one night only. Which is gonna be a problem because sheโs just discovered he lives in the apartment upstairs.
And heโs joined her dadโs team. As the goalie coach. To train her ex.
Now Astrid is in some kind of hockey hellโfilled with her ex, her family, and the best sex of her life. And somehow sheโs been roped back onto the team.
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She lives outside of Washington DC with her family, Dwight the cat, and a pack of five dogs all named after food. If sheโs not reading romance or binging reality TV, sheโs most definitely plotting to take over the world so she can banish Crocs from existence. Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, sheโll be your best friend for life.
Romantic Reads and Such 