Monthly Archives: February 2026

Review – Wild Kiss

27 Friday Feb 2026

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Wild Kiss

Wilder Valley series

by Kacey Shea

Blurb:

I always swore I’d never settle down. I didn’t want a family or responsibilities beyond my own needs. Life was easier and a lot more fun when you kept things casual.

But Rosalie Masters made a liar out of me.

As one of my sister’s best friends, we’ve known each other for years. A single mom pretty enough to turn every head in town—including my own—I never imagined she’d be interested in knocking boots with this cowboy.

Boy, was I wrong.

What starts as a week of secret hook ups, quickly becomes something I can’t live without.

She’s prim and proper.

I’m rugged and rough.

We could not be more opposite if we tried.

But her brilliant mind and naughty side have lassoed my attention. And her tender heart—the one she doesn’t let most people close enough to witness—makes it impossible to leave her alone.

For the first time in my life, I’ve fallen for someone I can’t get out of my system. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from this woman. The problem is I don’t know how I’ll convince her to give us a chance.

Wild Kiss is the next small town romance in the Wilder Valley series by USA TodayBestselling Author Kacey Shea. Enjoy as a standalone, or start at the beginning of the series!

Buy Link:
https://amzn.to/46TNB9L

*****

Review:

Love this. Love it! The opposite attracts trope, Rosalie in her book loving glory, Jackson being willing to try new things and throwing himself into it full body, the steam (oh, the steam) … just all around fantastic! I couldn’t get enough of them. But, whew, do these two have issues. I feel so bad because both of them can get caught up in their insecurities and it just leads to so much hurt feelings & confusion.

Gotta hand it to Jackson tho, because there are times that he pushes through and puts himself out there when things don’t seem right, getting Rosalie to open up some. Showing her that there are good people in the world, people who will make her a priority and keep coming back. Even when it is scary for him, giving her honesty and emotions that she responds to, which in turn lets him see that he can be more than he thinks. And having someone see & appreciate a deeper him has Jackson evaluating himself in other places.

But I appreciate that Shea also doesn’t go too all in on where their issues could have taken us. There are opportunities to add some extra (probably unnecessary) drama and troubles for them but she gives us something that feels very real for these two. No drama just for drama’s sake.

Y’all, I think I need to change this to a low angst and sweet read page because that seems to be my TBR pile 🙂 Not that I’m complaining. I really feel these two, their hang ups and their struggle with the changes & potential that their relationship brings. I adore how they are open to it once they get past those issues and work through road bumps. Love you Kacey Shea and I’ll be coming back for more!

*****

Author Info:

Kacey Shea is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance. She enjoys writing strong and smart heroines, heroes with hearts of gold, and stories that deliver a satisfying, well-earned happily ever after. 

When she’s not writing you will find her spending time with her children, drinking iced tea by the gallon, or planning her next escape from the Arizona heat. 

Kacey has a free book for all newsletter subscribers along with bonus epilogues for her most beloved novels.

Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Connect with Kacey Shea:

https://linktr.ee/kaceysheabooks

Review – Whiskey, Words and Whispers

26 Thursday Feb 2026

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Whiskey, Words and Whispers

Sweet Tea & Trouble series

by Sawyer Bennett

Blurb:

In the nosy town of Whynot, North Carolina, secrets don’t stay quiet for long. When Penny Pritchard returns home to help run her aunt’s café, she doesn’t expect to fall for Sam-Pete Rochelle—the charming bartender with a very big secret: he’s the anonymous, wildly successful author of steamy fantasy romance novels.

When his identity is revealed, the town loses its collective mind—and Penny must decide between the big career she built in D.C. or the epic love story waiting for her back home.

A laugh-out-loud, friends-to-lovers romance filled with Southern charm, second chances, and small-town scandal.

Available now on the Sawyer Bennett Store and wherever books are sold.

*****

Review:

Sam loves Whynot but is not unaware of its faults. It’s full of traditional, small town, Southern vibes with a few pockets of progressiveness. And while they love Sam, most aren’t going to love the books he rights. He’s just at the point he can’t keep hiding who he is.

Penny left for college and on to Washington DC but she’s back home to help her aunt and isn’t leaving while she’s needed. Sam definitely makes the time in Whynot even more appealing but she quickly realizes that maybe there is something in her hometown that speaks to her. Reasons to stay.

Sweet is the only way I can describe this one. I loved Sam and Penny together, their issues as life brings them together only to present them with an unknown future, and how they have to decide what they are willing to risk. It’s low angst and that’s fine, because it is all that sweetness mixed with quirky small town fun that kept me glued to the pages.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sawyer Bennett writes emotionally rich stories inspired by real-life experience. From contemporary romance and fantasy romance to women’s and general fiction, she creates stories for a wide range of readers.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer now spends her days writing—and serving as chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her adorable daughter, plus full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

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https://geni.us/SawyerBennetthttps://geni.us/GR_Whiskey

Review – Whisper Sweet Nothings

25 Wednesday Feb 2026

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Whisper Sweet Nothings

Rosewood River #6

by Laura Pavlov

Blurb:

Winnie Smith is the perfect nanny.

She’s reliable, warm, and my daughter adores her.

She cooks like a pro, styles pigtails like a fairy godmother, and knows her way around a car engine better than most mechanics.

She’s made life easier.

The house feels full again.

And maybe… so do I.

But living under the same roof has its challenges.

Like catching her in the kitchen after midnight… barefoot, in tiny sleep shorts, eating ice cream straight from the tub.

Don’t even get me started on the way that her lips wrapped around that spoon.

I digress.

It shouldn’t mean anything.

She’s a decade younger. I’m her boss.

She’s off-limits.

And yet, it’s all I can think about.

I was just looking for a nanny—not nightly cold showers and definitely not feelings.

But the more we blur the lines, the harder it is to keep pretending.

We say it’s temporary. No strings. Just one harmless arrangement.

But what if she’s not just what my daughter needs…

What if she’s exactly what I’ve been missing too?

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/48WD6lz

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/3MCOCeF

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4aE3n96

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4aGlBqx

Audiobook: https://geni.us/WSNAUDIO
Narrated by: Sebastian York & @savannahpeachwood

*****

Review:

Throughout the series, Archer has needed help with his daughter. His family does what they can but he really needs consistent care. Not a surprise to us that when he does find a nanny he finds her captivating. He’s a good girl dad but he can resist for only so long 🙂

Archer loves his daughter with all he has and I love the patience and care he shows her. And those traits extend to those around him. He’s so supportive of Winnie, showing her what a good man is like after years of her being treated poorly by her awful ex. No wonder she has trouble not falling for him.

While predictable for a nanny/single dad romance, I enjoyed it. Archer is just as charming as his brother & cousins and while maybe not as prevalent in some of the previous stories, I loved the family dynamic among them all. Plus, Archer’s daughter Melody is just the absolute cutest. (I too would have taken on the world for her.)

**A little bit of a spoiler but I appreciated that the author actually has had these guys seeking out help for their issues. It’s refreshing to see the prioritization of mental health and therapy.**

Overall, it’s pretty low angst and just a lot of the back & forth on whether they should get together because of who they are to each other, her age, and what she wants for her future. There really aren’t any surprises but it’s satisfying to see them figure out their relationship. The epilogue gives us a hint of what’s to come and I’m excited to see where Pavlov takes us next.

(Can it be read on its own? Yes. Will you miss out on a lot of the fun and vibes of this group? Also yes.)

Review – A Present for Parker

23 Monday Feb 2026

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A Present for Parker

Merry Everything #5

by Jodi Payne & BA Tortuga

Blurb:

Parker Stephens is a cowboy looking for a place to call home. His only family has kicked him to the curb, leaving him with his truck and the clothes on his back. He doesn’t even have his dog. So when he shows up at the Vermont home of his friends Skyler and Beckett, he’s got no idea what he’ll do beyond the holidays. For now, he just needs to visit and breathe.

Heath Wooledge is used to being alone, working on his vintage farmhouse, and eating a frozen pizza or two. Since he’s never been invited to his business partner Beckett’s house to eat dinner, it stands to reason they’re asking him for a favor. Luckily for him, when they ask if he’ll let Parker stay at his place because their guest room is a mess, Heath can’t believe his good luck. Parker is a sweetheart of a cowboy, and he’s never been more attracted to anyone in his life.

The two have immediate chemistry, but will magic of snowy holiday Vermont make the two of them accept the gift they’ve been given?

*****

Review:

Parker has finished his rodeo career and finds himself at loose ends, kicked out by his mother with nowhere to go. And I love his resilience and good humor. The man isn’t letting anything get him down and his enthusiasm for life is endearing. Heath, finding himself with a temporary roommate, thinks so too. Although it isn’t ever explicitly stated, you just know that Parker and Heath are set up by their friends to spend time together. And it doesn’t take them long to fully embrace the attraction that simmers between them. It may be a little fast, but I loved the way that these two just fell into a relationship. The way they support each other, enjoy each other, and fit together is all sorts of sweetness and warmth and fun. With minimal angst, a little bit of heat, and a whole lot of feels, it just brings that holiday feel & satisfaction.

Review – Playground Games

19 Thursday Feb 2026

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Playground Games

by Lily Morton

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Length: 2h 46m

Genre: contemporary

Tropes: teacher romance, opposites attract, forced proximity

Designer: Natasha Snow

Blurb:

School trips are hell on the teachers.

Auguste Patterson’s happy place on a winter holiday would involve a seat by a fire, a good book, and alcohol. Which is why he’s horrified when the headmaster at the primary school where he teaches demands he accompany a group of young students to France on a skiing trip. Gus believes snow should always be viewed from inside a warm building and never encountered while flailing on skis.

The holiday’s single perk is also the one reason Gus has for liking sports—the school’s PE teacher, Doug Henshaw. Doug is Gus’s secret crush, and sharing a room at the ski chalet with him almost makes managing forty school children bearable. But Gus doesn’t stand a chance with Doug. A handsome, funny ex-professional football player would never fall for a hopelessly unathletic language teacher. Would he?

Playground Games is a 25K word novella that first appeared in a promotional giveaway. No new content has been added.

LISTEN ON AUDIBLE

*****

Review:

Once I got used to Joel Leslie’s French accent, I loved this one. As a novella, it’s not a very detailed story but Gus and Doug already know each other and are thrown in close contact on a school trip so it’s pretty straightforward.

While it is a complete and satisfying story as is, I would have been happy with a longer one because Gus is absolutely adorable and a blast. He’s so funny and snarky but lovely. He ends up in so many outrageous situations but he handles them with grace and humor. And while Doug may be a little more reserved, he loves all that about Gus as well and together they work, an opposites attract kind of thing.

This is my first by Lily Morton but if they are all like this she is going straight on my must read list!

*****

Author Info:

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

Website: www.lilymortonauthor.com

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

Facebook Readers Group: www.facebook.com/groups/SnarkSquad

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Newsletter:https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter

Review – The Hotshot

17 Tuesday Feb 2026

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The Hotshot

The Dugout #1

by Piper Rayne

Blurb:

Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.
Actually, it wasn’t in ANY plan.

One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.

Enter Hayes Carlisle.

My best friend’s older brother.
Chicago Colts newest catcher.
And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.

So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.

But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.

Because he remembers how to make me laugh.
Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.
Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.
Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.

I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.
But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?

That might be the one thing I can’t do.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://books2read.com/thshot

Duet Narration by: JF Harding & CJ Bloom

Also Featuring: Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan & Austin Stone

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/41QEV0V

*****

Review:

There were so many emotions for me here. My heart just broke for Leighton & the kids with the deaths of their parents and then having the uncertainty of a fight for custody. Hayes and the guys quickly won me over with how they stepped up for the little family. All of them are good men and it’s obvious with the relationships they build among themselves. So sweet to see them doing things with, and for, Leighton & the kids.

But I wish we’d gotten more of that with Leighton and the kids. I would have loved to have seen more of her as the coach for the little league team and doing caretaker-y things with them. They are adorable and I’d love to have seen that side too. I also think we needed more of Leighton getting some help with her issues. Not just from her relationship with her parents but also with losing her cousin & now taking on the kids. That’s a lot for anyone.

It’s no surprise when Leighton struggles with her relationship with Hayes considering those issues. Neither of them handle it the best but it’s definitely in a realistic manner and the support (& gentle nudges) from their friends helps them to get things figured out. There was an issue towards the end that I felt, while it helps wrap up some of the plot lines, with Leighton’s hang ups maybe could have been handled a bit differently.

The Hotshot is a good introduction to the Colts and a setup for a new series. It hits on some pretty heavy topics but showcases how they all care about and support each other. I love these guys and can’t wait for them to find their own HEAs.

Review – Accidentally Living With the Captain

16 Monday Feb 2026

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Accidentally Living With the Captain

Chicago Awakenings #3

by Lexi Amber

Blurb:

Hudson

I thought I was living the dream—captain of my NHL team, married to a model, planning to finally become a dad—the last thing I was expecting was to be served divorce papers.

All the plans I’d been making, all the ideas of what our family would look like, gone, just like that.

Thank God for Adrian, he always knows what to do. My ex kicked me out and Adrian offered to let me stay in his spare room while I figure out what comes next. My future hasn’t felt this uncertain since I entered the draft, but with Adrian offering to help, I feel like I can breathe again, like the unknown might not be the worst thing after all.

Adrian

Living with the perfect man is a cruel and unusual sort of torture.

Hudson walks around half-naked all the time, showing off his perfect hockey body, it’s obscene. And then there’s the teasing. It isn’t new, but I’d assumed he would stop now that we’re roommates and there’s no one else around. He hasn’t.

He’s straight, and I don’t know how much more platonic flirting my little gay heart can take.

I know that our time together is limited. Hudson wants to be a dad more than anything, and he deserves the family he’s always wanted, the future he’d dreamed of. I know that future won’t include me, and I want Hudson to be happy. Even if that means giving up our time together, helping him move on.

He was never mine, so why does the thought of saying goodbye feel like it might break me?

I’m screwed.

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3Z9uKCM

*****

Review:

I loved, and didn’t love, this book. I felt for Adrian with his crush on straight, married Hudson. How hard it has to be to be in such close proximity to his crush, knowing that if he misunderstands then everything could crash around him. Plus, thanks to his parents, he has A LOT of issues over being wanted for himself vs what he can do for others. That’s one of the places where I feel like we could have gotten something a little bit more. That man needed to talk to a professional about it. This isn’t something that “love can fix” and I really wish his friends would have helped. (Beck does redeem himself a little as he is very aware of the role that Adrian has in the company.)

Poor Hudson can be such a clueless idiot. He’s a good man, one that has a big heart, but he struggles as he finds himself alone and unsure of what’s next. He’s either oblivious to things or just isn’t paying attention, which is obvious with the dissolution of his marriage, and for being in his mid-30s he comes across as juvenile a few times. I adore the relationship he’s building with Adrian but I struggled with the way that he tries to get there. It’s realistic, because who wants to make themselves vulnerable like that, but if you can’t talk about it you aren’t ready to do it 🙂

This is a super slow burn, dealing with Hudson’s changing ideas of himself & his future and growing feelings for Adrian. I enjoyed it but it’s not going to be for everyone and you have to have a ton of patience with these two. But I found the payoff to be satisfying and I enjoyed the ride to their HEA.

Review – Free Falling

05 Thursday Feb 2026

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Free Falling

Colburn Brothers #2

by Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

College rivals become workplace frenemies-turned-lovers in this warm, sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestseller Jill Shalvis. First, they were rivals… Now they’re stuck with each other…

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this construction project to prove himself in the family business, but he also needs to recover from the injury that ended his pro career. Too bad Emma Sumner, architect liaison and Caleb’s college nemesis, is back in town and assigned to the project. They’re going to have to see each other almost every day. Which means once again she’ll make his life a living hell.

As for Emma, her job is on the line with this big project, made all the more challenging by the project manager. Caleb was the one who had snagged the scholarship she’d desperately needed to stay in college. She’s been living hand to mouth ever since and has no intention of ever forgiving the man.

But the beautiful historic building they’re renovating is exactly the kind of project that they both love best. Their surprising common ground and a burning mutual attraction start bringing them closer and closer to a potentially explosive mistake. And that’s even before the secrets come out…

*****

Review:

I am loving this series. Especially the close relationship between the Colburns after surviving an abusive childhood, how they became pillars of their community with an amazing support network for themselves and others. And it’s that network that would be there for Emma. If she would only let them.

Emma is sassy and stubborn and sharp, the perfect match for Caleb. Their relationship still has some of the negativity from their college years, plus the secrets and baggage that Emma is carrying, and it definitely takes them some time to let that go. Well, her more so than him. But with patience and charm, he’ll get her to let down her guard. At least a little bit.

Being a second chance romance, with a small town feel, there’s just so much to like with Free Falling. It’s funny, with the way that Caleb & Emma create sparks and with the boisterous family’s complicated dynamic. They might fight and tease big but they also love big and they warmly embrace Emma. It gives all the feels and plenty of steam, and a glimpse at what might be next.

(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. There is a bit of a mystery that is not resolved tho that will probably be in the next book.)

Review – The Ultimate Goal

02 Monday Feb 2026

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The Ultimate Goal

Brooklyn Blades #1

by Felice Stevens

Blurb:

Rip

In the fifteen years I’ve played for the Brooklyn Blades, I’ve won all the awards except the most important one. The Stanley Cup.

But my annoying ex-boyfriend is the team’s goalie, and the paparazzi is loving it. What’s worse is, my absentee father decides to make an appearance and won’t leave me alone.

I’m ignoring it all. My ultimate goal is to win the Cup.

Then my best friend’s younger brother, Adrian, shows up to interview me for the sports segment of the evening news. He’s nervous and unsure, so I have to help him. We grew up together,but I barely noticed him then.

I’m definitely noticing him now.

Adrian

Our sports reporter is injured, so I have to cover the hockey game when my ultimate goal is to be a hard news reporter. Not only am I camera shy, but I know nothing about sports. Sure, I know Rip Tremaine—I’ve had a crush on him for years. Not that he’s ever noticed me.

Maybe I can fake it.

Nope, I can’t.

But Rip saves my interview, and now the station wants me to follow the team. With my job on the line, Rip comes up with a plan: Get my own sports show to prove I can be on camera. I’ll pretend to be his boyfriend, and no one will know, not even my brother.
I’ll have unlimited access to the team.

And Rip.

We can do this. We’re professionals. He’s teaching me all about hockey…and kissing. And I’m helping him navigate his father’s betrayal.

Except neither one of us is pretending anymore. And our ultimate goal now is to win it the Cup, my job, and love.

Buy Link

https://geni.us/TheUltimateGoal

*****

Review:

I enjoyed this read. I liked Rip and I really liked him with Adrian, loved the whole best friend’s sibling thing as well as the Fake Dating trope. I felt like Stevens did a good job with integrating actual hockey with the romance (except that NHL lockers don’t actually have doors on them …) and that it wasn’t overly angsty. And while he is a self-centered @ss, I loved Rip’s ex Denis and hope that he gets his own story next.

But there were a few issues as well. There are inconsistencies that may be because I read an ARC but they seemed pretty central to the plot, with weird character choices and time jumps. Some of the character interactions seemed a bit juvenile and for all his talk about how he’s a grown man, Adrian seemed a little young for his age. I get that he’s inexperienced with low self-esteem (which I don’t really get why) but duuuuuude….he seriously couldn’t just shut up and get out of his own way with Rip 🙂

While I liked it well enough, and will try this author again, there were emotional moments that weren’t acknowledged and were great opportunities to deepen their relationship and make the story even better. I get the feeling that this isn’t normal for this author, based on some reviews I read, so I’m going to consider this a slightly awkward but enjoyable introduction to her books.