A laugh-out-loud, swoon-filled romantic comedy thatโs the perfect for every independent girlie who knows exactly what she wantsโbut falls for the one person she shouldnโt. The shirtless guy across the hallwayโฆ.
When I landed a new job in a brand-new city, I needed a place to liveโfast. Enter: the spare bedroom in a suburbia McMansion with a pool, wine fridge, and stove that probably costs more than my car. Perfect setup, right?
Wrong. My new roommate saw me practically naked on night one.
Then I catch him doing something that rhymes with โdisasterbating.โ
Half hockey player, half Viking, Turner โSkaggsโ Hutton III is the human embodiment of a golden retriever and is off-limits. Which would be easy if the chemistry between us wasnโt hotter than this blazing Texas sunโฆ
The chemistry? Molten. The tension? Physically painful.
Think: slow burn with zero impulse control. Think: tight spaces with his hand on my thigh during a cramped car rideโฆAnd could someone please explain to me why I find it so damn sexy watching his massive hands choose the prefect LEGO brick? Send help!
Heโs sworn off distractions to save his career. Iโm focused on building mine and certainly not looking for a boyfriend. But when one too many lapses in judgment and one missed cycle leads to an emergency trip to the pharmacyโฆ
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latteโs, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
When Cooper Adams gets a call for help from a young rodeo kid he knows like family, he has no choice but to help. He’s a bullfighter, after all, and Benji might be of age, but he has a bunch of siblings who are not, So when the kid is injured, he just takes all of them back to his place in Northern New Mexico, lock stock and barrel. It’s not like they have any other family in the country now that their folks have passed away.
Brooks Whitehead has been working as a horse trainer on a station in Australia, toiling away for a millionaire with tons of money to burn. But when he finally gets the news that his brother and sister-in-law are gone, he heads back to the States to find and help their kids. What he discovers is that Benji doesn’t want his help, and he has to ask Coop if the man is willing to let him stay on and get to know his family again.
The two men work to help heal the kids from their loss, and Benji from his broken pelvis, but they also find they had a lot in common. They’re both cowboys. They both want to do right by those kids, And they have a chemistry that’s undeniable. But when they get separated by work and circumstance, can they come back together while they still have time to do it?
*****
Review:
I enjoy the heck out of Tortuga’s stories. Granted I’ve only read two ๐ but they have been a pleasant slow burn ride with interesting characters and realistic plots. Unlike Hats to Boots, my only other read, there is minimal angst or drama with this one. Mostly just what you would expect raising a houseful of kids. And while the romance isn’t really the focus of the story, instead it’s about them figuring out how they all fit together, I still enjoyed seeing these two fall in love and make a life together so, so much. It’s all sorts of sweet and uplifting and gooey goodness. And those kids are just all sorts of adorable, as are their uncles.
*Part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.*
Genre: Military Romance Standalone Tropes: Brother’s best friend, forced proximity, alpha hero, bodyguard, soulmates, action and suspense, found family
Blurb:
HE THINKS HEโS TOO GUARDED TO LOVE.
Army Captain Nic Romero fears one thing: consequences.
Losing an arm and a leg in battle because he trusted the wrong woman was brutal enough. Now, he has a second chance at his military career with Project VIPER, the classified program that transformed him from a wounded warrior into an elite fighting machine.
This time, his walls are as impenetrable as his bionic body. But a blazing encounter at the beach with a secret-keeping siren threatens his defenses.
His only focus should be protecting her from a deadly threat. Problem is, her safety isnโt the only hard part of this mission. Heโs already experienced the thrill of her addictive heat. Another hit could trigger consequences more dangerous than the enemy.
SHE THINKS SHE CANโT BE PART OF HIS WORLD.
Dr. Olivia Darren never meant for her overprotective brother to find out she seduced his VIPER teammate. But thanks to the trouble tailing her, one night with playboy Nic Romero has morphed into a fever dream.
Now sheโs entangled in a classified world of secrets and shadows with Nic assigned as her protector. His constant presence screams danger, his touch feels like a dare, and the powerful feeling that sheโs destined to repair his wounded heart wonโt retreat.
She doesnโt belong in his perilous world but try telling that to her heart that may have finally found where it belongs.
There’s so much about these stories that I like. I love the guys together – how their injuries and recovery has bonded them into a family. The women are sassy, smart, and strong. And Wolf does a great job of tying her romance and suspense elements together.
Pretty much my only real complaint is something that has gotten better as the series has progressed – this author loves to use similes and metaphors. In the first story, it seemed like every third sentence was one, but either I’ve gotten used to it or she has gotten better about it ๐
Otherwise, I really have enjoyed getting to know the men of Viper and watching them fall in love. I’ve also liked the way that Wolf ties all of the threads together over the course of the series. I’m looking forward to seeing Linc fall in love and how things get wrapped up.
While it can technically stand on its own, would be better enjoyed after reading the rest in the series.
*****
Author Info:
Kristie Wolf is an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense.
When she was a teenager, she read her first romance novel and connected with it so deeply that she immediately told her mother she was going to write one. She is thrilled to bring that dream fully to fruition with the release of Too Dangerous to Love, Book One in the Project VIPER Series.
While her career as a marketing professional in the government technology space hasnโt taught her to troubleshoot a computer, sheโs fascinated with what happens when technology spectacularly fails. The chilling stories sheโs heard from the nationโs tech leaders are the catalyst for plots about maniacal terrorists but donโt worry. Her military and law enforcement alpha heroes and badass heroines always save the day while burning up the pages and finding happily ever after. Sheโs looking forward to sharing the VIPER world with you starting with the October 2023 release of Too Dangerous to Love, followed by the February 2024 release of Knife to the Heart, Blood Snow Series Book One, and the Fall 2024 release of Too Lethal to Love, Project VIPER Series Book Two.
Kristie resides in Maryland with her husband – aka her tech support – and her two teenagers who participate in nearly every sport or activity ever invented. Many of her words are written on the pool deck, on the sidelines and in the bleachers, or in her car. When sheโs not behind her computer she can be found:
ยท Training for her next half-marathon or walking her Vizsla and her Pittie-mix rescue while listening to her favorite authors.
ยท Watching cheerleading videos on her phone because she misses being a coach.
ยท Learning everything she can about Elvis Presley because sheโs going to write a romance novel based on him someday.
ยท Making space in her closet for another pair of cowboy boots she doesnโt need but has to have.
Amid betrayal and family secrets, a journey to the Scottish Highlands brings unexpected romance, healing, and a second chance at happiness.ย
Scarlett flees to the Scottish Highlands on her 35th birthday after discovering her husband’s affair. Desperate for a fresh start, she seeks comfort with her estranged mother at the estate of the surly, yet rather attractive bachelor, Edward Cameron-Reid; a reclusive laird devoted to his familyโs legacy.
As Scarlett disrupts Edward’s solitary life, an inescapable chemistry sparks between them amid the estateโs last-minute preparations for his brother’s wedding. However, their growing connection faces turmoil when shocking secrets and hidden motives surface, threatening not only the wedding but their blossoming romance.
Will the drama keep Scarlett and Edward apart? Can they overcome their fears and confront their true feelings for each other? Or will they discover that even after heartbreak, love has the power to offer a second chance?
A dual-narrative, spicy contemporary romance set in the Highlands of Scotland, for fans of Elliot Fletcher and Evie Alexander.
Rachel Debrave writes contemporary and fantasy romance with an often twisty, dark sense of humour and a taste for the emotionally charged. Expect quick-fire chemistry, emotional depth, swoon-worthy MMCs, and heroines who donโt just survive โ they set the pace.
When sheโs not writing in random places, Rachel can be found wandering the Scottish countryside with her dog, Daisy, reading from her ever-growing TBR pile, or playing the piano (rarely very well!) with a touch of dramatic flair.
Lucy Quinn loves hockey. What she doesnโt love? The latest PR stunt from her favorite teamโa hockey romance book club designed to lure in more female fans. Pandering to so-called โthirstyโ fans? It totally cheapens the sport.
The worst part? Theyโve slapped Bennett Wilderโthe infuriatingly cocky, annoyingly handsome star forwardโon the cover of this PR disaster like heโs some kind of book boyfriend. Gross.
So Lucy does what any passionate, totally rational fan would doโshe starts a boycott.
Bennett doesnโt love being the face of a book club, but, hey, itโs harmless funโฆ until he finds out some feisty, foul-mouthed superfan is trashing it, heโs intrigued. And maybe just a little bit turned on.
So, naturally, he makes it his mission to shut her upโwith charm, persistence, and exceptionally skilled hands. And somehow, he always manages to make her forget why she was mad.
But as their very public rivalry turns into something much deeper, Lucy realizes one terrifying truthโshe might just be falling for the one guy she swore to hate.
Kendall Ryan writes contemporary romance. Her books have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists a combined total of more than 100 times.
It wouldnโt be the first time, after all. Ever since that night two years ago, Iโve never felt completely safe. So I convinced myself the strange sense of being watched was all in my head. My PTSD flaring up just as it had in the past.
Then I was nearly run off the road on my way home from work, and as much as I wished it was just a coincidence, I knew it wasnโt.
I could go to the police, but I wanted someone I trusted to help me.
So I called Rafe. My brotherโs former teammate and best friend. Andโthough Iโd never let on for a secondโthe man whoโd held my heart ever since I met him.
As soon as Eden told me she was in trouble, I dropped everything to help her.
โMaybe itโs nothing,โ she told me. โBut things have been happening.โ
I didnโt need to hear more. If Eden needed me, I would be there. And if someone was bothering her, Iโd teach them that they messed with the wrong woman. Because as a bounty hunter and former Green Beret, Iโm the last person they want to piss off.
When I arrive in Portland to find Eden terrified and in danger, every protective instinct comes roaring to the surface. And Iโm furious that someone would dare try to hurt her.
Iโm not the white knight I always thought Eden deserved. Far from it. But Iโm a dangerous man when someone I care about is threatened. And Eden? Iโll do anything to protect her.
Protected from Malice is a slow burn friends-to-lovers story with a morally grey hero whoโll do anything to protect the people he loves, a brave and intelligent heroine, a team of Army veterans, thrilling twists, and plenty of sweet and steamy moments. No cliffhangers and a happily-ever-after guaranteed!
I’m really enjoying these stories from Cobie, although she does put her heroines through a whole lot ๐ Poor Eden just doesn’t catch a break, but she does have a great team to back her up. Between Rafe & her brother & their friends, they’ll figure out exactly what’s going on and keep her safe.
Eden is dealing with some heavy stuff and calls in Rafe when it becomes obvious that she needs help, and he calls for more help when things get even more serious. Time spent together as they try to figure out who wants to hurt her has Eden and Rafe growing closer and the guys finding a new purpose post-military.
Protected From Malice is the beginning of a new series, but with guys that returning readers will recognize from some of the previous stories. And will be happy to see getting a series of their own. One that includes all the slow burn heat, suspense and danger that Cobie’s other books are known for. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the guys getting their HEA.
*****
Author Info:
Gia Cobie is an award winning author living in upstate New York with her husband and small zoo of animals. She loves writing about protective heroes and the strong women they fall in love with.
In her spare time (when she has any!), Gia enjoys reading and spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a weakness for reality romance shows, wine, and buying way too many books!
From USA Today bestselling authors Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams comes the heartfelt conclusion to the Comeback Duet. Knox delivers a steamy, found-family MM baseball romance where love in the spotlight collides with family tensions and an injury that could cost them everything.
Blurb:
Being with Crew is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Even better than getting called up to the majors. We may have started as a fling, but heโs my end game now, the part of everything I want beyond baseball.
Thereโs another guy in his life now, though, and heโs making up for lost time with his son Grady. Iโve been trying to find my place with them, and most days I think I have. Other days, itโs hard to ignore how Crew might want something easier for him and his son, a future without hotel rooms, stadium lights, and road games.
When Gradyโs mom gets into a car accident, everything becomes more uncertain. None of us know if sheโs going to make it, and I canโt stop thinking about the choices Crew may need to make and what thatโll mean for us. If he walks away from the game to focus on his son, Iโm not sure if thereโs still a place in his world for someone whoโs gone half the season.
Losing them would wreck me, and if theyโre no longer mine, thereโs no comeback from that.
I wrote in my review for Crewthat I didn’t want any more drama for these two and I pretty much go what I asked for. It’s overflowing with steam and feels as the two of them try to find their footing with their relationship, their jobs, and Crew’s son. There is very little angst but just a slow burn as they struggle to figure out how everything fits together, often feeling like something has to give.
Especially Crew as he tries to make up for lost time with his son as well as help Mallory after the accident that was the cliffhanger for book 1. He wants to be with Crew and play baseball and be there with Grady and with Mallory but with spring training starting, and then the season, he’s away as much as he is home and he is stuh-ruhg-ling. He’s just not sure how he can balance everything without feeling like he’s missing out or letting someone down.
Unfortunately it often leaves Knox feeling a little on the outside. He’s a great boyfriend, and is wonderful with Grady, but so much has happened so quickly that he doesn’t always know how he fits. But that doesn’t stop him from jumping in with both feet and doing everything he can to support this little family they are making. Together, with the help of friends and family, surely they can figure it out.
It’s a good ending to their story, and I felt satisfied with where it took them, but I’m not sure it’s going to be for everyone. Especially when compared to Crew. This one still has all the emotions, but they are quieter than the gut punch that the first one was at times ๐
*****
Author Info:
Kimberly Knight is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives in the Central Valley of California with her loving husband, who is a great research assistant, and young daughter who keeps her on her toes.
Rachel Lyn Adams is a USA Today Bestselling author who was born in Southern California and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, five children, and a crazy number of fur babies. In 2017, she took a chance and published her very first book. Little did she know just how much that decision would change her life.
Nick Galaxy has zero interest in helping anyone write a love storyโespecially not one about him.ย Heโs a single dad with enough on his plate, and the last thing he needs is a curious, chatty author poking around in his past.
But when Ruby shows up on his doorstep, notebook in hand and determined smile on her face, resistance becomes… complicated.
Sheโs supposed to be here for research. Instead, sheโs moving into the empty cabin on his property, asking personal questions, and somehow roping him into teaching her how to skate. Heโs not looking for loveโbut sheโs writing it into every inch of his life.
And the more time they spend on the ice, the harder it is to pretend she doesnโt already have his heart.
Lucky Shotย is a grumpy/sunshine, single dad, forced proximity hockey romance with found family, banter, and spiceโall wrapped up in a guaranteed happily ever after.
Clumsy and prone to saying her inside thoughts out loud, Ruby is adorable. She’s also dealing with a bit of writer’s block and self doubt. And the grumpy hockey player that’s supposed to help her with research on her next story. But she’s not going to let him get her down.
Nick is dealing with a lot coming into the summer (and I have to say I love that Jenshak actually has him address his problems with a professional – more of this!) and the last thing he wants is to deal with Ruby asking him questions and poking around in his life. But under all that grump is a good guy and she quickly gets under his skin, enough that he finds himself agreeing to help. And before long, he finds himself drawn to her quirkiness, positivity, and unwillingness to give up.
There were parts of this that were hilarious (you know there are going to be some entertaining stories coming from Nick’s teammates) and there was so much sweetness in the book too. From the unconventional way the guys loved & supported each other to Nick’s relationship with his dad. I loved how Nick’s friends just embraced her whole body *sigh* It’s another slow burn but from their meet cute to the grand gesture HEA, it just works. Looking forward to what comes next!
(It looks like there’s some returning characters here from other series, but can easily stand on its own.)
Tropes: Enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity, sports agents/co-workers, secret relationship
Blurb:
Fox
There are only three things in life Iโm passionate about: my family, sports, and hating Archer Holloway.
Heโs the most prolific associate at the firm and out earns everyone at our level. Plus, heโs annoyingly good-looking and is somehow able to charm everyone. Everyone except me.
His athlete roster might be impressive, but his tactics for signing clients can be questionable at best.
So, when the chance arises to stealthily pitch to someone heโs gunning for, I donโt hesitate.
Two can play at this game.
Archer
I donโt understand why Lincoln Fox hates me. Okay, so maybe I signed a few athletes he was pursuing, but thatโs not personal. Itโs business.
I really do think heโd come to like me if he got to know me. He wonโt give me the time of day though. He never has. Which is a shame because Fox is the most attractive man Iโve ever met.
The more he argues with me, the more everyone around us thinks thereโs a spark between us. The office pool is over two thousand dollars now, but theyโre backing the wrong horse. No one will win this bet because the chance of us hooking up are less than zero. Fox will never see me as anything more than an over-competitive jerk. What a waste of money.
When Archer and Fox find themselves having to work together, they develop an unlikely friendship. And while Archer definitely rubs Fox the wrong way early on, it doesn’t take long for those sparks to take a certain turn ๐ Soon Fox finds out that there is more to Archer than he thought. And Archer realizes that some of Fox’s frustration with him might have been hiding other feelings. Causing both men to see each other, and themselves, differently.
Sometimes you want something with a little more …. excitement isn’t the right word … drama? angst? oomph? Whatever you want to call it. But other times a slow burn romance just hits the spot and The Office Bet falls into that category. It’s not for everyone but I really like them, especially when they are written by someone of Finley’s skill. Her stories always have great banter, a delicious amount of steam, and characters that keep me coming back.
**There are lots of appearances by characters from other stories (though this one is good as a stand alone) and I’m sure that is a treat for returning readers. I know I loved seeing the ones I’ve met before ๐ **
*****
Author Info:
Eden Finley is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are full of snark and light-hearted fluff.
She doesn’t take anything too seriously and lives to create an escape from real life for her readers. The ideas always begin with a wackadoodle premise, and she does her best to turn them into romances with heart.
With a short attention span that rivals her son’s, she writes multiple different pairings: MM, MMF, and MF.
She’s also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don’t make sense to anyone else.
It was a fun Vegas getawayโuntil I woke up married to my ex-fiancรฉโs brother.
After Watson brother #1 ditched me at the altar, I stopped believing in happily-ever-afters. So I have no clue how I ended up saying โI doโ to BrooksโWatson brother #2โsomewhere between tequila shots and bad decisions. Okay, that may not be true.
Sheriff Watson has been a charming thorn in my side ever since his brother left our small ranch town in his rearview mirror. Heโs a little too steady, a little too sweet, and way too intuitive because he sees through my facade. But no matter how tempting he is, heโs still a Watson.
I demand an annulment. He refuses, bargaining four real dates before he signs.
Fine. Iโll sabotage each one and keep my heart safely locked away. Itโs easier this way because he has no idea the secret Iโm keeping.
Of course, Brooks doesnโt go down easyโhe has enough faith for both of us. He tackles my fears at every turn, making me wonder what would happen if I went all in.
But trusting the wrong man once nearly ruined meโdoing it again might finish the job.
I loved me some Brooks! He’s so sincere and understanding, a little bit naughty, and oh-so-caring. He’s willing to give Lottie the time and space she needs but also knows that she needs to be pushed occasionally to get out of her own way. I couldn’t get enough of his patience with her and their situation. He’s loved her for so long, knows her, and is willing to work for a chance with her.
Lottie has some understandable baggage from her relationship with the other Watsons and it’s kept her from committing not only to Brooks but to any guy. Little too much alcohol and the right time & place has some desires that she’s kept hidden, and refused to acknowledge, coming to the surface. And while she might fight it, even she knows that her heart isn’t really in it.
I’ve lived in a small town and I totally understand why she would feel like they were constantly judging her and talking about her and that she wouldn’t be willing to put herself out there any more. And the hurt she carries from her called off marriage, and the reaction of certain people, have her imagining judgement where none exists, which has her afraid to put herself out there more. But Brooks isn’t going to let her hide forever.
My heart broke for both Brooks & Lottie and what they had to go through because of members of his family. The choices they had to make and the repercussions of Lottie’s failed relationship … it’s not easy to get past but they have each other & everyone at Plain Daisy Ranch to get them through it. That big, boisterous, nosy family loves loud, supports loud, & gives each other a hard time loud and it makes for a great read & HEA.
Romantic Reads and Such 