USA Today bestselling author Laura Pavlov delivers a spicy enemies-to-lovers romance about a billionaire developer and a small-town entrepreneur battling their desires in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
You, Me, and Forever
Blushing series
by Laura Pavlov
Blurb:
Myles St. James is tearing my world apart.
Wish I’d known that before I slept with him.
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
Like I knew anything about those.
But I needed to blow off steam.
My ex had just gotten engaged.
My dry spell was nearing six months.
And my booming wedding planning business—the one I started with my bestie—was about to lose its favorite venue to some bulldozer-happy developer from New York.
The Seaside Inn is such a special place.
My second home.
And ever since that famous singer got married there, people are flocking to Blushing, Alaska, for their own weddings too.
Guess whose fling turns out to be the hotshot real estate guy?
But he isn’t what I expected.
And sleeping with the enemy doesn’t feel nearly as wrong as it should.
Because Myles St. James is rocking my world.
Too bad giving in to him could mean giving up my dreams.
I’m not sure what to say except that I loved this one so much. It has a huge small town allure, with an eclectic group of friends, a well endowed moose (?), a porcupine that just wants to cuddle, and a bridezilla or two.
Myles, for all his big city swagger, fits in so well and quickly finds himself charmed just as I was. Especially with Montana, who is saucy, fun, and keeps him on his toes. From a one night stand to enemies to friends to more, their interactions are so entertaining. And for all his talk about not being relationship material, Myles sure knows how to be there for others. Not just Montana, but everyone. He just has to learn to have a little faith in himself and see it too.
Pavlov’s newest is quirky, humorous, and steamy. It’s got a wide range of feels and while their journey is predictable it is also all sorts of satisfying. I really couldn’t have loved this more and I’m excited to see where we go next in Blushing.
*****
Author Info:
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!
They’ve been in an intimate relationship for three years.
They’ve just never met.
Will Campbell has been in an interesting relationship for the last three years—with a woman he doesn’t know. Every time he’s worked the kissing booth at a Sweetbriar Ridge festival, he’s been kissed by the same mysterious woman. It’s the same thing every time—a steamy kiss that leaves you wanting more and then a disappearing act. But this year? He vows to stop her and convince her to do more than just kiss and run.
Being mysterious is fun, but Sloane Donovan is tired of the kiss and run game she’s been playing for years. It might have all started as a dare, but now she wants more. Now that her sister is Sweetbriar Ridge’s newest resident, she has even more reasons to visit, and she vows that at the next festival she won’t run away after the kiss. But maybe she doesn’t have to wait until a festival to find the sexy man who kisses like a dream. Maybe she can just drive around Sweetbriar Ridge until she finds him.
With the next festival on the horizon, Will has a plan. But that plan goes out the window when he unexpectedly runs into his mystery woman. This time, he’s determined not to let her get away, so he does the only thing he can think of—kiss her. And he keeps kissing, hoping she’ll choose to give them a real chance.
I liked Sloane and Will together – how they met and kept coming together, how the are formally finally formally introduced, and the way things work out for them. But I did have a few problems.
Both characters came across as a bit immature. I’m not sure how old Sloane’s supposed to be, and she recognizes her own immaturity, but I struggled a bit with her. And I did not like AT ALL how people treated Will. It was almost like he was a child … or a joke to them. He’s enthusiastic and a bit clumsy but I can’t tell if his immaturity was on him or the way that other people interacted with him. I felt like he deserved so much better.
Overall not my favorite by Chase but still a solid story. I felt like they had a pretty solid romance between them and it had its moments of quirky fun. Returning readers will love seeing all of the Donovans and seeing the big loving family come together for Sloane and Will.
*****
Author Info:
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and THE WEDDING SEASON which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s 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 Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Deacon Slater was my high school crush—the bad boy with haunted eyes that made my heart skip a beat. But in our small town, the Slater name is synonymous with trouble, and Deke lived up to it when he landed in prison a few years after graduation.
He served his time and now he’s back, living in the apartment above mine, covered in ink and even more intriguing than before.
As the owner of Sugar Rush bakery, I’m used to building bridges with my muffins and cookies. I’ve seen cowboys nearly come to blows over the last lemon bar. But Deke wants nothing to do with my treats…or me. He keeps his distance, barely speaking when I knock on his door.
Until the day he doesn’t have a choice.
He’s there when I need him, stepping in to protect me, showing me the caring man beneath his rough edges.
We couldn’t be more different. I’m a curvy ray of sunshine in a pink apron and he’s a stoic, tattooed carpenter in work boots. But the more walls we tear down, the closer we get. And piece by piece, we discover how well we fit.
But when darkness from his past comes looking for him, what we’re building could all fall apart. Because this time, trouble isn’t just circling Deacon Slater.
Deacon is back after a few years in prison. Between his record and his less than respectable family, he’s struggling with how he’s perceived by others in his small home town. And his sweet downstairs neighbor, his childhood crush.
Phoebe had a thing for Deacon when they were kids, and a decade away hasn’t changed it much. Kindness and understanding, and a few sweet treats, has them developing a friendship of sorts. That develops into something more.
Like See It Through, the characters just shine in this series. Both Phoebe and Deacon have some baggage from their pasts (granted his is heavier than hers) but with time and patience they figure things out. And work to create a healthy, long term relationship. Wolf delivers another story that is emotional, steamy, and oh so satisfying.
*****
Author Info:
Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers, broken bad boys, snarky heroines, and bad ass women. She’s a firm believer in happily ever afters, no matter how rocky the road is to get there.
Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she’s not writing romance, she’s reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.
A sexy, small town, single dad, roommates to lovers romance from bestselling author, Chelle Sloan.
Roommate’s Guide to Love
Guide to Love series
by Chelle Sloan
Blurb:
GUIDE TO LOVE RULE #6: Flings are temporary. Falling for the single dad could be forever.
I believe the saying is “never say never.” To that I say hold my beer.
I never thought I’d quit my job as a middle school teacher because of a group of unpleasant parents, yet I did with my middle finger in the air and no regrets.
Now I’m back in the small town in Tennessee where I grew up unsure of the future, facing temptation on a daily basis in the form of Porter McCoy.
For years, we’ve had the perfect “situationship.” I couldn’t get enough of the flirty bar owner and neither of us wanted anything serious. So twice a year when I came to visit my family, we’d do our thing. It was deliciously sexy with no strings attached.
Yet when an unexpected surprise lands on his doorstep in a pink dress and a baby carrier, everything changes—especially after he asks me to move in with him to help raise his niece.
Somehow I agree, but under one condition—what we had is no more. Because sleeping together and living together is a little too much like a relationship. Something neither of us are looking for.
Porter agrees, but soon I realize I underestimated my strength to resist the newly single dad.
Because it should be illegal for him to cuddle her shirtless.
Or walk around the house in just a towel.
And when we share a look, I remember what it felt like when he kissed me.
Which now brings me to my latest never: I never thought I’d fall in love with Porter McCoy.
Known for her witty sense of humor, Chelle Sloan is a former sports editor who after years in the newspaper business, decided to become a romance author. You know, because that’s the normal path to writing happily ever afters.
An Ohio native, she’s fiercely loyal to Cleveland sports, is the owner of way too many tumblers and will be a New Kids on the Block fan until the day she dies. She does her best writing at Panera, or anywhere that’s not her office.
When she’s not writing, you can find her in the kitchen attempting to become a baker, fixing up her condo (badly and by watching YouTube videos), or falling in love with a book.
From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby comes When We Break, a small-town, cowboy, heroine in danger romance, set in Bitterroot Valley!
When We Break
Blackwells of Montana series
by Kristen Proby
Blurb:
Beckett
I’ve seen the gorgeous redhead with the big black dog that never leaves her side around town. She’s impossible to miss with that lush red hair and perfect green eyes. But it’s when she opens her plump lips and the sound of Ireland comes out of her kissable mouth that I know I’m a goner. I know she’s the one for me and I’ll do whatever it takes to make Skyla Gallagher mine. I can be a patient man and all I want in the world is to worship every bit of her, inside and out.
Skyla
I moved to the lovely town of Bitterroot Valley, Montana because I needed a safe place. I left my life in New York as a prima ballerina after an injury that I never fully healed from, and to escape the obsession of a madman. I adore this new community, but I must admit that Beckett Blackwell is the very best part. I love his kindness, his patience, and his thoughtfulness. But most of all, I can’t get enough of the way he worships my body, and then does everything he can to pamper me afterwards. Beckett is a drug that I’ve become addicted to. But will my stalker find me in Montana, ruining everything we’ve started together, before we have had our chance at forever?
Kristen Proby is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over seventy published titles. She debuted in 2012, captivating fans with spicy contemporary romance about families and friends with plenty of swoony love. She also writes paranormal romance and suggests you keep the lights on while reading them.
When not under deadline, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband and their fur babies, riding her bike, relaxing with embroidery, trying her hand at painting, and, of course, enjoying her beautiful home in the mountains of Montana.
Our latest superstar is my newest problem. Until I meet his mother…
Chicago Ravens captain Ledger Cole believes in earning your stripes, not coasting on golden boy status. So when Austin Hart becomes the NHL’s youngest signee, Ledger is determined to give him a pretty steep learning curve.
Auburn Hart is barely clinging onto her son’s meteoric rise to stardom. Uprooted to a new city, a new job (working in a coffee shop in your thirties is fiiine, right?) and being forced to keep an eye on Austin’s troublemaking tendencies is…a lot.
When loneliness and chance create the perfect hookup, neither Auburn nor Ledger realizes their awkward real-life connection — until the truth spills out. But with more than one career at stake, and Auburn’s scars hovering at the door, they can’t just follow this irresistible pull. Can they?
Your Pucking Mom is a dual POV, forbidden love, forced proximity hockey romance for fans of Becka Mack.
TW: for abusive relationship with her mom and past sexual assault
Auburn has a lot of trauma she’s spent years working on, and she still has a long way to go. (I do kinda wish she was still seeing a therapist because I think that it’s needed, especially with the move and changes in her & Austin’s lives.) Her connection to Ledger, tho, is pretty hard to ignore.
For not having had a relationship before, Ledger is a pretty stand up guy … as well, as a sexy and forceful. I appreciate the patience he takes with Auburn, in and out of the bedroom. He’s supportive, caring, and understanding.
Some may have an issue with how quickly they fall into a sexual relationship together, but I think that it works OK knowing that she’s been thru therapy. Getting her POV for it helps as well. Not that making that step is easy or without bumps (big bumps) along the way.
This is the first by Taylor that I’ve read. While the writing isn’t what I am used to (it’s a little quirky) and there are some times when it feels like things don’t flow quite right, overall I enjoyed it a lot. I’ll be interested in seeing what comes next in this series.
*****
Author Info:
Vee Taylor is a passionate writer based in the suburbs of Chicago. With a lovingly supportive husband, two dogs, and two children, she finds inspiration in her daily life and uses it to fuel her writing. Her passion for reading and writing began ten years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since.
As an avid book lover, Vee is obsessed with all things bookish. She loves exploring new worlds, discovering new characters, and delving into different genres. Her favorite genres include dark romance, romantasy, and good ole smut. When she’s not writing, she can often be found with her nose buried in a book or scrolling aimlessly on social media.
Aside from writing, Vee is also a talented photographer that worked for years in the wedding industry. She loves spending time with her friends and family, and enjoys trying new things. With a zest for life and an unwavering passion for writing, Vee Taylor is so excited that you are here on this journey with her.
Get ready to fall hard for the mysterious Seeley “Doc” Whiskey and the one woman he never thought would walk back into his life, in this sexy and emotional second-chance standalone romance. The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch is a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and a happily ever after that will leave you breathless.
Love, Lies, and Whiskey
The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch
by Melissa Foster
World Literary Press
Blurb:
First loves that were ripped apart, and the epic love that saves them.
At nineteen, Seeley “Doc” Whiskey fell hard for the governor’s daughter, and then she was torn away. He risked his life and his family’s legacy to get her back, only to find out that everything he believed about her was a lie. His heart has been locked down ever since.
Betrayed by everyone she loves, Juliette Chambers has been through hell and back. Now a single mother and veterinarian, Juliette moves back to Colorado to start over. The last person she expects to run into is the man who completely destroyed her.
A chance encounter turns into a moment of fury, sending them into an emotional maelstrom. Tears and accusations fly and passion ignites, but in their wake they discover a trail of secrets and lies and a life-changing blow that takes them to their knees.
The Whiskeys are stand up people and Doc is no different. He can be grumpy and rigid but he’s hiding a heart of gold, one bruised by a lost love. Meeting her again, learning the truth, gives them another chance and bringing out the man he used to be.
Juliette is a good match for Doc. She had a rough start but she’s created a good life for herself & her son and getting to the truth of their past also has her looking at the future with brighter eyes. And with Doc & the other Whiskey’s at her side, she’ll find out that she can face down just about anything life has for her.
Foster’s latest did not go at all like I expected. And it was a gut punch every step of the way. From Juliette and Doc’s meeting again after so long, to finding out the truth of what happened all those years ago, getting to know each other again and the troubles life sometimes gives you. It’s emotional hit after emotion hit, both good and bad. Make sure you are ready, then throw yourself whole body into this roller coaster of a read!
*****
Author Info:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.
From USA TODAY bestselling author Nana Malone, a romance about a Ghanaian American heiress faced with the dilemma of choosing between culture and a love connection.
During an opulent publishing party, Ofosua Addo crosses paths with Cole Drake for the first time. Their flirtatiously witty exchange culminates in a kiss that etches a permanent mark on both their hearts.
But Ofosua’s identity as a Ghanaian heiress comes before Cole. She loves the vibrant traditions of Ghana’s Gold Coast, and her hand is already promised to a man that even her overbearing mother loves. Yet, when her big Ghanaian wedding transforms from a fairy tale into a spectacle, she’s thrust into a whirlwind of heartbreak and self-discovery.
In the midst of it all, Cole enters her life once again, under circumstances far different from their magical first encounter. Can Ofosua and Cole’s rediscovered spark overcome the weight of tradition?
Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves all things romance and adventure.
That love started with a tattered romantic suspense she “borrowed” from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen year old. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
Sign up for my VIP Reader List to find out when my next release is:https://geni.us/nananl
From bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a sweet, sexy story about the secret crush between a college QB and his teammate’s sister, and the obvious chemistry that keeps them in the huddle.
Sienna
I’ve had a thing for Gavin Maddox ever since I was a freshman, but it’s a mission doomed to fail. Of all the guys I could have picked on campus, I had to go too far with the quarterback, my brother’s best friend.
We’ve spent the last two years avoiding each other. It’s not that easy when you have the same friends, not to mention I can’t forget the way it felt to be with him. But I can be civil. Polite. Detached.
I think…
Gavin
Sienna Cooper is off limits–except for that one time. I can’t forget it, but I need to forget her if I want to keep my head in the game. This is my senior year and, more importantly, my last season of college football. I can’t let anything distract me.
I’ve respected Sienna’s boundaries for this long. I can do it for another year.
Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.
A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.
As a high school hockey star, I was on track for greatness. Until an opponent attacked me on the ice, leaving me half blind.
For the past twenty-seven years, I’ve avoided hockey and its painful memories. But when my old teammates get back together to play in a local recreational league, I realize it could be a chance to rewrite history. The only person standing in my way is Jack Gross.
Hockey isn’t complete without a rivalry, and ours comes courtesy of the Blades: they’re younger, faster, and fronted by Jack, a former professional hockey player who hates my guts after a rooftop hookup gone wrong.
His cockiness and penchant for pranks make me hate him right back. But Jack has a special way of getting under my skin that makes me want to get into his pants. And well, I only have so much willpower.
As our teams get closer to a showdown on the ice, Jack begins shedding his armor of confidence. Despite getting to live the life I dreamed of, maybe Jack is as messed up as me.
The championship game could redeem the past for us both. But there can only be one winner. Will victory taste as sweet if it costs me Jack?
Gross Misconduct is a rivals to lovers, age gap, single dad, gay romance with no cheating and an HEA. It is book 1 in The Comebacks, a series about a friend group of single dads who were hockey all-stars in high school and looking to recapture the magic in their forties. Whether they win or lose, there’s always a post-game beer.
*****
Review:
Griffin had his dreams for the future taken from him at 18, but he’s managed to create a good life for himself. A job that he enjoys and 2 beautiful kids. And now he’s starting a new stage of his life, divorced and newly out as a gay man in his 40s. Then he meets Jack … and things got drastically wrong.
Jack is struggling post NHL life. He’s broke with no idea what he wants to do with his life and a difficult relationship with his dad. And finds himself battling on and off the ice with Griffin.
This was my first book by Truman and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s a fast read, funny and steamy and heartfelt. It has a sweet mix of found family and romance, with a bit of angst to keep things hopping. I’ll definitely be looking for another read from him.
Romantic Reads and Such 