Some thrills you chase. Others blindside you in a red plaid skirt and combat boots.
Axel – It was probably a little stalkerish to follow him to this office and pin him up against the wall before knowing his name, but in my defense, red is my favorite color. And he made it look so good I found myself tempted to try eggplant for the first time.
Besides, itโs not like I was the only one looking. Heโd been not-so-discretely ogling me all afternoon, I just made the first move. And the second. And pretty much all the others until tragedy struck his hometown and he sought me out for comfort.
I knew after that first night one wouldnโt be enough, but when he turned to me in his moment of need, I was done for. Too bad forever is the one thing Lennon doesnโt believe in. Heโs spent years building a life he controlsโrunning his restaurant, protecting his heart, keeping everyone at armโs length. And me? Iโm a professional dirt biker with no fixed address and no idea how to stay still.
We donโt make sense. Not on paper. Not in real life. But when heโs in my arms, nothingโs ever felt more right.
He thinks our timingโs all wrong.But I think I finally found the place I want to landโand the man I want to stay for.
This spicy queer romance features a workaholic who channels David Rose’s fashion sense – and emotional neurosis; a daredevil who thrives on challenges – including his first-time attraction to a man; A+ dirty talk; stolen underwear; a restaurant that functions as part therapy space, part relationship bootcamp;and a quirky small town that’s got that nowhere-on-a-map vibe, but somehow becomes the place where people find themselves and fall in love.
*****
Review:
Persistent is all slow burn, with just a little bit of angst at the very end. It’s definitely not for everyone, her late in the third act breakups thing, but it works for me. I enjoy the interaction between the two, how they slowly go from hookups to something much more, and how they don’t let their issues ruin everything for them.
Axel is absolutely the best. Kind, caring, and supportive. He shows up again and again, proving that he’s in the relationship. I do wish he’d done a little more to communicate his plans to Lennon instead of … testing him, I guess. I get it, he wants to know where Lennon stands but a conversation would maybe have helped their issues later on.
Lennon is fabulous too. I love how confident he is in himself as a person, comfortable in his skin and persona, but also guarded due to his family issues. Which are totally understandable. And with some help from his friends, plus Axel’s, he does figure things out eventually.
Just like the other books in the series, Persistent is a good mix of steam & feels, with relatable characters and good pacing & plot. This series is all about the delightful found family/small town charm & satisfying HEAs and I’m looking forward to where she takes us next.
Ryder Vorhees was born to rideโuntil the day he stopped.
A tragic accident stole his brother, his will to compete, and any reason to step back on a snowboard. Now heโs stuck serving community service hours at the last place he wants to be: the mountain that haunts him. The only thing worse? The man in charge of babysitting him.
Hayden Chaulke lives for helping people rediscover what theyโve lost. Running a fledgling adaptive sports program is supposed to be his dream jobโuntil his newest โinstructorโ shows up hungover, bitter, and infuriatingly gorgeous. Hayden doesnโt do lost causesโฆ but Ryder isnโt just anyone.
Forced to work together on the slopes, sparks fly between the surly exโpro and the rule-following manager. What starts as hostility turns into something neither expectedโan attraction that feels as dangerous as it is undeniable. But Ryderโs ghosts are never far behind, and learning to let go might mean facing the one thing heโs fought hardest to avoid: forgiveness.
Because some mountains arenโt meant to be conqueredโtheyโre meant to heal you.
Wheeler Rankin isnโt here for romanceโsheโs come to Lucky River Ranch to visit her best friend, wrangle a business deal, and prove herself to everyone who ever doubted her. But when she collides with Duke Riversโresident heartbreaker, restless cowboy, and brother to her best friendโs new flameโsparks fly hotter than a Texas summer.
Duke has always dreamed of more than dusty trails and small-town life. Heโs itching to see the world, but one unforgettable night with Wheeler changes his course. When a blizzard and a business road trip leave them stranded together, their no-strings flirtation ignites into something deeper.
But passion brings complicationsโand unexpected news threatens to upend everything Wheelerโs built. As family pressures, old wounds, and new dreams collide, Duke is determined to stand by her side, ready to forge a future neither of them ever imagined.
Can two fiercely independent souls trust in love, face their fears, and find home in each otherโs arms? Or will the ghosts of the past keep them apart for good?
Welcome back to Hartsville, where family is found, love is hard-won, and every cowboy has a story worth telling.
Poor Wheeler is going to get all the negativity for this one, I think. Duke is just a big ol’ walking green flag, everything that you could ask for in a partner, and she just can’t get out of her own way. It’s understandable – between her dad & older brother and some poor past relationships (although she may be a little at fault there, she does have a habit of self-destruction & running away) she doesn’t have a lot of faith in herself and her appeal.
It just breaks my heart because she seems fun and loving and good hearted, everything that you would want for one of the Rivers brothers. And her first meeting “date” with Duke is just swooney. It may be a bit much for some because it does go on for so long, tho.
While she puts up a good fight, Duke isn’t going to let her go too easily. With patience, love, and grit, he’s willing to put in the work, to show not just tell, and prove to Wheeler that he’s genuine in his pursuit. And it is a beautiful thing to see. Those boys have been through a lot but they all grew up to be real good men. Dirty talking, big hearted, good men and I love every one of them.
Peterson delivers another fantastic entry to her Lucky River Ranch series. It’s a slow burn, but it does bring the feels and a deserved HEA. Just one more brother to go – we’re ready for you Ryder!
The hockey player, the figure skater, and the roommate situationโฆ
GUS
No one throws a party quite like I do. Technically, I could have graduated three years ago, but I love Smithton, I love hockey, and the team needs a good captain with a positive outlook. Thatโs me. I love this town, and it loves me.
Well, except for my roommate.
Rafe doesnโt like me at allโtotal mystery. Iโm a nice guy. Ask anyone. Heโs the one with stick-in-the-mud-itis. Or maybe the nonstop partying is too much for him. Itโs definitely taking a toll on me, and Iโm trying to do better โcause in a twist, Rafeโs not so bad.
He has a great smile, pretty eyes, cute dimples, andโ
Oh, man. I think I have a situation.
RAFE
This cannot be happening. Iโm a competitive figure skater with goals and big plans. How did I get saddled with a party-boy hockey-hero for a roommate?
Oh, yeah. I mistakenly assumed the captain of the hockey team would be goal-oriented. Wrong. Gus and I have nothing in common, and I have no idea how Iโm going to survive a year of this.
But oddly enough, weโre good together in a crisis. So good, Iโm beginning to wonder if we could be something serious. Something more than a couple of athletes playing the roommate game.
The Roommate Game is an MM light-angst, college hockey romance featuring a fun-loving captain, a serious figure skater, and a chance at forever.
Prior Reading: recommended but not essential Genre: contemporary, college, sports Tropes: Hockey, college, opposites attract, roommates
*****
Excerpt:
โOkay, wellโฆI got two ideas for you. Favorite karaoke song and best series youโve ever binged.โ
โThat sounds like โhow to look desperate in under five secondsโ advice.โ He made a buzzer sound. โTry again.โ
โNope. Iโve given you gold, Johannsen. Work with it. Everyone has a karaoke story and or a show they freaking love and canโt shut up about. Get him talking while youโre practicing your spins or something. I guarantee youโll have your opening to ask him out. How do you feel about sriracha?โ I held up a bottle.
โI like itโฆsparingly. Too much changes the taste of whatever youโre eating.โ
โTrue, but I like spicy food. I went to this karaoke bar where they served the hottest wings ever. Ty put my name on the list to sing a Britney Spears song. My mouth was on fire and I could barely whisper into the mic, let alone sing.โ
Rafeโs lips twitched with humor as he pushed the cart and perused chicken breasts. โWhich song?โ
โ โToxic.โ I was supposed to make my voice extra deep and Ty was gonna go high, but those damn wings lit a fire in my throat. I wonโt be ordering those any time soon. Itโs a great bar, though. Hey, we should go sometime. What are you doing next Friday?โ I winked. โSee what I did there?โ
He added chicken to our now half-full cart and grinned. โThat was impressive.โ
โThank you. If you need another pep talk, Iโm here for you, but Iโve got do-or-die playoff games next week andโโ
โIโm fine.โ
โI know you are. I believe in you, Rafester.โ
He blushed, then grumbled about the sodium in a bottle of soy sauce. I was a little insulted that he thought Iโd buy his faux-grouchy routine. Iโd been privy to the real grump, so I could tell the difference. But I didnโt call him out on it โcause whether heโd realized it or not, Rafe had let me in.
*****
Review:
Gus has been a pretty terrible roommate but he’s been using his party lifestyle to self-medicate, hiding his issues and his conflict over his future with drugs and alcohol. (I really want to know how he did so well in both his classes and on the ice all things considered.) But he’s finally at the point where things have to change and I really appreciate that Hayes had him getting professional help, not just powering thru on his own. That also has him becoming a better roommate to Rafe.
I don’t know how Rafe lasted as long as he did – the drunken parties, missing food, and messy house … but it’s good thing all around that he’s willing to give Gus another chance. Because it gives him a chance to see the funny, caring man inside. Even if he’s so clueless as to why Rafe may not be his biggest fan ๐
But Sober Gus takes all the enthusiasm of Party Gus and applies it in positive ways. He’s so fun and I love how he brings Rafe along on all sorts of fun adventures, working to help him get out of his head for a bit. And it doesn’t take long for a crush to form. Who can blame him tho the way Gus throws himself full body into everything and that includes being a friend, then friend with benefits.
The newest from Hayes is a slow burn, low angst, sweet “enemies” to lovers situation. I loved these two together – Gus with his big personality & even bigger heart hiding his issues and Rafe with his quiet support and self doubt. Once again Hayes shows finesse with characters, plot, and pacing, delivering a feel good read.
*****
Author Info:
Lane Hayes lives in sunny Southern California with her amazing husband, who thankfully doesnโt mind cooking, and their fabulous fox red Labrador, George, whoโs pure mischief. Both provide oodles of inspiration for the low-angst, humorous books Lane loves to write. Sheโs been telling stories about sexy, funny, sometimes geeky and quirky men who find love for a dozen years now and loving every minute. In her previous life, she sat at a desk and dealt with numbers, so yesโฆromance is much more satisfying! Lane loves tea, travel, and chocolateโฆin any order. Add a book and sheโs set!
Zander Wicked lives life fast, on his bike, on the job, and with women. But one split second shatters his world and forces him to face truths heโs spent a lifetime outrunning. His family doubts he can change, but Zander knows better, and when the woman who helped save him needs more than a little help herself, he sets out to prove everyone wrong.
Shauna Flores knows what it means to fight for survival. As an EMT and a person in recovery, sheโs rebuilt her life piece by piece while carrying the weight of a best friend she refuses to give up on. The last thing she expects is to end up bound to a man like Zander Wicked, or to find herself in a marriage of convenience that blurs every line between right and wrong.
Two people with checkered pasts, an arrangement that ties them together, and a future neither sees comingโone that will test their limits, their loyalties, and the lengths theyโre willing to go to for the people they love.
Tropes: Small-town, found family, MC / biker romance, close proximity, protective hero, alpha hero, he falls first, strangers to lovers, chance meeting, reformed playboy, marriage of convenience.
Irresistibly Wicked is emotional, humorous, sexy, and fun. It’s not overly angsty but it is a heart-grabber. Zander is a charmer and he definitely won me over, working so hard to live life a little more purposefully after a near death experience. He won Shauna over too, throwing himself whole body into being a fabulous “fake” husband ๐
And she needs all the love and care that she can get. Shauna has struggled for so long, lived with little positive attention, that she finds it hard to accept the kindness the Wickeds send her way … and being Wickeds they show up and give her all that she needs & more.
Foster once again hits it out of the park for me. I loved Zander and Shauna together – the way they bloom with each other, the way they laugh and play their way into falling in love, their strength and resilience … just so much to love here. All the way to that moment at the end leading them to their HEA moment *sigh*
Going into this you know that these two are going to take a little bit getting out of their own way. Both have issues that have caused them to feel like a committed relationship isn’t for them but fate keeps bringing them together, showing them signs that they really are meant to be. And it is delightful.
Charlie Benson is happy with her life; she just feels a little lost. The empty nest years haven’t been as easy as she thought they might be, and while planning her daughter’s wedding should be fun, it’s become more about appeasing overbearing relatives than her daughter’s happiness.
Davis Benson wants nothing more than for his wife to be happy, but since their two kids left for college, things just haven’t been the same. Charlie isn’t her usual bubbly self, and the empty nest years aren’t as fun as he expected.
When a potential real estate deal threatens the small town where they live, and Charlie and Davis risk losing their home, their world feels beyond their control, making it increasingly difficult to find hope. Together, they must find a way to carve a new path unlike the one they imagined, holding tight to what matters most.
โHey, honey. Iโm home!โ she hollered as she came through the front door.
โIn here!โ Davisโs voice echoed down the hallway from the kitchen.
Charlie set her purse on the bench inside the door and hung her coat on the rack. She took off her shoes and kicked them under the bench. Padding down the hall in her stocking feet, she found her husband of twenty-five years humming as he opened takeout containers heโd placed on the large island at the center of the kitchen. He hadnโt heard her come into the room yet. She took in the sight of him. Tall with blond hair cut short and blue eyes that reminded her of the lake in summer when the sun hit it just right. With a bright smile that won over everyone he met, Davis personified friendliness. While Charlie could get herself worked up about most anything, Davis was steady. Easy going. Her calm in any storm. Coming home to him was what soothed her most in life.
He looked up and smiled at her. โHey, babe.โ
She made her way around the island to him. โHey.โ
He turned and pulled her into his arms, something heโd done thousands of times over the years. She tucked in against him, her arms around his waist, and sighed.
โI love it when you do that.โ He rested his chin on top of her head.
โDo what?โ
โWhen your whole body relaxes when I hold you.โ
Charlie smiled against his chest. โI like that, too.โ
She pulled back and looked up at him. He kissed her softly.
โI see you got us takeout from Mariannyโs,โ she said as she turned her head toward the containers on the counter.
โI did. I figured it would be nice for us not to have to cook tonight.โ
โThere are many reasons why I married you. Knowing when Iโm not up for cooking and getting us food from Mariannyโs is one of them.โ
โHmm. Not my charm and good looks?โ
โThose are bonuses.โ She winked at him and then stepped out of his arms to grab two plates from the cupboard. The sound of his laughter caused any concerns of the day to fade away.
They dished up food, grabbed silverware, and made their way to the kitchen table. Soft jazz music played from the speaker Davis had installed in the corner of the room. As he set down two wine glasses and poured her a glass, Charlie took a deep breath and soaked in the moment. Yes, having an empty nest was a huge change. And yet, there were nights like this one that reminded her some things donโt change. Some things in life she could still rely on.
Davis sat beside her and held her hand as he said a small blessing over their meal, then dove into their food. Mariannyโs made the best arepas, a popular Venezuelan food Charlie and Davis had fallen in love with when the restaurant opened a few years back. Filled with yummy meat and cheeses, Charlie moaned with pleasure as the flavors danced across her tongue, the warm, gooeyness the best comfort food imaginable.
โHow was work today?โ Davis asked once heโd finished his bite of food.
Charlie took a sip of wine and sat back in her chair. โInteresting. Amber gave me a new listing. I went by, and it needs some work, butโฆโ
โWhere is it?โ Davis took a sip of wine.
โItโs a Colonial Revival just outside of town on White Pine Drive.โ
Davis nodded. โI think I know the one youโre talking about. It needs a bit of work, doesnโt it?โ
โIt does, but it has good bones.โ
Davis smiled as Charlie took another bite of food.
They had agreed over the years that having a common interest in architecture and building construction was something they appreciated.
โTell me about your day,โ Charlie said as she finished her bite and wiped her face with a napkin. The food was deliciousโand messy.
โIt was fine.โ
Charlie stopped and stared at Davis, the napkin halfway back to her lap. Davis didnโt say โfineโ unless something was up. She placed her napkin and her hands in her lap and looked at her husband, who was doing a tremendous job of avoiding eye contact with her.
โDavis.โ
*****
Author Info:
Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being aย novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor series. An avidย reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with variousย organizations. She has a BA in Journalism and a Masters ofย Divinity in Chaplaincy. Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idahoย with her husband and Great Dane.ย
Hating the arrogant quarterback was easyโฆ until I needed his help.
My escape is all planned out: get promoted at my restaurant job, finish college, avoid distractionsโi.e. menโand soon love, with all its broken promises, will be in the rearview mirror.
Until my manager informs me that if I want that promotion, Iโll need to be trainedโby none other than Reeve Dalton.
Shafer Uโs cocky blue-eyed quarterback?
The man Iโve despised since he humiliated my best friend?
Please, no.
Iโm not afraid to let Reeve know I find his arrogance infuriating instead of intoxicatingโno matter how many times he catches me staring at his sexy signature smirk.
If only he didn’t step in and rescue me from a humiliating showdown with my ex.
If only he wasnโt so good at firing up my short temper.
Then maybe my desire wouldnโt burn even hotter than my hate.
Now Iโm in trouble.
Because girls all over campus would throw away their lives for one night with Reeveโฆ and I might just be one of them.
Hate To Be The One is a full-length standalone novel and can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the other books in the Shafer U Series.
Kristen Vail is the author of spicy sports romance featuring realistic characters and relationships with plenty of delicious tension. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, kids and rescue pup.
When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking, listening to music and rewatching shows from the โ90s.
Helen Young has made a career out of fixing other people’s relationships while keeping her own heart firmly off-limits. As one of New York City’s most sought-after relationships therapists, she’s seen it all, and her opinion of men couldn’t be lower. So when a cattle ranching couple from Wyoming desperately seek her help, she agrees to travel west, expecting another routine case of miscommunication and wounded egos.
What she doesn’t expect is Skip.
The couple’s son is everything Helen can’t egotistical, short-tempered, and maddeningly dismissive of her “city slicker” expertise. Their first encounter is a disaster. Their second is worse. As sparks fly, but not the romantic kind, Helen finds herself in an impossible position. She came to Wyoming to save a marriage, but now she’s locked in a battle of wills with a stubborn cowboy who seems determined to prove her wrong about everything.
Skip thinks Helen’s psychology degree makes her a pretentious city snob, while Helen thinks Skip could use a serious lesson in basic human decency. But as the big sky country works its magic and forced proximity turns hostility into something far more complicated, both begin to wonder. Is Helen really there to train Skip into being Mr. Right? Or is he about to teach this cynical therapist that she’s been wrong about men all along?
In the sweeping landscape of Wyoming, two stubborn hearts will collide, and discover that sometimes the person who challenges you the most is exactly who you need.
E.E. Byrnes writes women’s fiction, historical fiction, and romance. Readers often say her books are heartfelt with engaging characters, captivating stories, and unexpected twists that keep them intrigued and wanting more.
Although born in northern California, her natural wanderlust and family history led her to Ireland, where she currently resides with her husband and three children. When she’s not busy writing, Erin enjoys baking, reading, and hiking along the nearby beaches and sprawling landscapes while spending time with her family.
When workaholic best man Carter arrives in Mistletoe Falls for his best friendsโ Christmas wedding, a town-wide Santa Festival and a misplaced motel reservation leave him with one optionโbeg the woman he once rejected for a room at her bed-and-breakfast. Unfortunately, that woman also happens to be the brideโs sisterโฆand the maid of honor.
To make matters worse, the bride and groom are delayed, turning Ashley and Carter into last-minute wedding planners, forced into a truce neither of them wants. But late-night checklists, a blizzard of holiday activities, and a charming small town turn their snark into sparks.
When they get snowed in and every near-kiss feels dangerously close to something real, Carter realizes thereโs more to December than year-end deadlines.
As their truce melts, one question remainsโis this a holiday fling, or the start of forever?
Audiobook Narrated by: Christine Lakin & Sean Masters
*****
Review:
I love this time of year, with all of the holiday romances full of quirky seasonal fun and the opportunity for a little magic. And Piper Rayne has done a good job of bringing all that and more. Those who have read their other holiday stories will likely be delighted for Carter from Claus and Effect & Merry Kissmas to find his own HEA. (Although this can totally stand on its own if this is your first.)
Carter made less than a stellar impression on Ashley after their one & only date and it makes sense why she would be hesitant to give him a second chance. The timing and circumstances for the end of their previous encounter was … so much less than ideal. But it was fun seeing Carter try to win Ashley’s favor again. He’s a good man, with a big heart and a playful side, and it doesn’t take long for her to see it.
Like the previous books, this one has fun holiday moments, silly hijinks (although not as many as before), steam, and feels. There is a bit of insta-love with the timing, which is kinda standard for this kind of story. But if you take out how many days the book covers, I feel like the pacing of it is well done. Yes it’s like a week or so from beginning to end but for me they were able to spend quality time together, getting to know each other and falling in love. It’s sweet, and that’s what I want from a Christmas read, not realism.
Itโs the most wonderful time of the year… to end up snowed in with your ex-boyfriend’s brother.
Clay Barloweโs NHL career ended the night his knee gave out. One torn ACL was bad enough. The second? Game over.
Now heโs the guy with a reputationโgrumpy, stubborn, hotheaded. Every teammate would agree heโs impossible, and he hasnโt bothered to prove them wrong. Coaching might be his second chanceโฆif he can avoid distractions and keep the rumors under wraps.
Which is why being snowed in with Tessa St. James is a temptation he canโt afford.
Their families spent every Christmas together. Everyone thought sheโd grow up to marry Clayโs brother. No one knew her heart quietly belonged to Clay.
Sheโs sunshine, sugar cookies, and Christmas cheer. Heโs a grinch, cold as ice, with more coal than candy canes.
When one stolen kiss under the mistletoe leads to one night tangled up by the fire, Tessa isnโt just snowed inโฆ
Sheโs stuck in the sin bin with the scrooge.
And this holiday season, the only thing at risk is her heart.
Brooke O’Brien grew up with a creative mind and a wild imagination, writing poetry and short stories when she was younger. This passion ignited when she began reading angst and hate-fueled stories about vampires and werewolves before she branched into contemporary and new adult romances.
When Brooke isn’t writing or falling in love with a new book boyfriend, you can find her scrolling TikTok, watching ASMR, or devouring her latest binge-worthy TV show.
She loves rockin’ a good hoodie with leggings, is addicted to chocolate, and believes the best days include a good nap.
Brooke O’Brien is represented by Two Daisy Media. For all subsidiary rights, please contact Savannah Greenwell at info@twodaisy.com.
Romantic Reads and Such 