The first book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series—now a Prime Video streaming series—in English for the first time.
They come from different worlds, and yet they are meant for each other.
Money, glamour, luxury, power—Ruby Bell couldn’t be less interested in these things if she tried. After being awarded a scholarship to one of England’s most prestigious and expensive private schools, Maxton Hall, all she wants is to keep her head down, work hard, and get accepted to Oxford. She keeps her distance from everyone, especially the arrogant, rich, and extremely handsome James Beaufort, ringleader of the school’s party boys.
When Ruby discovers a scandalous secret about the Beauforts, she is suddenly on James’s radar. It only gets worse when James is forced to work with her to plan the school’s annual gala. Yet the more time they spend together, the more they realize they share much more than they thought.
Falling for James Beaufort was never part of her plan, yet Ruby can’t help but let her feelings sweep her away. But James must make a decision for himself: will he choose what’s expected of him, or what he feels for her?
Save Me is the first book in the Mona Kasten series that the Prime Video series Maxon Hall is based on, finally published in English. I enjoyed the show for the teenage, bully romance that it is, so I knew what to expect going into Save Me.
Obviously, the book is able to give a lot more context than what we saw on the TV show. It’s told in dual POV (although more chapters are from Ruby), and I enjoyed getting to know the inner dialogue of both Ruby and James. I still found James to be the entitled brat that he is in the TV show, but he’s reminiscent of many other TV and literary bad boys who fall for the good girl!
Again, because I’d previously watched the Maxon Hall series, I knew what to expect from Save Me, so there were few surprises. It follows the formula of the enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, bullying trope, so it’s not reinventing the wheel, but I enjoyed reading the base text for the popular streaming series. Like the first season, it ends on a cliffhanger… what will happen next with Ruby and James?
I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.
Lila Wright never expected to flee her dress fitting covered in a cloud of lace—let alone land in a first-class seat next to the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. With mascara-streaked cheeks, a shattered heart, and no plan beyond “anywhere but here,” she spills her secrets to the stranger with the sharp jawline and stormy eyes. She expects a little sympathy. She doesn’t expect a two-week, all-expenses-paid escape on his dime.
Dean Harrington isn’t just any passenger. He’s a man with a heart locked up tighter than his family’s luxury yacht empire. The reclusive billionaire isn’t in the mood for small talk—until the runaway bride beside him turns out to be as intriguing as she is unfiltered. She’s beautiful, chaotic, and clearly a flight risk. But somehow, she puts him at ease. That is, until they land—and he discovers he’s now the full-time guardian of his niece and nephew.
By a twist of fate, Lila’s no longer just a fleeting encounter—she’s the nanny he hires from a small-town agency. And he’s her brooding, infuriatingly hot boss.
Forced under one roof in his bayside home, a temporary arrangement soon spirals into something far more complicated. Between sizzling tension and curious kids who want their uncle to be happy, Lila and Dean are on a collision course with feelings neither saw coming.
But sometimes love shows up uninvited—35,000 feet in the air.
This steamy small-town romance delivers billionaire angst, nanny sweetness, and a slow-burn love story full of heat, heart, and unexpected happily-ever-afters.
Having first met Dean as Talon’s best friend in Made For You, I was super excited to see him find his HEA in At First Flight. And Renee Harless did not disappoint with this angsty, slow-burn, second-chance romance full of emotions, grief, healing, and hope.
I loved the meet-cute between grumpy Dean and runaway bride Lila at an airport. Both of their lives changed that day — she walked out on her problematic fiancé and he suddenly became guardian to his niece and nephew — but they had no idea during that plane ride to Scotland that their paths would cross again several weeks later when Dean moves to Coral Bell Cove and Lila ends up being the nanny for the kids.
Lila is trying to piece her life back together after a horrible betrayal. She’s unsure of her decision-making, and her ex and his horrid family keep trying to pull her back into their orbit. (WHY? Man, I really disliked them!) But she proves to be so much stronger than she thought she was. Meanwhile, Dean is floundering as a sudden parent. His parents were not present figures in his life, and he questions everything he’s doing for his niece and nephew. I found him utterly charming and loved both the character’s vulnerability and how determined he was to be a solid foundation for the kids after their lives were turned upside-down.
Together, these two characters were magical. The slow burn between Dean and Lila over quiet conversations and tender moments really amped up the anticipation, and I was cheering when they finally got together. This was such a great story about hope, healing, grief, loss, and resilience.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Renee Harless:
Renee Harless is a USA TODAY bestselling author with an affinity for wine and a passion for telling a good story.
Renee Harless, her husband, and children live in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She studied Communication, specifically Public Relations, at Radford University.
Growing up, Renee always found a way to pursue her creativity. It began by watching endless runs of White Christmas – yes even in the summer – and learning every word and dance from the movie. She could still sing “Sister Sister” if requested. In high school she joined the show choir and a community theatre group, The Troubadours. After marrying the man of her dreams and moving from her hometown, she sought out a different artistic outlet – writing.
To say that Renee is a romance addict would be an understatement. When she isn’t chasing her kids around the house, working her day job, or writing, she jumps head first into a romance novel.
Represented by Stephanie at SBR Media for Foreign and Audio Rights.
Knox Beckett is heartbreak in a helmet. He’s also my brother’s best friend, and so far out of my league, he’s untouchable.
But a few stolen glances turn into a welcome home that blindsides us both.
The rules are clear. We just chose not to follow them.
Now we’re sneaking around like we’re running a trick play, hooking up behind closed doors, and pretending our actions don’t have the power to blow up our lives.
Knox is under my skin and tackling his way into my heart. Ready or not, it’s time we make the play.
Knox
She’s the last girl I’m allowed to want—my best friend’s little sister. She’s all grown up and looking at me in invitation.
The second Corie crashes into me, with her tanned, toned skin, in a barely there bikini, I know I’m in trouble.
I shouldn’t look. And I sure as hell shouldn’t touch. My hands are already on her waist, one second longer, and I’ll do something we both might regret.
What I do is even worse. I help her land a job working for the team. My team.
Now I can’t get her out of my mind, or my way. And keeping my hands to myself is a penalty waiting to happen. Because Corie isn’t just off-limits—she’s one line I swore I’d never cross, yet I’m sprinting toward it.
I’d risk the season—my entire career—for her just to make the play.
Make the Play kicks off a new series by Kaylee Ryan. Corie has always had a crush on her older brother’s best friend, Knox, and tried to put him out of her mind while she’s been away at college. She even dated a guy who messed with her confidence. But now she’s home — well, at her brother’s house, since she feels like she hasn’t had a “home” since their mom died several years ago — and all those feelings come rushing back. Knox, meanwhile, is metaphorically knocked off his feet when a grown-up Corie knocks into him at her graduation party, and suddenly, he can’t stop thinking about his best friend’s little sister.
I really enjoyed the development of this couple. Aside from her best friend helping them out, their relationship progressed in secret, not only because Corie was afraid to let her brother know until they were sure what it was going on between them. The longer their secret romance went on, both of their jobs were in jeopardy because she also worked for the Rampage. I loved how when they were exposed, Knox stood firm on the fact that Corie was more important to him than any championship ring.
Two things that stuck out to me were Knox’s backstory and the connection with her ex. Knox is the baby, now all grown up, from KR’s book Unexpected Reality. While I have read a few of this author’s books, I am not familiar with that series, and I found that the references to Knox’s parents’ past were too vague; I had to go read reviews of that book to get the backstory. I think that his unique background could have been slightly summarized to give newer readers his origin, and it wouldn’t have taken anything away from Make the Play being a standalone. My other issue was with Corie’s ex-boyfriend. His presence is the twist in this story, but when it was revealed, I was left shaking my head because it was just dropped into the tale, and there was no acknowledgement from her about his connection. I don’t know; I get why Knox was blindsided, but I felt like she should have brought it up at some point. And had a bigger reaction than she did?
Overall, this was a solid start to a new series, and I’m looking forward to the other books. Since this story is in Nashville, there was a mention of Everlasting Ink — I would love to see some cameos when the football players go to get tattoos in the future!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has been crowned the Queen of Swoon by her readers. With nearly fifty romance books under her belt, she’s known for penning happily ever afters with heart. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand or hanging out with her family where she resides in her home state of Ohio.
THE COMPLICATION WITH THE BEST MAN by Piper Rayne is available now in Kindle Unlimited and audio
One wild night turns into two pink lines.
Sleeping with the best man at my cousin’s wedding felt right at the time—he was a hot, available firefighter, and I was the tipsy maid of honor. It’s a rite of passage.
No regrets… until two pink lines flipped my world upside down.
Now I’m wildly unprepared and trying to hide my pregnancy in my small Alaskan town where privacy is a myth and gossip spreads faster than frostbite.
But wait, it gets worse.
Baby Daddy just came back to town—with a fiancée in tow.
And guess who she wants to plan their wedding?
Me.
Keeping the secret was hard enough.
Keeping my distance from the father of my baby? Impossible.
Just when I think I have it all figured out, he reveals his own secret that changes everything.
Authors Note: There is no cheating in this book. Gasp! We would never.
Another great Lake Starlight book from Piper Rayne! We are back in town with Harper, the daughter of OG Bailey couple Austin and Holly — the jeep hookup that started it all. Harper had her own random hookup when she slept with Finn, the best man at her cousin Palmer’s wedding. A few weeks later, Harper realizes that she’s pregnant (thanks to antibiotics!) — and the situation is further complicated when Finn returns to Lake Starlight with his fiancee, who has booked Harper as the wedding planner!
At first, Harper stays mum about her pregnancy, especially after Finn asked her to keep their one-night quiet. Unbeknownst to Harper, Finn’s engagement is a marriage of convenience. So when he accidentally finds out that she’s pregnant, he ends his engagement and moves across the country to be closer to his child. Now temporary roommates, Finn and Harper grow closer as they spend time together making plans for their baby… and it’s not long before they agree to give the connection between them a real shot.
There’s not much drama in this story in terms of Finn’s ex (no cheating!), but there is plenty of the Bailey family drama that I love from this crazy clan! I especially loved the way the men all interrogated Finn, led by Austin, and the Buzz Wheel reports. But I especially loved how dedicated Finn was to Harper, and gave her space to prove to herself that while she may have been the family mess-up and irresponsible at times, she was going to be a great mom.
Scott Rose and Willa Jaymes were great with their duet narration in telling this story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Romance author Willow Winslet believes the best in everyone, unless that one is Ryan Ford.
What’s worse than being the only single person in your friend group? A hot guy in the checkout line mocking your boring Friday night.
But Ryan Ford isn’t just anyone. To Willow, he’s an intolerable dating coach, an obnoxious podcaster, and a life-coaching con artist.
Seriously, who would buy a course that claims to make people fall in love?
Ryan Ford doesn’t believe in love at first sight, until he sets his sights on Willow Winslet.
Now, he’s ready to do whatever it takes to win Willow’s heart. There’s just one problem: she hates everything about him. But what’s a little obstacle like that in the grand scheme of things?
Will she accept his public dare to give his dating program a shot? Or will she end their little game before it begins? He has three months to make her fall in love, and they’re playing for keeps.
Let the games begin.
500 First Editions is a scorching hot rivals-to-lovers slow burn romance packed with witty banter, friendly kidnappings, and the best girl gang you’ll ever meet. Get ready for a swoon-worthy happily-ever-after! This is the final book in the Romantics series, but you can enjoy it as a standalone.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
I was hooked on Ryan and Willow from the moment of their meet-cute in a drugstore, when neither of them knew who the other was. I was enthralled by the banter between the two on the stage during Rom-Con, when their bet was born. And then I really fell in love with them when he dropped everything to support her during a family crisis.
I love when a book makes me laugh and cry, and that is what I got with 500 First Editions. From the second Ryan met Willow, he knew she was going to be his “Future Wife” — he even programmed her into his phone that way once they finally exchanged numbers. Willow agreed to date Ryan for three months to poke holes in his dating-advice program and disprove that three months is enough time for people to fall in love. Things get messy when she unexpectedly needs to head back to her small hometown, where she has to face the ghosts of her past. But Ryan never lets her down, supporting Willow through all of those ups and downs. Along the way, they really get to know each other, and Willow discovers that he’s not such a bad guy after all. (Even if he is a nerdy Clark Kent with glasses and tattoos.)
While Willow’s family life is a bit of a mess, she has some great friends in fellow romance authors Annie/Whitney and Aurora/Wander, and even their guys (Miles and Jack). The bromance and friendly kidnappings between the guys was hilarious.
I wish we had gotten more of what it was that happened to Willow in California that sparked her three-months-in-one-place rule, but everything else about this lovely story was darn perfect.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Maggie
Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, collecting vinyl record, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
What a wonderful story! Hudson (aka Dash) and Willow meet in the most unconventional way, but this strangers-to-soulmates story has all the feels!
Bodyguard Dash is recovering in the hospital following a hip replacement after being injured on the job. While there, he becomes fascinated with Willow St. Claire, an actress who is in a coma, after hearing her boyfriend/fiance accuse her of faking her coma and threatening to kill her when she wakes up. Needing to be close to his Sleeping Beauty, Dash begins reading to the mysterious woman each night and becomes her knight in shining armor when Willow wakes up and is afraid for her life.
Ever the protector, Dash takes Willow back to his house to keep an eye on her… and it’s not long at all before these two are falling in love.
The connection between these two characters was so rich. Willow is dealing with some serious trauma, and Hudson immediately becomes a safe space for her. But because of the abuse she suffered in the past, there are some issues that they run into as they embark on a romantic relationship of their own. Giving her time and grace is the best gift Hudson can give to her, because Willow just blossoms into a different person. She believes in her strength, and channels her anger at her ex and her wicked mother to fight back brilliantly. Along the way, the Gamebreakers family adopts Willow as one of their own, and she fits right in.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Kat Mizera:
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kat Mizera was born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of Wanderlust. She’s lived from coast to coast, and everywhere in between, but home is wherever her family is. A devoted mom and wife to her wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat loves to travel the globe with her adventurous, hockey loving family. Greece is at the top of that list. She hopes to one day retire there, spending her days writing books on the beach.
Kat is former freelance sports writer who now writes steamy hockey romance about her favorite fictional teams, the Las Vegas Sidewinders and the Lauderdale Knights. The library of novels she’s penned also include sexy contemporary stories about baseball stars, alpha sex club owners, bodyguards, rock stars, and royalty. Regardless of genre, her books about bad boys with hearts of gold will steal your breath, rock your world and melt your heart.
To find out about Kat Mizera’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here
USA TODAY bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys. She lives in Northern California.
To find out about Elise Faber’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here
On the ice, he’s unstoppable. At home, he’s a devoted dad. And now… he’s falling for the one woman he shouldn’t touch – his kids’ nanny.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the next standalone hockey romance in her Love and Hockey series, THE OVERTIME KISS! This sexy, single dad/nanny, forced proximity, workplace hockey romance is filled with spicy lessons, love notes, and all the feels, spice, and heat! THE OVERTIME KISS is now available in all formats including the special edition hardcover and free to read in Kindle Unlimited! Check out the excerpt below and one-click your copy today!
Just what every bride dreams of—running straight from her cheating fiancé into the arms of a hot hockey star… and then getting hired as his kids’ nanny.
Tyler Falcon is protective, flirtatious…and frustratingly responsible. We almost did something reckless when he found me alone in my wedding dress, and I blurted out all the things I’d never truly experienced.
Now, the sexy single dad is saving me again with a job I desperately need—and a promise to never mention The Night of 1001 Confessions.
I live in his house. Take care of his kids. Pretend I don’t notice his heated gaze lingering on me after they fall asleep.
Until one night, the tension snaps.
Now we have a deal. Five lessons in seduction. No strings attached.
But he’s not just good in bed. He spoils me with thoughtful gifts and supports my dreams. For the first time, I feel like I belong.
Except…this was never meant to last. I’m his employee. He has kids to protect. And neither of us can afford to make a mistake.
The more nights we spend tangled up together though, the harder it is to pretend it’s just physical. Because I’m not only falling for my boss—I’m falling for the man whose kids have stolen my heart.
Tropes: single dad/nanny, runaway bride, forced proximity, spicy lessons, she’s his daughter’s skating coach, confession of all secrets, love notes, found family
Her lips shift in amusement. “Think you’ve still got it in you?”
“Those are fighting words.” I drum my fingers on the counter. “How about trouble in the form of a spicy margarita? Can you handle the heat?”
Her smile falters for just a second, as if I’d asked about more than a drink. “I don’t even know.”
Her blue eyes flicker with something deeper—with uncertainty, maybe, or a vulnerability she’s trying to hide. Or possibly…interest. Since for a moment her gaze lingers on me, roams over me, like she’s trying to figure something out.
Like what she wants me to do to her tonight?
What the f*&k?
That is not a thought I should be entertaining. Too bad my lust-struck mind is already running away with the image, imagining what could have been if she wasn’t wearing that damn ring. Not today, brain. Stand down.
“Let’s find out,” I say, as I resume the role of runaway-bride wingman. I change her order, and when the bartender returns with the margarita, we toast again, her with her cocktail, me with my lager, which—as Ike promised—is incredibly good.
“To the opposite of today.”
“The opposite,” she echoes, her gaze…curious. But I don’t want to read into it even though I want to read everything into it.
It’s been a while since I’ve read something by Lauren Blakely, and I am so glad I got to read and listen to The Overtime Kiss! Tyler and Sabrina’s story was so charming, full of heart, and lots of big emotions.
After calling out her fiancé for cheating (at the altar! badass!) and walking out on her wedding, Sabrina ends up at a bar and runs into Tyler, the dad of one of her figure skating students. Although he’s long had a bit of a crush on Sabrina, he puts his feelings aside for her that night since her life pretty much imploded and just offers her comfort and friendship. A week later, Tyler is ready to ask her out, but a humiliated Sabrina asks if they can pretend The Night of 1001 Confessions never happened. Then, when Sabrina ends up moving into Tyler’s house to be his kids’ new nanny, it becomes harder and harder for both of them to ignore their chemistry… and they agree to cross off a few items from Sabrina’s sex bucket list.
This story gets really spicy at times, but there’s such a genuine connection between the characters that it did not feel like seggs just for the sake of having it on the page. Tyler and Sabrina really connect on a deep level; they both have complicated relationships with their fathers, and that comes into play later on when they break up because of miscommunication and assumptions. Tyler’s Grand Gesture to win Sabrina back was so sweet — and it came complete with going off on her jerk of an ex.
Teddy Hamilton is hands-down my favorite narrator, and I absolutely adored how he portrayed Tyler in this book. From the sexy growls to the vulnerable moments with Sabrina, he captured all the emotions. As well, Brooke Bloomingdale did a great job with playing Sabrina and all her neurotic perfectionism, and her hurt and anger over how poorly her father and ex-fiance treat her.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
At the Edge of Surrender by A.L. Jackson is now live! A surprise single dad, small town romantic suspense… I’m the last guy on the planet who should be a dad. My life is chaos. My sins written dark and deep.
So, imagine my surprise when my doorbell rings and I open it to find the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen standing on the other side. And she’s holding the hand of a little girl who looks just like me.
Emery tells me her sister, the child’s mother, is dead. I feel like dirt since she’s a woman I can hardly remember, and it’s no wonder Emery doesn’t trust that I’m worthy of caring for her niece. But I can’t turn my back, and I insist on raising Maci. So, we strike a deal—she’ll stay with me for one month to ensure the little girl is safe.
Emery tries to hate me for who I am, but neither of us can resist the attraction that blazes between us. One brush of her hand, and she has me on my knees. One kiss, and I’m falling fast. Soon, we find ourselves tangled in my sheets.
But when it’s discovered her sister’s death wasn’t accidental, the secret life I’ve been living collides with the past Emery has tried to keep hidden. And when the fiends come back to finish the job they started, I’m in a race against time to save the two people who I’ve come to love most…
At the Edge of Surrender is a great addition to the Moonlit Ridge series! From the very first meeting between Emery and Kane in his club, to him finding out her niece is his daughter, to how the most horrific part of her past aligned with Kane’s reasons for doing the good-but-illegal things that he does, I loved every bit of this story.
Kane started out as this gruff and rough character, but he just absolutely melted into a pile of goo when Maci and Emery entered his life. Emery had lost so, so much, and Kane was the last person she ever expected to become the safe space that her soul craved. These characters brought out so much in one another. Once Kane realized he’d fallen for Emery, he was ALL IN. She and Maci became his reason for getting up every morning…. but Kane feared what would happen when she learned *everything* about his past.
I read this book and listened to the audio in tandem, and Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon nailed these characters. They both brought such vulnerability to Kane and Emery, and Clarke really captured those dark, dark places that Kane goes to in this book.
The Moonlit Ridge series are all standalone books with interconnected characters, but I would recommend reading the other two books first in order to get the full backstory and feeling of Kane’s band of brothers and the family they’ve created for themselves. This series is also a spinoff of the Redemption Hills series, and I loved how At the Edge of Surrender tied into the motorcycle club, Iron Owls, from that series.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
EMBERS IN THE DARK by Stefanie Castro is NOW LIVE!
Blurb:
What should you do when you have no one but your old crush to turn to?
Baylee Rios has never known life without Tucker Malloy. From the moment she understood the concept of love, her heart belonged to the “boy next door.” As an adult, her feelings have only grown, and she’s fighting to ignore something that’s been smoldering under the guise of a friendship. But Baylee’s life is about to implode, and the only person she feels safe leaning on is her one true love.
Baylee Rios isn’t only ten years younger than him, she’s his best friend’s little sister and she’s off-limits. Now that she’s all grown up, she’s taking over his thoughts… and his apartment.
Will they risk upsetting those they love to finally go after what they want?
Embers in the Dark is an age-gap romance novel. It is the third book in the Embers series.
I have been looking forward to Tucker and Baylee’s story since the last Boston Embers book, and Stefanie Castro understood the assignment!
This slow-burn story was everything I wanted in a brother’s best friend/roommates/secret crush/mutual pining romance! Having seen Tucker as a side character in the other books, I was so happy to see him shine as the MC in Embers in the Dark! He was such a good guy, and put his fractured friendship with Danny Rios above his own happiness for so long because Rios didn’t want Tucker to date his sister. Why?!?!? I really wanted to smack Rios at the beginning, because then Baylee wouldn’t have had to go through the awful situation with her ex-boyfriend… But then would the payoff have been the same once she and Tucker finally got together? Probably not, and it was so worth the wait.
I love the friendships between these characters. There’s a really nice (yet sad) subplot with Tucker’s mother, who is sick, and I thought that added depth to the more or less happy-go-lucky guy.
Overall, this was a great book that checked all the boxes! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review
Meet Stefanie Castro:
Prior to becoming an author, Stefanie had written for years on blogging platforms. She is a registered nurse with years of experience working with families starting their journey into the parenting world. She started writing as a way to connect with families. After releasing her first memoir in May 2023, she felt a pull towards writing romance. Her love of the genre is something she is highly invested in as a reviewer and cheerleader for authors all around. Stefanie debuts her romance this fall with If Only You Knew. She is shining a light on romance characters that are in their forties, something she feels is not easy to find in the genre. Stefanie resides in Southern California, with her husband, two kids, and their Cavalier King Charles dog.
From USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa comes a deeply emotional small-town romance about a runaway heiress, a tattooed protector, and the marriage that was never supposed to be real—until love found them anyway.
He was never supposed to love her—especially not her baby.
I didn’t plan on ending up in Birchwood Springs.
But after escaping a brutal marriage and discovering I’m pregnant, this town—and the broody tattoo artist who swore to protect me—might be the only shot I have at starting over.Atlas Timberbridge is nothing like the world I left behind.
He’s all inked arms, gruff silence, and an unexpected gentleness that makes my heart ache.
Pretending we were married was for my protection.
A temporary arrangement meant to keep me hidden from my vicious husband.
We agree to keep it strictly business. No feelings. No future.
But the longer I stay, the more this small town—and this man—start to feel like home.
Now I’m falling for my fake husband… and terrified he’ll never be able to love me back.
When Love Found Us ended up being a much more emotional story than I expected it to be!
Although I did not start this series from the beginning, I’d listened to Timberbridge Bros. #2 so I had some idea of the strained family relationship between the brothers. I thought that CB did a great job exploring those dynamics from Atlas’ POV; there is one chapter in particular where several of the boys lay it all out there, and I loved how impacted they all were by their father’s behavior.
The slow-burn love story between Atlas and Blythe was so well-written. There was amazing growth fron Atlas, going from a guy who wants no ties at the start of the book to one who was completely obsessed with a baby girl who wasn’t biologically his by the end. Despite his gruff, grumpy exterior, Atlas was such a softie when it came to Blythe and taking care of her, providing for her. (Especially in how things go down with her ex-husband!!!!) And ultimately, not wanting their fake marriage to end. And Blythe… she’d been through so much, and was so much stronger than she thought she was. It was wonderful to see her bloom in the safe space that Atlas provided for her and through her friendships she makes with the other wives/girlfriends.
There are still some unanswered questions about Atlas and the organization targeting the town that I hoped would have been answered in When Love Found Us, but were not. I guess we still have a few books to go in this series to tie up those loose ends.
Vanessa Edwin and Sean Masters delivered standout performances with the audio on this book!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Audiobook also available on all audio retailers ➝ 
Grab it now ➝ 
Sunny Shelly Reads 