NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you the continuation of the stand-alone series surrounding five best friends who co-own a tattoo studio. “Is This Love?” is an age gap, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, small-town romance.
Legend
A marriage of convenience is one thing… but falling for your fake wife is all kinds of complicated.
Being married for a year is the only way to claim my inheritance. I couldn’t care less about the money. It’s not like I even knew my grandparents.
I wasn’t even considering it until Monroe volunteered. Sweet, sweet, Monroe. I’ve never let myself consider her as an option for me.
She’s been tucked safely away in a box labeled forbidden. That is until she takes my last name.
Monroe
It’s not like I planned to marry one of my friends… or fall for him.
One minute I offer to be his fake wife, and the next, we’re going through the motions— saying, “I do,” and playing house.
Legend is the kind of guy fantasies are made of—tall, dark, and tattooed. Now I’m sharing his bed and his last name for the next year.
Everything looks good on paper, and while this may have started out as playing pretend, the way I feel for him is the realest thing I’ve ever known.
As the weeks pass by, it doesn’t take long before either of us begins to question if we’re just friends or if this is this love after all.
Is This Love? is a SUPER SWEET friends-to-lovers marriage of convenience story. I adored Legend and Monroe and how they went from faking a marriage for a year so he could get an inheritance from his grandparents to falling hard and fast for one another and not wanting to get divorced after all by the time their pre-determined end date rolled around!
Legend is up there on the top of the list when it comes to swoony book boyfriends! I mean, he did anything and everything he could for Monroe. First it was his way of thanking her for putting her life on hold so he could claim his inheritance (which would not only benefit his parents, but the expansion plans the Everlasting Ink guys wanted for their shop). But not very long into their fauxmance, Legend realized that he had true feelings for Mo… and the only way he could show her how he felt was by taking care of her at every turn. Of course, he didn’t know that she felt the same way for him, which just led to delicious sexual tension between them!
I loved what these two characters brought out in one another, and how well they complemented each other! Well done, Kaylee!
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 mask she wears for the world is flawless. But I want the mess that she hides underneath.
Samantha Harper is untouchable.
She’s the closest thing we have to royalty in my small town. Daughter of a senator. Richer than sin. Classy, elegant, and Ice cold.
She’s my polar opposite. And unfortunately, She’s exactly my type.
Too bad royalty doesn’t fraternize with peasants.
Until one night, Samantha Harper finds herself at my mercy, and the temptation to dirty up her flawless facade is too great.
When her perfect mask slips, It’s not an ice princess I find beneath, But a warrior in war-torn armor. A snake in queen’s clothing.
All it takes is one night, and I’m determined. She will never have to fight another battle alone.
***
The Love You Fight For is the third book in the Next Life world. It has a guaranteed HEA. While The Love You Fight For can be read as a standalone, it is recommended that you first read the Next Life duet to fully appreciate the story.
A detailed list of Content Warnings can be found on the author’s website.
The Love You Fight For was a perfect complement to the Next Life duet! After getting to know Samantha a little bit during Macon and Lennon’s books, it was great to see a different side to her and really see the girl behind the mask! She is such a layered character, and I loved her romance with Chris.
Despite the polished persona she presents to the world, Sam has not had an easy go of it in life. Chris, a childhood friend, is one of the few people who really sees the good in her. (Once I got past the awkwardness of Sam and Macon’s fling back in high school, but I think I was more hung up on that than the characters were themselves!)
I loved the connection between Chris and Sam. He was such a strong, stoic presence in her life, and becomes a rock in her life. Even though Sam feels like she’s drowning, she was such a strong heroine and picked herself up, dusted herself off, and walked off into the sunset with her supportive and loving guy by her side. She just blossomed into this beautiful force of nature and I was there for it.
**UPDATE FOR AUDIO: Desiree Ketchum and Austin Stone were fantastic as Sam and Chris! I thought they perfectly captured all of the angst and longing between these two characters!**
The Love You Fight For was such a great book, and I loved catching up with Macon and Lennon, too! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Brit Benson:
Brit Benson writes real, relatable romance. She likes outspoken, independent heroines, dirty talking, love-struck heroes, and plots that get you right in the feels.
Brit would almost always rather be reading or writing. When she’s not dreaming up her next swoony book boyfriend and fierce book bestie, she’s getting lost in someone else’s fictional world. When she’s not doing that, she’s probably marathoning a Netflix series or wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles in Homegoods, sniffing candles and touching things she’ll never buy.
A brand new modern royal romance that will sweep you off your feet! From bestselling romance author Erin Nicholas writing as Erin Nicolle!
A marriage proposal from a deliciously handsome and wickedly charming prince sounds like a fairytale.
But for a nerdy scientist with severe social anxiety,it’s a horror story.
Prince Torin O’Grady, with his mischievous blue eyes and his cocky grin, is always in the spotlight. And he needs me to inherit the crown.
But we have nothing in common. He’s a future king. And I’m perfectly happy slogging through mud in my work boots.
So why can’t I stop thinking about him?
Maybe because he won’t stop texting me. And sending me gifts. And making me feel like everything I find awkward and weird about myself is special and amazing.
And there’s also that little detail of him offering me my dream job and telling me that together we can change the world.
Well, I could probably 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 for him.
And if I have to marry him 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 to get what we both want, then fine. It’s for the greater good.
It has nothing to do with the way he kisses me. Or that dirty mouth. Or the 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵he gives me in the bedroom.
Fine. Maybe it does. Still, it’s only a year. Then I can turn in my tiara and come back to my normal, boring, behind-the-scenes life.
But Torin is determined to turn me from reluctantly royal to royally 𝘩𝘪𝘴.
Reluctantly Royal is the first book I’ve read by Erin Nicolle and WOW, I loved Torin and Abigail’s story! This book was classic opposites attract, with a gooey cinnamon-roll hero who falls hard and fast for a quirky, smart heroine.
Torin needs to prove to his grandfather that he is prepared to take over the monarchy and rule the tiny island country of Cara. His plan is to convince Abi — the sister of a friend who lives in Louisiana, where Torin had lived for a few years — to come to Cara and set up a system of alternative farming in the country, which is nestled somewhere near Norway. Their mutual arrangement/marriage of convenience will give them both what they want….
This story is funny, spicy, packs an emotional punch, has well-developed characters, and a well-executed plot. It was more than I expected, and an enjoyable escape into the royal world of Cara!
Reluctantly Royal is a spinoff of another of Nicolle’s series; there are a lot of secondary characters involved in this book, and I felt as if there was more backstory to their relationships with Torin. I’m sure fans of Nicolle’s will enjoy those crossovers!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
He’s always loved her. Now he’ll fight to save her.
Zachary Haven is living a lie.
He’s stuck in a rut, pretending to hate the woman he’s always loved. He didn’t mean for things to turn out that way. But sometimes life gets out of control, especially when you’re young and stupid.
Not that he ever had a chance with her. She’s gorgeous and smart, talented and kind. And Zachary? He can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.
Marigold Martin just met the man of her dreams.
Blowing into her life like a storm, he sweeps her off her feet. She can’t help but wonder if he’s the one. He’s a dream in a bespoke suit—and he says he wants her heart.
But nothing is as it seems.
A brush with death wakes Zachary up to the reality of his life. And his feelings for Marigold. He’s determined to make her his—convince her they were always meant to be.
But secrets run deep, and Zachary fears the man who’s after Marigold could be more than a romantic rival.
He could be the devil himself.
And Zachary might be too late to save her.
Author’s Note: A troublemaker turned small-town hero risks everything for the love of his life. A soft-hearted heroine who finds her strength. An accidental body piercing, brotherly shenanigans, the Squirrel Protection Squad, and lots of big feels. This small-town romantic suspense will leave you breathless, with the romantic happily ever after you’ve been waiting for.
This is a MF romance. There is no cheating or sharing partners. Storms and Secrets is NOT a love triangle.
Content warning: this book contains references to sex trafficking
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
I loved everything about Storms and Secrets, Book 2 in the Haven Brothers series by Claire Kingsley! Marigold and Zachary’s story was the perfect dual secret crush, small town, brother’s best friend romance with a captivating suspense storyline mixed in!
Marigold has always had a crush on her friend Annika’s older brother. Little does she know that Zachary has had feelings for her, too. That’s because he avoids her like the plague. (I loved the payoff to that plot point; it was well done, revealed at just the right moment, and nicely propelled the story forward to the climax. But I digress…) A near-death experience prompts Zachary to finally confess his feelings for Marigold, but she’s just started dating the man of her dreams. Nevertheless, Zachary is determined to prove that he should be the guy Marigold should be with — especially since her new beau, Preston, is setting off all kinds of red flags in Zachary’s mind. But will he be able to convince Marigold that her boyfriend is a bad dude and to give him a chance?
Claire Kingsley checked off all the right boxes with this swoony romance. I thought that the suspense aspect of the plot was a bit edgier and riskier than some of her other books, and I loved that about Storms & Secrets. This story is told in dual first-person POV between Marigold and Zachary, with a third character telling their parts of the storyline from the third person. It meshes together wonderfully. Narrators Teddy Hamilton (one of my FAVORITES) and Samantha Brentmoor did a bang-up job in performing Zachary and Marigold’s parts, and Desiree Ketchum brilliantly added another layer to the story as the third character.
Great job, Claire! I can’t wait to see which brother she bestows upon us next! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
IF ONLY YOU FELL by Stefanie Castro is AVAILABLE NOW
AVAILABLE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED
Elody Lorrent’s heart was fused to another at an early age. But what happens when life takes a tragic turn and she’s left behind to pick up the pieces?
Burying her husband found a way to bury her soul as well. Elody now lives for her kids. Her chance at love was lost the moment her husband took his last breath. She never saw her future by someone else’s side. The only thing she didn’t account for was the grumpy parent of one of her students.
Wyatt was never known for his warm personality. His world consisted of hockey and his daughter. The only issue was his daughter’s teacher took hold of his heart in an unexpected way.
When Elody and Wyatt’s world collides, Elody fights the love that blossoms because she doesn’t trust the harsh realities that come along with living. She can’t give her heart to another after all the pain she endured. She lived on top of the world and everything collapsed. Wyatt didn’t understand that reality.
Oh my gosh, I inhaled Ellie and Wyatt’s story in a day! I loved the tease we got about their meeting in If Only You Knew, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book! From the prologue — when Ellie’s life completely drops out from underneath her — to the epilogue, I was utterly captivated by If Only You Fell and could not put it down!
Ellie and Wyatt are both kind of broken characters, fearful of falling in love. Ellie is a widow, still grieving the death of her husband, and determined to never give her heart to another man. Single dad Wyatt has been burned badly by his ex, and has dedicated his life to raising his little girl. But there is something about his daughter’s kindergarten teacher that calls out to him, and Wyatt can’t seem to get Ellie out of his mind.
Once Wyatt decides that the things he feels for Ellie are unlike any of the one-night-stands he’s dallied in since Tessa was born, he’s all in. Even though Ellie keeps him at an emotional distance, Wyatt is there to prove that he’s a guy she can depend on.
I had so many big feelings reading this story. It was a lovely story about hope, healing, and finding love again after loss. This book is a standalone, but the timeline overlaps with If Only You Knew, so there are some spoilers in this story for Becca and Shane’s story.
Well done! 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 writing career with If Only You Knew in November 2023. 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.
Only in the movies does the Hollywood heartthrob fall for the small town diner waitress.
So when Dashiel Buckley returns to Cherry Tree Harbor for a wedding, I’m determined not to let my massive crush on my best friend’s older brother hijack my good sense.
(It happened once before. Do not recommend.)
But when my hand is injured, it’s Dash who steps in at the diner. The moment he realizes I can’t afford to fix my car, he takes care of it. And when he hears about the way my toxic ex treated me, he refuses to let it go.
Now it’s not just his blue eyes and sexy smile that have me swooning, it’s the way he wants to help me. Encourage me. Protect me.
I can’t resist.
Our text messages heat up. Our phone calls melt all my defenses. “Just friends” turns into “just once,” and “just once” becomes a distant memory. Night after night, he warms my bed, my body, and my heart.
But it can’t last.
Our dreams have us on two different paths–Dash wants the lights, camera, action of Hollywood, and I’ll always be a small town girl.
SWOON! Dash and Ari’s story is definitely at the top of my Melanie Harlow favorites! I adored everything about these two and their friends-with-benefits story!
Ari has always been in love with Dash, her best friend Mabel’s older brother. One night eight years ago, she asked him to take her V card; but she was just 16 and Dash turned her down. Ever since, Ari has avoided Mabel’s brother. That was pretty easy since Dash was off in Hollywood, working as an actor on a hit teen soap. But now, Dash’s career is kind of a dumpster fire, and he’s back in Cherry Tree Harbor for a month for Lexi and Devlin’s wedding.
After a *very* awkward yet hilarious reunion, Dash and Ari rekindle their friendship. He keeps showing up for her again and again as she has car troubles, is short-staffed at her family diner, and cuts her hand. In return for his kindness, Ari agrees to help Dash get in touch with his feelings in the hopes of getting a sought-after movie role. Once they cross the line from friends to fling, both Dash and Ari agree that it will only be for as long as he is in town… but as their time together comes to an end, they both realize they don’t want it to be over. But with her in Michigan and him in California, how could they possibly make it work?
Small Town Swoon is just one of those feel-good books. There was no major drama, no Third Act breakup, and lots of big feelings. The Hollywood Heartthrob doesn’t just fall in love with small-town waitresses in the movies — it happens in books, too!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
A scorching enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, billionaire romance from USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann …
One bed. Two stranded strangers. Three wildly passionate nights. A thousand secrets between them.
After getting trapped in a blizzard, my private jet grounded, with no hotel room available within miles, I met a woman at the bar.
Rowan.
A knockout blessed with killer curves, gorgeous emerald eyes, and a mouth that should be illegal. She triggered all the primal and possessive emotions I’d never known I had.
Not the typical Cooper Spade that the world had come to know.
What followed was a fiery, unforgettable, wildly explosive weekend of sizzling touches, passionate nights, and intense chemistry.
The rebel had finally fallen …
But when the storm cleared, I returned to LA and learned that the woman I’d just spent seventy-two carnal hours with was the enemy, and I’d loved every minute of it.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
This is how you write a rivals romance! Marni Mann did a fantastic job with The Rebel. Rowan and Cooper had a great connection from the get-go, and it only got better as their relationship grew.
The push and pull between them was delicious. I understood the difficult position Rowan was in, and the hurt Cooper felt by her betrayal. But there was something so beautiful between them, and they just couldn’t stay away from one another.
This workplace romance is full of passion, secrets, big feelings, and so much more. I wasn’t expecting the twist in this story with the drama between the Spade and Cole families. It added a nice layer to this rivalry, and by the end of the book, I was looking at Rowan’s brother, Rhett, way differently!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Marni
USA Today best-selling author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Marni was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotions. A New Englander at heart, she now lives with her husband in Sarasota, Florida. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling, boating, or devouring fabulous books. Want to get in touch?
The home of the Voss brothers sits like a sentinel looking down on our small town, remaining a mystery. The four brooding billionaires rarely leave the confines of the iron gates, fueling rumors that have existed for decades.
When my father dies, all the security I’ve known is ripped away, forcing me to come face to face with the eldest brother, Asher Voss. His outward beauty is just as I’d heard—it belies a predatory nature, irresistibly drawing me in.
A bargain is made, and I have no choice but to live in the shadowy confines of his gothic manor to save my family. As time passes, it becomes harder and harder to deny our attraction.
Asher Voss might be too old for me, and he’s definitely cursed by his own demons, but an inferno of passion between us threatens to either consume or destroy us both.
MOONLIT THORNS is a dark, contemporary romance, Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Beauty & The Beast is my favorite Disney fairytale, and I loved this reimagining by P. Rayne! It’s contemporary, waaay spicier, and a fantastic gothic dark romance!
Just like Belle sees a softer side to the Beast, Anabelle brings out a side in Asher that he lets few people see. As much as he tries to push her away, she keeps pushing at him, knowing that there’s something kind underneath that gruff exterior.
Where do I find a guy who will give me a library?
Narrators Rose Dioro and Marcio Catalano were sublime in their portrayals of Asher & Anabelle. This book is definitely darker and more intense than the romcoms I know and love by Piper Rayne, but it was just as captivating — albeit in a very different way! I can’t wait to see the other Voss brothers fall in love!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet P. Rayne
The darker side of USA Today Bestselling Author, Piper Rayne.
Growing up in Hollywood, I was surrounded by liars and phonies.
So when I got my law degree, I knew I wanted to work as a district attorney.
Busy days turned to long nights—I was on my way up the ladder.
Then he happened.
Bullied his way into my life as if there was no choice.
Suddenly everything I thought I wanted wasn’t as important.
Stone
I had one thing on my mind and that was never going to change: The game.
The only goal I had was beating the records set by my family.
I didn’t have time for anything else.
Until she walked in the room.
The earth shifted, just like the stories said it would.
I said it wouldn’t happen—not to me.
I didn’t have the time, but now she was the only thing on my mind.
I knew it was her.
Now I had to convince her.
Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars
I had been looking forward to Meant For Stone for a while, and Natasha Madison did not disappoint with this next-generation series starter! Stone is the son of Zara and Evan (This Is Crazy) and Ryleigh is the daughter of Tyler and Jessica (Hollywood Playboy). Those two worlds were already connected in Made For Romeo, which was Stone’s cousin/Ryleigh’s brother. So while Meant For Stone is connected with the other series, Ryleigh and Stone’s story is a standalone. And what a story it was! Ryleigh and Stone are FIRE together! There is an insane attraction between them, but because she lives in Chicago (where she’s an ADA) and he’s in Nashville (where he still has a year left on his hockey contract), their relationship is built on intense, short visits in between his games. They both see a future together, but with their careers firmly set in different cities, how can they make it work? That’s where the high-stakes emotion comes into play. I was shipping this couple so hard, and cried when the distance between them got to be too much and their relationship started to unravel. But no fear — of course there is a HEA, and I was so glad that they worked things out! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
COMING SOON
MEANT FOR SERIES (BOOK #2)
MEANT FOR HER by Natasha Madison is coming May 10!
Records were set by my grandfather, my father, and now my brother.
I was taught to love the game, but more than that, I learned early the men you play with are your family.
You get on the ice every night and protect them, celebrate the wins, and pick each other up when you fall.
So when we lost Benji, I stepped in to help his wife and kids, but this pull I feel when it comes to them is something more than I can even understand.
Dakota
My life was perfect, until it wasn’t.
Gone was the husband I thought I knew and in his place was a stranger.
I saw him change before my eyes.
Then he was gone, leaving me and our girls alone.
I wanted nothing to do with anyone or anything that took him away from me.
But no matter how many times I’ve told his best friend I don’t need help.
He’s here doing things for us, and the worst part is, I want him to.
Meet Natasha Madison:
When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…
What happens in the woods, doesn’t always stay in the woods …
Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels is now live!
What’s the worst thing you could do when you’re stranded in the woods with your rival? Sleep with him. That’s what.
Not only is Rowan Whitlock my sister’s ex, but we’re both vying for the contract that would save my family farm.
So why did it have to be Rowan who came to the rescue after I fell on a remote hiking trail? When the weather turned unexpectedly, we were forced to find shelter and ride out the storm. Only that wasn’t the only thing I ended up riding.
We promise ourselves what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin, but when we get back to Sugarloaf, it’s impossible to stay away from him. Those blue eyes captivate me, his strong body comforts me, and he makes me feel beautiful.
Which is crazy, right?
If only my stupid head would listen and stop this before my heart gets involved, but I keep going back because I’m already in too deep.
I should’ve known that the temptation wasn’t worth the risk because when it all falls apart, our promises are broken, and I’m afraid my heart will never recover.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
I could not get enough of Rowan and Charlotte in Tempting Promises! From their snarky banter to sizzling chemistry, this pairing is one of my favorites from Corinne Michaels!
Rowan and Charlotte are neighboring dairy farmers, and each is up for the same lucrative contract.. The addition of Rowan being Charlotte’s sister’s ex-fling gave their rivalry a nice touch of a forbidden romance to boot. While Rowan’s relationship with Aurora wasn’t serious, the girl still holds a major grudge, leading Charlotte to feel majorly guilty when she realizes that Rowan isn’t quite the jerk her sister has led her to believe he is.
This book has it all. It made me laugh, made me a little teary, and gave me all the feels. A great addition to the Whitlock Family series!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Corinne
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Storms and Secrets by Claire Kingsley is Available Now 
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
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Sunny Shelly Reads 