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.
WISTFUL WHISPERS by Kaylene Winter is AVAILABLE NOW
Wistful Whispers is an irresistible battle of the wills where surrendering to forbidden temptation could cost them everything.
I never promised forever. A good time? Absolutely. Heartbreak? Only if they got too attached.
My reputation as a quiet playboy precedes me—women talk, and my ‘talents’ follow me wherever I go. But I’ve always been upfront. No commitments. No expectations. No complications.
Marcella Delgado is nothing but complications. Brilliant. Fierce. Eight years older. And the attorney trying to take down my boss in a malpractice case. She should hate me on sight—hell, she does. But that doesn’t stop the heat between us from igniting the moment we meet.
She’s heard the stories about me firsthand, right there in the depositions. She knows exactly what I’m good at, and even though she fights it, I can see the temptation in her eyes.
One night. One line crossed. Now my future’s unraveling—and she might be the only thing I don’t want to let go.
For the first time, I want it all.
And I’ll fight like hell to be the man she can’t leave behind.
Seamus and Marcella’s story is the third in the Charming Irish series, and I think this may be my favorite book so far! I thought these two characters were totally relatable, not afraid to be vulnerable with each other, far from perfect, and just fit each other so well!
The youngest brother, Seamus is a neurosurgery resident (with a bit of a playboy reputation around the hospital) caught up in a malpractice suit filed against his mentor; Marcella is the attorney hired by the patient’s family. I loved her spunk and sass, and loved how the character was written as this strong, empowered executive who struggled with insecurities over her curvier size. There was an instant attraction between them, and it was a delicious slow burn as they fought their feelings throughout the court case. Once they finally gave in to their attraction, during a moment of grief and heightened feelings, all bets were off. Nothing about the two of them made sense on paper, but Seamus and Marcella just fell into this easy relationship and complemented each other perfectly.
However, their bubble bursts when Seamus’ past threatens to destroy his future. It’s a rough patch for the couple, and they are tested in ways neither one of them imagined. But they come out of it on the other side stronger than before.
I loved the connection between Seamus and Marcella, the romance, the steam, the conversations, and the communication. How they both just got each other, created a safe landing space, and let the other feel seen.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Kaylene Winter:
Kaylene Winter is an Amazon best-selling author of steamy, contemporary romance.
Each character-driven novel is filled with snappy dialogue, pop-culture references and enough steam to make you fan yourself. Kaylene weaves authenticity, emotion and angst into a turbulent rollercoaster ride of love, passion and soul-searing romance always ending with a delicious HEA.
Kaylene lives in Seattle with her amazing Irish husband and gorgeous Siberian Husky. She loves creating art of all kinds.
That awkward moment when the matchmaker becomes the match…
Meet Cute or Your Money Back, an all-new grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, matchmaker romcom from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!
I know what women want in a man and they pay me a lot of money to find it for them.
With the help of my fellow ex-special forces brothers, I opened up a matchmaking business where we use our military skills to help our clients find The One. And it turns out a little military strategy goes a long way.
I treat each new client in my matchmaking business like its own mission. And I’m proud to say that I have a one hundred percent success rate.
Or at least I did. Before Allie Larsen entered the picture.
She’s smart. She’s beautiful. She’s charming…
… and she’s impossible to please.
But when it turns out Allie has secrets she’s been keeping, she not only jeopardizes her own matchmaking mission, but she puts both our lives in danger.
Except this time, it’s not only my life at risk… it’s my heart.
When they said, “All’s fair in love and war,” I’m not sure this is what they meant.
Meet Cute or Your Money Back was such a cute romcom. I loved the reverse twist of Thatcher, a former Navy SEAL, being the one running a matchmaking service who falls for the client. He and Allie were such a perfect match.
After his wife died, leaving him as a single parent with an infant son to raise, Thatcher founded his matchmaking service. He and his partners use their military training to run their clients’ dates like they are running secret ops missions. I loved it! Allie enters his life like a hurricane, and for the first time in years, Thatcher doesn’t quite know what to do with big feelings for a woman that he never expected to feel again as a widower.
Allie, meanwhile, is a newspaper food critic with dreams of being an investigative reporter. She gets her shot at writing an investigative piece on the matchmaking service, trying to write about her dating experiences without breaking her NDA. It’s soon evident that Allie and Thatcher have far better chemistry than any of the guys she’s set up with. And as the attraction between them grows, Allie stumbles upon something in her digging that ends up putting both of their lives in danger.
This book had it all. It was funny, heartfelt, a sizzling slow burn, adorable rescue dogs, a cute kid, a sexy, grumpy military vet, and a clumsy, spirited heroine. I really enjoyed this story and hope that there’s more to come for Thatcher’s buddies!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Keep reading for a look inside Meet Cute or Your Money Back!
I knew someone was following me from the moment I stepped out into the brisk city air. When you’re in my line of work, you learn not to ignore that prickling sensation on the back of your neck. I’ve had eyes on me enough times to know the difference between paranoia and the real deal. One surreptitious glance over my shoulder confirms that I’m right. Only it doesn’t appear to be some insidious threat lurking in the shadows; it’s a pair of round hazel, curious eyes that are trained on me.
“Okay,” I mutter under my breath, tightening my grip on my to-go paper coffee cup, “time to face the music.”
I make a sharp turn down an alleyway, my boots echoing off the graffiti-stained walls. There’s a method to this madness—alleyways are good for confrontations, fewer prying eyes. I position myself around the corner behind a dumpster and wait, counting the seconds. Sure enough, the soft patter of footsteps crescendos as she rounds the bend, almost on cue.
I pull my gun from my waistband, ensuring the safety is still on and raise it chest height as I step out from the shadows. “Why are you following me?”
I cringe as she spins to face me, her pouty, berry-shaded lips parted in a gasp. “Oh my lord! That’s a gun!” she cries with the timbre of a kindergarten teacher.
“Wow, look at you, Detective Sunshine. So tell me…are you lost or just really into following people?” My tone’s casual, but my stance is anything but. I hold firm with the gun raised, waiting for her to stumble over some lie. But she stops short, blinking up at me with an expression that’s part surprise, part chagrin.
“Following you?” Her voice has that high-pitched quality of someone caught red-handed. She laughs—a nervous kind of laugh—and then looks away, searching for an escape route that isn’t there. “No, no, I…I was…”
“Let’s cut to the chase.” I step closer and see her swallow hard. Good. Keep her on her toes. “You’ve been tailing me since we both exited the coffee shop. What’s your game?”
She tugs at the strap of her bag, clearly buying time, and I can tell she’s not used to being cornered. Most folks aren’t. Then again, I’ve learned not to trust anyone. Especially some cute brunette playing innocent. I’ve seen firsthand how the doe-eyed Bambi can be trained to lie through their teeth and turn into the deadliest assassin in the room in a blink of those mascara-laden eyes.
I’m absolutely not falling for that act.
“Who are you?” I demand, not unkindly, but firmly enough to show I mean business. I can see the wheels turning behind those wide eyes, the cogs of her brain grinding as she sizes up whether to run or spill as she stares down the barrel of my gun.
“Okay, okay…” She exhales sharply, a half-defeated chuckle escaping her lips. “This is going to sound strange, but—”
She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, and I notice for the first time how the setting sunlight catches in her wavy hair, turning it into liquid amber. There’s this playful glint in her hazel eyes that makes them shimmer like two drops of top-shelf whiskey. The sundress she’s wearing clings to her petite frame in a way that’s casual but deliberate, like a flag staked on the territory of her curves.
“I’m waiting.”
“Look,” she starts, tipping her head back to meet my gaze with a confidence that’s almost disarming. “I saw you back there, in the café. You were like some kind of cabernet Cupid, helping that girl with the spilled wine connect with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”
For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website:
Well, sixty nine if you count me, Elizabeth Sweet, Monhegan’s newest resident and retired child star.
When I first step off the boat, I’m ready to be charmed by the island that holds the sweetest memories from my childhood. A place so remote that even the pesky media won’t bother to look for me here.
What I get instead is exasperation.
“Summer people.” It’s grumbled like a curse, a growl of sorts. No one seems to want me here, least of all the grumpy sheriff who seems affronted by my mere existence.
He’s stupidly handsome, goes nowhere without his beloved golden retriever Bing, and speaks in nothing but grunts.
Unfortunately for Fisher Jones, I’m not going anywhere. In fact we’re neighbors. And his niece Sutton, like every other eight year old in America, is obsessed with me.
Summer in Monhegan isn’t at all what I expect, but neither is Fisher. I haven’t quite figured out why he’s so miserable, but I’m also not volunteering what I’m running from.
All I know is the Islanders aren’t the only ones worming their way into my heart. Though, I suppose it won’t matter how I feel, if my past catches up to me. Maybe I’m destined to be nothing more than 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚.
Summer People is a great collab from Brittanee Nicole and Jenni Bara. Fisher and Libby’s It is the perfect beach read for the summer of 2025!
Following a PR scandal, Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Sweet escapes to a small island town to hide out and encounters the town’s resident grump, Fisher, and his adorable niece, Sutton, who live next door to the house she’s staying in. But when Libby’s past catches up to her on the island, will Fisher be able to protect her?
This story gave me all the feels. The connection between the two characters was electric, and I was rooting for Fisher and Libby right from the start. I eccentric little town and all of its charm, Fisher’s sweet bond with Sutton, and the funny, heartfelt moments in Summer People.
I hope this book isn’t a one-off from Nicole and Bara because I would love to see more stories from them! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Brittanée Nicole:
Brittanee is an author who lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two children. Her town is a character in itself in all of her books.
When she is not writing she enjoys spending time outdoors by the water with her children, reading at the beach or by the pool (or really anywhere), dancing with her friends, singing Karaoke, spinning, bike riding and boating.
Some of her favorite authors are Sophia Kinsella, Elin Hilderbrand, Liane Moriarty, Mary Higgins Clark, Meghan Quinn, Daphne Elliott, Amy Alves, Claire Kingsley, Melanie Harlow, Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne and Sarah Adams. (Clearly, she has a problem and can’t pick favorites.)
Even as a young child Jenni Bara would conjure up all kinds of tales with her endless imagination. She’s improved her skills since the days of scaring her younger cousins with ghost stories, but her love for books and stories has never changed.
In her everyday life, she is a paralegal for family law writing unhappily ever afters for people every day. So in turn she spends her free time with anything that keeps her laughing including life with her kids!
All joking aside she is blessed to have not only very amazing kids but super supportive parents as well as a loving extended family always happy to share their opinions!
Her favorite spots all have the best views of the sunsets and she loves to share the views through photos.
She just began her career as a romance author writing books full of life, love, and laughter.
WHEN HEARTS REMEMBER by Victoria Lum is AVAILABLE NOW
Blurb:
She doesn’t remember her first love. But her brother’s best friend never forgot her.
Two love stories unfold—one in the past, full of stolen moments and reckless devotion, and one in the present, where fate has given them a second chance.
Alexis Vaughn first fell in love with a forbidden stranger through the pages of a secret journal. Their romance burned fast and bright—until a car crash stole her memories and nearly her life. Eight years later, she wakes up from a coma to a world she doesn’t recognize. When her brother’s best friend offers her an internship, she accepts. But something about the brooding, enigmatic billionaire unsettles her.
Ethan Anderson made a promise—to love Alexis even when she forgot him. For years, he’s kept it, watching over her, honoring the dreams she never got to chase. But now that she’s awake, she looks at him with no memories of their past. Pretending that doesn’t shatter him may be the hardest thing he’s ever done.
But as the truth behind her accident unravels and danger closes in, will love be enough to save them this time?
Note: All of Victoria’s books are standalones and can be read out of order.
When Hearts Remember was phenomenal! Victoria Lum is not an author I am familiar with, but I absolutely loved Ethan and Lexy’s second-chance, amnesia romance!
The story unfolds between chapters set in the past and the present. In the present, Lexy has just woken up from a years-long coma and has no recollection of Ethan, her brother’s best friend and secret boyfriend. Meanwhile, Ethan has been stunted over the past eight years since her accident, unable to move forward with his life. When Lexy awakens, he thinks he will finally get everything his heart has longed for the past eight years… except she has no clue who he is, that they were in love and planning a future together.
The present-day dilemma is set against chapters from the past as Ethan and Alexis/Lexy fall in love. Their romance sweetly starts out exchanging pen pal letters around a New York City library (loved that!) until they eventually move to text messages…. and ultimately discover their mutual connection to her brother, Liam.
I loved going along for this ride. It was messy and chaotic and heartbreaking, and I ate it up. Ethan was so devoted to her, no matter what kept getting tossed at him. And quite a lot was tossed at him! Aside from the wonderful second-chance romance, there is a secondary suspense storyline in this book… I was so happy that Ethan and Alexis were able to rise above the forces trying to keep them apart and that they found their way back to one another in the end!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Victoria Lum:
Victoria Lum writes angsty, emotional romances that dive deep into the complexities of love and the human heart. She’s the author of The Orchid and LA Hearts series, which follow characters through love’s twists and turns, secrets, and second chances. A true romantic at heart, Victoria loves crafting stories that resonate with readers who crave a mix of passion, tension, and genuine connection.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up with a caramel latte and a good book or spending time with her family in sunny California.
From New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a new laugh-out-loud summer rom-com.
“I got what I wanted. I became buddy-buddy with my boss in an instant. But the cost will be hefty…finding a husband by tomorrow.”
Scottie Price just started a new job, and it’s a real sausage fest. She’s the only woman on a team filled with Brads and Chads. Expecting a bachelor pad atmosphere, she is quickly corrected when she finds out everyone is happily married.
In an effort to impress her boss, Scottie mentions her nonexistent husband in a company meeting. But eagle-eyed Chad points out her lack of wedding ring. Panicked, Scottie creates a story about her unhappy marriage. Unfortunately for Scottie, her boss has a solution―a one-on-one session with the best marriage counselor in the Northeast, who happens to be her boss’s husband.
With no way out of her lie, Scottie agrees to see him. Frantic, she calls in help from her best friend who sets her up with his brother, an improv-obsessed millionaire.
Enter Wilder Wells. More than happy to take on the job, he teaches Scottie the main rule of improv: always say yes. But the rule backfires during the session when Wilder signs them up for an eight-day summer marriage camp with all of Scottie’s co-workers where she’ll have to share a cabin with her way-too-handsome fake husband.
Every time I think Meghan Quinn can’t possibly outdo herself, outdo herself she does! Till Summer Do Us Part is a must-read book for the summertime. Do yourself one better, and listen to it on audio, because Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon were PHENOMENAL in their duet narration as Wilder and Scottie.
Forced proximity, blind-ish date, best friend’s brother, fake marriage — all tropes that I love, and that MQ writes like a champ. But this time around, she has Scottie and Wilder pretending to be a married couple at a relationship summer camp for adults. It. Is. Hilarious. (I thought the etiquette scene in Bridesmaid by Chance was hilarious, and so many scenes in this book run a very close second.)
On top of the hilarity, awkwardness, and everything else that made Wilder and “Pips” so endearing were the deep conversations between the two. Scottie was hurt so badly (emotionally) when her marriage broke up. Her ex took her for granted, didn’t consider her feelings, and treated her like a roommate and not his wife. In just a few short days of knowing one another, Wilder far surpassed Scottie’s ex-husband. He is kind and considerate and does all the little things for a woman who is essentially a stranger (even if she is his brother’s best friend). And Scottie pushes Wilder to want to be better. He’s kind of afloat after selling an app and making a crapton of money, but his feelings for Scottie make Wilder want to confront the demons in his past and become a better, more emotionally available partner. There is such growth from the character from the start to the end of this book, but he never lost his charm or sense of humor.
And Stephen Dexter as the unorthodox therapist who runs the camp? I couldn’t get enough!
Don’t miss this audio. Seriously.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT by Sara Ney is NOW LIVE!
Blurb:
There are two sacred rules in the Montagalo household:
Family comes first.
Don’t date my brother’s teammates.
Of course I went and broke both…
It started with a little banter on a dating app.
A teeny, tiny secret:Flirty messages with Luca Babineaux, the sweet, charming—and stupidly attractive forward on the Houston Baddies—who makes sweat and bruises look so f’ing hot. One spark turns into a secret first date. A few kisses become way more.
Now I’m tangled in a full-blown secret romance and every time Gio walks into the room, I have a full-blown anxiety attack.
Dating in secret? Thrilling. Lying to my brother? Exhausting.
Falling for Luca Babineaux obviously wasn’t part of the game plan.
He wants to go public with our relationship. I’d rather not.
Now I have to decide what matters more: keeping my promises to my dumb, overprotective brother…or choose myself for once.
I have been looking forward to Nova and Luca’s book ever since I read her epilogue tucked at the back of Hit Me With Your Best Shot. And Sara Ney did not disappoint!
Unlucky in love, Nova didn’t quite know what to do when she matched with her brother’s teammate, Luca, on a dating app. At first, she thought she was being catfished, so she was definitely surprised to discover that it was indeed Luca himself on the app. Their relationship progressed quite quickly, and I loved the witty banter, the flirty text exchanges, and the hilarity of Luca and Nova sharing custody of a giraffe cup from Rainforest Cafe.
I knew this was going to be a brother’s best friend book where said brother warns his teammates not to date his sister. What I wasn’t expecting was to feel so much for Luca as Nova insists on keeping their relationship a secret. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to share his feelings with her, and insist that he deserved more than her lying about who they are to each other. Most books have the guy making the Grand Gesture after an argument, but it’s Nova who goes big in this story to apologize to Luca for downplaying what he means to her… complete with landing herself in hockey jail. It’s a thing.
I loved Gio in all his overprotective glory as a side character in this story, and seeing him and Austin as parents. I can’t wait for Poppy’s story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Sara Ney:
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends is a contemporary sports romance, where our hero unexpectedly finds his best friend’s little sister on his doorstep needing a place to hide out from her ex and the world. The only problem, she’s not so little anymore . . .
When fate delivers a roommate . . . don’t block it.
Tyler Quinn
There is a beautiful woman unexpectedly living in my house. A woman I sort of know because she’s my best friend’s little sister. Although, she’s definitely not so little anymore.
My entire professional career, I’ve been the starting tight end for the Tampa Tarpons. Life as a football player keeps me in the spotlight, when my preference is the dark. Through unfortunate past experiences, I guard my privacy and don’t do roommates, ever. But when my best friend calls and says he needs a favor, I don’t say no. Although I wish I had. Now she’s here, with her gorgeous turquoise eyes, big trusting smile, and taking up my spot on my couch. I’ve established the rules for how this is going to go, but as time passes and she opens up, I find it’s becoming harder and harder not to break them.
Lily Kent
If I know one thing for certain, I’m never dating another football player again.
After walking away from a very long and expired relationship, I needed a place to stay to plan out my life. My new life. I can work anywhere, so when my brother suggests crashing with his best friend Tyler, I say,”Yes.” Who doesn’t love palm trees, sunshine, and an attractive roommate? Tyler is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, but the best part is he’s also kind. He makes me feel grounded when everything else feels upside down. He makes me feel things I wasn’t expecting. I know I said no more athletes, but in those moments when his hand grazes my back or when he makes me laugh, I wonder about my plans. Maybe I should change them, maybe we should, after all, fate did lead me to his door.
Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends is another great book in Kathryn Andrews’ Tampa Tarpons series. It’s an interconnected standalone, and takes place at the same time as book 1, Wildflowers and Wide Receivers.
After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Lily needs a fresh start. Her brother sets her up to live with his best friend, Tyler, whom Lily had a crush on back when they were in college. Tyler doesn’t like having people in his personal space, after being burned by an ex who betrayed his trust, so the new roommate situation definitely puts him out of his comfort zone.
I really enjoyed seeing these two reconnect and become more than just roommates. While he helped her regain her confidence, she helped him learn how to open up to people again. This story was such a heartfelt romance, with the group chat amongst the players being the perfect dose of comic relief!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Kathryn Andrews:
Kathryn Andrews is a #1 Inspirational Romance Bestselling Author who loves stories that end with a happily ever after. She started writing at age seven and never stopped. Kathryn is known for Chasing Clouds, the Starving for Southern series, and her much loved Hale Brothers series. Her stories are sweet, southern, and fall into the genres of chi-lit, contemporary romance, sports romance, and southern fiction.
Kathryn graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in Biology and Chemistry, and currently lives in Tampa, Florida. She spends her days as a sales director for a medical device company and her nights lost in her love of fictional characters.
When Kathryn is not crafting beautiful worlds that incorporate some of her most favorite real life places, she can be found hanging out with her husband and two young sons, while drinking iced coffee and enjoying the sun.
Retired fencing Olympian Hugo De la Vega lives a quiet life in Olive Township. He has his friends, his olive orchard, and a recurring daydream about what he would say to his father’s murderer if given the chance to look him in the eyes.
True crime podcaster Mallory Hawkins arrives in the eclectic small desert town with one purpose: to investigate Hugo’s father’s unsolved murder from twenty years ago.
A chance meeting at a sandwich shop has Hugo harmlessly flirting with Mallory, until he realizes she’s the stubborn woman who has been hounding him for months. Hugo’s swift and emphatic refusal to support her investigation forces Mallory to reveal her personal connection to the case.
Now Hugo is spending time with the woman whose emails he once deleted. She’s witty, eternally curious, and pregnant. Finding this out should make it easier for Hugo to deny the magnetic pull he feels toward her, but it has the opposite effect.
When a situation threatens Mallory and her baby’s safety, Hugo finds himself moving her into his house at the orchard. Now they’re splitting time between a search for justice and fighting their mutual attraction… until a middle of the night encounter in the kitchen has them taking their relationship from professional to personal.
With each passing day, Hugo gets closer to laying it all out on the line for Mallory.
As long as the killer doesn’t get to her first.
*Hugo is the second in a four-book contemporary romance series inspired by the film The Princess Bride. Expect swoon, sass, spice, and happily ever afters.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
I so enjoyed this story, inspired by The Princess Bride!
I was intrigued by Hugo after reading Penn, and I wanted to get to know him better and find out what happened to his dad, who was murdered many years ago. Hugo’s world is turned upside down when true crime podcaster Mallory arrives in Olive Township. But she’s not just curious about Hugo’s father’s death because it’s a cold case — she thinks it may be connected to the cold case of her own sister’s murder.
I loved the journey these two went on, how connected they were right from the start. Hugo really has been stunted for years, and Mallory breathes life back into him. On the flip side, Mallory is at a crossroads in her life. Her ex signed away all rights to the baby she’s expecting, and she’s looking at life as a single mom. But not only does Hugo fall in love with Mallory, but he wants her and Peanut to be his forever girls. Swoon.
And I loved that Hugo, the Olympic gold medal fencer, got his Inigo Montoya moment after all.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer Millikin is a bestselling author of fifteen contemporary romance and women’s fiction novels. She is the two-time recipient of the Readers Favorite Gold Star Award, and readers have called her work “emotionally riveting” and “unputdownable”.
Following a viral TikTok video with over fourteen million views, Jennifer’s third novel, Our Finest Hour, has been optioned for TV/Film. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, children, and Liberty, her Labrador retriever.
Audiobook also available on all audio retailers ➝ 
Grab it now ➝ 
Sunny Shelly Reads 