Luca Asher is my brother’s ex-best friend, the best contractor in our small town of Lovers, a walking dream when he doesn’t have a shirt on—heck, with it on, too, and he was the first boy I ever loved. He just doesn’t know that last part. On the rare occasions I converse with him, I get a comeback for everything. Our banter is my favorite thing. He’s so clever and quick and, again, sexier than any man I’ve ever met. But none of that changes the fact that he betrayed my brother. My family. Me. And none of those facts would matter except for my one little problem. I had this plan to save my family’s marina, which backfired. Now, my parents have given me a deadline to prove to them it’s still worth saving. If I don’t make it, they’ll sell everything, and I’ll lose my dream to keep the place. They gave me one rule: do not hire that Asher boy. At this point, I have only one option left to make this happen. Hire Luca and beg him not to tell a single soul about it. My heart forgave him years ago, but my head knows better than to trust the enemy. And yet, in a matter of weeks, he starts to remind me of the old us, and I find myself falling for him all over again. The idea of me and Luca is … tempting. Tempting Me is a small-town, steamy, enemies to lovers romance with his ex-best friend’s sister, lots of banter, and a secret agreement. Enemies to Lovers Brothers Ex-Best Friend Small-town Spice Slow burn Banter Secretly Working Together 𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒆 . . GET IT HERE ——> https://geni.us/AmazonTM

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I loved this secret relationship between Shay and her brother’s former best friend, Luca. The tension between them was off the charts as they went from enemies to working together in secret to lovers. They were just so perfectly matched, and her snarky comebacks and eye rolls practically became foreplay between them.

Shay is out of options when it comes to saving The Marina, her family’s business. Her father literally forbade her from hiring Luca’s construction company to do the job, but with no other contractors around to do the work, she hires him to do the renovations under the secret cover of night. There was a falling out between Luca and her brother, Leo, back in high school, so he is Public Enemy No. 1 as far as her family is concerned. But fixing up the restaurant and its rental cabins isn’t the only thing that happens between them at night. Little by little, they begin to form a friendship. Shay has long had a crush on Luca, and it’s not long before he’s crushing right back on her.

But how can Luca and Shay make a relationship work when her family doesn’t know about it? Is it just a summer fling while her parents and brother are out of town? When The Obstacle comes that leads to The Breakup, my heart hurt for Luca and how he always felt relegated to being the secret boyfriend.

Tempting Me is a standalone in The Asher Family series, but the timeline overlaps with Miles and Quinn’s story (Loving You), so it was great to see some of those scenes and plot points from Luca’s POV. This book had so much sweetness, not only between Luca and Shay, but the friend groups, too. In the previous books, we got to see the girls hanging out at their book club, and now we see the birth of boys’ night with Luca, his brothers, and the other guys in town.

I really enjoyed this story, and was so happy to see Luca and Shay get their HEA! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

SOMEHOW YOU KNEW by Harlow James is NOW LIVE

Blurb:

I never imagined I’d agree to an arranged marriage for over 5 million dollars.

Not to mention that the man I’d be marrying is someone I’d already met once before.

Gage Kingston waltzes into the meeting with the lawyer unaffected—cocky, tattooed, and acting like he didn’t know who I was.

But after we agree we’d be stupid to walk away from that kind of money, we embark on a six month timeline to riches despite the animosity between us.

Now I’m living with the man his aunt thought would be perfect for me while wondering if the woman was going insane before she died to think this was a good idea.

Then the first letter came.

Turns out Diane had a plan to get us to fall for each other while trying to make our marriage work.

Arguments turn to meaningful conversations.

Innocent brushes turn to lust-filled challenges.

And before I know it, we’re crossing every line we drew in the sand.

Did Diane somehow know that we were meant for each other before we figure it out for ourselves?

Or was jumping into a marriage with a man I barely knew one of the worst mistakes of my life?

Buy Link:

https://mybook.to/somehowyouknew

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I devoured Somehow You Knew in two days. After the tease in the previous book about Hazel and the mysterious guy who randomly drew on her, I knew I had to get into this story, and it was so good.

This story is a great slow burn, and hits all the right notes of spicy and sweet. Both Hazel and Gage have experienced parental loss, and it has affected them deeply, albeit in different ways. There is a great push-pull between these two as they fight their feelings during their marriage of convenience. And the sweet letters and “tasks” set out for them by their matchmaker Diane (her friend/his aunt) were just so cute.

On top of the slow build in their romance, Gage is keeping a pretty major secret from Hazel, and it comes to light in the worst possible way and has the potential to change everything between them. Once his truth is revealed, Gage’s reluctance to emotionally get involved with Hazel all makes sense. But when the going gets tough, Gage realizes that Hazel is everything he never allowed himself to have. And with the extended Sheppard family, he has the family surrounding him that he’s longed for.

This was the first audio I’ve listened to with Brandon Francis narrating the hero, and I thought he did a great job of playing all the nuances in Gage’s reluctance to get involved with Hazel, fighting his feelings, and the vulnerability of the character once his secret is revealed. Erin Mallon, as always, did a great job with her portrayal of Hazel! She’s a frequent narrator for a reason!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Harlow James:

Steamy Romance Author

Harlow James is a pen name I use to protect my identity as a high school teacher. Keeping those two roles in my life separate is necessary, but also fun! It’s like a live two lives, and anonymity gives me the opportunity to be bold and take risks in my stories.

I stumbled upon romance novels in 2018 when I picked up Driven by Kristy Bromberg, and I was obsessed. I had just lost my grandmother too, so reading offered me an escape from reality and a chance to grieve on my own terms.

About a year later, I got an idea for my own book and started writing. I researched self-publishing and jumped in with both feet. I had no idea what I was doing!

But now I’ve built a business and hobby that I LOVE! I have an outlet that’s just for me. When I write, I’m not a mom, a wife, or a teacher…I’m a woman who gets to tell stories that no one else can.

My books are the perfect blend of heartwarming moments, full-bellied laughs, and PLENTY of steam to melt your Kindles 😉 And there are always elements of me sprinkled in to every character and story that I write.

When I’m not writing you can find me reading or spending time in my kitchen. I love to cook and feed my family and friends. Otherwise, you can find me watching comedy specials with my husband, camping with our kids, or taking naps. I live for naps 😉

Connect with Harlow James:

https://linktr.ee/harlowjamesauthor

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I am claiming Beck as my favorite Weston. Beck and Jolie’s story is one of the right person at the wrong time, full of sizzling chemistry, witty banter, passion, heat, heartbreak, and so much more.

Beck Weston is the team captain for the LA Whales. After a game in Boston, he meets college student Jolie Jameson at a dive bar. Despite her being is seven years younger than him and a lifelong Boston fan, Beck invites her to stay with him for the next three days and show him *her* Boston. The connection between the two is immediate, and neither one of them wants to part ways after their three days are up. But they live on opposite sides of the country, and she still has two years of college ahead of her. While they keep in touch over text messages, the next two years are full of missed moments and a miscommunication that ends their relationship before it starts.

More than two years later, Jolie and Beck cross paths again, but the timing still is not right. Even though they are now both living in the same city, their relationship has gone from a long-distance one to a forbidden one. Though they try to keep things professional, Beck can’t let Jolie walk away so easily… can he convince her that the risk will be worth the reward?

Marni Mann always does a great job of crafting her characters. I loved Beck and Jolie so much! I loved how he wasn’t afraid to put his feelings out there with her, show his vulnerable side. He never thought that he wanted to be in a committed relationship until he met Jolie, and then once he did, it seemed like the odds were stacked against them.

5/5. Definitely recommend!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

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?

BOOK: https://amzn.to/3TgSBhh

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 3 Stars

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.

AT FIRST FLIGHT by Renee Harless is NOW LIVE

Blurb:

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.

Buy Link:

https://mybook.to/atfirstflight

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

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.

Connect with Renee Harless:

https://www.reneeharless.com/mobile

500 First Editions by Maggie Gates is now live! 

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

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3RBwila     

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/433QEdk

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

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.

Connect with Maggie

Website: www.maggiegates.com

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/44cuKFL

Amazon: https://bit.ly/44IXc2d

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggieGates

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/authormaggiegates

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authormaggiegates

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@authormaggiegates, https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiegatesromancebooks

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/maggie-gates

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/maggiecgates/

Threads: www.threads.net/@authormaggiegates

DEALBREAKER

Kat Mizera & Elise Faber

Release Date: June 23

She’s the biggest movie star in the world.

And she’s in danger.

My specialty is security for the rich and famous, so when legendary actress Willow St. Claire asks for my help protecting her, I can’t say no.

The only problem is that I’m in danger too.

Of losing my heart.

She’s smart and sweet, beautiful and kind, and despite my determination to never fall in love again I know I’m going to make her mine.

But when her past catches up with her, the future I’ve begun to plan is suddenly at risk.

I might lose her.

And everything I never knew I wanted.

Authors’ note: There are some difficult themes in this story. For CW information, please check out this book’s page on Elise’s website.

Grab Your Copy!

https://geni.us/DealbreakerEFKM

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

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

For more information on Kat Mizera and her books visit: https://katmizera.com/

Connect with Kat Mizera:

https://katmizera.com/pages/contact-kat

Meet Elise Faber:

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

For more information on Elise Faber and her books visit: https://www.elisefaber.com/

Connect with Elise Faber:

https://www.elisefaber.com/contact

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