Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: The Homemaker by Jewel E. Ann

The Homemaker by Jewel E. Ann is now live!

A romance inspired by TS “Fortnight”

I was hers, but she was never mine.

Alice Yates is the hired “homemaker” for the Morrisons, an affluent couple in Minneapolis. For Alice, it’s a dream job to dress up like a 1950s housewife and read romance novels to Mr. Morrison before his afternoon nap.

But when the Morrisons’ only daughter returns home for the summer with her fiancé, Alice comes face- to-face with her shattered past—the only threat to her perfect life.

Eight years earlier, vacation rental owner Murphy Paddon had an impeccable vinyl record collection and did the most irresistible thing before kissing Alice, earning him a five-star rating. Their fortnight love affair was life-altering and ended tragically.

Murphy doesn’t know if Alice remembers him or whether he should tell his fiancée that the hired-help living in the guesthouse is the woman who irreparably broke his heart. He needs closure, but will the lingering glances and silent yearning lead to the end or just the beginning?

Grab your copy of The Homemaker, from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Jewel E. Ann, and lose yourself in this forbidden, high-stakes romance.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3UPLWuG

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/S26fj 

Audible: http://bit.ly/4nu17pZ

Narrated by Charlotte North & Robert Hatchet

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/457iBCa

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

The Homemaker was a doozy! I always know that I am going to absolutely love a Jewel E. Ann book, and this one was no different. Alice and Murphy’s story was captivating from start to finish; the vibe of this book reminded me more of her Transcend or Sunday Morning series than her lighter fare, like her Wildfire series. I really would love to circle back to this book and listen to the audio version, because I’d love to see what Robert Hatchett can do with this character.

This book has quirky, lovable characters, a gripping storyline, a second-chance romance told in dual timelines, and a whole lot of messy angst. Alice takes a job as a “homemaker” for a wealthy couple, and it comes complete with a cute little guest cottage to reside in. She never expected that her boss’s soon-to-be son-in-law was Murphy, the guy she had a whirlwind (but short-lived) romance with eight years ago.

The Homemaker packs so much within the pages; it’s so much more than a forbidden, second-chance romance. Missed connections, falling for the right person at the wrong time, grief, and loss. It’s angsty and messy, and perfectly Jewel E. Ann.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: One More Heartbeat by Stina Lindenblatt

 
 

 

 
 
Release Date: September 25
Available in Kindle Unlimited!

 

 

Finding a toddler on my doorstep? Not exactly how I planned for the day to go.

 

Zara Thompson has loved sexy, ex-Marine Garrett Carson since college—but he was in love with her best friend. For the past twelve years, Zara has kept her secret and her heart guarded.

 

Then a woman shows up on Garrett’s doorstep with a toddler and a shocking claim: the little girl is his daughter, and her mother—Zara’s former best friend—is dead, killed in a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Now, Garrett is juggling fatherhood, a looming book deadline, a frightened toddler who won’t go near him, and a live-in nanny who refuses to warm up to Zara—especially after she witnesses an unexpected and steamy kiss between Zara and Garrett.

 

A steamy kiss that sends their close friendship into a tailspin…

 

 

But as Zara focuses on expanding her small-town café and helping Garrett be a father, a mix of circumstances beyond her control and buried secrets conspire against her…threatening Zara’s chance at a happily ever after with the man her heart refuses to give up on.

 

 

 

 

 
Buy Here:
 

 

Add to your Goodreads TBR List!
 
 

 

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars
I thought this book was going to be a second-chance romance, but it ended up being so much more than that. There were so many twists and turns in Zara and Garrett’s story, and this book dealt with some pretty heavy topics (grief, chronic illness, PTSD, and more). I was not expecting all that this book gave me!

Garrett is a military veteran with PTSD and a lot of guilt, having lost two close friends in the service. He’s now a best-selling thriller author with a movie deal in the works and a looming deadline. He has quite the full plate when he learns that he is a father one day when Athena the nanny shows up on his doorstep with a toddler named Poeny. The little girl’s mom is his college ex, whom he had a one-night stand with about two years prior. And the ex happens to be Zara’s best friend, which is why she never told Garrett that she’s been in love with him since they were kids.

Something was off about Athena right from the start, and I had so many questions about why Peony was so afraid of men. Zara really steps up to help Garrett get his daughter to adjust to her new surroundings, and eventually, their friendship becomes something deeper.

But when Athena and Peony’s past shows up in their present, all of their lives are at risk. This story took a lot of twists and turns with the suspense, and it kept me captivated. The HEA that Garrett and Zara got was well worth it.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
Meet Stina Lindenblatt

 

 
 

 

Born in Brighton England, USA Today bestselling author Stina Lindenblatt has lived in a number of countries, including England, the U.S., Finland, and Canada. This would explain her mixed up accent. She has a kinesiology degree and a MSc in sports biological sciences. In addition to writing fiction, she loves photography, and currently lives in Calgary, Canada, with her husband, three kids, and their adorable rescue cat.

 

 
 
 
 
Connect with Stina here:
 
 
 
 
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Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Deal Breaker by Lily Miller

I came back to Deep Cove with a 6-year-old secret and a million memories I’ve tried hard to forget. But I’ve never been able to forget him.

Ford Winters is more than just my ex. He’s my first love. He’s the only man I’ve ever truly given my heart to. He’s also the father of a little girl he doesn’t even know exists.
I didn’t plan on coming back home, but when I found out my mom needed me, I didn’t hesitate. So here we are, my daughter Poppy and I, back in the place where I left my shattered heart all those years ago.

What I didn’t expect? Walking into the office of my new perfect-on-paper marketing job to discover Ford owns the multi-million dollar company. He won’t even look at me. He’s furious, and he has every right to be after I walked out of his life without even a goodbye. But I need this job, and the company needs me, so we’re going to have to make this work.

Easier said than done.

The pull between us is magnetic. The tension is impossible to ignore. Every second we spend together is fire, and when he finally kisses me, I’m reminded why my heart has always been his.

But when I see how kind and sweet Ford is with my daughter—our daughter—it makes the guilt inside me twist like a knife. If he knew the real reason I walked away from him, if he knew the secret I still can’t bring myself to reveal, he would never forgive me.

I can’t keep the truth from him for much longer, but how do I tell him without losing everything?

Read now for free with Kindle Unlimited https://tinyurl.com/Dealbreaker-USA

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Deal Breaker is the first book in a new series from author Lily Miller. Seven years after Landyn ghosted Ford, she’s back in town to be closer to her ill mother… and is forced to face the love of her life after leaving him with no explanation when she gets a temp job as a PR fixer at his athletic lifestyle company.

I am choosing to overlook the fact that Landyn hid such a massive secret from Ford for six years, and then waited so long to tell him once she was back in town. Because other than that, I really loved this story. It had all the right pieces to make it an emotional rollercoaster as Ford and Landyn found their way back together. The way he gravitated toward Poppy was so sweet and that little girl held his heart from the second he saw her.

I loved immersing myself into the quaint town of Deep Cove, and getting to know Ford’s brothers. Also, Landyn’s co-workers Becca and Marco were a hoot.

I’m looking forward to seeing the other Winters brothers find love. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Sara Ney

DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART by Sara Ney is AVAILABLE NOW

Blurb:

A laugh-out-loud, swoon-filled romantic comedy that’s the perfect for every independent girlie who knows exactly what she wants—but falls for the one person she shouldn’t. The shirtless guy across the hallway….

When I landed a new job in a brand-new city, I needed a place to live—fast. Enter: the spare bedroom in a suburbia McMansion with a pool, wine fridge, and stove that probably costs more than my car. Perfect setup, right?

Wrong. My new roommate saw me practically naked on night one.

Then I catch him doing something that rhymes with “disasterbating.”

Half hockey player, half Viking, Turner “Skaggs” Hutton III is the human embodiment of a golden retriever and is off-limits. Which would be easy if the chemistry between us wasn’t hotter than this blazing Texas sun…

The chemistry? Molten.The tension? Physically painful.

Think: slow burn with zero impulse control. Think: tight spaces with his hand on my thigh during a cramped car ride…And could someone please explain to me why I find it so damn sexy watching his massive hands choose the prefect LEGO brick? Send help!

He’s sworn off distractions to save his career. I’m focused on building mine and certainly not looking for a boyfriend. But when one too many lapses in judgment and one missed cycle leads to an emergency trip to the pharmacy…

Well. Things could get complicated.

Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/DontGBMyHeartSN

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

This book was so fun! It’s a swoony and spicy forced proximity roommates romance, and I loved the chemistry between independent Poppy and golden retriever, Lego-building Tanner. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart is a connected standalone within the Houston Baddies Hockey series; Poppy is besties with Nova, and Turner plays hockey with Luca.

Poppy recently relocated for work, so Nova sets her up in the empty bedroom at Luca’s house now that they are living together. Poppy and Tanner’s first meeting is not what either one of them expects (underwear, breakfast, and an early arrival back home are involved) and the attraction between them is immediate. But Poppy has been hurt in the past, and she’s hesitant to give in to the attraction she feels for Tanner. Things progress when they connect on a dating app, and once they take off, it is fire between them.

I absolutely loved everything about these two… except for the miscommunication trope. Their situationship was so easy, and they clicked together right away, but when things got a little too close for comfort, Poppy freaked out and it just led to a breakdown in communication between them. I thought they had it together better than that.

Overall, this book is a delightful, low-angst, swoony roommates story that will sweep you off your feet. I received a complimentary 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.

Connect with Sara Ney:

https://linktr.ee/authorsaraney

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Texts From My Exes by Rachel Van Dyken

TEXTS FROM MY EXES by Rachel Van Dyken is AVAILABLE NOW

𝑭𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒆𝒙 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚…𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕.”

Some people scrapbook.

I screenshot my exes’ texts.

What started as me venting my dating disasters online (creative outlet, don’t judge) has turned into a blog with actual followers—and the only thing keeping me in my dirt-cheap apartment. My grandmother-slash-landlord insists I “prove my creativity” to stay, so the blog lives on.

Except now my readers want a happy ending. With an ex.

Problem? None of my exes qualify.

So…I invent one. The perfect guy. The one that got away.

Rule #1: Never roast your exes online if they know how to read.

Rule #2: Definitely don’t make up a fake ex-boyfriend just to keep your rent low.

Rule #3: do not—under any circumstances—let your best friend discover the lie.

Because now he’s volunteered to become my fake perfect ex. And the more we fake it, the more I can’t tell if my readers are the only ones falling for the story.

Turns out, the biggest plot twist of all?

I might have been in love with him the whole time.

𝘈 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩-𝘰𝘶𝘵-𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮-𝘤𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘱𝘴, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.

Grab Your Copy!

https://geni.us/TEXTEXKU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Texts From My Exes is a cute best friends, fake relationship romance dropped into the middle of a social media circus.

Schoolteacher Harper blogs a bit about her dating misadventures on the side, and is hoping to go viral as a content creator. Her grandmother/landlord challenges her to go have a post go viral or lose her apartment. So Harper decides to share texts from her exes, and have her followers decide which guy she should rekindle things with — but makes up one ex-boyfriend. When she has to actually go on a date with said fake ex and document it all for social media, Harper’s nerdy best friend, Ezra, steps in as the faux beau.

Will fake dating ruin their friendship, or will it make Harper finally realize that the right guy has been in front of her all along? And when Ezra’s secret past comes to light (because nothing is buried in the digital age), will everything come crashing to a halt?

Harper is a bit of a quirky heroine, but stable Ezra balanced her out nicely. Texts From My Exes is funny and sweet, with funny banter between the two main characters, and memorable secondary characters (like Grandma Blue and Ezra’s dad).

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she’s been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.

Keep up with Rachel Van Dyken and subscribe to her newsletter: https://rachelvandykenauthor.com/newsletter

To learn more about Rachel & her books, visit here!

Connect with Rachel Van Dyken:

http://www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel’s New Rockin Readers https://www.facebook.com/groups/RRRFanClub

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Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Beautiful Desire by Ashley James

BEAUTIFUL DESIRE by Ashley James is NOW LIVE

Blurb:

When I find out I could lose my bookstore, I make a deal with the devil to save it, not realizing I would end up in bed with the last person I ever thought I’d be hot and sweaty with…

Fletcher St. James

Even at twenty-four, he’s a spoiled brat. He believes the whole world owes him something, and he really needs to be put in his place.

When his wealthy, power-hunger father propositions me with something I desperately need in exchange for teaching his son a little responsibility, it’s an offer I can’t refuse.

After all, there’s nothing I enjoy more than humbling an arrogant man and bringing him to his knees.

This should be a piece of cake.

But one thing I didn’t expect was how much Fletcher would enjoy it… Or how much that would turn me on. The tension quickly boils over, and before I know it, we’re giving in to our illicit desires, consequences be damned.

I crave the feeling of his body against mine, and the needy sounds he makes right before he begs.

But more than that, I can’t get enough of the little things, like the way the golden sun looks reflecting off his green eyes in the morning, or how beautiful his vulnerability is.

And when his touch becomes my safe space, bringing out a softer side of me I’ve kept locked away for too long, it’s impossible to remember why this is wrong.

When the secrets come out about the lascivious things we indulge in behind closed doors, will it be worth it, or will this deal end up costing me everything?

Buy Link:

https://geni.us/beautifuldesire

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

I wasn’t expecting to love Georgia and Fletcher’s story as much as I did! It’s the third book in the Blossom Beach series, and stands on its own as a reverse age gap, roommate, forced proximity story between Georgia and the family’s younger stepbrother, Fletcher.

Georgia needs to save her bookstore, and the only way to do that is to agree to have her spoiled, younger stepbrother live with her while he completes the last semester of his MBA. Fletcher’s been cut off financially by his father until he completes the program, and isn’t thrilled by the idea that he has to work at his stepsister’s bookstore in order to get half of the real estate development firm that has been promised to him. Especially since he’s always had a bit of a crush on Georgia.

The chemistry between them is charged right out of the gate. The sexual tension is simmering underneath the surface in every interaction, and it is explosive once Georgia and Fletcher finally give in. I loved the push and pull between these two. Fletcher still has that cocky, spoiled brat air about him (that the siblings didn’t like so much when he was younger) and gives off alpha vibes, but Georgia ended up being the dominant one in their relationship many times. And it took Fletcher by surprise just how much he liked being her “good boy.” But there are also some really sweet scenes where they get vulnerable with one another, and I loved those just as much.

I loved the personal growth on Fletcher’s part throughout this book. He changed so much and really put in the work to be a man worthy of Georgia’s love. Meanwhile, having been burned by a partner in the past, Georgia holds everyone at arm’s length and is hesitant to get involved with Fletcher for anything other than physical release. Their feelings kind of snuck up on both of them, and I loved how that unfolded. The narration by Erin Mallon and Sebastian York was *chef’s kiss* — the way SebYo growled out some of those scenes was hot!

Now, after that preview for Emmett and Charley’s book…. I need it! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Meet Ashley James:

Ashley James is a romance author who enjoys writing (and reading) LGBTQIA+ books. She is from Washington State—and no, not Seattle—and currently resides in South Carolina with her two kids and hairless kitties, Goose, Maverick, and Houston. Ashley is introverted and slightly (okay, majorly) awkward. She refuses to make this section sound like a tacky dating app profile, so she won’t be telling you how much she enjoys music, how she thoroughly enjoys dancing and singing in her kitchen, despite not being able to carry a tune, and she won’t be telling you about her love of toxic and broken fictional men.


Connect with Ashley James:

https://authorashleyjames.com/links/

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Only For Tonight by Natasha Madison

ONLY FOR TONIGHT by Natasha Madison is NOW LIVE

Blurb:

When one night changes everything.

Ariella

The last time I saw him, I’d just turned eighteen.

Six years later we’re face-to-face again.

Neither of us wanted the night to end.

The next morning, we made a pact.

Each of us going our separate ways.

Until two pink lines changed everything.

Jaxon

Life was going my way.

Hockey. Family. All of it.

Until…I saw her.

She was different now.

One thing led to another and we got carried away.

It was supposed to be one night.

Our secret.

Then she’s at my door with news that rocks my world.    

I’m going to be a dad.

Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/KUOnly4TonightNM

Available in KU

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Hockey Romance Queen Natasha Madison launches another spinoff series with Only For Tonight, and it is just as great as the books that came before it! This next-gen series features Jaxon Stevenson (son of Manning & Evelyn from Only One Night) and Ariella Weber (Ralph & Candace from Only One Kiss). Because their fathers are best friends, Jaxon and Ariella have been around each other their whole lives, but he’s seven years older than her, and lives in Los Angeles playing hockey, while she lives in NYC, so they haven’t seen each other in several years. They have a one-night stand at a charity event in Dallas (where they are both from), which results in a surprise pregnancy.

Their long-distance relationship is somewhat undefined in the beginning, and I enjoyed seeing how they navigated that. There is great chemistry between Jaxon and Ariella, and I enjoyed their banter and text messages, and how she worried about how their fathers would react to their situation. I would have liked to have seen a little more substance between these characters and less between-the-sheets scenes; one of my favorite parts was how concerned Jaxon was by Ariella’s nausea, and how he took care of her through that. His ex-girlfriend is certifiable, and leads to the drama between Jaxon and Ariella when he starts to pull away.

I thought that Connor Crais and Savannah Peachwood did a great job with Jaxon and Ariella. This book is an enjoyable, low-angst read, and I look forward to the rest of this series!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

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…

Connect with Natasha Madison:

https://linktr.ee/natashamauthor

Uncategorized

Sunny Shelly’s Audio Review: Her Dirty Best Friend by Adele Knight

HER DIRTY BEST FRIEND by Adele Knight is NOW LIVE ON AUDIO!!

Grab this all-new friends-to-lovers, contemporary romance TODAY!

LISTEN TODAY!

Narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Teddy Hamilton

Audible: https://geni.us/7HDN6

B&N: https://geni.us/ZTI8

Google Play: https://geni.us/JoYxu

Spotify: https://geni.us/AbYau

Kobo: https://geni.us/WDAMuz

BLURB

How does a romance author with practically zero experience find inspiration to write raunchy bedroom scenes?

I listen to my best friend describe his hookups…in explicit detail.
Except, now I picture myself in every scenario.
It’s Olly’s fault…with his cocky smirk and dirty mouth, it was only a matter of time before my crush turned to obsession, and every scene I wrote became a fantasy I could never act out.

Because we are just friends.

So when I need to write a story about turning the good boy bad, it makes sense to stop relying on Olly’s experiences and get some of my own. Seducing our timid college professor will work.
Except I seduce on paper, not in real life…I have no clue where to start, but my dirty best friend does.

Olly

I’d do anything for my Lovely Lacey, but teaching her to seduce her way into another man’s bed drives me crazy.
Crazy enough to want what I shouldn’t.
Crazy enough…to join in.

This is a short and steamy friends-to-lovers story. It contains MF, MFM, MM scenes.

This is a short and steamy novella in Her Sweet Seduction Series. Each novella is stand-alone with new characters and spicy scenarios to enjoy anytime—but especially fun as a bedtime treat.

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Welp, this audio is the very definition of hot and spicy. Teddy Hamilton tops the list of my favorite male narrators, and he was ON FIRE as Ollie in this audio duet. Paired with Savannah Peachwood as Lacey, these two were blazing hot.

Lacey is a college student who secretly writes romance books. However, she’s a bit inexperienced, so she lives vicariously through the escapades of her he-hoe best friend, Ollie, to write her racy scenes. But lately, Lacey has been in a bit of a slump thanks to writer’s block, and she’s hoping that she can get some real-world experience to draw from. After getting some spicy lessons from Ollie, Lacey decides to seduce one of their professors to get inspiration for her next novel — and it propels these two characters, who have secretly been pining for one another, to finally be up front about their feelings.

This was my first exposure to Adele Knight; I’m not sure if all of her books are as spicy as this one is, but man, oh man, was this spicy. I wasn’t a fan of one scene after Lacey and Ollie spent the night together, because he was clearly taking advantage of her. But other than that, this is totally one of those stories that will leave you hot and bothered. Especially listening to Teddy as Ollie.

This audio is just a little over 3 hours (the novella is 12 chapters), so it was a bingeable listen for me while I was doing work around the house. Definitely need the earbuds for this one, because it is spicy. I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Review: Hidden Vows by Erin Graves

HIDDEN VOWS by Erin Graves is AVAILABLE NOW

Their vows were hidden in the past, but maybe it’s time to bring them into the light.

Abbey Selbey thought she met the love of her life when she was five years old, but clearly she was wrong. He broke her heart seventeen years ago, and yet no one can say she’s truly moved on. Living in the small town they grew up in, where everyone thinks they know their story, doesn’t help. But the fact he left and never looked back does.

Jude Murphy never wanted things to happen the way they did. If he’d been smarter, he never would have left Ashford Falls or Abbey, but sometimes life has other ideas. Staying away was in the best interest of everyone, even if it was the last thing he wanted.

Returning to town wasn’t part of the plan, especially with Abbey still living there, but just like life tore him away from everything he loved, it was determined to bring him back. Is it possible to forgive the past and move forward, or is the damage too far gone?

Hidden Vows is a second-chance, forced proximity, emotional, contemporary romance set in a fictional small town. It is the third and final book in the Love in Ashford Falls series but can be read as a standalone. Happily ever after, guaranteed!

What you will find inside this book:

  • Small Town Romance
  • Second Chance
  • “My Wife”
  • Forced Proximity
  • Forbidden Vibes
  • Return to Hometown
  • It’s Always Been You
  • Found Family

AMAZON: LINK HERE
GOODREADS: LINK HERE

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

Hidden Vows closes out Erin Graves’ Ashford Falls series, and Abbey and Jude’s story was painfully beautiful. Not only was this a second-chance story between childhood best friends and sweethearts, but it was a second-chance story for a divorced/secretly married couple, and those are my favorite kind of second-chance stories.

It’s been 17 years since Jude broke Abbey’s heart and left town, and he hasn’t been back since. (Except for one time that she didn’t know about, and Oh. My. Heart.) But when his father has a heart attack and falls into a coma, Jude receives a call that has him finally coming home. Ashford Falls is a small town, and as much as Abbey tries to avoid him, it’s impossible, especially since they end up living across the hall from one another.

There is a lot for them to go through before they can move forward. Hurt feelings, resentment, regret, guilt… and the issues with her manipulative father. I thought the pace at which the story unfolded was nicely done, and I was really rooting for Jude and Abbey to work out their issues by the time they got there.

Jude’s journal entries were really a nice touch to the “past” of their relationship. It was heartwrenching to read some of those, but they gave the relationship so much depth. Neither of them ever forgot about the other or really even moved on over the years, but finding out just how devoted Jude was to Abbey during their time apart was heartbreaking and beautiful. (I am a sucker for secret tattoos!)

Gage and Ava play a big part in this story as Abbey and Jude’s best friends, but there are appearances from Quinn and Declan as well, which I loved, having read their book.

I am sad to see Love in Ashford Falls come to an end, but I look forward to what’s next from this relatively new author! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Book Review

Sunny Shelly’s Audio Review: Hollis by Ashley James

🎧🎧🎧 AVAILABLE NOW IN AUDIO HOLLIS by Ashley James! Narrated by the amazing Alexander Cendese and Brandon Francis! 🎧🎧🎧


When the universe hands me a hot, older, recently divorced man on a silver platter, who am I to turn down such a generous offer?

Big deal if he also happens to be my best friend’s boss.

Ford Wesley, Captain of the Wolf Creek Fire Department, is the whole package, with hair that’s a delicious mix of dark and silver strands, and deep brown eyes that hold a touch of mystery.

He’s also always been off the market… Until now.

When he gets caught in a bind and has to temporarily stay on my family’s property, I know it’s my chance to get closer to him, but I never expected it to be so easy.

One night, I match with an anonymous stranger on an app, and it doesn’t take long for things to go from innocent and flirty to raunchy and scorching.

Then when I catch a glimpse of my new neighbor shirtless one day, it becomes clear Mr. Tall, Broody, and Off Limits is the mystery man sending filthy messages to me every night online.

The best part? His profile may be anonymous, but mine isn’t… He knows exactly who he’s talking to.

The chemistry on the app morphs into a reality in the sheets…and at the firehouse, and what starts out as a secret, no-strings arrangement quickly becomes so much more. Before I know it, it’s not just his body I crave, but everything he keeps close to his heart as well.

But I’m not the settle down type, and he’s fresh out of a long marriage. When push comes to shove, will this turn into something more, or are we destined to crash and burn?

🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

Audible: https://adbl.co/3I1Szra
Ebook – Available in KU: https://geni.us/hollismm2

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

Hollis is a low-angst, low-drama age-gap story between playboy rancher Hollis and Ford, the older, recently divorced, boss of his best friend. The characters had a great connection, and I really enjoyed seeing them navigate a benefits situationship to something deeper.

I enjoyed the progression of their relationship. Having just come out of a 20+ year marriage, Ford was kind of clueless about how to go about dating. Hollis is a known playboy, so Ford was *really* hesitant to get involved with him at first, but they really brought out something special in one another. Ford knowing who Hollis was when they matched on the dating app (but Hollis not knowing who he was in return) really could have backfired, but instead it gave Hollis the opening to push Ford out of his comfort zone when it came to dating again. Hollis’ feelings for Ford kind of sneak up on him, even though he was all in long before he realized it. One of my favorite scenes was the one when he knew Ford was having a bad day and showed up unannounced with all the comfort items to just be there as a support system.

Alexander Cendese and Brandon Francis aren’t narrators I was very familiar with prior to this audio, but I absolutely loved their portrayals. Alexander really brought out that flirty side of Hollis, and Brandon brought a real vulnerable side to Ford. Well done!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.