As a returning reader I was looking forward to Coen’s story, to finding out what was behind his behavior. There’s a lot of survivor’s guilt, but more is going on than that and it’s affecting every aspect of his life. He needs some time on his own to figure out where he’s going from here, but it’s not long before he’s butting heads with his cheeky neighbor.

Tillie isn’t going to let Coen walk all over her or let his a$$hole tendencies get her down. Willing to go toe to toe with him and call him on his crap, it doesn’t take her long to get under his skin. And it leads to all sorts of fun.

I really enjoyed these two together. Coen is behaving like an a$$hole but he recognizes that it’s a reflection of his guilt and feeling of unworthiness. While he doesn’t see a way out of the place he’s found himself in, his innate good and caring (and cocky) nature finds moments to come out, especially around his new neighbor. And over time, with the help of friends, he’s reevaluating whether this is his new normal after all. It’s satisfying to see him find his way back and a way forward with Tillie by his side.

(Part of a series and can be read as a stand alone but previous stories may help with some background on Coen's state of mind)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

My Brother’s Forbidden Friend reminds us that there’s always more going on than what we can see. Both Cam and Chevelle have things they’ve been hiding, including their feelings for each other. When they suddenly find themselves living in the same house, it doesn’t take long before those secrets start to come out.

Chevelle has had feelings for Cam for years but never thought it could be more. Spending her days with Cam on the docks and evenings alone at home, it doesn’t take long before Chevelle realizes he’s more than the party boy who isn’t into settling down. Once together, they are funny, sassy, sweet, and sexy – definitely one of my favorite couples.

While I haven’t read all of the Greene books, the ones I have read have been great. There’s always a delightful mix of humor, all sorts of feels, and enough spice to keep things interesting. I adored Cam and Chevelle together and didn’t want their story to end.

(Part of a series, can stand on its own but probably is a bit better having read the others as this relationship has been a long time coming.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Rebecca reminds me a lot of how I remember Jane Austen’s Emma – a big heart but a little flighty and easily swayed by a pretty face & even prettier words. She learns a few things about what’s truly important but of course manages to get herself into a scrape or two along the way. I’m not sure if I’d feel differently about her if I’d read the previous books though.

James is solid, dependable, and a little taciturn. He may not be as flashy as the rest of the Ton but he’s a good man and a good catch. Unfortunately the one woman he wants turned him down and he’s not really interested in getting married to just anyone. Regardless of what their mom’s think. So finding himself constantly thrown into Rebecca’s company isn’t helping. But he can’t help himself from getting involved when it’s obvious that one of their friends needs help, even when it means more time with Rebecca.

Lord of Worth is a slow burn, second chance love story with a good dose of societal shenanigans, misunderstandings, heartbreak, and trouble on the way to a satisfying happy ending.

(Can be read as a stand alone but probably enjoyed more if read in order.)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I love Hunter and his struggle to stand out from his family, to be seen for the things that are uniquely him. He’s pretty much perfect – kind, caring, thoughtful, observant – and he’d make the perfect partner for any woman. Too bad the one he wants doesn’t want anything to do with marriage … or him.

Being treated poorly by past boyfriends, mixed with family issues, has led Callie to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for her. Which makes her attraction to Hunter even more complicated since he’s definitely looking for his forever. And, based on reviews, meant that quite a few readers were a little put off by her. I can see where they are coming from – she’s definitely a little hard on Hunter, when he has done nothing but prove that he’d make the very best of husbands. I think that if Bielman had maybe done a little more to showcase Callie’s past difficulties it would have helped, but I gotta say that based on the way her family treats her she deserves all the care and attention she can get. And Hunter is the perfect one for the job.

The Matchmaker and the Cowboy is a slow burn, (kinda) friends-to-lovers romance with an ending that you know is coming but a journey that makes it a satisfying HEA.

(3.5 *s)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Maisy is cheerful, even when life throws her a whole lot of curve balls, and she’s going to need all of that positivity with what’s coming at her now. Rhys is the opposite of Maisy. His life as a warrior means that he needs to always be serious, ready for anything, and seeing some of the worst things on earth (and hell) has led him to be a bit … dour. Crossing paths guarantees that sparks are going to fly.

There’s a bit of insta-love but I felt like it worked in this situation. You get a lot of this kind of thing in paranormal romances – something about magic being involved usually means that there’s an unexplainable connection. Some might find it problematic but it’s pretty standard. And I think that the two work together well – they rub each other the wrong way. And all sorts of right ways :)

I found Barth’s newest to be fun, humorous, & entertaining and I really hope there are more books coming. She’s created an interesting new world, full of all sorts of known and unknown creatures, with a good amount of danger and excitement mixed with more lighthearted moments. Plus, Rhys’s friends definitely need to find women who will give them a run for their money.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Kennedy doesn’t particularly want to be on a dating show for rich people, especially after seeing the men that Nana has picked out, but she really needs the exposure for the non-profit she loves. She’ll just have to try her best, remember why she’s there, and rely on help from some new friends.

There’s quite a bit about the reality show that didn’t track for me (it definitely didn’t come across as big budget or well put together) but the personal & romance portions more than made up for it. I really enjoyed getting to know Kennedy and seeing more of Rowan’s softer side. He may be grumpy but he’s got such a big heart. His history makes it so that he feels the need to help kids in his community truly be able to enjoy Christmas. He also wants to help those he cares about be happy, which means keeping Nana Mayberry as far away from them as he can. If that gives him a chance to ruin her latest project, the one that can only mean bad things for the Mayberry name, then even better … then he meets Kennedy. Sweet and giving, big-hearted, everything her parents aren’t, and definitely not what Rowan expected. Before long he finds himself wanting to make sure she gets everything she needs, even if it goes again what he wants.

I gotta say, as much as I enjoyed Rowan & Kennedy together and seeing them figure out their way to a HEA, it was Harry that stole my heart. A little bit of awkward wrapped up in a whole lotta goodness, I cheered every time he was on the page. It’s those kinds of interactions, the characters with their merits and their foibles, that make these authors a go to for me time and time again.

(Part of a series but can easily stand on its own.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Tobias has had his fair share of trouble lately and he’s not exactly feeling worthy of good things. He’s struggling with a lot of guilt over the circumstances that sent him to jail and how it impacted those important to him. Crossing paths with a spitfire with a large, but damaged, heart soon has him wanting things that he doesn’t think he can have. When she claims to only one night, who is he to argue …

Madigan recently had her heart broken and is not ready to trust it to someone else. Finding herself drawn to Tobias, it works for her that he’s not looking for anything serious either. But as one night leads to more, that damaged heart might have other ideas.

There’s a lot of push-and-pull, especially from Tobias, as these two fight their feelings. He’s got a lot to work through but the draw he feels towards Madigan proves to be a lot stronger. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions as these two work their way from hot hookups to anger & heartache as Tobias’s past is revealed to a potential for a HEA if they can address the past. Foster is a pro at giving her readers big-hearted Alphas & tough-as-nails women to match them and delivers all the feels you could ask for, and more, with The Wicked Truth.

Like all the Dark Knights books, this one can easily stand on its own but would probably be more appreciated if you’ve read the rest. And coming from someone as good as Foster, it isn’t a hardship to add ALL the books to your TBR pile :)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Solheim gives readers a wonderful set of secondary characters, a satisfying romance, and a couple that you can truly root for. And while Luke’s view on relationships may seem a bit misogynistic, he actually is very upfront about it, only getting involved with like-minded people. Everyone is aware of the situation and is in agreement of what it is and what it isn’t. Then he meets summer ,,, and realizes maybe he wants something else after all.

(I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the fact that Luke was dating Summer’s cousin first, cheating in any shape or form is definitely a firm no for me, but it actually resolved itself in a satisfying way.)

Summer is struggling with her confidence after a disastrous viral performance, unsure if she can ever play again and what that means for her future. Meeting Luke quickly upends her life and has her rethinking things. And while he may feel that he’s not relationship material, he quickly proves that wrong, showing himself to be so amazingly supportive as she works through her issues with performing again.

The assorted friends and family bring additional moments of humor and emotion throughout the story, adding depth and feels to an already delightful story. I’m very much hoping to see more in this series going forward.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Second chance romances can go either way for me and I feel like Rayne made some good choices here. Shayna definitely has her reasons for holding on to old hurts – Lee did her pretty bad. (I haven’t read the prequel and, while it can be read without it, a good many reviews say that it helps with adding extra dimension to their relationship.) She’s not going to let him keep her from accepting her dream job though, she’ll just have to be strong and ignore him. Which is easier said than done when he’s intent on apologizing for his mistake.

Lee never forgot Shayna so having her walk into his world again is his chance to get her to forgive him … and maybe something more. It soon becomes obvious she’s not going to be won over easily but he’s not giving up. He just has to be patient and prove he deserves a second chance.

The first part of the story is the resolution of their past hurts. It’s handled well and I feel like Lee redeems himself nicely. I’m with Shayna, those kinds of broken hearts take a lot to get over, but his sincerity is easy to feel. So their struggle soon moves from their history to their present circumstances, which forbids any fraternization between Kingsmen players and staff. And we all know how that’s going to go :) I will say that while the intent may have been to show that Lee has embraced his privilege, he instead reads as very naive. He’s the leader of his team, wealthy, and in the public eye. How he didn’t see the way things would go from the beginning, like Shayna told him it would more than once … instead it just has him come across as unworldly and inexperienced. He may feel like his position has power but Shayna knows the truth. So then the question becomes what happens next.

I enjoyed getting to know Lee & Shayna and seeing how they resolve their issues. I also really liked meeting their friends and I’m anxiously waiting to see what Rayne has in store for them. Brady is quite the character and I’m hoping his new nanny can keep him on his toes!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I admire Julia’s gumption – when a chance encounter with one of Society’s most sought after rakes means that she’s lost out on her chance to make a match for herself, she does what any self-respecting spinster with a brain and a lot of courage would do. She proposes to the man.

Gregory is not in the market for a wife. Ever. But faced with a business proposition from one of the first ladies to catch his attention in quite a long time, he’s not going to let a good thing go.

Which leads to a lot of fun for readers – these two are delightful together, with more than enough wit and sass, plus a good deal of humor and sizzle. Their interactions are both entertaining and at times frustrating as they let their insecurities and assumptions lead them away from what they truly want out of their relationship. Forever.

Drake’s newest reminds me once again how much I love historical romances. It includes a rake to reform, a marriage of convenience, and an attraction that they just can’t ignore, all wrapped up in a enjoyable (and winding) trek to a HEA. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next from this author.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)