The Wrong Game: sports romance with fun banter and angsty drama

The Wrong Game by Kandi Steiner is a sports romance with angst and spicy romance. Gemma Manchini is a diehard football fan. She bought season tickets to the Chicago Bears as a gift for her late husband. Reeling from his death and a secret she keeps heavily guarded, Gemma has zero interest in a relationship; however, in order to get her back into the dating scene, her best friend, Belle, comes up with a plan: take a new hot, preferably funny, single guy every week to the games. However, Bartender Zach Bowen offers to be a practice round for Gemma and she agrees. Gemma finds him infuriating, overbearing but undeniably gorgeous. She is still determined to keep her heart out of their arrangement. One night. One game. And he’s done. However, Zach wasn’t ready to step aside and decided to play a new game in order to show her he was worth taking a chance on. Will her plan play out? Will Zach win this game and her heart? 

I have been waiting to read this book ever since I saw an ad on Facebook and the premise intrigued me. When the chance came to read it, I dove right into it. I loved the football aspect from a fan’s perspective rather than a player. From the very beginning, Gemma is a woman who has been deeply hurt and yet has to play the grieving widow for the sake of her late husband’s family. From the opening chapter to the ending page, Gemma goes through an amazing growth and my heart broke for her when she finally hit rock bottom and shattered. However, my favorite character, by far, was Zach. He was a man who has a heart for Gemma and will do all he can to prove himself to her. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was worth the wait. I read it through the night as I could not put it down. If you enjoy sports romance with some spice, I highly recommend The Wrong Game. 

The Wrong Game is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Crimson Kingdom: as the threat of war grows, Rowan must choose a marriage alliance. Which man would she choose?

Crimson Kingdom is the third book in the Lochlann Feuds series by Robin D Mahle and Elle Madison. Rowan thought she had escaped as a prisoner when she stepped foot back in Lochlann. She thought being home would make everything better. However, even safe at home, she is haunted by the memories of Socair and everyone she left behind.  While the talk of war surrounds her, Rowan realizes that entering a marriage alliance is the only way to keep her kingdom safe and prevent another war. She doesn’t have a shortage of options as many marriage proposals flooded in from all over Socair. Only two options have her conflicted. Does she play it safe and choose the man who makes it obvious that he cares for her? Or does she choose the man who seems cool and uncaring and fuels a fire inside of her? 

I have read through this series with eagerness. The first two books were gripping and exciting. I took the chance to read Crimson Kingdom soon after finishing Tarnished Crown. While this story was good, Crimson Kingdom was not as exciting as the first two books. The story was bogged down by the negotiation talks. However, I enjoyed finally seeing Rowan with her family and their interactions. Who she would choose kept me guessing and was shocked and not so surprised at the same time with her choice. There were great emotional moments and fun banter. The story does end on a cliffhanger as the first two books did. Overall, I did enjoy this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series and a resolution to the feud. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, I recommend Crimson Kingdom and the entire Lochlann Feud series. 

Crimson Kingdom is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Always Mine: a small town friends to lovers romance

Always Mine is the first book in the Honey Mountain series by Laura Pavlov. Niko West has been Vivian Thomas’ best friend since kindergarten. Now he is the most beautiful man she has ever seen as a broody, chiseled firefighter. She has never crossed the line of their friendship as he has been the most solid person in her life. However, when her family gets a wedding invitation from her ex-boyfriend, Vivian decides she needs a fling, to discover what she has been missing, and makes Nike an offer he can’t refuse. It was supposed to be a one time thing; but they didn’t realize it would add fuel to the fire that slowly burned between them. Can they go back to just being friends? Or will they take a chance to have the kind of relationship they could only dream of before? 

Always Mine is a sweet and spicy friends to lovers romance with plenty of banter, drama and great emotional moments. In the small town of Honey Mountain, everyone is a big family community. I enjoyed Vivian and her family. The love and banter between the sisters is wonderful. Her relationship with her father is lovely. I also loved how Niko is a welcomed additional member of the family and her romantic relationship with him is encouraged. I loved Niko and my heart broke as he deals with his less than loving family. Overall, I loved the romance between Vivian and Niko. I loved the introduction of the supporting characters and setting up the possibility for their own stories in the series. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy small town, friends to lovers romance, I highly recommend Always Mine. 

Always Mine is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Story of My Life: when you hit rock bottom what can you do but move to a small town and start over

Story of My Life is the first book in the Story Lake series by Lucy Score. Hazel Hart is at rock bottom. She is being forced from her apartment in the Upper East Side by her ex-husband and her publisher gives her a final warning: write and publish or be dropped. When she sees an article about a small town rallying around a neighbor in need and a house up for action, Hazel takes the plunge and buys the house sight unseen. Taking her agent and best friend, Zoey, along, Hazel moves to the rural Pennsylvania small town of Story Lake. She hopes she can rediscover her writing mojo in the small town life. Swoon worthy inspiration hits when she meets hot but grumpy contractor Campbell “Cam” Bishop. In the name of research, she begins to fully live the small town life and a fake relationship with Cam, what possibly could go wrong? 

As a fan of the Gilmore Girls, Story of My Life was recommended to me. And after reading the note from the author, “This series is my love letter to every reader who said they wanted to move to a fictional town . . .,” I had to take a chance on this book. Lucy Score is an author I have seen all over social media and BookTok; however, I have not read any of her books before. I am so glad that I picked up Story of My Life. There was fun banter, sweet emotional scenes and spicy scenes with plenty of angst and grand gestures. At first, l didn’t like Hazel but once she arrived in Story Lake and goes head-to-head with Cam and the town, she grew on me. I loved Cam and the whole Bishop family. Their interactions were so fun. Overall, I loved this story and I am eagerly looking forward to future books in this series. I highly, highly recommend Story of My Life. 

Story of My Life is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Nathanael: a man of honesty, straightforwardness and faith

Nathanael, sometimes called Bartholomew, is a disciple which little is known but a lot can be learned from. It is thought that his two names are derived from his full name: Nathanael Bar-Tolmai. Nathanael means “God has given” and Bar-Tolmai means son of Tolmai. While his occupation is unknown, Nathanael was a man of honesty, straightforwardness, insight and faith. Even though he initially rejected Jesus, he recognized him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. He was a man in “whom there is nothing false” by Jesus (John 1:47). From Nathanael’s example, we learn that Jesus respects honesty in people and even if they challenge him because of it. Nathanael becomes a key leader in the early church. Who was Nathanael? Why is skepticism normal and even healthy? Jesus saw an authentic believer in Nathan. How did he know? 

Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus (John 1:45); however, Nathanael responded with skepticism, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46). Nazareth was hated with the Roman garrison there and the town had a poor reputation in morals and religion among its residents. Nathanael’s hometown is Cana, about four miles from Nazareth and he would have been well aware of the town. Nathanael was well versed in the Law of Moses and the prophets. However, he was not a member of the academic elite. He undertook the study of the scriptures as a hobby, a personal passion and not a profession. However, despite his prejudice, Nathanael still came to meet Jesus. As he approached, Jesus knew him before they physically met. It is evidence that Jesus knows us all who we really are before we come to him. God knows the real you and still wants you to follow him. God knew us before he formed us in our mother’s wombs (Jeremiah 1:5) for a plan and a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). 

While Judeans saw Galileans as lower, even the Galileans viewed Nazareth as rough, uncultured and uneducated. A modern comparison would be that many people outside of California see its residents as “loony leftists” or “the land of fruits and nuts.” Even though the description doesn’t describe everyone here. It is understandable why Nathanael was skeptical when Philip announced that Jesus of Nazareth was the one the Law, Moses and the prophets wrote about (John 1:45). Skepticism is defined as doubt as to the truth of something. Honest skepticism is a healthy and constructive attitude characterized by a willingness to question claims and being open to new evidence and reason. There are five characteristics to honest skepticism. First, openness to evidence. There must be a willingness to consider new evidence and arguments. Second, critical thinking. An ability to analyze information, to identify potential biases and evaluate the validity of claims before accepting or rejecting them. Third, self awareness. One must recognize their own susceptibility to bias and error in their personal judgment. Fourth, humility. There must be a willingness to be wrong and adjust views in light of new evidence. Lastly, respectful inquiry. Honest skepticism respectfully engages with others to seek understanding of new perspectives and reasonings. 

Despite Nathanael’s skepticism and prejudices, Jesus saw in him an authentic believer. There was nothing fake or insincere about him. Essentially, Nathanael was not a hypocrite. Jesus saw through the sinful, the imperfect and the ordinary to the eager heart who was willing to leave everything to follow Him. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” The Greek word for pure is katharos meaning “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt” and the Greek word for heart is kardeeah meaning the physical heart as well as the spiritual center of thoughts, desires and sense of purpose. Being pure of heart means to be free from hypocrisy and ulterior motives and a focus on God. Seeing God refers to experiencing His presence. Being pure of heart does not mean believers are free from sin or struggles, it just means that they are driven by love and devotion to God. A pure heart is a willing heart for God. Answering God’s call with eagerness (Isaiah 6:8) and focusing our actions as if for God and not for man (Colossians 4:9). 

In conclusion, after the resurrection and the ascension, the last verse that speaks of Nathanael is Acts 2:1-4 on the Day of Pentecost. Church history suggests he traveled and ministered to parts of Persia and India, even as far as Armenia where he is claimed as a saint. Nathanael was a man of honesty and despite his prejudice, he was willing to meet Jesus and examine the claims and believed when the claims proved to be true. Honest skepticism is normal as we examine and weigh new evidence. God sees our heart and when we are eager and focused on Him, we can experience His presence in a deep and meaningful way. Nathanael may not have been as prominent as Peter or John; but his honesty and faith is still a lesson we can learn from and an example to strive to be. 

Shot in the Dark: urban fantasy romance with hunters and fae

Shot in the Dark is the first book in the Shot in the Dark series by Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley. Elysia has simple rules: obey the curfew, never fly past the boundaries and never, ever speak to humans. Sylvia has spent her life evading the village’s ironclad rules. She has always been curious about the world outside the village. One journey takes her to an empty mansion where she visits with the resident ghost and searches through the treasures left behind. Her secret exploration is shattered when a bullet pierces her wing and she is taken captive by seasoned hunters, Jon and Cliff. After she saves Jon’s life, Sylvia and the hunters form an unlikely alliance to hunt for a cruel werewolf. As they hunt together, she learns the stories about humans aren’t as true as she was taught and her cold hostility melts into a cool respect and maybe even an attraction. Will they find the werewolf in time? 

As a fan of Supernatural, I was intrigued by Shot in the Dark as it is described as “an action packed urban fantasy novel” that explores “forbidden love and found family.” I am fairly new to the urban fantasy genre as I do not read much in this area and the inspirational connection to Supernatural is what drew me in. The story was interesting at first, slows down in the middle, then the action speeds up in the last quarter of the book. There is a bit of a romance between Jon and Sylvia but there are no spicy scenes. As I read, I wasn’t sure if I liked the book or would be continuing the series. However, with the final actions at the end and the epilogue, I am intrigued enough to continue the series. I liked the characters and the story definitely as a Supernatural/hunting vibe. If you enjoy urban fantasy, I recommend Shot in the Dark. 

Shot in the Dark is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Wedding People: what happens when someone is a guest at an inn but not a guest for an upcoming wedding

The Wedding People by Alison Espach opens with a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island as Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn with no luggage and a lobby bustling with activity. It seems she is the only guest at the inn who is not there for a wedding. The Cornwall Inn has been a dream vacation destination for Phoebe and she is taking this chance to do all she wanted to do. When Phoebe runs into Lila, the bride, in the elevator, she reveals her plans for the weekend. Shocked and horrified, Lila begs Phoebe not to ruin her wedding week. Phoebe promises her planned activities will be quiet and will not interfere with Lila’s wedding. What Phoebe doesn’t count on is her connection with Lila and the two women confide in each other. Will Phoebe go ahead with her plan? Will Lila’s wedding go off without a hitch? 

Described as “propulsive,” “uncommonly wise,” “absurdly funny,” “devastatingly tender,”  and with numerous positive reviews on BookTok reviews, I decided to give The Wedding People a chance. The opening chapter was great as Phoebe arrives and she watches and overheard conversations. However, the story quickly falters as she meets Lila and confesses to a complete stranger to plans to end her life that weekend. I understand using humor as a defense mechanism; however, the humor in this story didn’t land very well. I didn’t smile or laugh at all. Even the sarcasm I didn’t enjoy. I did not enjoy this story. I also didn’t like how the author treated the subjects of depression and suicide. I did not like Phoebe. There was no growth or redemption for her. She cries over the actions of her ex-husband and yet decides to behave the same way. I do not recommend The Wedding People. 

The Wedding People is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Cowboy's Stolen Heart: a small town cowboy romance

The Cowboy’s Stolen Heart is the first book of The Cowboys of Sweetheart Creek series by Jean Oram. Fashion model Laura Oakes inherits her great aunt’s estate. As she is ready to put her life on hold and heads to Sweetheart Creek, Texas and begins small town life. She runs into Levi Wylder, the handsome and yet serious cowboy, who she has been crushing on for years. Unfortunately, he sees her nothing more than a princess pretending to be a cowgirl. Because what cowgirl buys boots based on looks instead of function? Busy running the ranch, Levi doesn’t need a pretend cowgirl but when he needs a temporary riding stable manager, Laura proves she is capable and Levi realizes he underestimated her. They spend time together and fall in love; however, their romance finds obstacles. Some of his family has doubts about the relationship. Will she return to her modeling career? Will she stay? 

The Cowboy’s Stolen Heart is a cute, sweet romance with lots of fun and plenty of drama. I loved the small town feel with all the different personalities from the welcoming diner waitress to the ornery old man. I loved the chemistry between Laura and Levi. Levi has had his heart broken before and he is wary of opening his heart again. Adding to his plate is running the ranch, he is also dealing with plenty of family drama among his brothers, he doesn’t need any heartbreak. Laura is recovering from her own failed relationship and is at a crossroad in her career and isn’t looking for a romance either. However, the sparks fly as the two spend time together. There are plenty of sweet moments and tense discussion. Overall, I enjoyed this story. I look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy cowboy romances, I recommend The Cowboy’s Stolen Heart. 

The Cowboy’s Stolen Heart is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tarnished Crown: a blood debt, a hidden enemy and a love triangle

Tarnished Crown is the second book in the Lochlann Feuds by Robin D Mahle and Elle Madison. Rowan felt she was finally doing something right. Marry Theo from Clan Elk for love and keep her kingdom safe. Until Evander, from Clan Bear and the most feared man in Socair, claims a blood debt under an archaic law to enslave her. When she arrives at the Clan Bear fortress, she finds more enemies in unexpected places and being Evander’s property is the only thing protecting her. Rowan learns she has allies in unexpected places and she finds herself caught between duty and her heart. When the opportunity comes to leave, she hesitates. Does she follow her heart and marry Theo? Or does fulfilling her blood debt even if it means she loses Theo forever? 

Tarnished Crown picks up immediately after the ending of Scarlet Princess as Rowan and Evander are on the road to the Clan Bear estate. The banter between Rowan and Evander was fun and intriguing. I loved the cat and mouse aspect of their relationship. I usually don’t like love triangles; however, the one involving Rowan, Theo and Evander added to the drama and mystery. In Scarlet Princess, Evander is the villain, the one to throw the monkey wrench into Rowan and Theo’s story; however, in Tarnished Crown, there was a deeper look into Evander’s character and I enjoyed it. And the hidden enemy was a great reveal that left my jaw on the floor. I am loving this series and I can’t wait to dive into the next book. I highly, highly recommend Tarnished Crown. 

Tarnished Crown is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Thousand Words: a grumpy sunshine, brother's best friend Christian romance

A Thousand Words is a prequel novel to the Unfailing Love series by Mandi Blake. Tyler is in the final year of his residency and while he is a good doctor, he needs to improve in one area: his bedside manner. He is urged to go on a blind date to have some fun in his all work mentality. He agrees only to practice his communication skills. When he arrives at the restaurant, he is shocked to see who is waiting for him. Sissy is always ready for an adventure, especially for a blind date with a handsome doctor. When her date turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Tyler, she is excited. However, Tyler is not keen on the idea. He reluctantly begins to spend time with Sissy and he feels his loyalty being torn between his friend and the woman he is falling for. Can she convince him to take a chance for once?

I love Mandi Blake’s stories and I looked forward to this quick prequel. While I was a bit confused at first about who was who, I quickly fell into Sissy and Tyler’s story. I loved Sissy’s character as someone who likes to seize the day. She’s young in college and loves life. Tyler is a bit older and takes his medical studies seriously. I understand Tyler’s hesitation about dating his best friend’s sister. The two together were great as a grumpy sunshine romance. They compliment each other as Tyler needs to lighten up a bit and Sissy needs a little grounding and they do that for each other. My heart broke with Sissy’s brother’s story as someone who has hit rock bottom. I look forward to reading his story as well as the rest of the series. Overall, I enjoyed the story. If you love brother’s best friend romance, I recommend A Thousand Words. 

A Thousand Words is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Fix Up: a fun banter and heartfelt grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, enemies to lovers romance

The Fix Up is the third book in the Two Harts series by Sharon M. Peterson. Ellie Sterns is a twenty eight year old single mother who has a broken man picker. She recently inherited the cafe in which she works, the house where she lives with her six year old son, Oliver and the land it sits on. However, she quickly learns that she only inherits half of everything. The other half belongs to the previous owner’s grandson, Gilbert Dalton, a grandson no one knew existed. They discover they must live together on the property for six months in order to complete the inheritance. Gilbert is handsome; however, he’d be irresistible if he smiled which he rarely does. Both have different motivations as the cafe and house means a future for Ellie and for Gilbert, it means a past he wants to forget. She wants to stay and he wants to sell. Can they find a common ground?  As the months pass, they learn the heartbreaking secret and their mutual iciness starts to melt, could it turn into a sizzling chemistry? 

The Fix Up is Sharon M Peterson’s fourth book and she has established herself as one of my go-to authors. Full of heart and laughs along with real life drama and hurts, she handles a story that gives all the feels. Even though The Fix Up is the third book in the series, readers do not need to read them in order to understand each book; however, I highly recommend that readers do as each story is wonderful. That being said, I loved this story. This story is the ultimate grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance as when readers first see Ellie and Gilbert together, you can’t help to think that their relationship would never work. I loved the characters, especially Ellie’s son, Oliver. Usually featuring children in fiction can be hit and miss; Ms. Peterson captures the six year old beautifully and believably. There wasn’t a plot point or character that I didn’t care for, everything came together wonderfully. I laughed. I cried and I closed the book with a smile. The Fix Up is sweet with fun banter and dramatic with real emotions. I highly, highly recommend The Fix Up. 

The Fix Up will be available in June 17, 2025 in eBook and audiobook

A Slice of Summer: a clean second chance small town romance

A Slice of Summer is the second book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Last Christmas, Taryn Lawson had a great time with Garrett Andrews, a LA trial attorney. Before he left town, he promised her he would keep in touch and she never heard from him again. Now, summer has arrived and her friend, Callie and Brandt’s wedding is here, Taryn is busy prepping for it as well as proving to her parents that she is capable of taking over the family bakery while dealing with slower customer traffic. The summer fair is approaching and Taryn sees it as her opportunity to showcase her specialty desserts and win back her customers. As the fair approaches, she is coming to need help to finish in time. The only one available to help is the one man who ghosted her. Garrett didn’t intend to ghost Taryn and wants to take his chance to make amends. Will they take their second chance of love? 

A Slice of Summer is a clean second chance small town romance romance with plenty of fun, sweet moments and drama and excitement. I enjoyed Taryn and Garrett as individuals and as a couple. I liked Taryn’s determination to do what she loves despite competition from a competitor and the doubts from her parents. I enjoyed Garrett and his siblings. It felt very relatable and produced a lot of laughs. Even though Taryn and Garrett rekindle their romance and agree to a long distance romance, I knew it wouldn’t end like that. I enjoyed Garrett’s grand gesture. I also enjoyed the continued slimy dealings of the town nemesis and getting his comeuppance. Will he make another appearance in future books? As a snake always wants to strike again. Overall, I enjoyed A Slice of Summer and I am looking forward to reading the next books of the series. If you enjoy clean second chance small town romance, I recommend A Slice of Summer. 

A Slice of Summer is available in paperback and eBook

Meet Me There: a clean young adult enemies to lovers romance

Meet Me There is the first book in the Ridgewater High series by Judy Corry. A horrible beginning to the first day of school, sixteen-year-old Ashlyn Brooks, runs into a dark Chemistry lab classroom and finds the room already occupied. Football Captain Luke Davenport sought a moment of peace in the empty classroom and was surprised by Ashlyn’s arrival. However, instead of revealing himself, he decides to prank Ashlyn by using a British accent. As they meet in the dark room, they both begin to share things that they wouldn’t tell anyone else. Ashlyn begins to fall for the sweet mysterious guy with a sexy accent. Luke began his prank as a way to take his mind off his mom’s death. However, the more he gets to know her, the more he regrets everything. Luke knows he needs to come clean, but will Ashlyn understand or will she hate him even more? 

Meet Me There is a clean young adult enemies to lovers romance novel with cute, sweet and fun moments. There was drama and real life situations. There were a few tears as the characters talked about their issues and struggles. I enjoyed this story from the very beginning and it kept me hooked until the end. I enjoyed Ashlyn and Luke. And while I do not enjoy pranks and my heart broke for Ashlyn as she is the subject of pranks, I liked that Luke learned the important lesson of how the recipient feels after a prank and sought to redeem himself. I enjoyed the secondary characters and I will be continuing the series to read their stories. Overall, I enjoyed Meet Me There as a fun high school romance with teenage antics and real situations. If you enjoy clean young adult enemies to lovers romances, I recommend Meet Me There. 

Meet Me There is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Wild Love: brother's billionaire best friend romance

Wild Love is the first book in the Rose Hill series by Elsie Silver. Ford Grant has recently been named as Forbes’ World’s Hottest Billionaire; however, all he cares about is getting his recording studio up and running. He is thrown for a loop when a twelve year old girl shows up on his doorstep, claiming to be his daughter. Now his days are filled balancing his business and dealing with a moody teenager. Adding to his plate, Rosie Belmont, his best friend’s sister, arrives in town. After living in the city and an unfortunate incident at work, Rosie comes to Rose Hill to recoup and refocus. She pleads with Ford to give her a job and he vows to keep her at arm’s length. However, their daily interactions, flirty banter, he is finding it harder and harder to stay neutral. Can they resist the fire between them? 

Elsie Silver’s books have been praised on BookTok and I was excited for the chance to read her books. Wild Love was a disappointing introduction to Ms. Silver’s body of work. From the start, Ford and Rosie were annoying and I had no interest in their love story. Brother’s best friend is a great trope; however, I did not see the chemistry between Ford and Rosie or even a sense of history between them. I didn’t mind the addition of the daughter to the story; however, how she was conceived, while a reality, didn’t quite seem to fit. Overall, I did not like this story and have no interest to revisit Rose Hill. I will not be continuing this series. However, I will still give Ms. Silver’s other series a chance. Other reviews have said the Chestnut Springs series is better. Unfortunately, I do not recommend Wild Love. 

Wild Love is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Then Came You: a move to a small town for a fresh start and a possible new romance

Then Came You is the first book in the Compass Cove series by Jeannie Moon. After a series of family loss, Mia DeAngelis needed a change for herself and her nephew, Ben. They move in with her grandmother in the magical small town of Compass Cove. She takes a job as a librarian at a local college and settles into her new community. Adam Miller is a retired NFL quarterback who has returned to Compass Cove for a fresh start as he takes the coaching job at the college. When Ben shows up at practice one day, Adam meets his gorgeous aunt and there is an instant connection despite their resistance. Even though their family and friends see them together, Mia is hesitant as her mother’s expectations interfere. Can the magic of Compass Cove bring them together or will their doubts keep them apart? 

Then Came You is a fast paced, page turner filled with sweet moments and heart stopping drama. From the opening chapter to the closing page, I could not put this book down. I read well into the night as I wanted to see Mia and Adam together. The drama between Mia and her mother felt so real and raw. I cheered for Mia as she fights for her own life and decisions without interference from her mother. I loved Adam and knew he was the one for Mia. I also enjoyed Mia’s nephew Ben. I laughed at the scene when he reveals that he saw Adam kiss Mia and how grossed out he was. It was such a child thing to say. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to continuing the story. I highly recommend Then Came You. 

Then Came You is available in paperback and eBook

Teased by Fire: an enemies to lovers romance

Teased by Fire is the first book in Teased by Love by Molly O’Hare. Olive’s life is about to be turned upside down. When her best friend, Miranda, lands her dream job and moves out, she needs a roommate. Miranda has a great solution: her older brother, Hank. Hunky firefighter is the bane of Olive’s existence and causes her great anxiety as she is a homebody who enjoys as little human interaction as possible. She does her best to avoid running into him until he discovers her secret career and offers to help her with some hands-on research partner and she finds it hard to turn down the offer. Hank has held a torch for Olive for years; however, living with her opens his eyes to a side of her that she had successfully kept hidden. Can Hank convince Olive that life is a lot more fun with a little spice and fire? 

I was looking forward to a fun romance with banter and plenty of spice and the blurb for Teased by Fire certainly had promise. The beginning was fun as Hank teases her, which shows the history they share and Olive has a breakdown with him moving in and really having no reason to keep him from doing so. However, their spicy scenes were very cringey and at one I even murmured “yuck.” I didn’t care for Olive or Hank. They both seemed too immature for seemingly adults. Olive seems too neurotic to be considered quirky. I was disappointed as I love romance novels about firefighters and Hank wasn’t very believable as one. The only character I enjoyed was Hank’s Maine Coon cat, Dog, which was hilarious and added to the scenes she was in. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend Teased by Fire. 

Teased by Fire is available in paperback and audiobook