Wish You Were Mine: a slow burn professor-student hidden romance

Wish You Were Mine is the third book in the Kings of Eden Falls series by Judy Corry. Lucy Archibald is in her final semester at Eden Falls University. While balancing the pressure of being a Division 1 gymnast along with the heavier weight of her high-society family’s expectations. She is the good girl who never breaks the rules. However, during a snowy New Year’s Eve party in the Hamptons, Lucy is ready to lose a bit of that polish. She ends up kissing a handsome stranger in a hot tub. Feeling bold, she is ready to tackle her last semester. Until she walks into her chemistry class the following week and sees the handsome stranger standing at the front of the classroom. Professor Owen Park knows better than to get involved with a student. As a first year professor, he is currently applying for research grants with hopes of a promotion. However, he finds himself drawn to Lucy’s sharp wit and easy smile. They are determined to keep their relationship as professor-student; however, staying away from each other is something they cannot do. 

I love Judy Corry romances and I couldn’t wait for the newest addition to the series. However, when I heard that it was a professor-student forbidden romance, I was weary. Since I love Judy Corry’s stories and characters, I was willing to give it a chance. I am happy I did. It was a great slow burn romance with great stolen glances and secret touches. The banter was flirty and swoon worthy. Both Owen and Lucy are great characters who understand there is more at stake than their mutual attraction. The one aspect of the story I didn’t understand was the constant worry about their age gap which is about seven years. To me, a seven year age gap isn’t as concerning as some age gaps in other romances. However, Ms. Corry handled it wonderfully and Owen and Lucy were characters that I rooted for until the end when I cheered. Overall, I loved this story. There are no steamy scenes, just great romantic moments. I am looking forward to more stories in this series. I highly, highly recommend Wish You Were Mine. 

Wish You Were Mine is available in paperback and eBook

Now and Then: an innocent man behind bars? Graystone Investigations is on the case

Now and Then is the thirteenth book in the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. Taylor traded her badge, and alongside her husband Sam, launched Graystone Investigations. A private detective agency fueled by grit, intuition and the pursuit of justice. Their latest case is a chance to overturn a decade old conviction when new evidence puts further doubt on the case. A man spent ten years in prison for a brutal crime, a crime he insists he did not commit. The only person who stands by his side, his wife. Taylor and Sam begin to dig into the case and discover missing evidence, unfollowed leads and truths buried. At the same time, Anna has finally found purpose in her nursing career. When a chance encounter with a new patient puts her face to face with her ex-husband, Anna finds herself falsely accused of a crime and begins the uphill battle to clear her name. 

The Hart’s Ridge series has grown to a wonderful story of family and resilience with suspense and the journey to justice. Now and Then is a story that starts slowly like a fire you didn’t know was there until it burns into a raging inferno. A man convicted by a shortsighted investigation, a wife who never gave up hope and Taylor and Sam fueled by a drive to find the truth seemingly lost in time. Anna’s story was equally engaging as I wanted to wring her ex-husband’s neck. The story does end with a cliffhanger, a heart stopping cliffhanger that I am eager to see resolved in the next book, coming soon. I loved this story as I could not put it down. If you have not read the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly, highly recommend it. If you are a fan of the Hart’s Ridge series, you will love Now and Then. 

Now and Then is available in paperback and eBook

The Trouble With Love: a best friend's brother romance with a realistic look into faith and God

The Trouble With Love is the first book in the Faith and Fortune series by Toni Shiloh. Holiday Brown has it all. A successful singing career with a platinum record and a multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that she shares with her two closest friends. Everything was looking great until her roommate’s brother came to stay. W. Emmett Brown has been a thorn in her side for a long time. He is annoying, stubborn and a know it all. He is also the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. Suddenly dynamics charge as Emmett’s sister has a stalker who is getting closer and more threatened. Holiday soon finds that Emmett’s faith isn’t as annoying as it was and he has a softer side that she had failed to notice before. As the two get closer, Holiday starts to question faith, belief and God in ways she hadn’t thought about before. Will it bring Holiday closer to God? 

The Trouble With Love is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, clean romance. It sounds like a lot, so many tropes in one story, but it works. Once I started this story, I could not put it down. One of my favorite quotes is “The trouble with love was it always smacked you in the face when you least expected it,” which is so true! I fell in love with Holiday, Emmett and her roommates, Tori and Octavia. I loved the banter and teasing between Holiday and Emmett. I loved the interactions between all the characters. The friendship and love between the women. I loved the in depth, realistic look into the struggles with belief, the questions and doubts and the honest real answers from the believers in the story. Even before I finished Holiday and Emmett’s story, I knew I would be continuing the series. I highly, highly recommend The Trouble With Love. 

The Trouble With Love is available in paperback and eBook

I Would Die for You: a slow burn thriller with twist and turns to keep you guessing

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a slow burn thriller in which a woman’s past comes roaring back. Is she prepared to fight back? Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in southern California with her husband and daughter. It is shattered when a journalist comes to her door and asks her for information about the downfall of Secret Oktober, the biggest British band of the 1980s. The same day, her daughter is picked up from school by her aunt. The only thing is her daughter doesn’t have an aunt! Nicole is faced with the threads of her life and hidden past that is quickly becoming unveiling. In 1986, sixteen year old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober with an intense crush on Ben Edwards. She is determined to do anything she can to capture his attention among the cheering fans and groupies. What she doesn’t count on is Ben meeting her older sister, Nicole. What happened to Secret Oktober? What does Nicole know? 

Sandie Jones is a new author to me and I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book. A dual timeline story with multiple POVs as Nicole searches for the person behind the events of today and Cassie as her obsession with Secret Oktober and Ben grows taking her down a dangerous past. As events of today and yesteryear begin to shine light on the truth, the twists and turns were interesting and kept me hooked. However, as the mystery was revealed, the ending was confusing and a bit abrupt. My first thought when I closed the book was “what?!?” Throughout the story, I liked the character of Nicole and the mystery about who was bringing up the past and why was engaging and kept me guessing. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The mystery was engaging, the ending was just abrupt. If you like dual timeline, multiple POVs stories with a bit of suspense and mystery, I recommend I Would Die for You. 

I Would Die for You is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Daydream: a slow burn friends to lovers romance

Daydream by Hannah Grace is the third book in the Maple Hills series. Henry Turner has been the little brother of the Maple Hills University group of friends. When his procrastination lands him in a difficult class with an equally difficult professor, Henry knows he has to put in extra work to just survive his junior year. Also as the new captain of the hockey team, a position he didn’t want, Henry knows he cannot fail. He meets Halle Jacobs when he crashes her book club at a local bookstore. A fellow junior with her own issues and struggles knows she can help Henry pass his class. When Henry learns that she is trying to write a book for a competition, he offers to help her in return. To help give her new experiences to inspire her and beat her writer’s block. As they set a few rules and promise to stick to their rules. But rules are meant to be broken, right?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Maple Hills series. And I eagerly looked forward to Daydream. This story was different from the first two books, in a good way. Daydream is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance story. Henry and Halle are sweet with each other and watching them grow together was amazing. I loved Henry as he helped Halle break from her shell and insecurities to stand up for herself and establish a few boundaries. I loved Halle as she encouraged Henry on his own personal challenges. This book is not as spicy as the first two books which was refreshing as I enjoyed their emotional journey together and not just their sexual one. There were many touching moments between Henry, Halle and their cast of friends and supporters. There were moments of laughter and it felt as if I was in the room with this group of friends. I look forward to future books in this series. I highly recommend Daydream. 

Daydream is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Twisted Games: a slow burn, bodyguard royal romance

Twisted Games by Ana Huang is the second book in the Twisted romance series. Rhys Larsen is ex-Navy Seal and an elite bodyguard who lives by two rules. One, protect his clients at all costs and two, do not become emotionally involved. He has never broken those rules. That is until her. Bridget von Ascheberg is a princess with a stubborn streak a mile wide and a fire that would turn anyone into ash. Even a stoic bodyguard. As they spend time together, Rhys’ defenses begin to fade and they begin a mutual friendship as they ignore the growing desires flaring between them. When Bridget’s older brother abdicates the throne, she realizes she faces a loveless, politically motivated marriage and a role she never expect to have. Now she is thrust into the minefield of politics and she must hide her desire for a man she cannot have. 

I loved Twisted Love and eagerly looked forward to continuing the series. Twisted Games is a slow burn, at first, then to an inferno as Rhys and Bridget eventually give in to their desires. I loved this story much more than Twisted Love, and I loved Twisted Love! Rhys is a man with a deeply painful past. Despite her confident facade, Bridget carries her own painful scars. I loved every minute of these two together as bodyguard/client, friends and then eventually lovers. There were plenty of moments of great banter, swoon worthy flirty moments and spicy scenes. While technically you do not need to read Twisted Love before reading Twisted Games; however, I highly recommend it. There is some overlap and references that make great Easter eggs but not necessary to enjoy Rhys and Bridget’s love story. If you love a slow burn romance, I highly recommend Twisted Games. 

Twisted Games is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Twisted Love, book 1, is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook