Here is the gorgeous cover (designed by Najla Qamber Designs) for Karla Sorensen’s The Marriage Effect. I can’t wait for June 12th when this baby drops! I’ve loved Logan previously so I’m super excited for his story.
Logan Ward doesn’t want any more women in his life.
Being a football player and legal guardian to his four younger sisters means his playbook is full. However, one of them just landed in the hospital, which gives his brother the shot he needs to challenge Logan for custody.
Legal counsel says there’s only one thing Logan can do—find himself a wife.
Paige McKinney doesn’t always think things through.
Like walking away from her modeling career without a thought of what might come next. She really doesn’t think it through when she proclaims herself Logan’s fiancé at the hospital, simply because the sexy—albeit grumpy—football player forgot his cell phone at a party and security won’t let her pass. It’s not her fault it was overheard by the worst possible person.
A bargain is struck, and a fake marriage is the perfect solution. But the simple solution creates a whole new problem: they’re not as different as they seem. The reluctant groom has fire inside him, and his impetuous bride is about to light the match.
Everly Dalton has the worst luck with dating. After a string of truly terrible first dates, she decides to take a break from dating and focus on her friends and her career as executive assistant to billionaire Shepherd Calloway. Shepherd is a cold and demanding boss, but Everly can handle him. When Shepherd finds himself in need of a faux girlfriend to outwit an ex-lover, he calls his assistant to step in. Will Everly and Shepherd find their fake relationship is not so fake after all?
Everly and Shepherd are perfectly opposite. She is warm, bubbly, and friendly. She’s the type to do anything for anyone, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. Shepherd thinks he’s genetically predisposed to be cold and unfeeling, just like his mother. The transition to his demeanor as Everly starts to melt his hard candy coating is a joy to witness.
The “side” characters are a delight as well, I love a group of strong women and her friends did not disappoint. Shepherd’s father and brother are both quite lovely. I didn’t care for Everly’s sister (I won’t spoil why) but suffice to say she put Everly in a terrible position with no thought to the ramifications.
Check it out if you like grouchy men, martinis, strong females, hilarity, love, families, or any combination of these. 5/5 Stars
Official Blurb:
“When I kissed you last night, I wasn’t pretending.”
Everly Dalton is a walking, talking, martini-drinking dating disaster. Forget kissing frogs. She can’t even get past the first date. But at work, she’s a badass—the longest-running assistant billionaire Shepherd Calloway has ever had. Her coworkers wonder how she handles the big bad wolf—and never gets bit.
Shepherd Calloway isn’t interested in being anyone’s sugar daddy. Tired of women who only want him for his money, he swears off dating, determined to focus on running his empire. Until his gold-digging ex hits him where it hurts, putting him in a difficult position.
His solution—to have Everly pose as his live-in girlfriend—is obviously crazy. But the timing is uncanny. It just so happens Everly needs a favor from her boss—a big and awkward one—and this could ensure everyone gets what they want.
Besides, Everly can totally survive a few months of faux romance.
Except there’s a problem. Shepherd is supposed to be a single-minded, unemotional robot boss. Not an actual human with a heart and morning wood. Between the awkward bed-sharing and tingly fake dates, lines are blurring. And as Everly gets to know the real Shepherd, she discovers there’s more to the man behind the bank account.
(ARC REVIEW) Oliver and Chloe have been at odds since they were small children. Their mothers are best friends and they have been thrown together socially as a result. From jumping off a roof together to attending prom, their social interactions have had various degrees of success. Despite their attraction to each other, things never turn out well when they are together. When a business opportunity brings them together again, Chloe has to decide if she can once and for all trust Oliver and give in to her feelings, or if they are better as frenemies. Will they be able to overcome their long history to make a fresh future together?
I have always been a huge fan of Melanie Harlow’s voice. The way she writes just draws me the heck in and I barely am able to put her books down. I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is that I am so drawn to but I have loved every book she’s ever written. I really enjoyed the first book in her Cloverleigh Farms series, but this one I L-O-V-E-D.
The heat between Chloe and Oliver is an electric, combustible volcano of emotions. The give and take, back and forth nature of their relationship is absolutely appealing. I love a girl who’s not afraid to stand up for herself- but it works both ways. I also love a man who’s not afraid to say his piece either- without sounding like an absolute jerk.
The book goes between the past and the present wonderfully, without distracting from either plot. I loved seeing their progression throughout the years to understand why Chloe was so gun shy when it came to Oliver. I genuinely find the distilling/wine world very interesting so I love that plot aspect as well even if it gave me a whiskey craving (I may have indulged).
If you love romance, heat, comedy, family dynamics, etc etc etc don’t hesitate to check this one out. Although I recommend checking out the first book in the series (Irresistible), it could totally be read as a standalone. 5/5 stars
Official Blurb:
When we were eleven, Oliver Ford Pemberton dared me to jump off a barn roof. He said you couldn’t break a leg from a 12-foot-jump.
He lied.
(You can also break a collarbone, which served him right as far as I was concerned.)
I wish I could say it was the last dare I ever took from him, the last bet I ever made with him, the last time I ever trusted Oliver Ford Pemberton.
But it wasn’t.
Because he had the nerve to grow up gorgeous, charming, and sexy. And as we got older, the dares only got dirtier—and the betting stakes higher—until finally, he left me in pieces. I swore I’d never talk to him again.
But twenty years after I took that flying leap, he’s back in my life, daring me to risk everything for him: my job, my self-worth, and my heart.
How many chances does true love deserve?
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Fueled by pent-up lust and scotch, we stumbled into Oliver’s room and tore at each other’s clothes. It was hot and rough and a little bit violent, as if we were furious we hadn’t been able to keep our hands to ourselves and wanted to take it out on one another’s bodies. We pushed and pulled and growled and grasped. We called each other names and cursed viciously. We knocked over a lamp and ripped Oliver’s shirt.
When we finally exploded together, Oliver had me up against the door, and if our yelling didn’t wake the entire floor, then the pounding must have. I’d have bruises for days.
Afterward, we collapsed on the bed, naked and sweaty and exhausted.
“Oh my God,” I said. “I can’t believe we did that.”
“I know. Me either.”
“I think I pulled a muscle.”
“I think you bit me. Am I bleeding?”
I laughed. “No, but I hope you’re not seeing anyone. If you are, she’s going to wonder about all those scratches on your back.”
“I’m not seeing anyone.” He paused. “Are you?”
“No.”
Neither of us moved for several minutes. When I caught myself falling asleep, I sat up. “I should go.”
“Why? Just stay here.”
I looked down at him. “You want me to stay?”
“Yeah.” He opened his eyes. In the low light, they almost looked black instead of blue. “Spend the night with me.”
I waited for it—the dirty joke, the excuse, the subtle dig—the reason he’d toss out for asking me to stay. It couldn’t just be that he wanted me here.
But he didn’t say anything more. He just reached out and covered my hand with his.
I looked at our hands for a moment, and a thousand memories came rushing back. Some good, some bad, but all us. I felt close to him, and I didn’t want to leave. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
“Good.” He took off his watch and put it on the nightstand.
About Melanie
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the ONE & ONLY series, the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Undeniable, an all-new sexy standalone second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!
When we were eleven, Oliver Ford Pemberton dared me to jump off a barn roof. He said you couldn’t break a leg from a 12-foot-jump.
He lied.
(You can also break a collarbone, which served him right as far as I was concerned.)
I wish I could say it was the last dare I ever took from him, the last bet I ever made with him, the last time I ever trusted Oliver Ford Pemberton.
But it wasn’t.
Because he had the nerve to grow up gorgeous, charming, and sexy. And as we got older, the dares only got dirtier—and the betting stakes higher—until finally, he left me in pieces. I swore I’d never talk to him again.
But twenty years after I took that flying leap, he’s back in my life, daring me to risk everything for him: my job, my self-worth, and my heart.
How many chances does true love deserve?
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the ONE & ONLY series, the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
ARC REVIEW: Danielle and Logan are best friends. Nothing can happen between them because Danielle has plans to move on, live up to the expectations her family has placed on her to finish grad school and marry rich and join all the country clubs. Logan knows Danielle would be his forever girl, so he can’t make a move when she has one foot out of the door. When Danielle’s sister’s wedding approaches, Danielle asks Logan to pretend to be her fiancee to prove to her family she’s doing okay. Will they be able to continue to pretend they don’t have feelings for each other when they are put to the test at the destination wedding?
I loved this book so much. Generally I read as escapism, I don’t see myself in the heroines or make parallels to my life, but I was struck by Danielle. The lessons she learns and her character development were so striking to me, and it’s genuinely a lesson we could take to heart. It’s okay to be fulfilled in the life we have instead of striving for the “ideal.” You don’t have to follow the path your family sets, because there is just one life and you need to live it on your terms. If you’re constantly trying to live up to someone else’s standards, you’re always going to be struggling and feeling like a disappointment. This hit me on such a personal level!
Logan was an absolute dreamboat of a man. I want to go on a sexy jungle romp through waterfalls with him! He was so patient, encouraging, sexy, and funny. We’ve met his family before in other books, but this was a complete standalone (but always more enjoyable to read as a series so be sure to check out all Emily’s books).
Their relationship was so great and I enjoyed watching the growth from friends to lovers. Their sparks were H-O-T even before they were actually together. I’ve enjoyed this whole series so far, but this is my fav-fav-favorite book (so far! I have hopes and dreams for Own). 5/5 thoroughly enjoyable stars.
Cheap Trick, a full-length, friends-to-lovers/fake fiancé, standalone romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Emily Goodwin is live!
Danielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.
The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny.
And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job. A cheap trick to fool her family is a small price to pay for a weekend in paradise.
Playing pretend is easy. The hard part? Trying to convince yourself the feelings are only fake.
Download your copy today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Emily Goodwin is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over a dozen of romantic titles. Emily writes the kind of books she likes to read, and is a sucker for a swoon-worthy bad boy and happily ever afters.
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
(ARC Review) All Allie Harris wants is a little payback on her cheating ex-boyfriend. Find a hot stranger, do a little striptease on camera, send to the ex to prove she’s moved on. At least that was the plan, until things progressed much further than just a striptease, and Allie found herself connecting with Roan in ways she didn’t expect. Despite living a world apart, she decides not to share the sexy video with her ex. Two years later, they are brought together again and neither has forgotten the night they shared. Roan is eager to start over with her- but what will happen if/when Roan finds out about the sex tape recorded without his consent?
Returning to the world of the Harris Brothers (if you have not checked out Amy Daws’ Harris Brothers series – GO DO IT) felt like being wrapped in a hug- comforting and familiar. It revisits all our old favorites, even including a good old fashioned Harris Brothers Shakedown. The sparks between Allie and Roan are explosive from the beginning, and grow more intense throughout the book. I really enjoyed Roan’s backstory and meeting his family, their history was something I only have vague knowledge of so I always enjoy learning new things.
The moral conundrum over the existence of the tape is an interesting one. I could never quite shake the feeling of ickiness that Allie recorded Roan without his consent, but I do think her character development was very good and she did try to fix the mistake. Overall I really enjoyed it. 4/5 stars
Official Blurb:
ALLIE HARRIS WANTS PAYBACK. Her cheating ex deserves to see her living her best life; a one-night-stand with a hot South African soccer player would be the perfect revenge. Right?
Wrong. Allie is so, so wrong.
ROAN DEWALT HAS ALL THE MOVES. On and off the field he’s at the top of his game. Roan respects hard-work, dedication—and follow through. He’s not a one and done kind of man, and he’s far from being done with Allie Harris.
One sexy night and two years later, Allie’s job brings her back to town. An opportunity for the perfect replay Roan has been fantasizing about since they slept together.
THE PROBLEM? Allie Harris has a secret; one she’s been keeping from Roan all this time. Video proof of their one night together—taken without his consent.
Will Allie’s payback plan come back to bite them both? Or can she erase her past mistake and embrace a new future with Roan?
R.S. Grey’s next romantic comedy, COLDHEARTED BOSS, releases June 6th! See the gorgeous cover below and find out more about COLDHEARTED BOSS!
About COLDHEARTED BOSS (available June 6th)
I’m desperate and destitute when Lockwood Construction rolls into my small town with an offer too good to pass up: high wages to any able-bodied man willing to join their crew.
Say no more. I throw on baggy clothes, tuck my long hair under a baseball hat, and apply for a job. Unfortunately, my half-baked idea of disguising myself as a guy is flawed from the beginning. As Shakira says, these hips don’t lie.
Still, I like to think I might have pulled the whole thing off save for one thing:
I know my boss.
Last month, we met at a bar, and after a fiery first encounter, it seems we’re destined to be sworn enemies.
Ethan Stone is ruthless and arrogant, a man I never would have crossed had I known how much he likes to toy with his prey.
He should just fire me and be done with it. Instead, he decides to make me his personal slave. Oh right, I think they’re calling it personal “assistant” these days.
It’s torture, all of it—his bad attitude, his ruggedly chiseled face, his desire to grind me into dust.
Every one of our friction-filled battles burns hotter than the last.
A girl can only hold out for so long. Soon, I’m bound to go up in flames.
My objective? Survive the heat long enough to send home a paycheck.
My real objective? Stop having X-rated fantasies about my coldhearted boss.
COLDHEARTED BOSS releases June 6th – you’ll be able to preorder your copy for .99c a few days before release!
R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga! Visit her at rsgrey.com
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn delivers a smart and cheeky romance about love’s power to lift hearts . . . and curses.
It was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after all . . .
But it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love curse. Ha!”
Boy, was I wrong.
Word spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?
The latest book in Samantha Young’s awesomely heartwarming The Hart’s Boardwalk series is now love! Don’t hesitate to run and get it!
ARC Review
Dahlia loves her life in Hartwell, Delaware. She’s spent a long time hiding from her past, and things have finally clicked together for her present. However, when she finds her beloved father, who has helped keep her secrets for years, needs her help, she drops everything to return home to her estranged family. There she runs into Michael Sullivan, her forbidden love and one of the main reasons she’s been in hiding. Can they overcome their tumultuous past to find happiness in their future?
Things We Never said is the 3rd full novel in the Hart’s Boardwalk series. I’ve loved every book so far, and this is no exception. There’s so much heart, drama, emotion, and redemption. It’s a cozy comfortable book that will make you feel warm inside.
My only issue, and the only reason I’m not giving it a full five stars, is that it drives me crazy when lovers are separated by easily surmountable issues. Pretty much the only reason these characters weren’t together is because of issues that exist only in Dahlia’s head. I understand guilt and how it screws with you, but geeeeeeeez. She was not responsible for what caused the heartache but she was responsible for how she behaved after.
Truthfully Michael was kind of ass to her, which would normally put me off a book, but I can’t entirely blame him for being angry and I have said worse things to my ex. If you’re sensitive to that sort of thing it might not be your favorite book.
However, I still enjoyed this very very much, it was a great read. It’s always nice to return to a series where you love the characters, and this time we even got to know more about Emery. I can’t wait for her story and to continue knowing and loving the residents of Hartwell! 4.5/5 stars
Official Blurb:
Local metalsmith and gift shop owner, Dahlia McGuire, likes her quiet life in Hartwell, Delaware. It’s the perfect place to hide from her family in Boston and the tragic events that led to their estrangement. However, when her father, the person she loves most in the world, needs her, Dahlia has no choice but to return to Boston to face her ghosts. One of those ghosts happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Michael Sullivan. The man she was never supposed to fall in love with.
Michael Sullivan has never forgotten Dahlia McGuire. Some might say he’s never gotten over her. For years he lived with the anger of her desertion and now newly divorced he’s finally ready to move on. That proves impossible when Dahlia returns to Boston and reawakens their explosive connection. Despite everything, Michael wants her back, but Dahlia can’t seem to let go of the tangled emotions of the past. She flees home to Hartwell.
Determined to fight for their second chance, Michael follows Dahlia to Delaware, takes a job with the local police department, and does everything in his power to convince her they belong together.
However, when the unthinkable hits the quiet seaside town, Michael finds himself trying to unravel more than the mystery of Dahlia’s McGuire’s broken heart. It’s time for truths left unsaid to finally be spoken or Michael and Dahlia might find themselves torn apart forever…
Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series, Hero, and Fight or Flight. Samantha’s crossover romance/women’s fiction novel titled Much Ado About You will be published by Berkley (release date tba). Her debut adult paranormal romance novel War of Hearts releases under the pen name S. Young in October 2019.
Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author. When she’s not writing books, she’s buying shoes she doesn’t really need and searching for nooks and crannies to shelve her ever-expanding book collection.
Romance Reviewed 