Title: When Heroes Fall Author: Giana Darling Series: Anti-Heroes in Love #1 Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
I am the villain of my own story…
Jilted by my fiance. A disappointment to my family. Haunted by my childhood traumas. I felt so much all my life that I resolved to feeling nothing at all.
Until I met my match.
As the most infamous mafioso of the 21st century, Dante Salvatore was madly passionate, unequivocally bad, and entirely too dangerous to know. He was everything I abhorred, yet I found myself representing him in the biggest criminal trial of the decade.
I was so focused on winning and achieving the success I deserved that I didn’t notice the gorgeous black-eyed man’s effect on me until it was too late. My icy heart had been held too close to his flame and now I wouldn’t let Dante go down without fighting with everything I had in me.
Even if the cost of a new life with him meant the loss of my old life and everything I thought I held dear.
Giana Darling is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Top 40 Amazon Best Selling Canadian romance writer who specializes in the taboo and angsty side of love and romance. She currently lives in beautiful British Columbia where she spends time riding on the back of her man’s bike, baking pies, and reading snuggled up with her Golden Retriever puppy, Romeo.
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Sweet Paranormal Romance:
Red Hot Wolfie by Nyx Halliwell is a suspenseful clean paranormal romance with a really fun twist on fairy tale characters.
Ruby and her red cape take a whimsical and modern view of Red Riding Hood that makes the character unique and a lot of fun to follow through her mystery.
The mystery was very strong with a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
What big teeth you have…a fairytale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a little bit of magick, a whole lot of wolf, and a howling good mystery!
I’m the witchy version of the Caped Crusader, and I have the red cloak to prove it.
The garment is magick and comes in handy when anyone is in need of healing. Neither it nor my personal magick, however, can treat the injured wolf I find on my doorstep.
While tending his wounds, I discover he’s the stuff of legends—a shifter who also happens to be the new town veterinarian I’ve been anxious to meet. His past, however, is as clouded as his memory.As I teach him about his inner wolf, and discover his deepest secrets, our sleepy town is rocked by murder. All evidence points to a forest creature with sharp claws and big teeth…
The full moon is rising, and it looks like it’s up to me to make sure no further harm is done. Can I uncover the culprit behind the killings? Or will I end up a snack for a hungry wolf?
I am a big fan of new twists on old fairy tales or fairy tale characters. Red Hot Wolfie did a fantastic job taking Little Red Riding Hood and making her a contemporary character. She still has her red cape and lives near the forest, but she’s a fierce woman and witch you don’t want to mess with.
Her story starts with finding a wolf passed out on her doorstep – but this wolf isn’t an ordinary wolf. He turns into a very naked man, and the romance (very clean) takes off from there. I loved the interactions between Ruby and Ren. There was just enough tension, a little bit of doubt, and a whole lot of trying to figure things out.
But people are dying in the woods, and it looks like it might have been the work of a wolf. Pair that up with some unwelcome paranormal investigators looking for the perfect shot for the TV show, and things start getting tricky pretty fast. I wish these investigators had something a little more redeeming about them – some good trait that would make me anxious for their safety. But they fell a little flat in the personality department.
Ruby and her sisters (other fairy tale characters) investigate and sort of stumble upon the reason and culprit behind the murders in the woods. It took a bit of a winding trail to get there, but that let me get to know them and their little town a bit better. I wish that Ren’s history had a little more of the spotlight. I found his tale quite intriguing and thought it could have made a great main storyline instead of a secondary one.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Owen Montgomery is arrogant and unfeeling–with cold, haughty manners and a British accent sharper than any knife. I’ve been secretly in love with him for years, knowing there’s no way he could ever notice me, the scholarship girl. The poor girl. Until that night in Ibiza…until that night we taste each other’s kiss for the first time, and I learn what hot hungers the ice king keeps hidden from public view.
It’s also the night when I discover that after three years of sharing classes and even friends, Owen still has no idea who I am. None at all.
Pride stung, I vow to focus only on myself and my future in publishing. But little do I know that I’ve awakened an obsession in Owen that will soon outgrow the halls of Pembroke Prep and spill over into the real world.
Owen wants me, and he’ll stop at nothing to have me. And soon I find myself with an impossible choice. Do I pick the future I always wanted for myself?
Or do I choose the blueblood whose kisses are as brutal as his love?
Chloe Daniels is a starry-eyed romantic who believes in true love, soul mates and happily ever afters. So when a psychic predicts the identity of her soul mate Chloe will do anything to find him.
But there’s a tiny problem.
Chloe’s soul mate is 1 of 7 men, spread across the U.S. and she has only one week to reach him.
Out of desperation she hires Nick O’Shea, a cynical private investigator who thinks soul mates, love and happily ever afters are a load of crap.
Chloe and Nick have nothing in common. She wants her soul mate. He wants to get paid.
But on their crazy, true love chasing road trip across the U.S. Nick starts to wonder if maybe he was wrong about love, and Chloe starts to wonder if she was wrong about the identity of her Romeo. Soon, Chloe will have to choose between her soul mate and the man she hired to find him.
“I’m just asking,” I say, “are you sure you want to bet your future on a myth?” Because, to be honest, something inside me wishes she’d get up and say, screw you, fate, I’m taking my future in my own hands.
“Would I bet my future?” she asks.
I nod and lean forward to hear her answer.
Slowly, she says, “I’d bet everything.”
Her words ring in my ears. She’s serious. She’ll do anything to get with this random guy she hasn’t seen in nearly twenty years. It’s like a cosmic joke, except I’m not laughing. I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything less.
“It’s a myth,” I say. “It’s not real.”
“It is,” she says. She points her finger at me and jabs me in the chest. “And I’m going to prove it to you.” Her hand rests over my heart. We both look down at her touching me. She yanks it back and wipes her hand on her napkin.
No man likes to see a woman wipe herself off after touching him. I scowl and then take her unspoken challenge. “More likely, by the end of this week, I’ll prove that soul mates don’t exist.”
“Good luck, you have hundreds of Aunt Erma’s successes against you.”
No worries, I stand by my belief that the whole town of Romeo is suffering from romantic delusions. Hey, the tourism dollars depend on it.
Also, I’d like to push a little bit of reality into this situation and throw out the idea that this guy might not be decent.
“He could be a rapist,” I say. That gets her attention. Her head snaps up and she glares at me.
“Or a Lothario,” she says. Take that, her eyes say. She bares her teeth at me in a semblance of a grin and I smile back. Game on.
The minstrel who had wandered close again hightails it to the other side of the restaurant.
“He could be a drug dealer,” I say.
“Or a pharmacist,” she says.
“He could be an alcoholic.”
“A vintner.”
“He’s unemployed,” I say.
“Independently wealthy.”
“He looks like a frog.”
“He’s a prince,” she says.
“He’s boring.”
“Strong and silent.”
I glare at her and she glares back, a smile curving on her lips.
“Bad in bed,” I say.
“A sex god.” She bites at her lower lip and I have the urge to take it in my mouth and show her a decade of pent-up wanting. I yank my thoughts from her lips and drop my ace in the hole.
“He could be an ax murderer,” I say. Take that and chew on it.
She laughs, throaty and low, and her eyes light up. The candlelight sparks off her glowing skin.
“Or,” she says, “he’s a lumberjack. Mmmm. Sexy ax. I’ll hold the handle. Rawr.” She claws her hand and scratches at the air. I shake my head. “You got it.” I hold up my goblet of mead for a toast. “To Matt Smith. Chloe’s lumberjack soul mate.”
Author Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.
Before writing romance full-time Sarah had lots of fun teaching at an Ivy League. Then she realized she could have even more fun writing romance. Her favorite things after writing are adventuring and travel. You’ll frequently find her using her degree at a dino dig site, crawling into a cave, snorkeling, or on horseback riding through the jungle – all fodder for her next book. She’s lived in Scotland, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and NYC. She currently lives in the Caribbean with her water-obsessed pup and her awesome family.
Title: Dream Spinner Author: Kristen Ashley Series: Dream Team #3 Genre: Contemporary Romance
After years with no one but herself to rely on, Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. But she was taught from a young age that it was hopeless to dream. There was only success, failure was not an option and it had terrible consequences. Now, the thought of another disappointment petrifies her. But when a suspicious phone call leads to more trouble than she can handle, there’s only one man Hattie trusts to help . . .
Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him—and so does Hattie. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let Axl in. The former soldier is determined to woo Hattie into letting down her walls, yet when danger comes calling, he finds himself battling for more than her heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.
In answer, Hawk tipped his head to the chair opposite his desk and tossed his phone on the top of it.
Since Hawk rarely sat, the men who visited him didn’t either.
But for this, Axl closed the door behind him after he entered, moved to a chair, and put his ass in it.
Hawk watched this, and he hesitated, but then he joined him, sitting behind his desk.
“Is everything cool?” Hawk asked.
“I got a sitch. Personal. And I was hoping you might talk it through with me. Maybe have some insight.”
“Hit me,” Hawk invited.
And there was one of the bennies of working for Cabe “Hawk” Delgado.
He was a good boss, generous with his knowledge, gave credit where it was due, didn’t get in your face if you fucked up and held up your hand that you did…
And he had time for you even when he didn’t.
“I met Hattie’s dad last night.”
Hawk’s lips thinned.
Right.
His boss might not be in on their chats, but not much happened with his crew that Hawk didn’t know about.
So he knew about Don Yates.
“I got blindsided,” Axl told him.
“How?” Hawk asked.
“He loves her, Hawk.”
Hawk held his gaze a beat before he sat back in his chair.
Yeah.
This was going to be a conversation.
Hawk’s voice was lower when he inquired, “He loves her, and he hits her?”
Axl shook his head. “I got no excuse for that. Or the verbal abuse he keeps doling out. What I know is, recently, he called her a whore.”
“Jesus,” Hawk clipped.
“She didn’t tell me that. She told Ryn, Ryn told Boone. And I got it from Boone. But before…” He paused, then got to it, “I can’t step in with her dad. She knows their relationship is dysfunctional. She feels beholden. I could only have her back. Until I heard that. Then I shared I was going to have to have words with her father.”
“Good,” Hawk murmured.
“Then I got there, and the man was practically beaming, he was so fuckin’ happy Hattie brought her boyfriend over to meet him.”
“Fuck,” Hawk grunted.
“So we sat down. He gave me the ‘What do you do for a living’ and ‘How’d you meet my daughter’ gig. I answered. All was good. Then I told him I couldn’t have him upsetting Hattie like he did by calling her a whore. He tried to explain it by saying he was in a bad mood. I told him, in future, if he was in a bad mood, he needed not to take that out on Hattie.”
“On your first meeting,” Hawk noted.
“On our first meeting,” Axl confirmed.
“Which happened…what? How long have you been seeing her? A few days?”
“Yep.”
“You laid down the law with your woman’s father the first time you met him after you’ve been with her a few days,” Hawk laid it out.
“Yep.”
“Christ, Axe, you don’t fuck around,” Hawk muttered.
Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.
Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple of crazy Yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.
I’m not too proud to admit that finding Mr. Right involves swiping right. Right? Welcome to dating in avocado toastland.
Here I am, on my first blind date, ever, courtesy of a smartphone app and my two annoying best friends.
So what is Chris “Fletch” Fletcher doing, walking across the room, looking at his phone like he’s pattern matching a picture to find a real person he’s never met before?
Oh.
Oh, no.
The guy I drop-kicked in seventh grade cannot be my blind date. The guy who earned me this infernal nickname
He’s her best friend. A reformed bad boy turned hot teacher. And after one spur-of-the-moment Vegas wedding… her husband.
Jordan Benoit and Fletcher Landry have been best friends since they were six. He’s always been The Guy. When she needed picked up, cheered up, or lifted up–like literally, to see the stage at a concert–Fletcher was the guy.
So when her boyfriend dumps her–on national TV–Fletcher immediately gets on a plane and comes to her rescue.
And when she ends up in a Vegas wedding chapel and needs someone to say, “I do”…yep, Fletcher’s the guy. Of course.
But being The Guy 24/7 is a lot. He just wants everyone to give him a freaking minute to get this marriage thing right. Including his sexy, sweet new wife who he’s wanted for three years. Who is exasperatingly, temptingly all-in from minute one.
Jordan knows what she wants. A life in her hometown. A job with alpacas. And Fletcher. Not necessarily in that order.
They’ve said the vows. They’d told the world. They’ve told their grandmas. Forget taking things slow. Forget just heavy petting. Forget any chance of backing out when things get tough. They’re going to have to go all the way, in every way.
After all, friends becoming lovers should be the easiest thing in the world. Right?
“I was trying to give you some freaking space before I said anything.” He seemed very annoyed suddenly.
She leaned in, bracing her hand on the seat between them. “The last person I need space from is you, Fletcher. I mean, we’ve basically been dating for twenty years. If dating is about getting to know someone and figuring out how well you fit with them and figuring out if you want to spend the rest of your life with them…we’ve done that.”
He shook his head. “You have got to be one of the most exasperating people in my life.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Considering your twin brothers are Zeke and Zander, being one of the most exasperating people in your life is pretty huge.”
He shook his head. “Absolutely exasperating. To think I could’ve kissed you when we were standing next to a king-sized bed and you were only in your bra and panties and you would have been all in.”
Jordan felt her cheeks flush, but she grinned widely. “I really am a pain.”
“You really are.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.
Jordan felt a zing of excitement go through her. She really wanted him to kiss her.
“I think you dating me is a great idea,” he said after a moment.
Thank God.
“You’re sure you’re done dating other people? Having fun with all those girls? All the casual relationships?” she asked.
“If it means I get to be with you? Absolutely.”
Her stomach swooped, harder and faster than before. “This isn’t crazy?”
“It makes a hell of a lot more sense than anything else. Like you dating other men. Or either of us being with anyone else.”
“We’ve never talked about this before.”
“You’ve been taken,” he said simply.
Right. That was true. And Fletcher was too good of a guy to go after another man’s girl.
She still felt compelled to say, “It’s been three years since anything happened.”
“Again, because you’ve been taken.” His voice dropped. “Only because you’ve been taken, Jordan.”
Her heart skittered at that and she wet her lips. She thought about her next words carefully. Several seconds ticked by. Then she said simply, “Prove it.”
Fletcher reached out, wrapped his big hand around her wrist, and tugged her close. He cupped the back of her head and brought her in until they were nose to nose. “This changes everything,” he said. Almost as if it was a warning.
“I know.”
“I’m the last frog you’re ever going to kiss. So be sure you want it now.” That was exactly what she’d wanted to hear without even realizing it.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Contemporary Women’s Fiction:
This Other Island by Steffanie Edward is a family story about relationships found and lost, family history, and how people define themselves and find their identity.
I was able to take a glimpse into a culture and generation that I wasn’t really familiar with, and I learned a lot about them.
I did not see the big reveal coming at all. It sort of jumps out of nowhere but gave the story a very interesting twist at the end.
When Yvette receives a call to say her estranged father Joe has been attacked in a seemingly random act of violence, she rushes to his side.
But when she arrives, she finds a man different to the larger-than-life father of her memories. Joe is broken, too scared to describe his attacker to the police, and seemingly haunted by memories of his past – memories he’s fought to suppress.
About the boat journey that brought him and his wife Dolina to their new home in a hostile and unwelcoming Britain – as part of the Windrush Generation. About the secrets left behind in St Lucia… And about the darkest secret of all – the one that he has carried with him since stepping off the boat that cool, wet August day.
As he fights for his life, he begs Yvette to find out what really happened on the last day of that crossing. Because, for forty years, Joe has believed that he killed a man. A man who had loved Dolina too. And who might hold the key to Yvette’s own story…
What follows is a heart-stopping debut novel about family, identity, secrets, lies, and the journeys that define us. It will grip you, challenge you, and ultimately break you into a thousand pieces. Perfect for fans of Small Island and Girl, Woman, Other.
This Other Island by Steffanie Edward was an interesting story. Yvette returns to her parents in England after being raised by her aunt on the islands. And now we’re in the present day, watching her life unfold in front of us. Her life doesn’t seem overly remarkable at first. She has a good job, friends, and a steady boyfriend (who is afraid to commit to being more).
At first, I struggled to see where the story was going. I enjoy reading a book that’s just the story of everyday life, but this one had promised to be more than that. I started to see this “something more” when Yvette’s father asks her to find a man from his past, a man that seems to hold no major significance but ends up playing a very key role in the end.
The story moved a little slower than I expected, with a lot of focus on the relationship between the characters and less on who this mysterious man might be. It really allowed me to get into the characters’ heads and dig around to see what made them tick. It also allowed me a glimpse into a culture that I knew very little about. At times the accent of the older generations was difficult to read. Still, by using it, the author really drew a line between generations that showcased how much changes and how many stays the same even after just one generation.
The end felt a little rushed. After a slow and intricate build-up, there were a lot of things that got dropped in my lap all at once, and then suddenly, the story was done. While this helped me understand the craziness of what was going on, it was also a little hard to transition to this new pace mentally.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Steffanie Edward was born in St Lucia, brought up in London and now straddles between the two.
Anancy, Crick-crick and other Caribbean folk stories have been a part of her life since childhood. In her late teens she enjoyed reading Susan Howatch and books on slavery. Her absolute favourite reads have been Wild Seed by Octavia E Bulter, and Woman At Point Zero by Naawal El Saadawi.
Her writing career started with short stories, five of which have been published. Her first attempt at writing a novel was over twenty years ago, whilst living and working in Abu Dhabi. That novel, Yvette, didn’t make it into print, but the main protagonist, Yvette, has muscled her way into Steffanie’s debut novel, This Other Island.
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Sweet Romance:
No Time for Apologies by Jean C. Gordon is a sweet contemporary romance about reluctant attraction and putting your heart first.
There is an amazing balance between a small-town sweethearts theme and a big-city potential rivals theme.
I really love that Jon can be an alpha male without needing to have the higher position and more prestigious job title – it makes me love him even more.
Kate Lewis left her family’s dairy farm and fell in love with everything about New York City–especially the high-powered, fast-paced world of finance. Once content to lie in the grass and watch clouds float across the sky, her biggest dream now is to work her way to the top of Wall Street.
Jon Smith is so much more than his plain name implies. He’s also a rising star in the world of finance, on a mission to save his grandfather’s cattle farm, and Kate’s former high school admirer.
When a shocking twist of fate puts these two in direct competition for a job they both covet, the last thing they need is any new sparks of attraction. Too bad fate isn’t done with them yet.
Will they give in to their attraction, or is their newfound rivalry too intense to put aside? Find out in this sweet big city twist on the classic second chance romance theme.
I absolutely loved Jon Smith in No Time for Apologies by Jean C. Gordon. He knew what he wanted, did what it took to get what he wanted, and tried hard to do right by everyone around him along the way. At times he may have been a little too perfect. I kept waiting for that flaw or quirk to show up, and I never really latched on to one.
Kate Lewis was a bit different, though. She was highly competitive – to the point that I worried about her. She was putting her career above absolutely everything. And her history with her firm had made her a little paranoid on top of it. Most of the time, she was right to be paranoid – but not this time.
Kate and Jon have this odd one-sided rivalry going. Kate doesn’t want him to get a promotion that he doesn’t want and won’t take. This seemed to consume her at times, and it really caused a lot of friction – but we have to have some conflict, right. Somehow, they seemed to be perfect for each other, though.
I enjoyed the mix of small-town and city atmospheres. It was like getting the best of both worlds. While this is part of a series, the romance portion can be read on its own, but there are some background references to previous books and characters.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Nora Lindberg doesn’t let life get her down. Disowned by her family and left by the man who was supposed to love her for the rest of their lives, she packs up her kids and goes in search of a second chance.
The small town she lands in was supposed to be her fresh start, her chance at a better life. But instead, she’s a broke single mom who spends her nights looking for the chocolate she hid from her kids.
When her ex lands on the local Motorcycle club’s most wanted list and leads them straight to her door, her life is once again turned upside down.
But maybe a broody hot guy on a motorcycle is just the thing she never asked for but got anyway.
Now the only question is: Will he be her savior or her downfall?
“Don’t we all,” I muttered under my breath, then looked around the crowded supermarket, hoping nobody had heard her. “Not today, Sötnos. We still have some at home.”
“But I want—”
I clamped my hand over her mouth and speed-walked my way to the checkout, hoping Luca wouldn’t join her out of sympathy. He was two years older, but hadn’t outgrown the tantrums yet.
She didn’t like having her shriek interrupted and her little face went red with anger. But I’d rather deal with my daughter’s wrath than once again be the talk of the town. We made it outside in record time, Lena wailing the whole way, Luca holding his hands over his ears.
I was running late, my shift starting in less than twenty minutes, and I still had to drop my kids home and drive to work. After wrestling them into their seats and dumping my bags in the trunk I hightailed it back to the house.
Lena made sure we knew her displeasure at not getting any popcorn for the duration of the drive. My friend Stella was sitting on the front steps waiting when we pulled up.
“Sorry we’re late,” I greeted her, unbuckling the little hellions. She watched my kids for me on the nights I had to work.
I couldn’t really afford a babysitter, so when she offered, I had to put my pride aside and let her help. She was my friend—one of the few I had—and I just couldn’t do it on my own anymore. I worked two jobs, barely keeping my head above water, and needed any break I could get.
My day job was a virtual assistant, something I could do from home while watching the kids. Luca had recently started preschool, so I only had Lena most of the time. My second job was waitressing at Pepper’s, a strip club. It paid well, but the hours sucked. I never thought I’d end up where I was.
“Don’t worry, I only just got here. Mason dropped me off,” Stella said, cuddling Lena to her and holding Luca’s hand. “But aren’t you going to be late for work?” I checked the time on my phone and sprinted up the steps. Definitely going to be late if I wasn’t ready in the next three minutes.
Supporter of all things written, defender of the e-book revolution and master of the take out order – I’m not afraid to say I can’t cook, go a week without breaking something, read labels correctly or park cars in a straight line.
I love the written word in all forms and shapes and if I’m not glued to a book I’m attempting to write one. I’m a frequent blonde moment sufferer and still trying to figure out how to adult. I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my two little humans, the holder of my heart and two furry demons. I love to hear from readers so feel free to get in touch.
