She wasnโt supposed to see him again after one reckless night. She definitely wasnโt supposed to be carrying his baby…
Cora
Iโve spent her whole life on the outside looking inโuntil I land in Saddle Creek, working for the one family that finally feels like home. Thereโs just one problem. Oliver Blankenship.
Grumpy. Guarded. And watching me like heโs already decided Iโm trouble. He clearly doesnโt trust me. Thinks Iโm after his money. The more I fall for his familyโฆ the harder it is to keep the truth from him. Because the secret Iโm hiding? Itโs going to tie me to him forever.
Oliver
Iโve been burned beforeโand I refuse to make that mistake again.
Cora is reckless. Tempting. Hiding something. I should keep his distance. Instead, I let her into my life, my familyโฆ my bed. The more I see the way she cares for the people I love, the more I want her to stay. But trust doesnโt come easy. And learning the truth means risking it all.
One unexpected pregnancy.
One man who refuses to trust.
One woman with everything to lose.
Because in a town like Saddle Creek, secrets donโt stay hidden โฆand falling in love might cost them more than their hearts.
Readers who love grumpy x sunshine, surprise pregnancy, and small town romance with heart will fall hard for Oliver and Coraโs story.
๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ 3) by Ava Suttonreleases next week! Check out this sneak peek!
She raises an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
โWere you? Because it looked like you were occupied. That girl seemed very interested in getting your attention.โ
So she was watching me.
โYou can call me Eva, by the way. My friends call me Eva,โ she says, then takes a sip of water.
โAre we friends, Eva?โ I smile.
โYou know we are. I would say two people who talk just about every day are friends.โ
โThen how come we never hang out aside from the sidelines at the game and the world’s most boring English Lit lecture?โ
โGah! Seriously, Professor Jenkins could suck the life out of The Great Gatsby; he deserves an award.โ
โI only passed because you kept me awake.โ
โYou only passed because I created the study guide for you.โ
โIt was impressive. I liked the color-coded annotations.โ
She points a finger at me. โAnd you still asked me what symbolism was ten minutes before the exam.โ
โI was making conversation.โ
โYou were panicking.โ
โAthletes donโt panic. We strategically worry.โ
Her laugh fills the space between us, warm and familiar, and it hits me the same way it does whenever Iโm around her. Like home.
โI guess we never really hung out,โ She says, smiling softly. โWe just always found each other.โ
โAt games.โ
โIn class.โ
โWalking across campus.โ
โRandom coffee lines.โ
โExactly.โ
She shrugs one shoulder. โI guess I figured football guys had football people.โ
โAnd I figured producer girls hadโฆ I donโt know, theater people or something.โ
She smiles knowingly. โSo weโre both idiots.โ
โI think thatโs the first thing weโve agreed on all night.โ
Her eyes hold mine for a beat longer than they should, and the rest of the party fades into background noise.
Neither of us looks away.
โWell, Iโm glad I came tonight. If not, Iโd forever wonder if Evangeline Carrington and I are as good of friends as I thought.โ I take a swig of my beer. โYou know, some people say men and women canโt be friends. Personally, I think thatโs bullshit.โ
She blinks and then scrunches her brow. โOh. right.โ She looks down at the label on her water bottle, peeling at the corner with her thumb. โBecause they say one person is always hiding a crush.โ Her eyes lift back to mine. โButโฆthatโs not us.โ
The inflection at the end of that line comes up like sheโs asking a question.
My pulse kicks hard against my ribs.
This is it.
One honest sentence changes everything.
This is where I could take my shot with Evangeline. I canโt say, well, actually, Eva, Iโve been harboring a sick crush on you for a long time, and seeing you naked under me would be putting every fantasy of mine to shame. So I play it safe.
โI have plenty of girls in my life who are just friends, and I definitely donโt want to hook up with them.โ
She exhales quietly. Iโm not sure if it’s relief or disappointment.
She lifts an eyebrow. Then her gaze drops to the floor for a second, and then she looks at me. โActually, friend, Iโm glad you came in here. I want to ask you something.โ
โGo for it.โ
She sets her bottle down and braces her hands against the edge of the counter. She looks at me dead in the eye. โIs there any reason why I shouldnโt go out with your brother?โ
The bass from the other room fades to static. Yes, my brain screams. Because Iโve been kicking myself for three months for not asking you first. Because I want you. Because he doesnโt know you the way Iโve been trying to. But the words glue themselves to the roof of my mouth.
Ace is my twin. My built-in best friend. We donโt fight over girls and never have. But Ace hasnโt done anything wrong either. He has no idea that I have a thing for her. Iโve kept it entirely to myself, waiting for the perfect time, like a pussy. And now my brother has stepped into the space I wanted. Heโs asked her out; otherwise, why would she ask me?
So if I tell her yes, if I make my claim now, Iโll be throwing a wrench into my brotherโs plan for a girl I have no right to.
I canโt do that to him. I love him too much.
So I force my face to stay blank and let out a hollow laugh that feels like Iโm swallowing glass. โAce? Nah. Heโs a good guy. An idiot sometimes, but his heart is gold.โ
Eva searches my face, her eyes scanning mine like sheโs looking for a crack or a sign telling her to say no to him. But I hold her gaze, praying she canโt see the lie in my eyes.
Not that Iโm fully lying. My brother is great. But I want her for myself.
She takes a deep breath and holds it, then releases it. โRight,โ she says, nodding. โOkay. Good to know.โ
It might be wishful thinking on my part, but I swear I see a flicker of hurt or disappointment in her eyes. Or maybe she was just being friendly all this time because she liked my brother and was trying to get closer to him.
โYeah,โ I choke out, forcing a smile. โIf he asks you out and you say yes, heโs a lucky guy.โ
Before she can respond, Ace walks in, his face lighting up the second he sees us.
โOh, hey. There you are,โ he says, walking toward Eva and placing a hand on her shoulder. โThe guys are setting out a new round of beer pong outside. You coming?โ
โSure,โ she says softly. Her smile is aimed at Ace, but she gives me one last unreadable look. โIโll be out there in a second. Let me grab my friends.โ Then she turns and walks away.
โIโll be here,โ Ace calls after her, grinning. He grabs my arm, eyes wide and excited, and leans into me. โDid she say anything about me?โ
I force myself to smile. โWhy? Whatโd you do?โ
โI asked her out.โ
And thereโs the confirmation that I did the right thing by not saying anything to her.
โI swear, brother, I think she might be my soulmate. Thereโs just something about her, you know?โ
I did know. And I know I feel like I can barely breathe.
โSoulmate, huh?โ I let out a rough laugh, slapping his shoulder hard. โYou turning into a sap like Archie, Ace?โ I tease, comparing him to our older brother whoโs head over heels for his wife, Emma.
โF*ck yes,โ he says, punching my arm before turning to walk out the door to the backyard. โShe could be my Emma,โ he says over his shoulder.
I stand there for a minute and watch him walk away. My stomach is in knots. But I canโt sit here and sulk all night. So I walk out of the kitchen and blend back into the crowd. The noise washes over me, but inside my head โฆ nothing.
Three months of hesitation. Three months of waiting for the right time.
And just like that, Iโve missed my chance.
BLURB:
I knew falling for Evangeline Carrington would ruin everything.
I just didn’t know how fast.
She was my twin brotherโs girlfriend in college.
But Iโd wanted her first.
Gorgeous, sharp-tongued, impossible to ignore, Evangeline is the kind of woman you never really forget. And when I run into her at a teammateโs wedding years later, one dance turns into too many drinks โฆ and one reckless night neither of us can take back.
I try putting distance between us again, but that becomes impossible once Evangeline starts covering my team as a field producer. Sheโs determined to prove she earned her place, and keeping us a secret is the only way to protect the career sheโs fought for.
And I want to keep us a secret because my brother wants her back.
But secrets like ours were never built to survive.
Not with cameras following her every move, looking for a scandal.
Not with my brother suddenly showing up at my games and making a play for my girl.
And definitely not when every stolen touch between us feels less like a mistake โฆ and more like something neither of us is willing to give up.
Because the deeper I fall for Evangeline, the more impossible the decision becomesโchoosing my family โฆ or the woman I think was always meant to be mine.
Why you need to #ONECLICK this book… ๐Fake Dating ๐Grumpy/Sunshine ๐On the Rebound ๐Inconvenient Attraction ๐Opposites Attract ๐Hockey Romance ๐3rd person POV
A jilted bride. A wrecked goalie. An unexpected kiss that changes everything.
I came here to reset.
After a season that pushed me to my limits, I needed sun, quiet, and spaceโsomewhere I could shut out the noise and get my head back under control.
Then Lexi Campbell sat beside me at the bar and asked for my help flirting with another guy.
I said yes because it was supposed to be fake. A distraction. Something with clear lines and no consequences. Iโm good with pressure. I know how to stay focused, how to hold my ground when everythingโs coming at me fast.
What I didnโt expect was how easy it felt to want her.
One kiss blows past every boundary I set. Suddenly, Iโm not playing defense anymoreโIโm all in, and I donโt know how to pull back. Lexiโs on a honeymoon sheโs taking alone, guarding a broken heart she pretends doesnโt still hurt. Iโm standing at my own crossroads, unsure where my future leads or if Iโm ready to risk wanting something real again.
It was supposed to be a fling. But wanting her is the one thing I canโt seem to control.
For fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoony NHL players who actually like to dance, Slapshot Summer is a heartwarming romance with plenty of spice โฆ and, of course, a guaranteed HEA.
**PLEASE NOTE: This story was originally published as Sunsets, Stick Saves, and a Honeymoon in the Love in Destiny Series. The content has not changed. If youโve read that version, then you’ve read this one as well.**
๐Review๐ Lexi thought she had her future planned out until she not only finds herself unemployed but the night before their wedding her fiancรฉ ends their engagement. Needing to get away she decides to go on the honeymoon they planned alone however it doesnโt get off to the best start when she meets Josh.
Josh is facing a crossroads when it comes to his hockey career and now he finds himself alone on the trip he and his brother planned. He was frustrated when he met Lexi, so he didnโt leave a good first impression however when he comes to her rescue she is lot more to grumpy man than she thought but where do they go from here?
Even though the reasons are different both Lexi and Josh are going through a difficult time in their life and meet each other at the perfect time. Between the tropical location, the humor, the passion and the emotions the romance of Lexi and Josh will draw you in.
In a future where Earth is ruled by the Cothellonโan ancient and powerful elven raceโrebellion stirs beneath the surface. Trey, a human with a fragmented past, is haunted by the memories of experiments that transformed him into a Prime Mage. Struggling to unlock his full magical potential, he joins a daring resistance against the Cothellon, who fuel their power through dark rituals and the sacrifice of human lives.
Rylan, a grieving underkid, is determined to prevent more innocent bloodshed after losing his best friend in a brutal ceremony. Alongside his rebel team, the Shock Crew, he seeks to dismantle the Cothellonโs reign of terror. Arra, a rebellious elf defying tradition, finds herself torn between her people and the growing human resistance.
As the Conjunctionโa celestial event that will move heaven and Earth itselfโdraws near, the rebels uncover a sinister plot to destroy Earth itself. With time running out, Trey, Rylan, and Arra must unite to stop the Cothellonโs ultimate weapon, or risk the annihilation of both their worlds.
For the past four plus years, her rural existence with her children has been laden by domestic overload, caregiving fatigue and emotional burnout… but sheโs had to keep going regardless.
Newly retired hockey player Mitch Hannigan is done with the city and canโt wait to live in his mountain home. But soon after he moves in, an incident occurs which puts aside the quiet life he envisioned. With no other choice available, Mitch moves Courtney and her kids into his home.
Human behavior had been part of his teamโs preparation for games for the past fifteen years. That made him something of an expert, even if he didnโt know that. He has emotional wealth and insight most men of his age might never attain.
After observing Courtney and her kids, Mitch recognizes that although her kids are well-cared for, their mom is drained and functioning in survival mode. When forced to live together, Courtney continually waits for Mitch to fail.
But when this protective hero continues to show up, it is her that falls first. As their intimacy grows through the ordinary days, and she watches Mitch use his gentle masculine energy to bond with her children, Courtney begins to trust and to heal from her tragic past.
Demonstrating tenderness over passion, Mitch repurposes his life, and builds trust, sharing the load that held Courtney down. In doing this he set her free to heal and learn to love again.
This is an opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burn, second chance romance that will capture your heart and make you believe that anything is possible.
About IโVE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU (Coming 7/28/2026):
My secret workplace romance starts innocently enough at a birthday party.
But when a rowdy partier knocks me into a lake and a sexy stranger comes to my rescue โ my night becomes one to remember.
A night so steamy I almost forget why Iโve sworn off men after a failed workplace romance.
Trouble is, the brand new doggy daycare in Darling Springs that Iโve contracted with is owned by none other than my sexy stranger. Thanks, fate.
Sawyer turns out to be a total grump in a tailored suit, no matter how sunshine-y I am. Even when he squeezes that hard body past me as I bring donuts to work. Or when he pretends heโs not roaming his dark eyes over me as I teach Fido to sit, stay and come.
But Iโm focusing on my shiny new futureโmy dog-training business is suddenly the hottest thing in town, thanks to a new actress client. And when Iโm roped into a charity dance number, I smell an opportunity, especially when I learn my hot landlord has an alter ego and a fandom.
Turns out Mr. Serious Boss is up for dance lessons.
Then the entire Dirty Dancing experience.
Giving into our chemistry once wonโt hurt. Two might be pushing it. By the seventh, itโs undeniableโIโve got a crush on him too.
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style thatโs sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ 3) by Ava Suttonreleases next week! Check out this teaser!
I knew falling for Evangeline Carrington would ruin everything.
I just didn’t know how fast.
She was my twin brotherโs girlfriend in college.
But Iโd wanted her first.
Gorgeous, sharp-tongued, impossible to ignore, Evangeline is the kind of woman you never really forget. And when I run into her at a teammateโs wedding years later, one dance turns into too many drinks โฆ and one reckless night neither of us can take back.
I try putting distance between us again, but that becomes impossible once Evangeline starts covering my team as a field producer. Sheโs determined to prove she earned her place, and keeping us a secret is the only way to protect the career sheโs fought for.
And I want to keep us a secret because my brother wants her back.
But secrets like ours were never built to survive.
Not with cameras following her every move, looking for a scandal.
Not with my brother suddenly showing up at my games and making a play for my girl.
And definitely not when every stolen touch between us feels less like a mistake โฆ and more like something neither of us is willing to give up.
Because the deeper I fall for Evangeline, the more impossible the decision becomesโchoosing my family โฆ or the woman I think was always meant to be mine.
Heโs the leagueโs most dangerous enforcer. Sheโs the specialist sent to determine whether heโs too broken to save.Neither of them is prepared for what happens when the truth hits back.
Donovan Locke has a reputation carved in blood and penalty minutes. The leagueโs most dangerous enforcer, heโs an angry, unapproachable loner who fights harder and refuses to let anyone in. The Portland Wildfire only took him because no one else would, and Locke seems determined to prove every rumor true. He doesnโt do teammates. He doesnโt do relationships. He barely does conversation.
Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, sheโs the Wildfireโs new high-performance consultant. Unofficially, sheโs been embedded by the league to evaluate one player.
One risk. Locke.
Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether heโs safe to stay on the ice, or too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isnโt what she expected. Heโs sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where there should only be professionalism, Liviaโs carefully built boundaries start to crack.
Locke doesnโt trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns she isnโt who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it wonโt just shatter their fragile connectionโฆ it might end his career.
Dark, emotional, and electric with slow-burn chemistry, LOCKE delivers a gripping workplace romance between a guarded enforcer and the woman sent to evaluate himโuntil desire becomes danger, and the lines between loyalty and love blur beyond recognition.
She thinks heโs arrogant. He thinks sheโs judgmental.
Neither one of them can stay away from each other.
Rule number one of being a sports journalist. Never get too close to the players.
Rule number two. Oops, too late.
Nate Sandler is the franchise quarterback for the Harbor Bay Hawks. He is confident, infuriating, and way too charming for his own good.
Iโve made it my job to ask tough questions, while heโs built a reputation of dodging them. Every time we are in the same room, the interviews turn into verbal sparring matches.
Especially when he makes a point to call me sweetheart in front of my peers. I should hate it. Instead, my pulse spikes for all the wrong reasons.
To top it all off, my boss assigns me to an exclusive interview with the same man who hates the press as much as he does losing. For the sake of my career, I canโt exactly turn it down. How hard can it be? Itโs only a few weeks after all.
Well, the joke is on me because this isnโt as simple as I thought.
Not when every smirk feels like a challenge and every touch feels like a dare. Instead of keeping things professional, Iโm breaking every rule and boundary I set for myself.
Now the closer I get, the more I realize Nate is not the man I thought he was. And thatโs a problem, because Iโm falling for the one man who could derail my career with a single headline.
If Iโm not careful, the story Iโve been chasing might not just cost me my career, but my heart too.
Tropes: Opposites Attract; Sworn off relationships; Grumpy/Sunshine; Damsel in Distress; Friends with Benefits
Release Date: July 13, 2026
โ โ โ โ โ Goodreads Review – โIf you like small-town chaos, stubborn idiots falling in love, enough tension to power an electrical grid, and a healthy sprinkle of “well… that escalated quickly,” do yourself a favor and pick this one up.โ
โ โ โ โ โ Goodreads Review – โGiulia Lagomarsino is wonderful at world-building. More importantly, she creates characters who are fully three-dimensional, and then she makes you fall in love with them.โ
โ โ โ โ โ Goodreads Review – โOh boy… another emotional roller coaster from Giulia! Rumor Has It has it allโthrills, humor, a swoony small-town romance, and plenty of chaos.โ
The moment I laid eyes on her as she dangled from a string of Christmas lights from her roof, I knew I was in trouble.
Gorgeous eyes, adorable smile, and a tenacity that I found oddly charming.
And so freaking sexy.
No woman should have that much power over a man. Yet, whenever I found myself around her, I couldnโt contain the need to kiss her, devour herโฆmake her mine.
But this town is known for interfering and causing problems in even the smallest situations, which is why this has to stay a secret.
Every kiss, every second spent in her presence has to be between the two of us.
And yet, unforeseen circumstances force me to put myself out there even when I desperately just want room to recover from my injuries and discover who I am again.
Iโve seen the way she looks at me.
Iโve felt the way she shudders in my arms.
Rumor Has It, this isnโt going to turn out like I planned.
๐Review๐
After an injury ended his boxing career Sam is trying to decide what comes next. He never expected that he would get that direction when he rescues a falling woman who is wrapped up like a Christmas tree. Their meeting left an unforgettable impression on him and now he finds himself wanting to be with her without the whole town knowing. Let the fun begin!
Cassidy is strong, independent and intends to keep it that way. She isnโt going to deny that she is attracted to Sam, but she is a businesswoman who can look after herself but then the danger begins to amp up.
The antics between Sam and Cassidy was humorous especially when it comes to the rest of the town. The connection and chemistry between them is intense, the surprises keep coming as Sam and Cassidy realize what everyone else already knows which is that they belong together.
โ โ โ โ โ Amazon Review for Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart – โSome of her best writingโฆHoly cow, this book! I was immediately immersed in Murky Falls! I could not put this book down. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!โ
โ โ โ โ โ Amazon Review for Real Good Man – โWhen the Grump Finds His Roots (and the Sunshine Refuses to Leave) โฆthe kind of small-town romance that sneaks past your defenses with humor, heart, and a slow-burn love you didnโt see comingโbut end up rooting for with your whole chest.โ
โ โ โ โ โ Amazon Review for How Forever Feels – โAmazing! Felt like coming home again! Another fantastic book from Giulia!This story had it all, love, healing, and found family, not to mention the suspense of a 25 year old mystery to keep you guessing.โ
โ โ โ โ โ Amazon Review for Shut Up and Kiss Me – โAmazing as always!!! What an adventure!!! It was fun, unpredictable, and full of emotionโexactly what I was hoping for and more. All in all, an easy 5 out of 5 stars! โญโญโญโญโญโ
โ โ โ โ โ Amazon Review for Foolish Pride – โAmazingโฆQuite a surprise ending. Oh my gosh. Another story that stays with you for a while. I thought we were moving right into the HEA, when it all went sideways. I need the next book NOW. Great writing from an amazing storyteller.โ
I’m a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, “No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book.” I didn’t think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn’t already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven’t been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.
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TEASER: THE COMEBACK PLAN by @sjonesauthor releasing July 31st!
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Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 
