This kiss only needed to be a chaste touching of lips. A symbol, like our rings. But a starving man couldn’t be plunked down in front of the best meal he’d ever had and be told only to sniff it.
I curved an arm around Daisy’s waist, and her eyes went wide.
“What are you—” She looked around. Lily’s eyes were saucers, and Eliot had judiciously dropped his gaze to the floor. Only the justice was watching us, indulgent smile on her face. We were supposed to be real.
Daisy’s gaze collided with mine. I silently asked permission. Holding her like this was reward enough. If she needed me to give her only a peck, I would.
She gave me a little nod.
Yes. I lowered my mouth to hers. Her warm lips were everything I had dreamed of. Everything might’ve changed between us. I was no longer a rebellious slacker who thought life owed him. I worked out regularly and wore nice clothes. I’d be the CEO of one of the biggest employers in the state. Daisy had a daughter. She’d lived a whole life since our divorce.
But this kiss? Just as sweet as I remembered. She met me with the perfect amount of pressure. I didn’t bear down on her, and I didn’t nudge my tongue against her lips to sweep inside. We had an audience, and I had a ton of trust to build between us.
I added just a little more pressure, desperate for more, then I pulled back. I could control my desires now. I was no longer an entitled kid.
Her eyelids fluttered open and heat simmered in their blue depths. She’d responded to my touch. And now she was my wife. Again.
🧡 Brother’s Best Friend 🧡 Football Romance 🧡 Roommates/Close Proximity 🧡 Secret Romance Author 🧡 Teenage Crush 🧡 Golden Retriever Hero 🧡 Slow Burn 🧡 Interconnected Standalone
Tyler Quinn
There is a beautiful woman unexpectedly living in my house. A woman I sort of know because she’s my best friend’s little sister. Although, she’s definitely not so little anymore.
My entire professional career, I’ve been the starting tight end for the Tampa Tarpons. Life as a football player keeps me in the spotlight, when my preference is the dark. Through unfortunate past experiences, I guard my privacy the most, therefore I don’t do roommates, ever. But when my best friend calls and says he needs a favor, I don’t say no. Although I wish I had. Now she’s here, with her gorgeous turquoise eyes, big trusting smile, and taking up my spot on my couch. I’ve established the rules for how this is going to go, but as time passes, and she opens up, I find it’s becoming harder and harder not to break them.
Lily Kent
If I know one thing for certain, I’m never dating another football player again.
After walking away from a very long and expired relationship, I needed a place to stay to plan out my life. My new life. I can work anywhere, so when my brother suggests crashing with his best friend Tyler, I say,”Yes.” Who doesn’t love palm trees, sunshine, and an attractive roommate? Tyler is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, but the best part is he’s also kind. He makes me feel grounded when everything else feels upside down. He makes me feel things I wasn’t expecting. I know I said no more athletes, but in those moments when his hand grazes my back or when he makes me laugh, I wonder about my plans. Maybe I should change them, if we should, after all, fate did lead me to his door.
Why you will love this book…🔥Opposites Attract 🔥Protective MMC 🔥Friends to Lovers 🔥Accidental Pregnancy 🔥Emotional Scars 🔥Not good enough for her 🔥One Night Stand 🔥Sworn Off Relationships
Dayton Calloway and I wouldn’t have gotten together if it weren’t for two pink lines.
After getting divorced, Francisca Dawson is attempting to find out who she is and how she wants her life to look. One thing she knows is that there isn’t room for a man in that equation. But then she meets Dayton Calloway. A man who is charming, funny, and unbelievably gorgeous. Unable to deny their connection, she gets lost in the moment and gives into his dirty mouth and skilled hands.
Actions have consequences.
Dayton knew that he never wanted to get married or have children. His upbringing before he entered foster care showed him that. So he took all precautions to make sure that wasn’t a possibility.
But like they say nothing is ever one hundred percent.
Now, he’s picturing life as a father and coming to terms with the possibility of having everything he never knew he wanted with a woman who is not only taking up space in his life, but that empty space in his chest.
Before you go, do you take a chance and risk it all, or do you just let go and possibly miss out on the most beautiful love you’ve ever known? That’s what Dayton and Francisca will have to figure out.
Tropes: Friends to Lovers/Fake Dating/Found Family
He Falls First/No Third Act Break Up
Release Date: April 30, 2025
BLURB
They didn’t plan the kiss. Or anything that happened after…
Colton
When I kissed my best friend to shut up her judgmental family, I didn’t expect her to melt in my arms.
Kiss me back.
Hold me tight.
I thought she didn’t feel for me the way I do, but this changes everything.
Our friendship started the day I found her sleeping in her car, fresh off a betrayal that should’ve broken her. I cracked her protective shell and helped her start over. Now she’s become a part of me.
It’s simple: this kiss is the beginning of our forever.
But nothing with Kiara is simple. Not the wounds from her past. Not her struggles to succeed as a pastry chef. Not the reasons she fights her battles on her own.
She turns me down? Fine. I’ll wait.
She starts swiping right on other men? Absolutely not.
Kiara doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already mine.
Kiara
This fake kiss wasn’t supposed to leave me breathless, aching for more, and wondering what if.
Because Colton Harper doesn’t do anything halfway. Not kissing, not pretending, and definitely not loving.
Now he wants to date for real, but I’m terrified.
I built a new life in Emerald Creek, made friends who are my new family. Colton is my rock, and changing our friendship to dating could lead to losing everything.
I’ve seen how love ends, and I won’t let that happen to us.
He’s relentless though, so I cave in. He can be my first. Just once. No expectations. No heartbreak.
When he refuses, I’m left with no choice but to swallow my disappointment and move on.
Colton would do anything for his best friend and that includes coming to her rescue in an unlikely way. One kiss would be all that it would take for him to realize that now is the time to finally claim the woman he has always wanted not only as his friend but the woman who stole his heart.
Kiara has found the place and people where she belongs, and she doesn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize it. Her friendship with Colton is one of the most important relationships she has however her need to be cautious is no match for his determination that they are meant to be.
The interactions between Kiara and Colton were fun and flirty and the romance between them is enchanting. The townspeople of Emerald Creek only enhance the story and are always there for support when needed.
Bella Rivers writes steamy small town romances with a guaranteed happily ever after, and themes of found family and forgiveness. Expect hot scenes, fierce love, and strong language!
A hopeless romantic, Bella is living her own second chance romance in the rolling hills of Vermont. When she’s not telling the stories of the characters populating her dreams, you can find her baking, hiking, skiing, or just hanging around her small town to soak in the happiness.
Her newsletter is where Bella shares progress on her writing as well as sneak peeks into upcoming books, the occasional recipe from her characters, and books from other writers she thinks her readers might like. Subscribe from her website, http://www.bellarivers.com.
You can also connect with Bella on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, all @bellariversauthor, or through the contact form on her website.
“Do you have any fucking idea how fucking beautiful you are?” A small chuckle escapes him. It’s filled with nervous energy and a touch of chaos.
I blink several times, my mouth opening slightly to respond but nothing comes out. Because, did he really just say that? What do I say in return? Why is my throat constricting?
“What’s underneath that T-shirt?”
His question shocks me a little. I wasn’t expecting that at all. But it’s not a bad kind of shocked, like I’m appalled. Instead, I’m feeling quite… turned on.
“Just my panties,” I say honestly.
He squeezes his eyes shut for a long moment, inhaling deeply. He presses his palms to his eye sockets, applying pressure like he’s trying to rid a headache. And then he drops his hands, his eyes back on me in an instant.
“I’m going to ask you something, Darcy. And you have to be honest with me. No matter what.” His face is serious.
“Okay.”
“I’m a thirty-five-year-old man, Darcy. I’m a single dad, which somehow always has my life in a state of crazy. And then there’s you. And you’re young and beautiful and vibrant. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, and you could literally have or be anything you want. You know?” He exhales. All of that tumbled out of him in one breath and now he’s looking at me like I should totally understand.
“I don’t understand,” I admit.
“Just—” He straightens his shoulders and takes a moment to compose himself. “Just stand up, please.”
Without hesitation, I crawl to the edge of the bed and step off, making sure my shirt doesn’t ride up. I’m mere inches from him, but still, he steps closer. His body is humming. I can feel the energy rolling off him. But I don’t move.
Love, Lies, and Whiskey by Melissa Foster is now live!
Get ready to fall hard for the mysterious Seeley “Doc” Whiskey and the one woman he never thought would walk back into his life, in this sexy and emotional second-chance standalone romance. The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch is a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and a happily ever after that will leave you breathless.
First loves that were ripped apart, and the epic love that saves them.
At nineteen, Seeley “Doc” Whiskey fell hard for the governor’s daughter, and then she was torn away. He risked his life and his family’s legacy to get her back, only to find out that everything he believed about her was a lie. His heart has been locked down ever since.
Betrayed by everyone she loves, Juliette Chambers has been through hell and back. Now a single mother and veterinarian, Juliette moves back to Colorado to start over. The last person she expects to run into is the man who completely destroyed her.
A chance encounter turns into a moment of fury, sending them into an emotional maelstrom. Tears and accusations fly and passion ignites, but in their wake they discover a trail of secrets and lies and a life-changing blow that takes them to their knees.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues. Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
💛Review💛 Doc fell in love with Juliette when they were teenagers until they were ruthlessly torn apart. He was devastated by what he believes happened and has never been able to move past his first and only love so seeing her again years later brings up all the hurt especially when she doesn’t return alone.
Juliette has tried to move past her first and only love as well but seeing him again makes her realize she hasn’t. As they find themselves in each other’s lives again their encounters are emotional as they uncover the truths of the past and fight for a second chance.
Doc and Juliette are soulmates and seeing them find their way back to each other is heartbreaking and inspiring. Theirs is a journey filled with family, healing and a second chance for the love of a lifetime.
They agreed on three months… but neither expected to fall.
Alex Sebring is a former professional rugby star—and a man with nothing left to prove. Fame, fortune, and adoration were once his everyday normal… until injury ripped him from the game and the headlines turned brutal. Now, he lives in quiet exile.
No press. No relationships. No complications.
He’s content to lick his wounds in peace.
Until her.
Magnolia Steel is in Australia on a three-month work assignment. Just career focus… and maybe a little fun on the side. She never expects to connect with a stranger from behind a wall in a blind-dating suite. No faces. No names. Just voices—and something that feels dangerously real.
At the urging of his best friends, Jack and Laurelyn McLachlan, Alex proposes a deal: three months together, no expectations, no labels. But what begins as a simple arrangement turns into something far more complicated when hearts get involved.
They promised it would end when she left. But what if walking away is the one thing neither of them can do?
Sound familiar? Your favorite Australian caveman and his American girl return—a decade later—with a fresh twist on the love story that started it all.
Magnolia’s time in Australia has an expiry date so she needs to focus on ensuring the success of the matchmaking company that brought her here and not on a match for herself however once Alex hears her voice he isn’t about to walk away.
Alex is at a crossroads at his life as the career he loved ended abruptly and he wants someone to spend his life with, but his attempts so far have been unsuccessful. He was drawn to Magnolia before he even met her and is willing to take what she will give while he tries to convince her they are destined for more.
This is the first instalment of Magnolia and Alex’s story, and it doesn’t disappoint. The heat between them is intense, the emotions heartfelt and the interactions between them are entertaining as the surprises unfold and leave us wanting more of this couple.
Georgia Cates is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author—and a former labor and delivery nurse who now delivers swoony love stories instead of babies. A lifelong reader and proud cat wrangler of three, she writes romance with heart, heat, and a dash of Southern charm. Originally from rural Mississippi, she’s married to her best friend and is the proud mom of two amazing daughters.
From USA TODAY bestselling author Nana Malone, a romance about a Ghanaian American heiress faced with the dilemma of choosing between culture and a love connection.
During an opulent publishing party, Ofosua Addo crosses paths with Cole Drake for the first time. Their flirtatiously witty exchange culminates in a kiss that etches a permanent mark on both their hearts.
But Ofosua’s identity as a Ghanaian heiress comes before Cole. She loves the vibrant traditions of Ghana’s Gold Coast, and her hand is already promised to a man that even her overbearing mother loves. Yet, when her big Ghanaian wedding transforms from a fairy tale into a spectacle, she’s thrust into a whirlwind of heartbreak and self-discovery.
In the midst of it all, Cole enters her life once again, under circumstances far different from their magical first encounter. Can Ofosua and Cole’s rediscovered spark overcome the weight of tradition?
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!
Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves all things romance and adventure.
That love started with a tattered romantic suspense she “borrowed” from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen year old. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
Sign up for my VIP Reader List to find out when my next release is:https://geni.us/nananl
Ofusua thought she had her future planned out as she embarks on her career in publishing and is engaged to marry. When she realizes that her fiancé is not the man she thought he was she finds herself trying to balance her mother’s determined matchmaking attempts while denying her attraction for Cole, the son of her boss, and then there is the complication of working together.
Cole and Ofusua met a few years earlier and left quite an impression on each other but due to the paths there lives where following that was where it ended. He has feelings for her, but their different lifestyles and cultures doesn’t always allow him to truly understand the situations that Ofusua finds herself in, but it isn’t for lack of trying.
This story gives us greater insight into what Ofusua faces regularly and how important love and support is in all aspects of life.
🚨 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 ☞ Tactically Acquired (Owens Protective Services Book 28) by Giulia Lagomarsino is 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 #DownloadFree today with #KindleUnlimited ➜ https://mybook.to/TacticallyAcquired_GL
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Review – “The fact that this is book 28 of this series and still manages to surprise me is incredible. There is never a dull minute in the lives of the OPS crew.”
A hate-to-love novel that will leave you craving the romance and the fight!
He’s arrogant, ruthless, and irresistible–the last man I should ever trust. And he wants me to be his wife.
Lucian Daire wants my family’s company. I want to watch him burn for it.
He thinks I’m nothing more than a spoiled princess and I think he’s a heartless bastard. But no matter how much we push, we keep pulling back together.
When I discover he needs a wife and he realizes my determination to save my family’s legacy, a deal is struck–lines are drawn.
But the more we fight, the more those lines blur.
Because hatred is just passion turned inside out. And when it finally explodes, it threatens to destroy us both.
And we might just be desperate enough to let it.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Fiona Cole is a military wife and a stay at home mom with degrees in biology and chemistry. As much as she loved science, she decided to postpone her career to stay at home with her two little girls, and immersed herself in the world of books until finally deciding to write her own.
💜Review💜 Aspen has always believed that she would assume control of her father’s company when the time was right, so she is surprises to find out that she and Lucian are equal partners and control of the company remains in jeopardy. She soon realizes that the best way to overcome her rival might be marrying him.
Lucien has learnt the hard way what happens when love goes bad, and it isn’t an experience he wants to repeat. Marrying Aspen is an arrangement, and nothing more however not only is the chemistry between them blazing but she brings out the protective instincts that he wants to deny.
Both these characters are well developed, and their back story only makes them more relatable. Lucien shows Aspen a lifestyle she didn’t know she wanted and I’m looking forward to what happens next for this couple.
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 