He saves her from a fate worse than hell, and in return, she ruins his life.
Not on purpose, though.
No, the men who think to rule her life don’t like that she has a champion on her side and realize the best way to get back at her is to go through him.
They find a really great way to do it, too.
They frame him for a crime he didn’t intentionally commit and sentence him to spend thirteen years in prison. As an added bonus, they take his child—the one thing that matters most to him— just to remind him that they hold all the power.
But Sage will never let them have any power over her.
That’s why, the day before he’s sentenced to prison, Sage offers the only protection she can think to give him. Her hand in marriage.
For seven years, Sage fights to get her husband-in-name-only free.
Just when she thinks she’s close, she gets the news. Her husband has died in a prison riot, leaving her free to marry another.
That’s when she decides to run.
And where does her running take her? Right into the arms of a man who was supposed to be dead.
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
Gentry is a protector who doesn’t hesitate to come to the assistance of Sage, a woman he doesn’t really know, which has now resulted in him being incarcerated and a marriage of convenience with her and losing his son. When Apollo offers to help him escape and create a new life he agrees if it means that she will get the fresh start she needs as well however the only problem is that everyone has believed he has passed away.
Sage found herself being forced by her mafia family into a marriage she doesn’t want to a man she wants nothing to do with. When Gentry comes to her rescue she wants to do what she can to help which includes a marriage of convenience and daily letters, so he doesn’t feel alone while she tries to get him set free. When she believes he has passed away the offer she receives for a job in Montana couldn’t have come at a better time however she is about to find out she is no longer a widow but a wife.
This story hits on so many levels from the romance between two people whose beginning was not ideal, to the chemistry that is always there to the secrets that are about to be unleashed and the emotional impact that keeps coming as these two characters fight for the happiness that has always been out of reach.
I knew falling for Evangeline Carrington would ruin everything.
I just didn’t know how fast.
She was my twin brother’s girlfriend in college.
But I’d 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 teammate’s wedding years later, one dance turns into too many drinks … 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. She’s determined to prove she earned her place, and keeping us a secret is the only way to protect the career she’s 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 … and more like something neither of us is willing to give up.
Because the deeper I fall for Evangeline, the more impossible the decision becomes—choosing my family … or the woman I think was always meant to be mine.
He’s the league’s most dangerous enforcer. She’s the specialist sent to determine whether he’s 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 league’s most dangerous enforcer, he’s 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 doesn’t do teammates. He doesn’t do relationships. He barely does conversation.
Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, she’s the Wildfire’s new high-performance consultant. Unofficially, she’s been embedded by the league to evaluate one player.
One risk. Locke.
Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether he’s safe to stay on the ice, or too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isn’t what she expected. He’s sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where there should only be professionalism, Livia’s carefully built boundaries start to crack.
Locke doesn’t trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns she isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it won’t just shatter their fragile connection… 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 him—until desire becomes danger, and the lines between loyalty and love blur beyond recognition.
He’s the monster who hides in the shadows. She’s the sunshine he can’t stop chasing. When two broken souls collide, everything changes, and together, they just might heal enough to finally start living. After all, all’s fair in love and malice.
She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s 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.
I’ve made it my job to ask tough questions, while he’s 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 can’t exactly turn it down. How hard can it be? It’s only a few weeks after all.
Well, the joke is on me because this isn’t 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, I’m 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 that’s a problem, because I’m falling for the one man who could derail my career with a single headline.
If I’m not careful, the story I’ve 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
★★★★★ Goodreads Review – “If 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.”
★★★★★ Goodreads Review – “Giulia 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.”
★★★★★ Goodreads Review – “Oh boy… another emotional roller coaster from Giulia! Rumor Has It has it all—thrills, humor, a swoony small-town romance, and plenty of chaos.”
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 couldn’t contain the need to kiss her, devour her…make 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.
I’ve seen the way she looks at me.
I’ve felt the way she shudders in my arms.
Rumor Has It, this isn’t going to turn out like I planned.
💜Review💜
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 isn’t 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.
★★★★★ Amazon Review for Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart – “Some of her best writing…Holy 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!”
★★★★★ Amazon Review for Real Good Man – “When the Grump Finds His Roots (and the Sunshine Refuses to Leave) …the kind of small-town romance that sneaks past your defenses with humor, heart, and a slow-burn love you didn’t see coming—but end up rooting for with your whole chest.”
★★★★★ Amazon Review for How Forever Feels – “Amazing! 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.”
★★★★★ Amazon Review for Shut Up and Kiss Me – “Amazing as always!!! What an adventure!!! It was fun, unpredictable, and full of emotion—exactly what I was hoping for and more. All in all, an easy 5 out of 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”
★★★★★ Amazon Review for Foolish Pride – “Amazing…Quite 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.”
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.
The fight is far from done. Who will live, who will die when the Weavers plans fall to ashes and the Skull and Bones enter the scrap. The Bloody Skull has made many mistakes but he refuses to see his child in all but name, the Blade, fall. Bogie is dying but he for the first time has family so he will die doing everything he can to help them. Jeb and Bose have their backs to the wall but it wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last. Humanity is arriving and he refuse to let some red lightning spewing Blood-Elf Bitch end his road…..
Will they survive? Will Bogie die? In what City will Humanity and Jeb’s soldiers land? And can he get to them in time?
Penn has been keeping a secret from his wife Aria as he is afraid that is she finds out the truth that it could end their marriage. He has been trying to avoid the situation by working long hours due to his career as a surgeon however this distance is hurting Aria and he knows that he will have to share his secret.
Aria loves her husband and knows there is something he isn’t telling her and she is beginning to wonder about their marriage. He continues to tell her how much he loves her so she is determined to find out what he is hiding so that they can face it together.
The love between Aria and Penn was never in question however the secret between them is causing a rift that is growing wider every day. Their journey is filled with love and emotion as they fight for their marriage and a different future than they expected.
Harlow James is a pen name I use to protect my identity as a high school teacher. Keeping those two roles in my life separate is necessary, but also fun! It’s like a live two lives, and anonymity gives me the opportunity to be bold and take risks in my stories.
I stumbled upon romance novels in 2018 when I picked up Driven by Kristy Bromberg, and I was obsessed. I had just lost my grandmother too, so reading offered me an escape from reality and a chance to grieve on my own terms.
About a year later, I got an idea for my own book and started writing. I researched self-publishing and jumped in with both feet. I had no idea what I was doing!
But now I’ve built a business and hobby that I LOVE! I have an outlet that’s just for me. When I write, I’m not a mom, a wife, or a teacher…I’m a woman who gets to tell stories that no one else can.
My books are the perfect blend of heartwarming moments, full-bellied laughs, and PLENTY of steam to melt your Kindles 😉 And there are always elements of me sprinkled in to every character and story that I write.
When I’m not writing you can find me reading or spending time in my kitchen. I love to cook and feed my family and friends. Otherwise, you can find me watching comedy specials with my husband, camping with our kids, or taking naps. I live for naps 😉
Pretending to be engaged to my enemy might not be my brightest idea.
But it is definitely necessary.
On the brink of the biggest car show of my career, I start to panic because it’s the first time I have to see my ex since our break-up.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t clean or amicable.
Then when Elliot Thorne’s ex-fiancé shows back up in town, I devise a plan for both of us to get what we want: a buffer from our exes with a dash of revenge.
The problem is Elliot takes his role to protect me too seriously.
He brings me food while I’m working to make sure I eat. He even silences the self-doubt I feel on a day-to-day basis.
And before I know it, he has me on my knees in my garage, and on my back on the hood of my car.
The hate I’ve harbored toward him melts away as fast as my panties, and I soon realize we have more in common than I thought.
Then he tells me a secret that makes me reevaluate our entire relationship.
Now I’m left to consider if something fake could be real…
And that maybe it’s about time I admit that Elliot isn’t my enemy after all.
🔥Review🔥 After being left at the altar Elliott has spent the last year trying to heal with the support of Dilynne, who is an unlikely source based on their adversarial relationship. What he didn’t need was his father to hire his ex at the family law firm where he worked to derail his progress. When Dilynne suggests that pretending to be engaged will help them both with her exes he agrees even though he has reservations.
Dilynne is confident in her skills as a mechanic but not when it comes to love. They are both dealing with exes that they are trying to show they have moved on from so pretending to be a couple seems like a win-win. The only problem is that the more time they spend together the more the sparks of antagonism between them turn into a very different kind of sparks.
The banter between them is entertaining and her sassy personality always brings a lightness to Elliott which he desperately needs between his family and his ex. The romance between them was always meant to be and the relationship between the friends is heartwarming as this story brings all the feels. James Cassidy brings out every emotion that Elliot is feelings while Mollie Stark brings out the fierce and feisty sides of Dilynne
TEASER: THE COMEBACK PLAN by @sjonesauthor releasing July 31st!
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Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 
