After a Thanksgiving PR disaster went viral, I’m back in Snowberry Falls, Vermont, running the town’s Christmas festival—and praying it saves my career.
Then my ex shows up—parading his influencer fiancée—and I need a win. Fast.
Enter Penn Radford: Boston Bucks enforcer, tabloid magnet, and currently stranded without a room at the fully booked inn. I know his type. Loud, flashy, allergic to shirts…and the guy who punched mall Santa.
My solution? Team up. Fake a holiday romance. Nail the festival. Fix his image. Easy.
But the mistletoe buzzer won’t quit, and those pretend kisses? They feel way too real. And when my past comes back swinging, I have to figure out if Penn is the real deal…or just another mistake wrapped in peppermint sheets.
Jaylynn finds herself in Snowberry Falls to help the town with its holiday celebrations and it is vital that everything goes well as her career depends on it. This situation is complicated by the fact that her ex happens to be the mayor so she offers Penn an arrangement where pretending to be a couple will give them both what they need.
Penn is a professional hockey player whose reputation is less than stellar. He has come to Snowberry Falls to spend the holidays with his family however finding a place to stay is proving difficult. When Jaylynn offers him a place to stay and a way to help with his reputation he is more than willing to pretend they are a couple even if the more time they spend together the more real it feels.
The banter is humorous, the emotion is heartfelt, the romance is enchanting even with the obstacles they faced and there is a great group of secondary characters who add to the story.
AUTHOR BIO
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn lives in beautiful Nova Scotia with her husband, who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found Skyping with her son living in Seattle (could he have moved any farther away?) shopping with her daughter in the city, watching a big action flick with her husband, or hanging out and laughing with friends.
A gruff, divorced NFL coach meets his match in an equally grumpy, commitment-phobic neighbor in this warm-hearted and witty romance about family, second chances, and overcoming the past.
You’d think it was the perfect setup: living next door to the grumpy single dad who needs my help with his troublemaking kids—just until football season is over. Swoony stuff, right?
You know who’s not swooning? Me.
I’m as grumpy as he is, and I’m fairly certain that for NFL Coach Barrett King, it was hate at first sight. It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over because 1) the feeling is mutual, and 2) I’m not a people person. Just me and my dog, Larry, moving around when the mood strikes, is what I prefer.
Except I start getting attached. First to the kids. Then to their father. I don’t know why. He’s overbearing. His attempts at flirting are just growls and glares. But if I ever see that man smile…well, I might tear all his clothes off.
I don’t do forever. And Barrett—serious, thoughtful, sexier than he has any right to be—doesn’t do short term. We’re headed straight for disaster.
But if we’re willing to take a risk, maybe this story won’t end in heartbreak. Maybe what started as the perfect setup for two imperfect people just might end in love.
Grab Your Copy!
🏈Review🏈
Due to her past Lily has closed herself off to getting too close to anyone except for her dog Larry who has a personality that you can’t help but love. Her latest housesitting job has her living next door to Barrett and when his kids find out she has a dog a connection is born and they are determined that she will be their nanny and now they just need to convince their dad.
Being a coach in the NFL requires time and commitment which doesn’t leave much room for anything else in Barret’s life except for Bryce and Maggie, his kids. They have a way of pushing the limits which he both loves and hates but he would do anything for them which includes hiring Lily as their nanny. Developing feelings for her wasn’t part of the plan as his roots are set firmly in Buffalo while she will off to her next adventure when this one ends, but their hearts don’t agree.
Bryce was patient and understanding as he gave Lily time to realize that he loved her just the way she was and he wasn’t about to walk away while Lily saw Bryce as the wonderful man and father he was and not the serious no fun guy that others seemed to believe. The relationship that Lily had with Maggie and Bryce was just as endearing and the journey for them to become a family will touch your heart. Aiden Snow was a perfect choice for Barrett, and you could feel both the cantankerous and romantic side of him while CJ bloom brings out the sass and insecurities of Lily.
Meet Karla Sorensen:
Karla Sorensen is an Amazon top 20 bestselling author who refuses to read or write anything without a happily ever after. When she’s not devouring historical romance or avoiding the laundry, you can find her watching football (British AND American), HGTV or listening to Enneagram podcasts so she can psychoanalyze everyone in her life, in no particular order of importance. With a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Grand Valley State University, she made her living in senior healthcare prior to writing full-time. Karla lives in Michigan with her husband, two boys and a big, shaggy rescue dog named Bear.
Walking in Darkness by A.L. Jackson is now live in audio!
Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton & Victoria Mei
Torn between conflicting worlds―one light, one dark―two lovers plunge into the ultimate battle between good and evil in a thrilling romantasy by a New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author.
I was born to hunt the evils hiding in this world. To slay and destroy.
My purpose was never supposed to be her. My forbidden soulmate. Protecting her was meant to be temporary―I’d stay close until I was certain she was safe, and then I would walk away.
I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her, and I sure as hell wasn’t supposed to take her to my bed. I’d heard my entire life that touching her would only bring us to our deaths.
Except that with my mere touch, power flows through Aria in a way it never has before, and it’s becoming clear that our gods lied to keep us separated and weak.
Together, our strength feels unstoppable. But the monsters hunting her are more sinister than we could have imagined―a threat that could end all humanity.
Will our newfound powers be enough to save us?
*Walking in Darkness is book two in the Darkness Duet. Please read the first book, Visions of Darkness, before enjoying this one.
Even though at times Aria may be separated from Pax the connection between them is unbreakable. When she manages to find her way back to him she realizes that the fight is only beginning and the only way that they can overcome the enemies who want to destroy them is with each other and sharing what they know to recruit others even if that is a difficult task.
Pax believes that he and Aria can’t be together as the consequences could be dire however the more he learns the more he begins to question that reasoning. As the danger escalates around them his first instinct is to protect her however he also realizes if they are going to emerge with their lives he will needs her strength and skills for that to happen.
The actions continues to amp up and the twists keep coming as the love between Aria and Pax only gets stronger and they learn that as long as they have each other they can overcome anything that their enemies throw at them. Teddy Hamilton brings out the protector in Pax and Victoria Mei brings out the strength and independence of Aria.
S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery have revealed the cover for Cross the Line!
Releasing: December 11, 2025
Scarlett Wallace has hated me since the moment we met. Fine—feelings are mutual.
When she transfers to Shadow Valley U, her dad’s brilliant idea has us living under the same roof as newly minted step-siblings, and she becomes impossible to ignore. Too stubborn. Too tempting. Too off-limits.
When I mess up with the wrong crowd, they demand repayment. And unfortunately, they decide Scarlett is the perfect leverage.
She deserves a fresh start after what happened at her last school… Instead, she gets me—her stepbrother. The guy who can’t stay out of trouble…and can’t stay away from her.
Protecting her means crossing every line. Wanting her means destroying the rest.
When I walk into a soldier’s bar on the eve of my mother’s funeral, I’m not looking for love—just escape.
Then I see him.
A battle-weary SEAL with dark eyes and a quiet strength who offers exactly what I need.
No names. No promises. Just one wild, beautiful weekend that burns bright enough to sear itself into my soul.
But one impulsive night changes everything. And neither of us realize our story is just beginning.
A SEAL for the Weekend is a short and steamy romance featuring a hot navy SEAL in a hotel room. It’s a prequel to A SEAL’s Sacrifice in the Jake’s Heroes series.
She’s gone. And I don’t care. At least that’s what I tell myself, but she also left me with a really big mess to clean up. My siblings hate me. As they should. I may be twenty-four, but no part of me feels up to the task of taking care of my four younger siblings. I barely have my life under control, but it doesn’t matter now. I have temporary custody, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it’s not only permanent, but also the best thing for these kids.
Phillip
I haven’t been a social worker long, but I already know, without a doubt, this case has the ability to break me. Four minors left with their oldest brother—a brother still fighting with addiction and so much bitterness, it’s stifling. But I won’t give up on them like the rest of society. No matter what, I’m going to find a way to make sure this arrangement isn’t merely temporary—I just need to make sure I don’t lose my head or my heart in the process.
Cartel romance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, protective hero, unexpected love, independent heroine, he falls first, age-gap, organized crime, morally gray hero, widow heroine, trauma recovery, dangerous romance
As a newly declared lieutenant in the Roríguez cartel, I’m told I need a wife. The cartel allegiance with the Luciano family has mandated multiple matrimonial mergers. However, I’m not looking for a wife in the true sense of the word. Liliana Ruiz has been in my life for years. I’d never before looked at her as a woman to pursue. When I first met her, she was damaged and timid.
Time allowed Liliana to grow into not only a beautiful woman, but an independent soul. She doesn’t want to marry, yet the time will come when it isn’t her choice. Maybe I can convince her to a mutually agreeable solution: marriage in name only.
Everything changes when danger threatens the Roríguez cartel.
Spend the holidays with the familiar characters from the Luciano famiglia and Roríguez cartel in this 34,000-word Brutal Vows novella—complete story with HEA.
Being a woman in a cartel isn’t always easy as Liliana has found out when decisions are made that she has no control over. The death of her husband was actually a relief and it isn’t an experience she would like to repeat but she also knows that it isn’t her choice to make.
Nick is a powerful man within the cartel however he hadn’t seriously considered marriage until he realizes that the best way to secure future promotions is by having a wife. He offers an arranged marriage to Liliana that will allow them both to get what they want however the more time he spends with her and sees who she truly is the more he wants to make it real.
After everything that Liliana has endured it was wonderful to see her relationship with Nick where he is not only protective but listens and helps her achieve what she wants and the heat between them is fierce.
Meet Aleatha Romig:
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns or her new lighter side, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
I rebuilt my grandmother’s bakery from the ground up. Poured everything I had into making it thrive again—flour, sweat, and a whole lot of tears.
Then she died. And her will blindsided me.
If I’m not married by the time probate closes, I lose the bakery to my mother—the last person who should ever be trusted with it.
Enter Bodie Gibson. Childhood friend turned enemy. The boy who used to bring me tea and peanut butter sandwiches… The cop who put my little brother behind bars.
He offers me a way out: a fake marriage that keeps the bakery in my hands and our past buried where it belongs.
It’s just paperwork. A few public appearances. Nothing real. Except he still looks at me like he sees the girl I used to be. And when he kisses me it doesn’t feel fake at all.
In a town built on second chances, sometimes the only way forward is to rewrite the ending.
New Release Alert! Morally Black Betrothal by Nicole French is LIVE! Dive into this steamy office romance with a grumpy boss and a sizzling contract engagement!
HE DOESN’T NEED A WIFE. HE NEEDS A WEAPON. UNFORTUNATELY, HIS SWEET FAKE FIANCEE IS ABOUT TO BECOME HIS WEAKNESS.
Brendan They call me the Black Prince. Heir to Blackguard Equity. First in line for the CEO crown. Ruthless, precise, untouchable—until my father decides to move the goalpost. No wife, no CEO seat.
So I find the one woman who can play the part. Simone Bishop. The sweet, small-town candy striper I met years ago, who sat by my father’s bedside when no one else could stand him. She’s sunshine wrapped in an apron, with flour on her hands and eyes too innocent to belong anywhere near me. But she needs my money. I need her hand. Four months. One shared address. Zero feelings.
Simple. Until I start wanting to mess up that perfect hair in my bed every night. Until I start wanting to keep her.
Simone I should’ve said no. Brendan Black is everything I’ve been taught to avoid—grumpy, bossy, and so intense it feels like my heart’s on a leash when he looks at me. But the family farm is days from foreclosure, and his offer is too good to be real: pretend to be his fiancée, live in his penthouse for four months, and walk away with enough money to save the farm twice over.
I can handle this. I can survive the way his eyes linger. The way he says my name like it’s a command. The way my pulse stutters every time we’re in the same room.
It’s all fake… until it isn’t.
Because somewhere between the first kiss in public and the first kiss in private, I stopped pretending.
And if I’m not careful, the Black Prince is going to ruin me—in the best and worst ways.
MORALLY BLACK BETROTHAL is the first standalone novel in the Morally Black Billionaires series. Warning: May cause uncontrollable sighing, blushing, and an inability to think about anyone but Brendan Black for days. Proceed with swoon-caution.
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 