Upgraded By Abby Millsaps | When Your Ex Cheats and Karma Delivers

 

Title: Upgraded
Author:  Abby Millsaps
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon

My initial thoughts:

While the racing aspect kept things exciting, & Alaric was a complete dream. Evandeline's journey kept me locked in

Read This If You Like:

Sports Romance, Age gap, Forbidden Romance


Review:

I don't think I've ever picked up a Formula 1 book before this. In fact, if you had asked me a year ago whether I'd be interested in reading about racing, my answer would have been a very confident absolutely not.

But somewhere along this sports romance journey, my tastes have apparently expanded as I found myself genuinely invested in both the racing world and the people in it.

I connected with Evangeline almost immediately. After discovering her boyfriend has been cheating on her, she's forced to rebuild her life from the ground up. What I appreciated most was that her journey wasn't just about finding a new romance. It was about finding herself again, her voice.

As someone who loves seeing mental health represented in books, I absolutely loved how authors are bringing these stories to life. As someone who has worked in the mental health field, people dealing with mental illness are treated as if they're broken or need to be fixed.
In this story, for example, Evangeline was allowed to be successful, capable, loved, and deserving of happiness exactly as she was. I would love to see more authors give characters with mental health challenges the empowerment they deserve.

And then there's Alaric.

Listen...

When your ex cheats on you and his daddy decides you deserve better... and then proceeds to prove it.. That's a level of karma I can fully support. The things this man did for her... my heart was swooning. 🥰🥰

The connection between Evangeline and Alaric wasn't built on him swooping in to save her. What stood out to me was the way he respected her, accommodated her needs, and genuinely saw her as a person. After everything she'd endured, those moments carried a lot of weight.

Overall, this was a story about healing, self-worth, second chances, and discovering that sometimes the end of one chapter can lead you exactly where you're meant to be.

4.5⭐

Synopsis:

If your ex can’t get you across the finish line, his dad probably can…

I’ve always been “too much.”
Too sensitive. Too picky. Too clumsy. Too dramatic.
As a result, I’ve mastered the art of masking.

But that doesn’t stop Alaric Steele from truly seeing me when he finds me flat on my back in his driveway, mid-meltdown.

As Team Principal of Granata Racing, Alaric is control personified. He’s almost twenty years older than me and happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

Out of desperation, I accept a new job with Granata.

Which means Alaric is also my new boss.

The most surprising part of my role working in Formula 1 isn’t the intense travel schedule or the fear of seeing my ex around the paddock: it’s navigating the surprise encounters and secret rendezvous that launch Alaric and I into a high-speed forbidden romance neither one of us ever saw coming.

But with Alaric’s career on the line, and my fear of being too much growing louder by the day, is the risk of crashing and burning worth falling for my ex-boyfriend’s dad?

Bone deep By JP Joseph | Spencer built his walls to survive. Ryan showed up with a sledgehammer.

 

Title: Bone Deep
Author: Jp Joseph
Genre: MM Romance
Rating: ∞⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


The vibe:
Coming out & self-discovery, Sexy banter, Sports romance, Emotional healing


Initial thoughts:

Going into this story, I expected a romance. What I didn't expect was to become so invested in these two men and their journey.


Review:

Spencer is guarded, stubborn, and determined to keep everyone at arm's length. Considering everything he's been through, those walls make sense. Ryan, on the other hand, is persistent as hell. This man simply refused to accept being kept out, and watching him slowly chip away at Spencer's defenses became one of my favorite parts of the story.

The chemistry between these two was immediate, but it wasn't just the attraction that kept me turning pages. Their banter was everything. Ryan's constant teasing mixed with Spencer's sharp comebacks had me smiling more than once. Even the smallest interactions felt important. A touch, a look, their moments of vulnerability..everything carried weight.

Several moments hit hard emotionally, especially when Spencer finally allowed himself to be vulnerable. Ryan's injury also forced both men to confront feelings neither of them could ignore anymore, and those scenes packed an emotional punch.

Watching Ryan's struggle with living authentically and the expectations placed on him made this hit harder. His coming-out journey felt meaningful and important because it was such a huge part of who he was.

Mr. Joseph balances the heavier moments with humor. The banter kept me from drowning in my feelings, and some of Ryan's antics had me laughing when I least expected it.

Although I haven't read King of Pain YET, I had no trouble connecting with these characters. I was completely invested from the beginning and genuinely struggled to put this book down.

Bone Deep is messy, emotional, sexy, funny, and surprisingly tender. More than anything, it's a story about choosing vulnerability, choosing love, and choosing to be your authentic self. In the world we live in today. This is the most important element of this story.

This is one of those stories that should be read by everyone.

∞ ⭐

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:


SPENCER STARK
I have three rules.

No kissing.
No sleepovers.
And absolutely, positively no catching feelings.

The rules exist for a reason. I don’t do relationships, I don’t do attachments, and I definitely don’t do straight men looking to take a walk on the wild side.

Cue Ryan Buterbaugh walking into my life. A hot, relentless, slutty short-wearing golden retriever of a man that's entirely too good at getting under my skin.

He’s everything I avoid. And worst of all? He doesn’t scare off. No matter how many lines I draw, he keeps stepping closer—completely unaware or simply not afraid of what will happen if I let him in.

But I know better. I should have known better. Because the second I start breaking my rules for him, I don’t know if I can survive it.

What I do know for certain…if anyone hurts him, I will end them.

–––––
RYAN “BUTTERS” BUTERBAUGH

From the outside, my life is one most men would dream of.

America’s number one quarterback with two championship rings. Senator’s son. A respected family dripping in old money.

I’m the guy who always says the right thing, does the right thing, is the right thing.

But behind the scenes? I’m hiding my true identity.

I’ve managed to keep it separate. Anonymous. No strings. No complications. Because no one can know.

It works.

Until Spencer Stark.

He doesn’t care who I am. Doesn’t want anything from me. Keeps me at arm’s length with rules that should align with my own—except I don’t want to follow them.

I told myself I could handle it. That I could be near him without revealing too much. But the more he pushes me away, the more I want in.

And for the first time…I couldn’t care less if my whole life implodes.

As long as I can have him.

To Have & to Stalk By Mary Catherine Gebhard | Dear Dark Romance Readers, This One's For Us

Title: To have & to stalk
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts: 

Dark, obsessive, emotional, and surprisingly thoughtful. This story balances danger and healing in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.

Read this if your vibe is:

Morally gray MMCs, Stalker romance,Trauma healing journeys, Chronic illness representation, Protective obsession, Touch-her-and-die energy

Review:

This is what happens when you read too many dark romance books, decide to explore your desires, and of course attract a masked stalker. As someone who immerses themselves into dark romance, I was here for all of it.

Shay Adder is stubborn as hell and like many of us she carries enough emotional baggage to fill an airport carousel. 🤭
After escaping an abusive engagement, she creates an anonymous dating profile looking for something simple and uncomplicated.

What she gets instead is a masked stalker. Quite literally.

Who is first introduced as Void. A mysterious, obsessive, literal walking red flag.

Void is later revealed as Calder, a man living a double life. By day he’s a forensic accountant. By night he’s delivering his own brand of justice to people who hurt others. Beneath all of that darkness is someone who genuinely sees Shay, respects her boundaries, and becomes fiercely protective of her.

The closer Shay gets to Calder, the more complicated everything becomes. The lines between danger and comfort begin to blur, forcing her to confront both her fears and her desires.

Shay’s past abuse continues to affect how she views herself, her relationships, and her own worth. Her chronic illness is also woven naturally into the story rather than treated like a personality trait. Watching her slowly learn to trust herself again was just as compelling as the romance itself.

Shay and Calder’s chemistry is intense from the beginning. Their exploration of power, trust, vulnerability, and control felt connected to their emotional journeys rather than existing purely for shock value. Every interaction pushed them closer to confronting the things they had spent years trying to outrun.

Overall, this dark romance gave me obsession, suspense, emotional healing, and a morally gray man that will burn the world for you and ask questions later .. this one is worth adding to your TBR.

3.5 ⭐️
I received this arc from Sumthood in exchange for my honest review



Synopsis:

He was all my twisted, dark book boyfriend fantasies come to life. Masked. Tattooed. Dirty talking—and totally unhinged.
Morally grey? Check.
Stalker? Check.
A very illegal, very bloody hobby? Check.
Possessive, obsessive, and calls me a good girl? Check. Check. Check.
I should probably call the police.
I definitely shouldn’t take dirty selfies because I know he hacked my phone.
But what’s a girl to do?
It’s my very own stalker romance.

Wrecked By Bree L Mina | Soulmates, Survival, and Emotional Damage

Title: Wrecked
Author: Bree L Mina
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon

My initial thoughts:

This story is beautifully tragic. I knew early in this story.. this one was gonna hurt.

The Vibe:

Second-chance romance, Forced proximity, slow burn

Review:

Wrecked is the perfect title because my heart is exactly that… wrecked.

This story is about young love, soulmates, survival, heartbreak, and the cruel little games fate likes to play when it clearly has too much time on its hands. I knew early in this book that this one was gonna hurt.

Ellie and Nate’s story was beautiful, painful, messy, and completely devastating. These two loved each other in a way that felt deep, desperate, and unforgettable. From the beginning, you could feel that their connection was not something either of them could just walk away from, no matter how much time passed or how much pain sat between them.

Nate was the kind of man romance readers dream about. Despite everything he endured, he was protective, loyal, and willing to do whatever he had to do for the people he loved. His love for Ellie never felt small. It felt like the kind of love that stays with you, even when life does everything possible to tear it apart.

Ellie went through so much in this story. Her pain, her choices, her grief, and the way she tried to keep moving forward even when she was clearly still carrying so much broke my heart. She was not perfect, but she felt real, familiar.

This story does have a lot of flashbacks, and if you’ve read any of my reviews, you already know how much I “love” those. I understood why they were needed, but some of them did feel a little long-winded for me. There were also multiple POVs, and while Ellie and Nate’s made sense, one of Kate’s chapters threw me off for a second. I had to go back and check whose POV I was reading.

But once the survival part of the story begins, the entire book shifts emotionally. I just knew what was ahead. It was painful, romantic, stressful, and strangely beautiful all at once.

Ellie and Nate are forced to face the truth about their past, the years they lost, and the feelings that never really went away. Their love on that island felt raw and desperate in a way that made my chest hurt.

And yes, the spice was spicing. I did have a few moments where I was like… y’all are in survival mode, but okay, romance logic. I’ll allow it. Because the emotion behind it made it work.

What I was not prepared for was how deeply this book would hurt me.

This is not a light romance. This is not a read the story you read when you want to escape your life... This is the kind of book that slowly breaks your heart and then has the nerve to keep going. By the end, I was a sobbing mess. Like full-on emotional damage.

I will never hear Can’t Help Falling in Love the same way again. That song now belongs to this book.

Read this if you want a romance that will hurt your feelings, ruin a song for you, and leave you emotionally unavailable for the rest of the day.

Just know this one is heavy, and please check content warnings before reading.
4.5⭐️




Synopsis:

Fate is a fickle thing.

It can lead you down a path of pain, or it can take you on a journey toward happiness.

There is no equity in the unpredictable.

Fate is inevitable.
Not everyone is destined for a happy ending.
Not every story will work out in the end.
Not every love is meant to survive.

Some believe we are in control of our destiny. That we determine the outcome of our lives, the people we love, and the path we walk.

But I didn’t choose to survive a plane crash.
I didn’t choose to be trapped on an island with the man who once crushed my soul.
I didn’t choose to reopen my heart to a love so powerful that the end of it would be unsurvivable.

I didn’t want to fall in love with my sister’s fiancé. To feel the insurmountable pain that followed my rescue. Or let go of a man that would own my heart until the day I die.

But I am no longer allowing fate to decide my future.

This next path is mine.

Second First ates by Gabriella Gamez | A Cute, Chaotic Romance with One Messy Setup

Title: Second First Dates
Author: Gabriella Gamez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon


My initial thoughts:

Cute, chaotic, and painfully relatable. This book had such a fun setup, and Leti’s dating life truly had me stressed on her behalf.


Read this if your vibe is:

Read this if you like messy dating app disasters, forced proximity, second-chance energy, meddling family dynamics, and romances that are funny but still relatable.


Review:

Dating is already hard, but Leti really got hit with the deluxe package.

This woman finally decides to come out of her four-year dating retirement, swipes right, goes on what should have been a regular-degular date, and then realizes she has already been on this terrible date before. With the same man. Years ago.

I would have deleted the app, changed my name, and joined a monastery because absolutely not.

But Leti does not get that luxury because Julian is suddenly everywhere. In her building. Near her mailroom. Around her brother. Accidentally involved in her life, like the universe had a checklist. lol

While this was a cute, funny, and relatable story, the last few chapters dragged for me. It got to the point where I almost didn’t finish, which was disappointing because I was having such a good time before that.

Overall, I do recommend this if you’re looking for something fun, messy, and relatable.


⭐ 3.5 stars

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review


Synopsis:

A librarian swipes right on a charming high school teacher, only to realize that she’d already dated him once—and it ended in disaster.

Leti Maldonado has heard all the dating horror stories, but she never expected to be part of one after coming out of a four-year dating hiatus. When she matches with Julian Gutierrez, she doesn’t think much of how familiar his profile picture looks. But when the date goes awry, it unlocks the terrible first date memory that made her quit dating in the first place—because she’s been on this date before. And it’s just as bad the second time around.

To make matters worse, at the end of the night she discovers Julian lives in the same apartment building as her and his roommate is her younger brother. From then on, he’s inescapable. In the mailroom. In the stairwell. Outside her door with a takeout mix-up. He’s even a witness to yet another of Leti’s terrible first dates.

When Julian suggests taking over her dating accounts, he makes a surprisingly convincing case. If Leti’s proved anything, it’s that she sure doesn’t know how to pick ‘em. How much worse can Julian be at picking dates for her? It’s a terrible idea, but at this point he might be her only hope of finding real, lasting love. If they don’t fall for each other in the process, that is…

Twisted Pawn by L.J. Shen Review | Dark Mafia Romance with Betrayal & Obsession

Title: Twisted Pawn
Author: L.J. Shen
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon

My initial thoughts:

I knew from the moment we met Tierney that her story was going to hit, and I was not wrong. This was violent, obsessive, emotional.

Read this if your vibe is: 

Enemies-to-lovers

second-chance romance

Bad ass FMC

Unhinged MMC

Touch her and die

Review:

I knew from the moment we met Tierney in Bad Bishop that I was going to love her story, and I was not wrong.
Tierney is exactly the kind of FMC I love. She is sharp, sarcastic, fearless, and every bit the badass she claims to be. But underneath all of that fire, her backstory was honestly heartbreaking. Seeing what shaped her made me love her even more.

Achilles. That man talks a very dangerous game, but Tierney has always been his weakness. No matter how brutal, cold, or terrifying he tries to be, when it comes to her, there is no denying she gets under his skin in a way no one else can.

"Because I wanted much more than her body. Always had. I wanted every piece of her heart and every last crumb of her soul."

Their dynamic had me hooked. Tierney’s sarcasm and dark humor mixed with Achilles’ ruthless behavior made this impossible to put down. The tension, the violence, the obsession, the history between them… everything just worked.

My only small issue is the same one I had with Bad Bishop: the third-person flashbacks. I’m not sure if there is a specific reason for them, but they didn’t fully work for me. At the same time, they didn’t take away from the overall experience.

Even with that, this was still an all around 5-star read for me. Tierney and Achilles delivered everything I wanted from their story, and now I cannot wait for Fallen Rook.

Synopsis:

Tierney

There’s a bullet with my name on it.

And Achilles Ferrante is the man who’ll pull the trigger.

I’d always known one of us would kill the other. I’d just hoped to do the honor.

Twice I betrayed him.

First, I broke his heart. Then, I sold him out to the Feds.

Even if I hadn’t, I doubt he could spell mercy, much less spare me any.

The Camorra prince promised he’d make a spectacle of my death when he caught me. Let him try.

He could chase me until the end of Earth.

I will always run faster.

Achilles

To love is to destroy, and I’d loved Tierney Callaghan far too long, and far too much.

She’s a fatal weakness, but unlike the Greek mythology warrior—I will remain undefeated.

My little flame can run fast, but my bullet is faster.

Once upon a time, she was the only person who saw my humanity.

She’s about to meet the monster everyone else is scared of.

To Catch A Sinner By Lucy Wilson-Tagoe l A Slow Burn Romance Wrapped in Secrets & Lies

Title: To Catch A Sinner
Author: Lucy Wilson-Tagoe
Genre: Romantic suspense
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon



My initial thoughts:

A suspense romance filled with family secrets, stolen artifacts, and a slow-burn romance that kept me turning the pages.

Read This If You Like:

Read this if you like slow-burn romance, Suspense romance, Family secrets, & Secret relationships

My Review:

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Sin and Kwame and the way their relationship developed. The slow burn was full of tension, and I loved how their families were unknowingly connected long before either of them realized it.

Now I love a good mystery, and this one definitely kept me on my toes.

This is going to sound like a double-edged sword, but one of the things I loved most about this book was the short chapters. Some chapters were simply a character's thoughts on a situation, while others served as a setup for what came next. The quick chapters made it easy to keep turning the pages.

With that said, my biggest struggle was the pacing. While I understood the purpose of many of the slower moments, some sections felt drawn out and took longer to get where they were going.

That ending completely caught me off guard. Just when the investigation finally uncovered something substantial and the stakes reached their highest point, the story ended on a cliffhanger that left me with many questions. I finished the book both intrigued and frustrated, because I immediately wanted to know what would happen next. Well played, Ms Wilson-Tagoe 👏

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

3.5 ⭐️

Synopsis:

Who gets to tell this story?
The sinner who lived it?
Or the saint who stole it?

Sin Sackey is driven by the same hardwired need as every eldest first-generation daughter—to make her family proud. And she built her career and chose her partners with that single goal as her north star.

Everyone said she had it all. And for more than twenty years, Sin let herself believe they were right.

Until a near-death experience makes the truth impossible to deny.

Her relationship is on life support. Her journalism career is in freefall. And the city she thought she’d conquer has chewed her up and spit her out.

With everything to prove—and everything to lose—Sin moves back home to Washington, DC, determined to start over. No more chasing shadowy criminals. And no more men who look too good to be true.

But on the eve of the first day of the rest of her new life, the saying about old habits proves painfully accurate.

A new lead falls into her lap, and Sin dives back into the story that nearly cost her everything.
Then, when a man who is all the things she’s sworn to avoid invites her to dinner, she says yes.

After everything she’s been through, it’s reckless.

But this story could resurrect her career—and take down an entire black-market empire. She’s closer than ever to catching its elusive leader, and she can’t let go now.

And this man—who makes her blush, makes her laugh, and understands things she usually has to explain—could be the one. So, she lowers her walls just enough for him to climb over.

But just when it seems her gamble might pay off, her lead starts to feel more like a trap. And the man she’s let herself love appears to be the one who set it.

Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond Review | Historical Vampire Horror

Title: Blood Slaves
Author: Markus Redmond
Genre: Historical horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon

My initial thoughts:
This was not an easy read, but it was powerful, brutal, and incredibly gripping. Mixing slavery, horror, vampires, and revenge could have gone wrong so easily, but this story made it feel bold, haunting, and unforgettable.

Read this if you like:
Historical horror

Black history

Vampires 

Revenge

Supernatural justice

Review:

First and foremost, thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Dafina, for allowing me to read this arc.

Mr. Redmond starts this book by explaining how he came to write Blood Slaves, and I agreed with everything he said. This made me even more excited going into the story.

Now, it has been a while since I read anything even close to this book. The last vampire book I read was in high school, and I can assure you… This was not that. I’m also a lover of horror movies, so the mixture of both was everything.

I’ve watched my fair share of slave movies, but never could I have imagined mixing that kind of history with horror. That could have gone wrong so easily, but Mr. Redmond executed it beautifully.

This story is a powerful blend of how far us Black people have come, while also teetering on the edge of what possibilities could be in store for us if we don’t take our power back.

This was far from an easy read. It was dark, brutal, and VERY heavy at times. But it was also gripping in a way that made it hard to put down.

Blood Slaves is definitely not for everyone, but I still think it’s a story worth reading.


5⭐

Synopsis: 

What if a mystifying revolt precluded the Civil War and changed history as we know it? The vampire origin story is brilliantly reimagined in this terrifying novel of ancient lore, startling revenge, and immortal emancipation in eighteenth-century America.

In the Province of Carolina, 1710, freedom seems unattainable for Willie, for his beloved Gertie, and for their unborn child. They live, suffer, and toil under their brutal master, James “Big Jim” Barrow, whose grand plantation was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the enslaved. To flee this hell on earth is be hunted and killed. Until one strange night Willie is offered a dark hope by Rafazi, an enigmatic slave with an irresistible and blood-chilling path to liberation.

Hailing from the Kingdom of Ghana, Rafazi is the lone survivor of the Ramanga, an African vampire tribe rendered nearly extinct by plague. Rafazi has roamed the world for centuries with an undying desire to replenish the power that once defined his heritage. In Willie, Rafazi has found his first biddable subject to be turned and to help in a hungry revolt. And Willie desires nothing more than to free his people from malicious bondage. Whatever it takes.

One by one, as an army of blood slaves thirsting for revenge is gathered, the headstrong Gertie fears that no good can come from the vampiric legacy that courses through Rafazi’s veins. Willie knows that only evil can fight evil. And when the woman he loves stands between the reemergence of the Ramanga and the justified slaughter of the oppressors, Willie must make an irreversible decision. Only one thing is certain: on the Barrow plantation, and beyond, blood will spill.

Part historical drama, part supernatural horror, and part alternate history, Blood Slaves is an ingenuous and defiant new creation myth of the vampire, one rooted in both justice and the sometimes-violent means necessary to achieve it.

Bandoleros by Heather-Christine Lynch & Jessica Wright Review | Forced Marriage, Family Betrayal & Mafia Chaos

Title: Bandoleros
Author: Heather-Christine Lynch & Jessica Wright
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon



Initial Thoughts:

This book was packed with mafia drama, revenge, betrayal, and enough secrets to keep me side-eyeing everyone. The forced marriage setup added even more tension. 

Read this if your vibe is:

Mafia romance

Forced marriage 

Revenge 

Family betrayal

Power plays 


Review:

This story had me stressed the entire time in the best way.

This one pulled me into a world where loyalty means nothing if power is on the line. Between the Brancatos, the Zahcarras, and the Mancinis, everybody seemed to be hiding something, plotting something, or willing to sacrifice someone to protect their empire.

Amorio’s story hit the hardest for me. Watching him turn from a grieving son into a cold, revenge-driven man made him feel far more layered than a typical mafia MMC.

Eesabella proved very early in this story that she could be just as ruthless as the men trying to control her.

The tension throughout this book stayed HIGH. The family politics, forced marriage, revenge, shifting alliances… every time I thought things might settle down, another twist got thrown into the mix. And that ending.. I’m gonna need the next book immediately because that cliffhanger was actually insane.

I will say there were moments where I wanted certain emotional scenes to breathe a little more because some big moments moved very fast. And with so many moving pieces and characters involved, I did occasionally have to stop and remind myself who was connected to who.

But overall..this one definitely delivers.

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

4⭐

Poppy By Kade Vale

Synopsis:

She played the bride. He stopped pretending.

I knew every romance trope by heart.
I never expected to become one.

As a romance novel reviewer, Poppy Lane has read hundreds of love stories. She knows every setup, every red flag, and every fake-dating rule.

Then she gets lost in the hedge maze of a billionaire’s private estate, overhears a devastating breakup, and makes one impulsive decision that changes everything.

She doesn’t correct the wedding planner who mistakes her for the bride.

Now Poppy has ten days to pretend to be engaged to Weston cold, controlled, dangerously hard to read, and heir to a powerful old-money family that cannot afford another scandal.

He needs a bride.

She needs money before an eviction notice destroys what little stability she has left.

So they make a

Ten days.
One fake engagement.
One performance convincing enough to save them both.

The rules are

Smile for the guests.
Survive the family.
Keep your boundaries.
Do not fall for the groom.

Easy—until Wes stops pretending.

Between sharp banter, old-money secrets, a terrifyingly elegant matriarch, a cousin who weaponizes courtesy, and a found family determined to keep Poppy alive and emotionally inconvenient, the line between performance and truth begins to blur.

Because Poppy may know every romance trope on the page…

But surviving one is another story.

POPPY is a sharp, emotional fake-bride romantic comedy about boundaries, found family, slow-burn tension, and two people who pretend to fall in love until the lie becomes the safest truth they have.

One hedge maze.
One wrong bride.
One chance to stop pretending.



Perfect for readers who love fake dating, fake engagement, grumpy x sunshine, old-money family drama, sharp banter, wedding chaos, found family, and slow-burn romance with a guaranteed happy ending.


Review:

Poppy is a struggling romance novel reviewer who is at the very prestigious Ravenmoor Hall for a press tour. While exploring the grounds, she overhears Wes's phone conversation and his fiancee who calls off the wedding. Given her financial problems, Poppy agreed to step in as the stand in bride. To meet his grandmother's demands, He agrees to the fake engagement. But of course, in true romance fashion, there is a contract. And as feeling begins to unravel, it becomes hard to stick to.

Wes is the perfect blend of sophistication and charisma. He just has that natural charm that draws you in.

Wes definitely fought his feelings for Poppy.. until he couldn't.

"I'm trying to keep things manageable .. Are you? Yes. For whom? I could have said... When I stand close to you, I forget which part of this arrangement are meant to end. Because a photograph caught me wanting something I have no right to make real, because Monaco arrived in white roses Hugo was digging, my grandmother is moving pieces I cannot see, and you are becoming the least manageable thing in this house. Instead, I said... For the wedding." 🙄

This story had me giggling and smiling like a schoolgirl with a crush. The laugh out load moments and mixed with the emotional ones, completely got me🥹🥹, and of course, I cried more than once. I would happily do it all again in a heartbeat.

Now, if Mr Kade can conjure up my very own Weston Blackwood for THIS struggle romance reviewer, all would be right in the world 😂

5 ⭐

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*

The Roman Holiday Rule By Andra Loy

Synopsis

Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years—complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most romantic sites, and her mother's final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize. She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.

Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge—whoever captures the heart of Italy in five days wins—Mark can't resist the bet and her charm.

As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances: You can't fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after. Will a little magic—and a lot of mishaps—break the Roman Holiday Rule?

Andra Loy serves up a delightful blend of witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and sparks of magic in a love story that's as enchanting as Rome itself.


Review


This book honestly had all the ingredients of a romance I should’ve fallen in love with. A cute meet-cute at the airport, Rome as the backdrop, accidental run-ins, witty banter… it started off really strong for me, and I genuinely wanted to love it more than I did.

Lexi, short for Lexington... don't ask lol .. and Mark meet at the airport before sharing a flight to Rome, where the banter between them immediately starts. They’re both traveling for completely different reasons, but their lives slowly begin to intertwine once they arrive in Italy.

While I've never been to Rome, Ms Loy's description of the city makes me want to change that ASAP.

Overall, this was still a cute and enjoyable read for me. I may not have completely fallen in love with the romance itself, but I can absolutely appreciate the charm & the setting

I received this arc from NetGelly in exchange for my honest review

3⭐

The Deleted Husband By Kade Vale

 

Synopsis:

I killed my husband with a bronze shoe.

But the worst part? I’m not sure I killed the right man.

It started with something tiny.

Marcus stopped snoring.

The man sleeping beside me looked exactly like my husband—same eyes, same smile, same voice.

But he was… perfect.

He cooked restaurant-quality meals without a recipe.

He remembered every date.

He folded towels into flawless squares.

He didn’t lose his keys.

He didn’t raise his voice.

And at night—he didn’t make a single sound.

The real Marcus burned toast, left his socks everywhere,

and loved me with a messy, warm honesty no one could ever imitate.

So when I finally confronted the stranger wearing his face,

I grabbed the bronze shoe… and swung.

But killing the impostor didn’t bring Marcus back.

Because the real Marcus wasn’t missing—

he was stolen.

And the people who took him?

They’re coming to make sure I never learn the truth.

Some marriages end in divorce.

Mine is about to end in war.

A gripping psychological thriller driven by three unforgettable women—

and Eleanor is the kind of character readers talk about long after the last page…

and long after the lights go out.



Review:

The Deleted Husband took one of the most terrifying concepts imaginable .. what happens when the entire world insists your reality is wrong ...and executed it in a way that felt disturbingly believable.

What starts as a domestic psychological thriller slowly shifts into something far darker.

Sarah’s unraveling was honestly painful to witness. Watching her question her own sanity while a man wearing her husband’s face perfectly replicated his habits, memories, and rhythms created this suffocating sense of paranoia that never let up. The horror here isn’t built on monsters or gore. It’s built on consensus. On records. On everyone around you agreeing that you are the problem.

There’s nothing clean or inspiring about the resistance in this story. There are no easy victories here. Just people desperately clinging to the truth while the world systematically edits it away.

This was deeply unsettling. Every interaction carries tension because you never fully know who is real, who has been replaced, or whether reality itself can still be trusted.


“They’re telling us they can reach us whenever they want.”...“And they expect you to stop.”


By the end, The Deleted Husband stopped feeling like fiction and started feeling like a warning.


5 ⭐

Just for keeps By Lauren Blakely

Synopsis:

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?
Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed winger Lake Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.
Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey star insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding.
It’s the perfect sweet revenge plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules, though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me. If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero




Review:

Remy is a dating coach who creates romance for a living. Yet, beneath her polished surface lies a person who is deeply afraid of failure and rejection. After experiencing public humiliation from a disastrous proposal, it was painful to watch her slowly break down emotionally while still trying to keep up appearances.

Lake is the brooding hockey player who seems guarded and emotionally distant at first. However, he carries unresolved grief and guilt that influence every interaction he has.

I loved how naturally their relationship developed. The chemistry between Remy and Lake felt real. Their banter was hilarious. The rules of fake dating, planned romantic moments, and growing emotional closeness all combined so smoothly that the “fake” aspect faded away.

This story wasn't just about falling in love. It was about learning to stop pretending for others and finally allowing yourself to be seen.

4 ⭐

~✨EXCERPT REVEAL✨~: Just Playing for keeps By Lauren Blakely

 

Read the Excerpt:

Lake looms in my doorway, filling the space ominously. The afternoon sun halos his face,

highlighting his strong jaw, lined with a beard that looks trimmer than usual. It’s operating at

scruff-level now, and that’s unfairly hot. I try not to stare, but my mind’s going haywire, and my

gaze bounces all over him. He’s wearing jeans that hug his thighs, a maroon Henley that shows

off the shape of his big biceps and the outline of his strong pecs, and a glimmer in his blue eyes.

He’s the portrait of the athlete post-workout, his hair slicked back, and wet. 

   “I just took a shower after practice. It dried a little,” he says casually, running a big hand

through his wet hair, almost, almost, in slow motion. “But you can just get it a little more wet,

right?”

I blink, trying to process his words. But it’s hard with the way he looks right now, all muscular

and clean, and the way he sounds, too, all gravelly and flirty.

“Yes, it’s wet,” I say slowly, like I’m mesmerized. Because I am.

His lips quirk up in the hint of a grin. “It is? Wet?”

“I mean, I’m wet,” I correct, then panic shoots through me at my faux pas. “I mean, you’re wet.

Your hair is wet. Your hair is plenty wet. For a haircut that is. Wet enough for a haircut.”

That grin grows wider. He cocks his head. “So everything’s wet, Remy? That’s what I’m

hearing?”

I clench my thighs, even though they ache. “Yep.”

I turn around so he can’t see the heat spreading across my cheeks. Not that it matters. Pretty

sure he knows it’s there, and he’s the one responsible for it.

“Come inside,” I say, but then my mind replays my words. Come inside?

I need to get it together.

“Oh I definitely will.”

About JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Coming 6/3/2026):

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?

Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed star Lake

Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.

Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey player insists

on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding. It’s the perfect sweet revenge

plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real

couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending.

With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in

a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake

date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. 

Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake

dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ

✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast! http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

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 that’s

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. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

A Brewed Awaking by Pepper Basham

Synopsis:

A small-town tea shop owner with a sweet tooth and a devil-may-care Englishman with more savory tastes join forces to cater a British-themed wedding. Sparks fly in this sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract rom-com perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Sarah Adams.

As a child, Daphne Austen fell in love with her grandmother's stories of England, perhaps to the point of romanticizing them a little too much. Now, as an adult, she inherited Tea Thyme, the only English tearoom within a hundred miles of her Blue Ridge Mountain town. But keeping her tea and pastry shop afloat proves to be a continual struggle. Since losing her mother and then grandmother, Daphne's clung to the need for routine, predictability, and beautiful order--and her tearoom shines as the epitome of her Anglophile and obsessive tendencies. But her perfect world spirals into madness when an Englishman moves in next door and shatters all her Darcy daydreams with his loud music, questionable manners, and highly American interests. With an off-the-charts swoon factor, he even tempts to shatter her heart.

Finnley Dashwood left England to start over somewhere his ex-wife's parents couldn't track him down and force their parenting techniques on him. It was as if they wanted to make up for their daughter's neglect by suffocating him with control and unwanted affection. The unassuming town of Wisteria, North Carolina, provides the perfect place to start over and even remake himself as the dashing, English restaurant owner of his earlier days, instead of the somewhat-cynical recluse he'd truly become. With a shop ready for his use, an apartment for him and his daughter, and an acquaintance who owns the revered Wisteria Manor (now event planning center), Finn has everything he wants for a new beginning--except . . . maybe an understanding of the small-town Appalachian culture and the uptight, perfectionistic tea princess next door.

At first, Finn finds the whimsical and notoriously optimistic shop owner humorous and somewhat annoying, but as she begins to invest in the life of his daughter and he observes her authentic love for the people of the town, Finn's heart opens to the terrifying possibility of a second chance at love. As they are forced to work together on a local-celebrity wedding, their differences clash, sizzle, and finally begin to simmer into a unique, complementary blend of sweet and savory. But just as hope blooms into possibility, a massive storm crashes into the little town, upturning all their plans and putting not only their budding romance but the resilience of the tight-knit community to the test.





Review:

This story is heartwarming, witty, and utterly charming. This small-town romance completely captured my heart.💓 The connection between Daphne and Finn reeled me in from the very start.

Single dad Finn, is the charming British rival business owner next door, bringing plenty of banter and tension. Meanwhile, Daphne’s path through grief, healing, and finding hope made the romance truly heartfelt.

The community, family relationships, and lovable characters added so much warmth to the story. Now I'm a foodie at heart. So with all the talk about food in this book, I found myself grabbing for my snacks frequently. FYI, maybe don't read this on an empty stomach lol

Thank you, NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review

Bad Bishop by L.J Shen

Synopsis:

He's Deathless.
She's trying to find a reason to live.

Lila

My innocence was ripped from me one fateful night under the starless sky.
Resulting in an unwanted teenage pregnancy and a secret the Camorra must bury.
My father decided to hand me off to the highest bidder.
The lucky winner? Tiernan Callaghan, psychopath extraordinaire.
The Irish mafia prince wants me for all the wrong reasons.
Alliance. Money. Prestige. War.
I am but a pawn in his twisted game.
The man who sits on a throne of his enemies' skulls thinks I'm a weakling.
Little does he know, in this chess game, the underdog wins.
Because the thing about bad bishops?
They protect good pawns.

Bad Bishop is a dark and twisted romance. Please read trigger warnings before reading.



Review:

I was extremely hesitant to read this book.

I’ve had a very mixed feelings with this author’s work. Seeing this book gain such immense popularity on TikTok made me even more conflicted. Part of me did not want to read it, while another part felt compelled to determine for myself whether the praise was truly deserved. FOMO is real lol

I once said that I had never found a mafia romance I genuinely enjoyed. Today, I can finally admit that I have.

This was easily a six⭐️ read for me. From the very first page, I was completely captivated and found it nearly impossible to put down.

My only significant criticism was that some of the flashbacks were written in the third person. It took me a moment to notice the shift in perspective. Aside from that, I truly have no complaints.

The MMC initially comes across as brute, selfish, and emotionally detached, until he is forced into a marriage with the FMC. She, however, was far from the weak woman others assumed her to be. She challenged him constantly, matched his energy at every turn, and their dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the entire book.

"When I stopped and tipped my head up, I asked the moon for a reason to live. We have a history of bargaining, me and him.” He paused. “I think it gave me you.”

However, do not simply take my word for it. I encourage you to judge this book for yourself.

As someone who approached this story with considerable skepticism, and who is notoriously difficult to impress, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I sincerely cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Off Side By Luna K Wicked

Synopsis:

In Villalargos, love isn’t the goal… It’s the weapon.

Thiago Safra has known that since birth. In a world bound by secrets and fueled by obsession, only one truth matters. Someone always loses.

Zayden Orozco carries more secrets than the man pulling the leash, and in this game, loyalty is a lie and love is the deadliest play of all. Because in Villalargos… someone always ends up offside.

There’s no third outcome— there are only two ways this game can truly end...


Review:

This is exactly the kind of dark emotional damaging story my cold little heart lives for.

Now, did I read book one? No. Did I feel like some things completely went over my head at times. Absolutely! Did the author mention in the beginning of this story that you must read book one. Yes.. yes she did. Did that stop me from completely consuming this story anyway not even a little bit. Lol

Thiago and Zayden were an absolute disaster together.. and I mean that in the best possible way. Their relationship wasn’t soft or romantic in a traditional sense. It was messy, toxic, and painfully raw.

What got me was how hopeless everything felt underneath all the manipulation and violence. No one in this world was ever truly free. Every relationship came with consequences attached. Love wasn’t something comforting here, It was dangerous. Love was considered a weakness.

Nico and Shiloh.. yea I’m still emotionally recovering from that..

The need to be loved even while these characters were actively falling apart, totally broke me.

By the end of the story, I sat here staring at my screen, trying to process what the WTF just happened

This book was disturbing an emotionally exhausting, but I loved every second of it!

5⭐️

These Vows that Bind Us By Bethany Shay Porteous

Synopsis:


Marry him. Destroy him. Don't fall for him.
I was thirteen years old when I learned what it means to be born a woman inside the world of made men. I learned it watching my mother die at the hands of brutality. In this world, women are not protected. We are positioned. Moved like pieces across a board by hands that call it love, call it tradition, call it family.
I learned that softness is a liability. That the only thing more dangerous than being born into this life is being born into it without power.
My father spent years keeping me far from New York—burying me in the quiet of Palermo, where I learned to shape clay and create beauty instead of survive violence. Now he's dead, and I'm standing in the city he kept me from for a decade, dragged back into a war I never started, confronted with horrors I was never supposed to survive long enough to understand.
The blood feuds. The violence. The betrayals.
My uncle tells me I'm to marry the enemy. A union meant to end a feud built on the bones of everything I have already lost. Santo D'Amico… the man with dark eyes I have seen before. The man who looked at me like I was someone worth knowing… and was lying through every moment of it.
He wants my heart. My uncle wants my loyalty.
Both want to use me for a war I never chose and was never supposed to survive.
But I am not my mother, and clay hardens under heat.
I have been burning for a very long time.

Review:

Can you imagine having an epic summer fling… years go by before you see each other again… only for him to reappear as part of the D’Amico family… the SAME family responsible for your mother’s death? All those years spent planning your revenge …just for him to walk back into your life like that…

Beneath all the revenge and emotional walls, Selene carried so much vulnerability. You could feel how trapped she was by the expectations of these powerful mafia families. Even when she tried to take control of her own fate, there was always this looming reminder that somebody else was pulling the strings.

And Santo… this man was frustratingly magnetic. 🫠 Beneath that hard exterior, you could see his walls slowly starting to crack every time Selene got under his skin. The fact that their relationship started under false pretenses added another layer of tension that kept me completely invested.

“Whatever conclusion you’ve been putting together in your head while you avoid me—stop. It doesn’t require as much thought as you’re giving it, Selene. I’m not letting you hide from me. Not when I know you want me.”

This story was messy, consuming, and filled with Selene and Santo making questionable decisions while trying to survive impossible situations… which is exactly why I ate this book up.

But of course, Mrs. Bathany Shay Porteous leaves us dangling off a cliff wanting more… and y'all already know just how much I looove suffering through a cliffhanger 😏 I just hope we’re not hanging on for too long.

4 ⭐

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.