Feral Love #2: Prey for Me by Allie Oleander book review

Margot, a resilient woman carrying trauma from a controlling, religiously fanatic ex-husband, finds safety and longing tangled together when Caine—her longtime secret obsession—reenters her life. Caine has quietly watched Margot for years; when she becomes single again and needs to house-sit for his brother, he seizes the chance to protect her and finally make his move. Their relationship grows from simmering friends-to-lovers tension into a fierce, consensual primal-play romance: masked encounters, fear play, and dark eroticism threaded with humor and genuine care. As Margot’s ex escalates from threatening messages to stalking, the stakes rise beyond bedroom games to real danger. Caine’s protective devotion—equal parts golden-retriever sweetness and shadowy intensity—grounds Margot as she reclaims autonomy, sexuality, and trust. The novel balances heated scenes with sharp banter, emotional beats, and a cat-and-mouse mystery that keeps momentum through a tense, satisfying arc. Prey for Me stands darker than its predecessor but still keeps the series’ blend of kink-positive intimacy, character depth, and the spooky, haunted-house atmosphere that fans love. 

The chemistry between Margot and Caine is visceral: long-built yearning pays off in scenes that are erotic, consensual, and emotionally charged. Fans of darker romance will appreciate how kink and primal play are treated respectfully and integrated with character growth rather than mere titillation. The novel inhabits a vivid “haunted” ambiance that amplifies the danger and intimacy, appealing to those who like mood-driven settings (haunted houses, shadowy nights). This book delivers on multiple levels: it’s sexy, smart, and emotionally resonant. I appreciated how the kink elements were portrayed as part of a trusting, communicative relationship rather than exploitative—this made the spice feel integral to character rather than gratuitous. The suspense subplot elevated tension and gave the romance urgent stakes; when danger intruded on their play, the characters’ reactions revealed depth and growth.  I didn't know what to expect going into it, but I loved it!  A definite must add to your TBR.  

This book is set to be published September 22, 2026.  Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC.

Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon book review

Ramona Wilder, a world-famous pop star exhausted by fame and her stage mother’s control, retires at 26 and enrolls at UCLA to reclaim a normal life. In Psychology 101 she meets Nick Navarro, a recently divorced professor a decade older who’s steady, patient, and quietly complicated. Their first encounters are prickly and defensive, but attraction grows into an intense, secret connection that tests professional boundaries. As Ramona confronts panic attacks, body-image struggles, and the fallout of past exploitation, Nick faces his own emotional baggage from a long marriage and the risks his choices could bring to his career. The story balances steamy chemistry with moments of vulnerability, tender support, and awkward humor. Supporting characters—family, friends, and Ramona’s PR world—add depth and stakes, including a subplot about confronting past abuse. The novel follows Ramona and Nick as they navigate consent, power dynamics complicated by celebrity, and the hard work of rebuilding identity and trust. It’s a character-driven romance about starting over, healing, and whether love can be enough to bridge very different lives. 

I loved this book because I enjoy emotionally driven, character-focused stories. The novel blends a compelling celebrity-trying-for-normal arc with a forbidden, age-gap professor/student tension that creates continuous friction and longing. The chemistry is immediate and vividly written—steamy, awkward, and intimate—while the quieter moments reveal genuine vulnerability and growth. Fans of opposites-attract dynamics will appreciate the grumpy-meets-sunshine banter and the slow unspooling of trust. The book also tackles serious themes—fame, body image, panic, and past abuse—with sensitivity, giving the romance real emotional weight rather than letting it rest on trope alone. The author’s voice delivers both laugh-out-loud banter and tender clarity. Ramona’s journey toward being "normal" felt honest, and Nick’s steady support made their connection resonate. Overall, it’s a heartfelt, bingeable read for readers who like their romance with emotional layers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC of this book.  It will be released on July 14, 2026.

Flirty Rotten Scoundrels #1: Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti book review

A scandalous debutante, Lady Ruby Ballimore, flees London after a disastrous society incident and, with two friends, assumes roles as ladies-in-waiting at a supposedly vacant Cornish estate. Instead, they find a derelict house occupied by Captain Malcolm Archer and his ragtag crew—former sailors-turned-smugglers posing as staff. Misunderstandings, fake invitations, and clever cons escalate into madcap antics as both groups try to deceive the other while protecting their own secrets. Insect invasions, sham sea monsters, and inventive attempts to frighten the ladies create comic chaos, but sparks soon fly between the fiercely honest Ruby and the rakish, protective Archer. As danger and a larger mystery draw them together, the two must lower their walls, confront past hurts, and choose family over pretense. The story balances humor, heists, and warm, steamy romance, culminating in a satisfying HEA while leaving room for sequels focused on the supporting cast. 

Historical romance readers will enjoy the book’s blend of Regency charm and swashbuckling mischief: witty banter, found-family dynamics, atmospheric Cornish setting, and believable tension between class-different leads. The chemistry between Ruby and Malcolm is both tender and spicy, with heartfelt character growth that made me grin and sigh in equal measure. Vasti’s playful plotting, memorable side characters (and quirky animals), and the mix of adventure and emotional payoff make this a delightful, feel-good read I’d happily recommend to anyone who loves warm, character-driven historical romance.  Loved it!

This book is set to be released on June 23, 2026.  Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

Mountain Men Matchmaker #4: Bad Boy Era by Amy Daws book review

The 4th and final book of this series!  Definitely recommend reading them in order. Everly Fletcher, the family’s self-styled matchmaking mastermind, returns home to Fletcher Mountain after four years at Trinity College in Dublin to help launch her aunt’s animal rescue. Quiet summer plans unravel when Conri “Wolf” Reilly—her college roommate’s brooding, tattooed twin and a scandal-tainted rugby bad boy—shows up needing a place to stay while he rebuilds his career with a U.S. rugby team. As a favor, Everly asks her aunt if she can hire Wolf to work and live at the animal rescue. This forces them into close, charged proximity. He treats her with grumpy dismissal, but his protective, slow-burning attraction becomes impossible to hide. Between rescued animals, a hilariously overprotective Fletcher clan, and sweet scenes with a precocious child and an alpaca, Everly and Wolf navigate secrets, pride, and growing desire. Dual points of view reveal Wolf’s softer side and Everly’s awkward vulnerability as both learn to accept who they are. What begins as a begrudging arrangement turns into a fierce, tender romance that brings Everly her own hard-won happy ending—and a satisfying close to the Mountain Men series. 

I loved this book because it is a classic grumpy × sunshine with small-town warmth, forced proximity, and slow-burn chemistry—the exact ingredients many romance readers crave. The dual POV lets you live inside both hearts: Everly’s bright, matchmaking mind and Wolf’s brooding, protective interior. His Irish charm and rugby-backstory add spice and texture, while the animal-rescue setting supplies cozy, feel-good moments and comic relief. Fans of found-family dynamics will adore the Fletcher clan’s overprotective uncles and their tender, hilarious reactions; recurring characters return with satisfying cameos that reward longtime readers. I liked how Everly’s growth from matchmaker-for-others to someone who accepts love for herself felt genuine and moving. Everly and Cliona's friendship really stood out as an example of women rooting for each other. Wolf’s rough exterior hiding deep affection—especially in his scenes with the animals and Stevie—made him impossible not to love. The sex was steamy with a bit of primal play thrown in. Definitely not a closed door book.  I think the author gave the ending a Happy For Now, considering they are younger than the other characters in the series.  They are both working on their careers and finding their way in a new relationship.  Loved it!  This book is scheduled to be released May 26, 2026.  Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for a ARC of this book.

Wait With Me #3: One Moment Please by Amy Daws book review

Ohhhhhh....yesssssss!  I love Amy Daws books and the spice they bring. One Moment Please follows Lynsey Jones, a quirky grad student who’s been writing her thesis in the hospital cafeteria and accidentally provokes the attention of the brooding ER doctor, Josh Richardson. A one-night stand after a bar clash leaves both thinking it was a single mistake—until three months later when Lynsey shows up in Josh’s ER after a disastrous Tinder date and routine bloodwork reveals she’s pregnant. Shocked to learn the surprise baby is his, Josh struggles with a guarded, guilt-shaped heart that keeps him emotionally distant despite growing responsibility. Lynsey, pragmatic and spirited, navigates unexpected motherhood while grappling with the messy fallout of their hookup and Josh’s walls. Between sharp banter, awkward intimacy, family supports (and frictions), and emotional reckonings tied to Josh’s past, the pair hurt, stumble, and gradually build toward honesty and commitment. The story mixes laugh-out-loud scenes, steamy moments, and heavier beats—including illness and grief—that test the couple and deepen their bond before a hopeful resolution. 

I loved this book for its blend of screwball meet-cute energy and contemporary romantic tension: the push-pull between a feisty heroine and a grumpy, complicated hero creates combustible chemistry and plenty of snappy dialogue. Fans of “surprise baby” tropes will appreciate the emotional stakes that come from unexpected parenthood—how responsibility forces characters to confront fears and grow. The book balances humor and steam with moments of sincere vulnerability, giving readers both escapist romance and character work that pays off. Be ready for some sexy spanking and a unexpected baby.  I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in the series, but it was easy to just jump right in.  I read it as an ebook and I wish I had the new physical copy with sprayed edges and cute cover.  

This book is out July 14, 2026.  Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for a eARC.

Romancing the Dukes #3: Second Chance Prince by Sara Bennett book review

Prince Nikolai of Holtswig arrives in London seeking to stay low while unrest brews at home, but an assassination attempt at a society ball forces him into a risky bargain with the British government: he must present himself as engaged to a proper Englishwoman to secure protection. He asks childhood friend Lady Roberta Ashton to pose as his fiancée. Roberta, who once harbored a summer crush on Niki, agrees—prompting a season of forced proximity, guarded confessions, and growing attraction. As threats against Nikolai escalate, the pair must navigate social expectations, family ties, and political danger while deciding whether their pretend engagement can become something real. Alongside the central pair, warm secondary threads—Roberta’s spirited sister Antonia, Niki’s aunt Matilda, and other Ashton relations—add domestic humor and depth as loyalties and secrets surface. 

I enjoyed this story for its blend of familiar tropes and emotional warmth: a slow-building friends-to-lovers arc, a fake engagement premise that allows intimacy and tension to develop, and the safety-versus-risk stakes that sharpen romantic moments. The novel balances courtly danger with cozy domestic scenes and secondary-characters’ subplots, offering both simmering attraction and lighter, charming family dynamics. Fans who appreciate a quietly heroic, socially guarded hero thawing under a spirited heroine’s influence—and readers who like their romance threaded with gentle suspense rather than nonstop action—will find this a satisfying read.  A definite add to your TBR pile and a continuation of a fun series. 

This book is set to be published May 19, 2026 by Forever (Grand Central Publishing).  Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

The Heiress Hunters #1: A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord by Shana Galen book review

A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord follows Tamsin Archer, a determined young woman scraping by in poverty in Regency London after her father’s death and her mother’s disabling injury. Forced to provide for her family, Tamsin works in a coffeehouse, endures abuse, and eventually resorts to stealing to try to buy back her younger siblings, who were sold into servitude to a chimney-sweep. While committing a theft at an aristocratic gathering, she is intercepted by Garrett Kildaire, the second son of an Irish earl whose family faces financial insolvency. Garrett, raised with duty and expectation, is torn between the plan to marry an heiress to rescue his family’s estates and his growing compassion and attraction to Tamsin. The two form an uneasy bargain—Garrett will help Tamsin search for her siblings in exchange for her compliance with his demands—but their alliance soon deepens into genuine love. Alongside rescue attempts and social obstacles, the novel does not shy from depicting the harsh realities of urban poverty and child exploitation, while charting Tamsin’s resilience and Garrett’s moral growth. 

Historical romance readers will appreciate this book for its fun blend of emotional stakes, social detail, and a family-centered series hook. The novel pairs a strong, resourceful heroine with a conflicted noble hero whose duties and affections collide, creating some steamy romantic tension. The Kildaire family dynamic promises more interconnected stories, and the brothers’ quest to save their estate provides an engaging structural premise. Galen grounds the romance in period issues—class divisions, child labor, and estate finances—so readers who enjoy romances with realistic social context will find the stakes feel meaningful rather than purely ornamental. The writing balances steamy chemistry with great character development: Tamsin’s courage and Garrett’s willingness to change lend emotional payoff to the romance, while the darker scenes of poverty add weight that amplifies the characters’ eventual triumphs. For readers who favor heart, family loyalty, and historically flavored conflicts alongside a satisfying love story, this novel delivers.  I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward the the next books.

The book is set to be released on June 9, 2026. Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.