The Snob by Megan Slayer

April 14, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Snob by Megan Slayer
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Dacre will risk everything to keep Carley safe, but he expects a high price — her heart.

Carley Mathers isn’t just the “party girl” daughter of a congressman. She’s more. But these days, in a world of fake friends, she’s determined to keep only true ones close. Because she puts them at arm’s length, her classmates at college refer to her as “The Snob.” But she comes from wealth and means — she shouldn’t be able to mix with her bodyguard, right?

Dacre Jennings has been given the job of protecting Carley while she’s off at college. The same classmates who make light of her silence also make fun of him, too. He doesn’t care that they think she lives with the old man. He’d rather she lived with him than alone. He sees the real woman, and he’s been in love with her for as long as he’s worked for the family.

With threats on her life, Dacre refuses to let Carley be used or abused. He’ll put his life on the line for her, as long as he knows he’s got her heart as well.

With social media and fake friends nowadays, Carley is determined to only keep her true friends close. When her classmates call her “The Snob” she mostly shrugs it off. Dacre is her bodyguard, keeping Carley safe while she’s off at college. He couldn’t care less that those same classmates make fun of him – finding humor in Carley living with an old man – but he’s the one who sees Carley for who she truly is, and loves her deeply. Can Carley and Dacre find their way together?

While the trope of bodyguard falls in love with his client is not new, this is a refreshing, modern and interesting story. Carley’s father is a super rich businessman and influencer who begins to orbit the president’s social and government circle. When Carley finds herself being used as her father’s pawn she and Dacre decide to rock the boat and help Carley assert her independence. This was fresh enough it not only kept me interested but felt like a different take on a well worn plotline.

At first it was hard to connect with the blossoming romance between Carley and Dacre – mainly because they were shifting and changing their roles and relationship to each other. It’s not a bad thing that took some time, and the author definitely wrote this aspect well. I was definitely pleased that Carley and Dacre’s relationship was firmly established before the secondary plot of a stalker/killer really moved into action.

Normally I really enjoy a book that has a solid plot along with a good spicy relationship, but in a way it seemed like this book changed mid way through. It was somewhat jarring for the plotline to shift from “my father is trying to use me and set me up” and into “I have a killer stalker”. Perhaps the story would have felt stronger and more stable had it just been one plotline or the other and not a shift from one to the next.

Despite this, I really did enjoy this story – particularly the slow burn and steamy chemistry between Carley and Dacre. Readers who enjoy a seriously spicy, bodyguard style of story should absolutely find this one hits the right spot. I did enjoy the thorough plotting and will happily read more by this author. Enjoyable.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Clinic by Jay Andrade-Hunt

April 13, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Clinic by Jay Andrade-Hunt
Grimhold Vol. 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

After the Collapse, the world wasn’t rebuilt. It was scavenged.
Grimhold is a vertical city of rust, failing magic, and borrowed time. In its lowest districts, survival is negotiated through scraps, favours, and quiet threats.

Henry runs a back-alley clinic there. He treats anyone who makes it through the door, no questions asked. In a city carved up by gangs and syndicates, the Clinic survives by staying neutral.

That neutrality is beginning to crack. As tensions rise and the systems holding Grimhold together strain under pressure, the Clinic becomes a fault line where power, loyalty, and obligation collide.

A slow-burn, character-driven post-apocalyptic fantasy about endurance, moral compromise, and the quiet work of keeping people alive when stability is already gone.

Cooperation is underrated.

The world building in this novel was utterly fantastic and quite possibly the best example of how to do this I’ve read so far this year. Grimhold was a gritty, dangerous place where one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death. It was also a community filled with people working themselves to the bone on shoestring budgets to help others, often accomplishing things no one believed was possible along the way. These juxtapositions of kindness and unrelenting workloads not only helped to explain the sometimes rough demeanors of certain characters but also expressed the many different faces of this city.

There were times when I struggled with the slow pacing, especially in the beginning when more attention was paid to describing how Grimhold worked than the people who lived there or the conflicts they dealt with. Some patience is required for those chapters while everything is getting set up, but the payoff in the end was more than worth the wait. While I can’t go into much detail about how everything ended up fitting together later on for spoiler reasons, what I can say is that getting to know this world so well meant that later scenes became incredibly meaningful as the pacing picked up.

Some of the most memorable scenes in my opinion were the ones that explored the many ways someone can express platonic love for another person without the use of words. This may not sound like a theme one would necessarily expect in an urban fantasy novel, but it was woven into the plot seamlessly from beginning to end and added yet another layer of emotion and meaning to both the story as well as to the main characters’ lives. I adored these moments and hope there will more of them to come in the sequels.

Grimhold Vol. 1 – The Clinic was overflowing with both adventure and heartfelt emotions.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Life is Lifey by Sarah Shahi

April 10, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Life is Lifey by Sarah Shahi
Publisher: Regalo Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary, Self-Help
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Equal parts pep talk, reality check, and cocktail party confessional, Life is Lifey is a humorous and inspirational guide to unapologetically and authentically figuring out life’s messy middle.

Join Sarah Shahi as she cannonballs into the magical chaos of life—marriage, divorce, kids, career pivots, and everything in between. Like your brutally honest big sister (with a glass of wine in hand, wearing yesterday’s eye liner), Life is Lifey is an encyclopedia on “how to adult,” filled with personal stories that will have you lol-ing and advice that’s like a warm hug followed by a swift kick in the pants.

This isn’t about living your “best life” (so 2015). This is about shutting out the noise—self-doubt, partners, or that one mom from the PTA—and tapping into the voice within that’s 100 percent, unapologetically you.

Whether you’re limping out of a messy breakup or just trying to survive Mondays, Life is Lifey is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed to start making choices that scream your truth.

Many know Sarah as the lead in the global sensation Sex/Life, where she became the poster child for unhappy women everywhere. As her personal life started imitating art, her inbox lit up with questions from women around the world: How did you have the strength to get a divorce? What do you do when you’re questioning everything? How do you pick up the pieces of a broken heart and start over with kids clinging to your legs and peanut butter in your hair?

This book is her answer. Part memoir, part guide, it’s the story of endings and beginnings, of finding yourself when the script you’ve been following no longer fits. Life is Lifey invites you to tap into your authentic self and start living a life that’s bigger, bolder, and unapologetically yours. A cocktail of hard truths, big laughs, and unfiltered honesty, Life is Lifey will help you live a life that’s unapologetically you.

Equal parts pep talk, reality check, and cocktail party confessional, Life is Lifey is a humorous and inspirational guide to unapologetically and authentically figuring out life’s messy middle.

Join Sarah Shahi as she shoots into the chaos of life—marriage, divorce, kids, career pivots, and everything in between. Like your brutally honest big sister (with a glass of wine in hand, wearing yesterday’s eye liner), Life is Lifey is an encyclopedia on “how to adult,” filled with personal stories that will have you laughing (or cringing) and advice that’s like a warm hug followed by a swift kick in the pants.

This isn’t about living your “best life” (so 2015). This is about shutting out the noise—self-doubt, partners, or that one mom from the PTA—and tapping into the voice within that’s 100 percent, unapologetically you.

Whether you’re coming out of a messy breakup or just trying to survive Mondays, Life is Lifey is the permission you didn’t know you needed to start making choices that scream your truth.

Many know Sarah as the lead in the global sensation Sex/Life, where she became the poster child for unhappy women everywhere. As her personal life started imitating art, her inbox lit up with questions from women around the world: How did you have the strength to get a divorce? What do you do when you’re questioning everything? How do you pick up the pieces of a broken heart and start over with kids clinging to your legs and peanut butter in your hair?

This book is her answer. Part memoir, part guide, it’s the story of endings and beginnings, of finding yourself when the script you’ve been following no longer fits. Life is Lifey invites you to tap into your authentic self and start living a life that’s bigger, bolder, and unapologetically yours. A cocktail of hard truths, big laughs, and unfiltered honesty, Life is Lifey will help you live a life that’s unapologetically you. It is filled with truth and profanity. There is a lot to consider here.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Devil’s Gambit by Jade Rowe

April 9, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Devil’s Gambit by Jade Rowe
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

My abusive husband lost me in a poker game.
Now I belong to the most dangerous man in New York.
And he only has one condition:

Give him two weeks.

Two weeks under the constant watch of his whisky-colored eyes.
Two weeks next to his perfect, tattoo-covered body. In his billion-dollar bed.

Two weeks to be treated like a queen. And dominated like his toy.

Two weeks. That’s all Dante Caruso demands. Then I can make my decision.
Leave this dark life behind and never look back. Or become his forever.

But there’s one secret he doesn’t mention. Something I could never have predicted.

He’d burn the world down to make me stay.
And I’ll yearn to melt in the fire.

Bella’s life is a series of being constantly on edge. When her abusive husband – whom her father sold her to in order to settle his debts – then puts her up as a last stake in a poker game, she finds herself sold on to another unknown, tattoo-covered mafia man. Dante demands very little, and insists at the end of the two week period Bella can make her own decision. Leave this dark life behind, or become his forever.

I have to admit this is my first foray into the dark mafia romance genre and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. While there are certainly dark themes in this book, and some of the action, fighting and bloodshed in certain key scenes is descriptive – I have to say this story wasn’t as dark as I was expecting. Yes, there is shooting and fights, mafia style scenes and posturing. There is also some violence against Bella in a few scenes – but there is nothing titillating or over-indulged to my mind. The violence is there and not shied away from, but it’s also not drawn out or dwelled on. So I feel this was a good balance between what I was expecting and not hiding it away, either.

This is also a fairly spicy book. I don’t feel this is as explicit (or as sex-heavy) as many erotica stories I have read. That said, it’s not a mafia story with a little romance. I definitely feel it rates a spicy level and not “mainstream romance” sort of heat level, but neither would I slot it in with the erotica genre or more sex-based-plot sort of books either.

I was particularly pleased that the plotline – the mafia fighting and posturing – was absolutely front and center though much of this story. Dante and Bella’s romance is equally prominent, but I feel the plot had about equal amounts of time and this gave the book a better foundation to my mind that had the author primarily focused on the romance between the two main characters. There was also a good number of strong secondary characters and I absolutely felt the next book was set up towards the end of this one – likely featuring Marco, Dante’s older brother and Grace. I’d absolutely be keen to follow on with that book.

Readers should also be aware that while I did find Dante’s character to be fairly straightforward, Bella’s character is quite complicated and might not be to everyone’s tastes. I found she really grew on me but Bella was not what I would think of as a traditional heroine. She is complicated and layered – and what I found brilliant (and slightly difficult) is that in many ways she’s just as morally grey as Dante. Bella is a survivor. She is intelligent and strong. These are brilliant things, but in the difficult mafia world she finds herself embedded in – that means making difficult decisions and not necessarily walking a pure and white path. I’m not sure this will appeal to more traditional romance readers and is likely why it comes more under the dark mafia genre heading – even though I, personally, didn’t find it as dark as I was expecting it to be. Readers who enjoy complicated plotlines and character journeys and growth should likely find this as engrossing as I did.

With a good balance between plot and spice, I found this to be an interesting story and a good “first try” of the dark mafia genre that seems to be everywhere lately. I enjoyed this book and will absolutely be looking at others this author has written. Recommended.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Close To Home by LT Ryan

April 8, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Close To Home by LT Ryan
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

For years, Bear Logan served alongside Jack Noble. A top hitman. A top operator. When his chance at a simpler life came, he took it. But freedom is meant for the free, and that’s a luxury Bear might never have.

Bear Logan escaped a life of espionage, severing ties with all but his adopted teen daughter, Mandy. But Mandy isn’t a regular teen. Her family dead or estranged, raised with Bear and Jack Noble. She knows how to survive.

Relocated to a sleepy town in upstate New York, Bear and Mandy try to blend in. But when Bear unearths human remains in their backyard, unwanted attention is soon thrust upon him.

Working with the local sheriff, Josephine McKinnon, they discover there’s more going on in the town than anyone realized. A long history of families falling sick and dying plagues the area. As the mystery unfolds, Bear, Mandy, and McKinnon find themselves in the middle of a decades old conspiracy and cover up. And Bear is their number one target.

Now, facing a corporate giant trying to correct the sins of its past, Bear must step out of the shadows to deliver justice for the town, even if it means his life.

Riley Logan and his teenage daughter Mandy have just moved into a small town in New York. Their only goal is to lead a quiet, private life and set down some roots. When digging in their yard to begin a vegetable patch, Riley (Bear) uncovers the old septic system, and inside is the remains of a long-dead teenage girl. Bear and Mandy are soon drawn in to the dark underbelly of this seemingly idyllic small town and their peace is forever shattered.

This is the first book in the Bear and Mandy father/daughter series and I found it an interesting and well plotted book. I found the plot moved at a good pace – not hectic or breakneck but a lot faster than many mystery books tend to be. The mysteries surrounding Bear and Mandy’s past as well as the nefarious villains led this book to have a bit of a thriller style of edge to me.

I found it quite clear that some big conspiracy was deeply rooted in this small town, but the book was written in such a way that it wasn’t clear for quite some time exactly who (or what conglomerate) was at the tip of the apex. I enjoyed that quite a bit of the menacing in this book came from the nebulous manner of the conspiracy and it added a lot of tension to my mind. Readers who like small town mysteries – or conspiracy tales – should find this an excellent book.

Readers should be aware there is a strong tie to the teenagers in this book. Mandy is not a shrinking violet nor will she sit back and let the grown ups handle things. I found her character a little bit unrealistic in this book but have to admit the teasers and hints of her unusual childhood and upbringing helped me understand a little of why Mandy’s character didn’t act like any fourteen year old that I know of. I did also greatly enjoy how snippets of Mandy’s high school life made a stark contrast to all the other – far more grown up – mess surrounding her in the story. It was a good contrast and helped make the book feel a little more realistic.

I enjoyed this new-to-me series and am interested enough to pick up the next in the series. Readers who like mysteries set in small towns with a good plot and pacing should find this highly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Becoming A Mom – An IVF Story by Liz Jauvtis

April 7, 2026 By 2 Comments


Becoming A Mom – An IVF Story by Liz Jauvtis
Publisher: The Book Publishing Pros
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

This raw and intimate memoir follows Liz Jauvtis through her seven-year fertility journey, multiple IVF cycles, three pregnancies, and the unwanted realities of motherhood at 35 during the global pandemic. Liz brings an intimate and personal perspective to universal experiences. Her story dismantles the idealized version of motherhood perpetuated by social media, instead offering authentic insights into the physical, emotional, and birth trauma, sleep deprivation, social pressure, and the identity shift from career woman to stay-at-home mother. A compelling narrative for anyone touched by fertility struggles or modern parenting challenges.

Fertility isn’t guaranteed for anyone.

It was nice to see so many acronyms and other terms related to fertility and reproduction described in the footnotes, especially in the first several chapters. Not every reader is necessarily going to be aware of what all of these things mean, but understanding them was critical in order to visualize everything this couple needed to go through in order to have kids together. The explanation of how PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) can affect not only the ovaries but many other parts of the human body as well was especially interesting.

I found myself wishing for more detailed descriptions of every step of Ms. Jauvtis’ journey to having biological children. This could have been separated into a trilogy, one for her infertility treatments like IVF and the toll they took on her mental and physical health, a second title about experiencing anxious pregnancies after treatments have been successful, and a final instalment about parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic. While I understood why all three topics were combined into the same book given how rapidly everything happened in the author’s life, it also meant that this was something I’d be a little hesitant to recommend to a friend who was currently experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss because of how many pages were dedicated to pregnancy and parenting. Not everyone who pursues treatment is successful, after all, and that’s something that could make it trickier to determine who the right audience is for this piece.

Some of the most memorable sections for me were the ones that acknowledged the many controversial topics surrounding fertility treatments, pregnancy and birth care, and parenting choices in the first few years of a child’s life. Ms. Jauvtis’ open-minded approach to these subjects was refreshing, and she came across to me as someone who was willing to listen to other points of view regardless of the decisions she and her husband made for their own family. I was especially interested in how she responded to the people in her life who had moral qualms about IVF and the possibility of using donor gametes given that she and her spouse needed medical help in order to have a baby. It takes maturity to remain so level-headed about a subject matter that is this important to someone, and I admired how she handled those difficult conversations.

Becoming A Mom – An IVF Story was thought provoking.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Quantum Revelations by Stuart Heinrich

April 6, 2026 By 1 Comment

The Quantum Revelations by Stuart Heinrich
Publisher: Endless Tree Books
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more. A mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined…

Set in the relatively near future, The Quantum Revelations is not only a page turning thriller, but a very real warning about what could actually happen to us as a world if things don’t change. The very first scene grabbed my attention (I could SO see this as the beginning of a movie!), and I couldn’t wait to find out where everything was going.

The characters of Zara and Skyler were wonderfully well drawn…and I really enjoyed their interactions, as well as others’ interactions with Skyler later in the book. Skyler truly stood in for everyman in this book…. seeking the truth no matter where that truth led.

There was an interesting juxatapostion with science and religion in the book that was perhaps one of my favorite parts of the book.

I have to admit, some of the science was over my head, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I was able to grasp some of it, however, due to Mr. Heinrich’s explanations (my science teachers would be surprised, so thank you, sir, for explaining complex material in a way that a nonscientific person could gleam some understanding from it).

I believe this book could make a great movie if it was based on the active part of the book. Parts of it reminded me of the old disaster movies that were so prevalent (and that I loved so much).

Thank you for such a riveting look on where we might be headed if we don’t change things now.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Body in the Brewery by Victoria Chatham

April 6, 2026 By Leave a Comment


A Body in the Brewery by Victoria Chatham
Publisher: BWL Publishing, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

The village of Sixpenny Cross hosts a weekend-long Medieval Fayre, but Winnie Hatherall is relieved when the knights, their companies, vendors, and visitors pack up and head home.

All notions of chivalry are shattered when Langston Oldrieve, owner of the Black Knight Brewing Company and winner of the Fayre’s jousting tournament, is found dead in his brewery. A frantic phone call from his wife when she is accused of his murder has amateur sleuth Winnie racing to Virginia’s aid. Who else might have wanted Langston dead? Local rumours suggest the brewery is struggling financially. Was that the reason for the growing resentment between Langston and his brewmaster and rival jouster, Peter Eversleigh?

Winnie and her sister, Amy, ask questions of people who are unwilling to answer, but then Wizard Lothar Goodwynne reads the Runes for Winnie. What they reveal leads her and Amy along an unexpected path.

All is quiet in Sixpenny Cross now that the Medieval Fayre has ended. Or is it? Winnie Hatherall thinks she’s going to get some time to relax and recover from the Fayre, right up until she gets a panicked phone call. Now, all bets are off.

Winnie is a fun character. As a former schoolteacher, she doesn’t take much guff from anybody, not even the local police. She’s smart and compassionate and refuses to let anything get between her and the truth. At times, she is a bit overbearing, but never to the point where you start to dislike here. She’s definitely the kind of person you want to have your back if you’re being accused of murder.

I also really enjoy her interactions with Detective Inspector Anthony Wallace. He had been one of her former students, one that she helped guide and move in a better direction than he’d been headed. Their relationship is fun and is a switch from the usual cozy mystery trope of the sleuth dating the local law enforcement. Anthony also deserves a medal for putting up with all her meddling and never giving her more than an eye roll.

The mystery had me guessing, never quite sure who was guilty. With the addition of the Fayre and the jousting, I was invested. I haven’t run into many cozies that involve this kind of setting, which only made me more interested in reading it. While at times, the dialogue was stilted, overall, the writing was good and the characters engaging. I can see myself going back to Sixpenny Cross again in the future. Without a doubt, whatever happens next, Winnie is going to be front and center, giving her all to get to the truth.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave

April 3, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave
Publisher: Stamford Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Starting a new life in Snowdonia was always DI Ruth Hunter’s dream. Until a twisted killer turned it into her worst nightmare.

Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of London for a more peaceful life in rural North Wales. But Ruth has barely settled into her new position in North Wales Police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. Teaming up with an obstinate deputy, Ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. When another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation.

Has Ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?

DI Ruth Hunter is struggling with the pain of her partner’s mysterious disappearance. Burned out from the Met and unable to face the stalled, unsolved disappearance, she decides it’s time for a change and moves to rural North Wales hoping to begin her fifties with a clean start. Instead of the quiet life, however, a local school teacher is brutally murdered on Ruth’s first day, and the quiet idyl is shattered.

I was eager to try another Welsh police procedural style of novel. I’ve found Welsh writing to be a little more gritty and harder-hitting than regular British style and this book did not disappoint. Readers should be aware that the main characters have deep-seated, real kinds of issues and problems and this isn’t a fluffy or gentle story or read. I found myself impressed that the author didn’t shy away from making the characters and situation realistic but didn’t push the envelope so far as to try and be shocking just for the sake of it. I found both Ruth and Nick’s characters to be highly relatable and believable. I thought the tight balance between gritty and real, without being shocking or overly sensational just to get views or push the envelope was exceptionally written in this novel.

Readers looking for a strongly plotted mystery with slightly harder and more life-like characters should absolutely give this book a try. I also loved the setting of the Welsh countryside and found it highly atmospheric and virtually a character by itself.

A gripping murder mystery and different style of police procedural book – this was a great find. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Jake by Olivia Sinclair

April 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment



Jake by Olivia Sinclair
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A military secret crush / fake fiancé holiday romance

Jake

Nobody but me gets to be her fiancé, fake or otherwise. I’ve been waiting for years to finally show her how I feel, tell her that I know how her eyes always find me in the background. Looks like it’s finally time to claim my spot by her side.

Valentina

I need a fake fiancé for Thanksgiving to finally escape the kids’ table in the garage. So I hired one. Not the silver-eyed hunk I’ve been crushing on for the last ten years. That guy is standing in front of me saying he plans to make my deception all very real. Very, very real. I seem to be having trouble remembering why I should say no…

For years Jake has quietly sat back and waited while his army buddy, Scott’s, younger sister finished her education. Now in her mid-twenties and finished with school, Valentina is determined to fake a fiancé for her Nonna’s Thanksgiving dinner table and move up from the kids table to the grown-ups. When Jake hears about this, he’s determined Valentina has no one except him in her sights – even if it might be fake.

I stumbled on this fun and sexy short story totally by accident. Curiously hooked by the blurb I eagerly dove in and found the story sassy and fun, with just a nice amount of spicy romance. I thought the chemistry between Valentina and Jake was both believable and a steady build and Jake’s determination was a lovely thing to read.

Readers looking for a twisty or convoluted plot should be aware that this is a quite short story, so everything is fairly straightforward. While Jake and Valentina didn’t jump immediately into bed, again with the short length there wasn’t a huge build up and the spice was delightful once we reached it.

I’ve never read anything previously by this author – but was already purchasing some of her other works before I got halfway through this book. I was really pleased with this new-to-me author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. Sexy and fun, lighthearted and festive I enjoyed it a lot. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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