Category: Uncategorized

DARKROOM BY KATE WILLOUGHBY

Release Date: April 26, 2021
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2KHVqI4
Purchase: https://geni.us/AmazonDarkroom
Audiobook: https://geni.us/AudibleDarkroom
Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

As a top draft pick from a family of hockey royalty, I’m under so much pressure that I’m losing my edge on the ice. I need something to snap my brain out of this self-destructive stress-loop. That’s where Indi Briscoe from my photography class comes in. She’s flirtatious and funny one moment, sweetly shy the next. 

But she’s cagey. She has secrets. Also? She’s a virgin. Did I mention the pressure thing? Maybe I’m crazy for starting something with her. But we can’t seem to help ourselves…

Warning: this standalone novel contains heat, heart, familial expectations, extreme milkshakes, and a hamster with deep thoughts.

Excerpt:

To our surprise, there was a darkroom assistant named Randi there to develop the film on a giant machine and guide us through the rest of the process—using the enlarger, the three-step process for developing, adjusting contrast and making the final print. While this made our work a hell of a lot easier, I wasn’t getting the alone time with Indi that I’d hoped for. So with the third wheel in the darkroom, I had to get creative.

As Randi demonstrated how to adjust the enlarger to ensure the proper print size, I stood very close to Indi and placed my hand on her ass. She turned toward me, one questioning eyebrow raised, but I maintained a look of innocence as I slowly squeezed. Her eyes widened as Randi droned on about refocusing or something. I wasn’t paying that much attention. I was too busy enjoying the luscious handful I had in my hand.

Indi tried to listen to Randi, but, bad boy that I am, I persisted. I slid my hand down and between. She was wearing jeans, but I could tell she liked what I was doing by the way she subtly arched her back to give me a little more access.

Then, I felt her hand on me, which wasn’t something I had anticipated when I’d started this. Shit. My jaw clenched as her fingernails scratched their way from the bottom of my fly up to the button at my waist and then back down again.

That was some sweet fucking torture right there. In a matter of moments, I was hard and ready with shit-all I could do about it and no one to blame but myself.

“Now, shift the card every five seconds to expose one more inch or so of the paper each time,” Randi said. “Like this…one, two, three, four, five, shift. See? One, two, three, four, five, shift. We do this to determine the correct exposure time…”

Indi, that evil woman, timed her ministrations to Randi’s count, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke stroke, but on “shift” she squeezed the head of my cock.

Jesus H Christ. I was going to lose my mind.

Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. Beaten at my own game, I removed my hand from her behind and she let go of my package. I really hoped Randi hadn’t caught onto our darkroom hanky-panky. I’d tried like hell to keep my breathing even. But even if she had noticed, I’m sure it wasn’t the first time.

“Okay, any questions?” Randi asked.

“I think we can handle it,” I said. Frankly, I didn’t care that much if we messed up. We’d taken some photos with our cell phones as back-up, so if we screwed up the prints, no big deal.

“Okay. Good luck,” Randi said and left.

“Alone at last,” I said.

I grinned as I flipped the switch so the room was bathed in that lurid red light. Handily, this also turned on the “No-Entry – Darkroom In Use” sign outside in the hallway. That handy bit of information, I’d paid attention to.

“Hudson, what are you doing?”

“Making sure we aren’t disturbed,” I said before taking her in my arms and sealing my mouth over hers

HALFTIME BY KIM FINDLAY

Release Date: April 26, 2021
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/39YYUyC
Purchase: https://geni.us/AmazonHalftime
Audiobook: https://geni.us/AudibleHalftime
Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

There’s no halftime in hockey, but maybe there’s one in love…

Drunk dialing your girlfriend to tell her that you didn’t really cheat is a bad idea–a lesson Seb Hunter learned the hard way. It was no surprise when she cut him completely out of her life. Now he’s finally moved on, and he’s looking forward to sophomore year at Moo U. Until his ex arrives on campus.

For goalie Faith Devereaux, cheating is a hard pass. She grew up knowing all too well how destructive infidelity can be. She’s gotten over Seb and picked the college of her dreams. The fact that he’s a student there will not be a problem. Hockey is her priority. Not guys, not dating, definitely not exes.

But when an exhibition game forces them into close proximity, it isn’t long before their old attraction flares. Regaining trust is hard, though, when the heart plays a good defensive game.

But when the goal is love, one more shot might be all they need.

Excerpt:

I went up to my room, and Coop knocked on the doorframe.

I looked up from my textbook. I wanted to get on top of my reading. I’d told Holly I’d be tied up until after the game. The women’s team was hosting a party after, and I’d promised her we’d go together. Faith was not going to mess with my head anymore.

“Got a minute, Hunter?”

I put my book down. I was on my bed, and he sat on the desk chair.

“What’s up?”

He stared at me for a minute, and I wondered what was wrong.

“Is Faith the one?”

I froze. I couldn’t speak. I wasn’t ready to talk about Faith. How the hell had he worked this out?

“Devereaux. You two obviously know each other, but you pretend you don’t.” I shook my head a bit, and he held up a hand. “She didn’t swear at any of us or call us by our first names.”

At least Faith was the one who’d messed up.

“Plus, you knew she’d done that newbie shoot-out thing before, but then you disappeared. And her name is Faith.”

I’d mentioned her name last year when it had all gone down. I hadn’t said she was a hockey player. I hadn’t said much about her to anyone those first couple of weeks before the big blowup, but I had said her name. I’d hoped no one had remembered.

“She’s from Toronto, and you were playing like someone else while she was in net today.”

Cooper was listing everything off like I was on the stand and he was cross-examining me. Had he switched to a prelaw major? He leaned back, waiting for me to respond. He knew. No way I could deny it. I forced my muscles to relax. I hadn’t committed a crime. It was just embarrassing.

“Yeah, she’s the ex.”

I’d gone out with a couple of girls last year before Holly, but Faith was the ex. The others hadn’t been a big deal. With those girls, we’d gone out and had some fun, but it had never been like with Faith.

“Have you talked to her?”

I’d said her name and almost kissed her back on that first day, but no, we hadn’t talked.

“Only when she called me out on the ice today.”

“That means she doesn’t know what really happened?”

I shook my head.

I’d been so drunk when I talked to her last year that I still didn’t know exactly what I’d told her. I shouldn’t have tried to contact her until I was sober. My teammates had tried to convince me. They’d taken my phone. I’d been petrified she’d find out from someone before I could explain, so I’d found a phone and called her. Whatever I’d told her hadn’t explained it clearly. I’d made it sound like something had happened.

That misunderstanding had been too much for her. She’d never taken another call from me and blocked me on every avenue I could think of to reach out to her. I’d been desperate enough to try a lot. If the team hadn’t stopped me, I’d have driven to Toronto, if I could have found a car.

It had been hard to accept that we were over. It had hurt that she hadn’t thought we were worth enough to at least let me explain. I’d thought we were going to be forever. I’d been wrong. And hell if I wanted to talk about it now, not with Cooper or Faith.

“You should tell her. Let her know what really happened.”

Like she would listen to anything I said. “Why? I’ve moved on, and I’m with Holly now.” I almost flinched. I was with Holly, but it wasn’t like Faith and I had been. To be fair, Holly and I hadn’t been together that long yet. I’d been with Faith for most of two years. Of course, the thing with Faith had been more intense. It had ripped me to shreds when she’d cut things off, so I was okay with things being a little lighter right now.

“Sure about that?”

“What the hell are you talking about? Of course, I’m with Holly.” I wasn’t going to admit I’d just been comparing my feelings for Holly and Faith.

“I mean,” He was speaking slowly, like he thought I was stupid. “Have you really moved on from Faith?”

Fucker. Maybe I hadn’t totally, but I was working on it. “Why wouldn’t I have moved on? It’s been a year.”

“Maybe because she still doesn’t know what really happened, and you two can’t even look at each other?”

“Not your business, Coop.”

He shrugged. “You’re good now, you know you didn’t cheat, and you’ve got another girlfriend. But what about Faith?”

I frowned. “What about her? I don’t know if she’s got a boyfriend, if that’s what you mean.”

He shook his head. “She thinks you cheated on her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I’m quite aware of that.”

“How do you think she feels about that?”

“She refused to talk to me, so I’m guessing she isn’t too thrilled.”

He looked at the ceiling. “Can you look at it from her side for a minute? She believes that the first chance that rolled around, you either forgot about her or decided she wasn’t worth it and cheated on her. Fucked someone else. Decided she wasn’t enough.”

The words hit hard. I’d felt this way once when I hit the boards helmet first. Like I was suddenly drifting above my body, not really attached to it anymore. Shit. I hadn’t thought about that part of it. Faith had been so perfect for me that it was hard to think she might have felt she wasn’t good enough. How had I missed that? Because I’d been so hurt myself, I’d felt like I wasn’t good enough. Had she felt that way, too?

Damn Coop. What was I supposed to do with that now? How could I explain what had really happened without sounding like I was just trying to get her back? Especially after that run-in at the arena, the one where I’d almost kissed her. Plus, there was Holly. It wasn’t fair to her, and Faith would think I was two-timing Holly. Why the hell did Coop have to bring this up now?

“She won’t talk to me. It’s just going to upset her if I try to bring it up. It’s better to let it go.”

“Sure about that?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s ancient history now.”

“I hope you can play tonight when she’s in net.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Cooper stood up. “Okay. I just don’t want to do suicides because you’re wound up about our goalie.”

OVERTIME BY KAT MIZERA

Release Date: April 26, 2021
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Mot7if
Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonOvertime
Audiobook: https://geni.us/AudibleOvertime
Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

Hotshot hockey star Patrick Graham has been groomed for the pros since before he could walk. Fast forward to his junior year of college, and he’s having the time of his life. What could be better than pucks, partying, and having his pick of campus women? But if Patrick doesn’t buckle down and get his grades up, he could find himself benched for the championships. Could a beautiful brainiac be the solution to his problems?

Nineteen-year-old Master’s student Ellie McGinn could do so many things with her biology degree, but her mother is pushing her toward a future she doesn’t want. Tutoring a hockey hottie seems like the perfect opportunity to start making her own choices and living life on her own terms.

When learning turns to yearning, will they be ready to face the heat and heartache that love can bring?

Excerpt:

I hoped he wouldn’t run screaming from the restaurant at the serious turn our conversation had taken, but he was so easy to talk to. We had a lot in common, which I never would have imagined. His overbearing father, my overbearing mother, and a lot of concern about this whole idea of adulting. He was twenty-one, and hadn’t been nearly as sheltered as I had, but I heard a lot of the same insecurities in his voice that I often felt in myself.

         We talked and drank soda until we were the last people in the restaurant and we finally paid the bill and walked out to my car. I didn’t want this night to end but he had another game tomorrow and I needed to spend the whole day working on my research paper if I was going to go out again tomorrow night.

         “Where do you live?” I asked him when we got into the car. It was a frigid January night and I shivered as I waited for the heat to kick in.

         “In the apartments on Bellamy,” he said.

         I knew just where those apartments were located since a lot of Moo U students lived there and it wasn’t far. I’d considered living there too but I got my room and board for free between being a resident assistant in the dorm and my teaching, and I liked the fact that I didn’t have to count on my parents for housing. They already paid for my car, insurance, and phone, so I’d been willing to suck it up for the tiniest bit of freedom.

         He told me where to drop him off and I pulled up to the curb.

         “Tonight was great,” he said, turning to me. “I’m really looking forward to doing it again tomorrow night.”

         “You are?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I mentally grimaced, wishing I knew how to be a little coy, a little flirty, instead of insecure and out of my league.

         “Well, yeah.” He frowned. “Aren’t you?”

         “I haven’t dated anyone since I came to college,” I blurted out. “I was only fifteen then, so I was too young for college guys, and now that I’m legal, most guys think I’m dorky. So I don’t know how this works. If you’re just trying to be nice so I’ll tutor you, you don’t have to because I’d do it anyway. As a favor to Paxton.”

         “You think this is about tutoring?” He looked both a little mad and a little sad, which confused me even more.

         “I don’t know why the captain of the hockey team—who can and does sleep with everything that moves—is interested in me when not a single guy on campus ever has been before.”

         There. I’d said it. It was out in the open now and if nothing else, he’d know I wasn’t naïve enough to think he really wanted to date me.

         “You haven’t gone out on a single date the whole time you’ve been here?” he asked, ignoring everything else I’d said.

         I shook my head. “Not a real date, like we had tonight. I’ve met guys at the library or for coffee, but never like this.”

         “Their loss is my gain.” He reached out and pushed one side of my hair behind my ear. “I thought we had a connection,” he said softly. “That night at the party. I think you’re pretty and smart and sweet. It has nothing to do with tutoring or anything like that. I don’t know what other guys see when they look at you, but I’ll be honest and say that someone as smart as you is probably a little intimidating.”

         “And you’re not, um, intimidated?” Why did I say “um” all the time? I sounded like a nervous twelve-year-old.

         “No.” He leaned forward, his eyes locked with mine. “Not even a little. And I think maybe the best way to prove that to you is like this.”

         Oh-shit-oh-shit-oh-shit—he was kissing me. His lips were lightly pressed to mine, caressing them as if they were made of glass. Gentle whispers of skin against my mouth, nothing like I’d imagined kissing a hottie like Patrick would be. I’d only been kissed a handful of times before and it had always been sloppy and wet; this was ridiculously sweet. And definitely not sloppy.

         Not even when he slid his tongue along the seam of my lips, gently prying them apart. My mouth opened of its own volition, anxious for more, because nothing had prepared me for this. When our tongues finally met one another, it was like a magnetic force had drawn them together and I couldn’t do anything but go along for the ride. It felt like my whole body was involved, instead of just my mouth, and I let myself get swept away.

         I might have whimpered in protest when he finally pulled away, and the look in his eyes was one I’d only ever read about in books. I didn’t know men actually looked at women that way. It didn’t have to be love or anything that deep, but sheer, unadulterated desire? I’d never seen it outside of movies and this was way, way better because it was directed at me. The fact that I turned him on enough to put that look there, well, that was something new to me and it did all kinds of things to my nether regions.

         “I should go,” he said softly, still watching my face with that look that made me shiver all over.

         “It’s late,” I said out loud, though I really wanted to sit here long enough for him to kiss me again.

         “I had fun tonight. And I’d like to go out with you again after the game tomorrow…if you want to.”

         “I…yes.” I almost said “um” again but caught myself. “Yes, I’d like to.”

         “Good night, Ellie.” He pressed his lips to mine, chastely this time, and then got out of the car and bounded up the steps of his building.

         I was in so much trouble.

Reckless, an all-new sexy and playful standalone romance in the Mason Family series from USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke is available now!

“How did you get in here?”

That’s not what you want to hear when you’re staring into the sea-green eyes of the hottest man you’ve ever seen. Yet I suppose it’s a fair question, considering I’m an uninvited stranger standing in Boone Mason’s kitchen.

If you think that’s bad—just wait. It gets worse.

This charming and wealthy playboy, who can’t pay his bills on time or find his way to the grocery store (but we all have flaws, right?), is sweet. Confident. Playful. He’s almost perfect. And, to make matters worse …

He’s smitten with me.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re rolling your eyes. You’re assuming this is some opposites attract situation—or that maybe we can be friends who turn into something more.

How can this be a bad thing?

Well, it’s simple. I’m not the kind of girl you fall in love with. Just to be sure, the universe reminds me of that in an unforgettable, in-your-face kind of way.

I might have broken into Boone’s house, but I won’t let him break my heart. I won’t break his either. There’s too much on the line to be that reckless.

Start reading today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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About Adriana Locke

USA Today, Washington Post, and Amazon Charts Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, four sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.

Connect with Adriana

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GAMETIME BY JAMI DAVENPORT

Release Date: April 26, 2021
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2KPbDLO
Purchase here: https://geni.us/AmazonGametime
AudioBook: https://geni.us/AudibleGametime
Moo U Hockey: https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/moo-u-hockey/
Cover Design: Christine Coffey

BLURB:

One drunken night and one case of mistaken identity turn a friendship inside out…

You’ve seen the hockey twins around campus–they look identical, but you can tell them apart by their actions. Patrick is the one who’s busy charming women. Paxton is the one in the library.

Until one night when Paxton parties a little harder than usual. Next thing he knows, he’s waking up naked next to Naomi, the girl of his dreams. He bares his heart before an awful realization sets in. He’s not the twin she thought he was…

Naomi is the only child of a hockey legend. Partying hard is the best way she knows how to rebel against her controlling father. After a particularly crazy night, she realizes her big mistake. Her hookup isn’t the guy she’s been crushing on. It’s Paxton, her friend, the guy who gets her, who she can always count on. The guy she’d never want to hurt. And yet, the sex was good. Better than good.

Now she’s wondering if the wrong twin might be the right one after all . . .

Are you ready to get Thatched?

Charming Billionaire, an all-new charmingly hilarious romantic comedy collection of Banking the Billionaire, Banking Her, and the ALL NEW novella Crazy Fluffing Love from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe is available now!

Players gonna play, but can a wild, untamable, alpha, billionaire player fall in love?

Meet the most irresistible billionaire of all time in one sexy, steamy, downright hilarious, and binge-worthy romantic comedy collection (all for the price of one novella, too!)

This collection includes the following three books:
*Banking the Billionaire
*Banking Her
*And a BRAND-NEW novella, Crazy Fluffing Love

Banking the Billionaire
Uninhibited. Sarcastic. Confident. Beautiful.
With a thriving photography career that allows her to travel all over the world and capture the hottest of men behind her camera lens, Cassie Phillips is the woman who can’t be tamed.

Adrenaline junkie. Jokester. Billionaire. Hot-as-sin.
At six foot five, with muscles for days, and that perfect playful smile, Thatcher Kelly is the kind of man you don’t want to deny.

Wild for wild.
Prank for prank.
The two unlikeliest of people may be the only ones to see that some personality traits only run skin-deep.

Banking Her
Thatch and Cassie have finally found their perfect balance of good and sweet, crazy and playful, and most importantly, hot and insatiable.

But what happens when they’re faced with a surprise neither of them plotted or schemed?

While Cassie seems to be taking everything in stride, Thatch can’t stop himself from worrying about every little thing revolving around the woman he loves.

How does a man handle that kind of anxiety?

Doing the only thing he can to ease his mind without pushing away the woman he loves, Thatch proves that, once again, when it comes to him and Cass, you’ll never see what’s coming.

Crazy Fluffing Love
MISSING PERSON
Name: Thatcher Kelly
Age: Mid-thirties
Height: 6 foot 5 inches
Weight: A very sexy, lean, and muscular 250 pounds
Last seen: Panama City Beach, Florida
Important Note: This guy is a real good-looking motherfluffer.

Look, I know this might seem a little over the top to already prepare for my face to be plastered all over Missing Persons flyers, but trust me, it’s not.

My pregnant wife Cassie—whose hormones are swinging like a fluffing pendulum—has decided that we need a honeymoon.

Right the F now.

She wants us to go on a celebratory “spring break,” we-just-got-married vacation to none other than Panama City Beach, Florida. But the only problem is, it’s not spring.

It’s not even summer.

It’s October, my crazy-hot wife is pregnant, and things are starting to get really fluffing weird.

If you’re reading this, send help and plan a really nice memorial for my very super, beloved, *ahem* male member, who, for the sake of public decency, shall remain nameless. I’m not entirely sure he’s going to make it out alive.

Note from Author: Every book in this collection ends in an HEA.

Start reading today FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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About Max Monroe
A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.

Connect with Max Monroe
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Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

I said this with her A Bridge Between Us, but I have to say it again. K.K. Allen can write the heck out of an extended metaphor. Like, truly. For people who simply want to know about Allen’s newest book, Over the Moon, this story is a beautiful romance about two people who simply need love in their lives. Isolated, alone, they’ve survived their worlds by shoring up emotional walls and imaginary Rottweilers to attack anything that could torpedo their ability to move forward without attachments. When the professional defensive end and the camp nurse meet, this ability becomes more and more difficult, making vulnerability look $exy even when there is no $ex on the page. Over and over again, Allen’s book is an apt reminder of her giftedness at storytelling, as she grabs your heart, churning it through the trials of her hero, Kingston, and her heroine, Silver/Sylvia. Using the metaphor of the moon, Allen drives her story forward, showing the development of Kingston and Silver, not just as a couple, but also their growth as individuals, and it’s delectable in its presentation. 

The level of detail that Allen pours into her stories makes them special. From the distinct titles of the parts of her book to the graphics at each story’s new moment, you find yourself lost to her craftsmanship. 

Her hero, Kingston, is my favorite type of hero. At the book’s beginning, he is not very likable. He makes choices in his life that are driven by his ID, and they find trouble for him. However, as he encounters Coach Reynolds, a beloved character from Allen’s BelleCurve stories, his journey begins, and it isn’t an easy one. Through meeting Silver, Kingston is humanized, moving away from being only a football god with high emotional walls set in place to a man who loves deeply that he wants to save Silver from herself. When a hero journeys this path, it is like my own personal catnip, and Allen has crafted him so well. 

Now, I will say – my only criticism for this book – lies in Silver’s revelation. I won’t add it here, but in my opinion, it was underwhelming. I would have liked for Allen to spend more time developing the emotional impact of that moment, but she gave that space over to the chronology of her story, which I understand given all the elements of this book. However, I wanted more emotional pop during the moment when she reveals her secret. Silver is a special character given her circumstances. I would love to speak to all that makes her special, but it’s her ability to see Kingston’s true self that makes her the most special. Allen has drawn her beautifully in Over the Moon. 

Needless to say here, but I couldn’t put K.K. Allen’s book down. This is not unusual. She writes characters that pull at your heart and make you fall madly for their story, and her ability to craft a book that is nuanced and detailed is her superpower. This should be on your Kindle, and it is the PERFECT read for this coming weekend. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Gah, I adore how female positive Jessica Peterson romances are. Story after story about women and the issues involved in living life as women hit your Kindles hard. She pairs these insightful, intelligent women with men who are still incredibly masculine but yet they have an emotional intelligence that allows them to partner with this type of woman. Southern Sinner, Peterson’s newest book, is more of this. Following the story of Hank, as he travels the world as a means to overcome the damage of his actions with his brother Samuel’s girlfriend, this book does so many things well. Let me tell you about all of its charms and the reasons WHY this should be on your Kindle this minute:

1. By my estimation, Southern Sinner is one of Peterson’s steamiest books. Her hero, Hank, and her heroine, Stevie, cannot keep their hands off of each other, and this aspect of their relationship is the barometer for their eventual coupling. When these two meet in Vegas, they make a clear distinction about their physical needs: to basically “get off” and have fun. From the moment they become physical, they know that it is something different, but both of them are not interested in a relationship, given the challenges of their pasts. What I love about these moments is Peterson’s permission for her heroine to be both independent and $exual without consequence. This is powerful because it equalizes her partnership with Hank. 
2. Peterson is so careful in recognizing the impact of perceived gender roles and the attached expectations. This is mostly seen through the lens of Stevie’s characterization, and it takes up much of the story for this to find reconciliation. Even then, Stevie has to have an epiphany (thanks to her friends) in order to see it. The worry and fret that consumes Stevie’s character as she navigates her connection with Hank is insightful and provides much of the angst of this story. It’s never heavy in its exemplification. Instead, it acts as an impetus for thinking, for recognition, and for reconciliation.
3. Peterson also uses Stevie’s character to discuss the ways that women often make themselves small as a means to create “harmony” within relationships and the detriment of this on those same relationships. I felt every one of Stevie’s words with this insight. 
4. Through Hank, Peterson deftly illustrates the challenges of a work-life balance, something that feels endangered with our own pandemic. Through his characterization, as it relates to this issue, one of my favorite parts is Stevie’s leadership towards helping Hank live a better life, focusing on self-care over industry.
5. There is a beautiful message about loving the messes in life and in people. Life is not perfection; it is an amalgamation of messes, and true love means loving people in their message. It’s one of the most profound ideas of Southern Sinner.
6. And of course the rest of the Beauregard family is here. It is here where the heart of the book resides. Through the love of this family, you’ll find healing and accountability, meted out in ways that will touch your heart. 
7. Lastly, and not most importantly, is an homage to Bridgerton. Calling upon the cultural phenomenon, Peterson uses it well to illustrate the complications of Stevie and Hank’s pairing. 

I’m always ready to be underwhelmed by Jessica Peterson, and yet, each book reminds me why the moment her ARC sign-ups post, I sign up immediately. There are so many talented writers in romancelandia, but they don’t all write romance that challenges societal norms as they relate to women (and men by extension). Her stories, ones like Southern Sinner, challenge you and ask you to reconsider your accepted norms. Even more, in the end, you’ll find yourself a little bit changed at her book’s end. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I have been along for the ride with Monica Murphy’s The Callahans series. I’ll be honest; I’ve struggled with some of the books, but there has always been something redemptive with each of her characters even after acting like some of the worst people imaginable. All along this journey there are two characters who have stood out to me: Tony Sorrento and Jackson Rivers. With Murphy’s newest series, The College Years, you earn access to their stories, beginning with Tony’s in Murphy’s latest book, The Freshman. 

Unlike the stories of The Callahans, Tony, as I suspected, seems less obnoxious. In this story, we find Tony, a freshman in college, struggling to find his place. Without a distinct position on the football team, with his animosity toward a dad who hasn’t been a part of his life, with a step-mom who “comes onto him” at every corner, and with a future that feels ambiguous and tenuous, Tony doesn’t know where he begins and ends. One day, while having his new Range Rover serviced, Tony meets Hayden, who is also having her Range Rover serviced. These two have insta-chemistry and a clear attraction to each other. They realize quickly over the course of the beginning of Murphy’s story that their families “run” in the same circles except their dads are business enemies. Additionally, Hayden and Tony both attend Fresno State, even though they have never seen each other. One of those reasons is Hayden is two years older than Tony. Even more, Hayden and Tony’s thoughts about relationships are the same: neither of them is interested in relationships given their families’ issues with dating and marriage. In a nutshell, it’s clear that Tony and Hayden will feel drawn to each other, but they will fight it every step of the way. And that is exactly the case….until they don’t.

For me, this is my favorite of this crew’s stories. Like I mentioned above, Tony is one of the best characters, and I’m thankful that Murphy crafted a story that shines a light on his depth of character. Also, I liked Hayden as a heroine for Tony. We find out more about his break-up from his high school sweetheart, ex-girlfriend, Sophie in this story, and Murphy created the perfect match for Tony. 

Once again, though, there are parts of Hayden and Tony’s story that feel drawn out and repetitive, which, for this reader, tends to be the case with this series of books and causes the story to drag a bit. I’d like to think that Jackson’s story might be different, but I’m reticent to believe it will be different. 

If you’re a fan of YA/new adult romance, then you should check out Monica Murphy’s The Freshman. It has her crew from The Callahans stories, along with all the qualities that new adult readers love about that sub-genre.

In love and romance,

Professor A