Professor Romance

Overall Grade: 5++ ⭐️

I wanted to start this review with a football allusion given it is the backdrop and its own character in Ilsa Madden-Mills’s Beauty and the Baller, her newest sports romance. All night long, I kept trying to figure out the best way to describe the delight of her newest story. So this is it; this is what I came up with. Ilsa Madden-Mills is the Tom Brady of the football romance. Hands down. Like Tom Brady, most of her plays (her books) lead to SuperBowl-esque victories. In fact, I have yet to read a story on her booklist that leaves me unfulfilled or questioning her storytelling ability. 

Instead, she makes us wait for her return and offers up a total touchdown with Beauty and the Baller. Let me elaborate. I jumped into her book, behind on my ARC (for an honest review, of course) reading this week. Time seemed to slip through my fingers. I had just finished a fairly angsty, dark-feeling romance, and I was ready for something light or lighter. With IMM, you’re never quite sure what you’ll get, so I began reading, shoring up my spirit against a potential angsty read or something that might take a bite out of my soul. And IMM has gifted her reader with a story that beautifully balances light and dark through the character arcs of her hero and heroine, Ronan and Nova. Like a tight end or wide receiver catching a carefully-placed pass from his quarterback, each chapter of Beauty and the Baller felt like a first down to a game-winning touchdown. What started with the expectation of a bit of drudgery (forgive me for saying that, Ilsa) turned into the most beautiful of spiral passes at each turn of the page of Ronan and Nova’s journey. 

I won’t take the space of this review to discuss a summary of the book. I need you to read this story and argue that it isn’t one of the best reads of 2022. It’s definitely one of my top 5 thus far. Why?

For one, Ronan’s characterization is complicated. In one moment, his future is ripped away, and it leaves him, at first, numb and, later, afraid. Much of this story involves Ronan letting go of his fear to fall in love with Nova. Through him, we are gifted with the life motto: “win the heart, win everything.” And it takes much of the book for him to fully accept his own motto. We are also granted access to compelling chemistry between him and Nova. From the first chapter, it’s clear that these two are fated, and the beats of the story mimic the heartbeats between the two. 

In Nova, we find the foundation and backbone of the story. It is impossible for Ronan to move beyond his past and accept love without the “glow” of Nova. IMM places most of the humor of her story in Nova’s mouth, and she challenges Ronan every step of the way in a manner that feels like a constant win. Even when the angst of the story is introduced, Nova remains a bright spot as she’s sitting in darkness. While Ronan gives us “win the heart, win everything,” through Nova, we receive the other important message: “Mama raised me to believe there’s a tiny light inside everyone, a wonderful place of possibilities for your life. It’s up to you to find your ‘glow’ and turn those possibilities into certainties. Make the impossible real. Reach for the stars, even if they burn, Nova.” This epitomizes Nova’s purpose for this story. From the choice of her name to her choices, Nova lives this life lesson. In doing so, she helps Ronan find it in himself. This truth becomes the ultimate driving force of their story together, and it’s “the win” for Beauty and the Baller, the emotional gravitas of the story. 

Honestly, I could write many more words about Ilsa Madden Mills’s recent romance. The ancillary characters of the story add more depth to the humor and more gravity to its seriousness. When you leave Beauty and the Baller, you will pine for the stories of the other characters. I’m not sure if “Coach” (IMM) has a game plan for this (one can only hope), but given her ability to create win after win from her gamebook, there’s no telling what the future might bring. I’m fairly certain, like Tom Brady, it will entail writing stories that feel like game-winning touchdowns and a booklist full of MVPs.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

There’s a reason that A.L. Jackson’s current series is titled Redemption Hills. Thus far, the first two books showcase two heroes who are looking for atonement and reconciliation, brothers whose pasts have left a stain on their souls. In her poetic, dark form, Jackson guides her readers deftly through their stories, ones where the heroes can never find absolution without the love of the heroines. Ultimately, love can only be found in the present and future, Jackson suggests, in her newest offering, Say It’s Forever. 

Unlike the first book of the series, Say It’s Forever includes the angst of the heroine, Salem,  escaping the poor choice of her past while the hero, Jud, can’t seem to move beyond his past choices. In both cases, their pasts are furled on them, and they are left to accept their trajectories. The consequences are deep, deep trauma wounds, gashes that remain open through the first half of the story. As she has done with her past stories, Jackson makes those emotions palpable with her wordsmithing. I’ve acknowledged in past reviews the poetic quality of her writing, and it continues in this newest book. 

What you find with Say It’s Forever is a need for Salem and Jud to accept that life right now can be better; that it is important to live with hope. Jackson metes this out throughout their journey that begins with the quality of hate to love (Salem to Jud) and ends with a love so deep your heart will overflow as you read Jackson’s epilogue and bonus epilogue for this story.  Like her other books, this newest book is rife with angst and drama. In many ways, there is a cinematic quality to this story; you feel as though you’re watching a movie as Jud and Salem push and pull their way through the book. 

The highlight of Say It’s Forever is the same highlight found in past books: children. Gage, Jud’s nephew and a star in the first book of the series, Give Me A Reason, and Salem’s daughter, Juni Bee, bring levity to this story. When Jud and Salem’s story feels heavy and fraught, Gage and Juni Bee step in and ameliorate the angst, making Jud and Salem’s romance palatable. Even more, Trent and Eden as well as Salem’s grandmother, Mimi, provide the support the couple requires to find their happily ever after. And the HEA exists in spades for this story. 

Once again, A.L. Jackson reminds us of the magnitude of her writing capacity. There is something always deep and grave about her storytelling. Quite frankly, this isn’t for someone looking for a light romance. However, if you adore the journey of a thousand miles where the hero and heroine overcome the sins of their past to find a future free of strife and abounding in love, then you will absolutely adore Say It’s Forever. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

“In this un-put-downable romance, Madden-Mills skillfully balances the emotional with the physical to produce a love story that’s equal parts scorching and sweet.” —Publishers Weekly

Beauty and the Baller, an all-new emotional and steamy opposites attract, fake relationship standalone romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is available now!

An NFL quarterback turned small-town coach gets sacked by a Texas beauty queen in this swoony, passionate romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills.

Gorgeous, talented, and brilliant, NFL quarterback Ronan Smith has the world in his hands. But after losing his career and his fiancée in a car accident, he falls into a pit of grief and bad choices. When a mysterious girl shows up to his party, he feels drawn to her and makes her his…for one night.

Former beauty queen Nova Morgan is on a mission. Scantily clad as a princess from a galaxy far, far away, she sneaks into a high-profile party to capture the attention of her favorite quarterback. But her hopes crash after an awful one-night stand.

Fast-forward two years. Broke and desperate, Nova returns home to Blue Belle, Texas, where, by a cosmic twist of fate, her broody neighbor is none other than Ronan, the shiny new football coach everyone adores. But he has no idea who she is.

The booster club keeps shoving women at Ronan to keep him in town. His solution? He proposes fake dating to Nova. But things heat up for real under these Friday-night lights when he realizes she’s the one who slipped away.

Has this jaded beauty found her forever baller, or will his past keep them apart?

Fall in love today FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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About Ilsa Madden-Mills
Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

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Tutoring the Player by Rebecca Jenshak is now live!

I have a type.

I love the good guy.

Responsible and stable. Safe.

So when a beer-drinking, quick-witted, tattooed hockey player asks me to tutor him, I’m suddenly thrust into the world of bad boys and bad decisions.

Jordan is a renowned player on campus.

He doesn’t take anything seriously, except hockey and partying.

But he gives me butterflies.

I’m a wallflower tutoring Valley University’s hottest player.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

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Meet Rebecca

Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.

Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.

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DEATH WISH (Deception Duet #2) by K. Webster

Release Date: March 29th

Genre/Tropes: Reverse Harem /Cinderella Story

AVAILABLE NOW!!!

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Start the duet with TRIPLE THREAT, book 1!!!

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Blurb:

All I wanted is for my little sister Della to be safe and happy. And maybe, in brief stolen moments, I dreamed of a happy ending for myself with a brown-eyed man. That hope has turned into sharp, bright fear. There’s only survival now.

I’m the daughter of a controlling and cruel billionaire, so I understand about power. But I find myself fighting anyway. I find myself testing them.

I have claws and I bite. I’m not going down without a fight.

It’s like I have a death wish.

About K. Webster:

K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in “Tornado Alley” with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens.

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GIVEAWAY

Falling Stars Set & Say It’s Forever Collector’s Notebook

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Disclaimer: While Forever Perfect is a standalone in a series, I do think reading the earlier books in Alison G. Bailey’s The Perfect Series would lend depth to this book. I did not read the earlier books, so I found myself guessing over the relationships between the female and male protagonists and their parents. To understand Halle and Brandon, I recommend starting with book 1, Present Perfect, and reading through to this newest book in the series. 

That being said, Alison G. Bailey’s Forever Perfect is textbook soulmates, best friend’s brother romance. In this story, Halle and Brandon have loved each other from childhood, but Brandon continually denies his interest in Halle. In their youth, it has more to do with her proximity to his sister, but later he chooses to avoid her because his best friend asks her out. Much of this story is Brandon’s denial of his love for Halle, and Bailey puts her reader through the paces with these two. Like Brandon, Halle also denies her attraction to Brandon, and she hides in her relationship with Ryan. It isn’t until catastrophe strikes and their reality rushes in to wake them up that they acknowledge their love for each other. After that, Forever Perfect rushes on as an insta-love story until its breathtaking, forever-type of a happy ending. 

Everything in Forever Perfect is expected for the tropes that Bailey has chosen for Halle and Brandon. You can’t help but like them. Their denial of love is frustrating, and I’m not certain that I care for the way that Bailey removes Ryan from the situation. It’s my biggest criticism of the book. I also think that Halle and Brandon’s story is similar to their parents which makes it feel like an addendum instead of a new space for them. But again, I didn’t read the earlier books, and I’m uncertain about it. 

Did I enjoy reading Forever Perfect? Absolutely! Would I recommend it? Yes. Did it bowl me over? Not really. However, if you’ve read the earlier stories, I imagine this book packs a bigger emotional punch. In the end, it’s another opportunity to spend some time with Alison G. Bailey as she invites you into her world of storytelling. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“Just his hidden sunshine on a cloudy day. You’re good with being felt, but not always seen,” Shep says.

I nod.

He closes his eyes. “I feel you.”

Jewel E. Ann’s newest story, What Lovers Do, is disarmingly charming. It’s a surprise read in the sense that you find yourself lost in it. Before you know it, you’ve laughed, sighed, and lost a bit of your heart and soul to it. I proofread for Jewel’s stories. Usually, I determine the number of pages or chapters towards completion and break out a certain per day so I keep fresh eyes on it. What Lovers Do is the first book that I couldn’t step away from. Unlike her other stories, even her other “rom-coms,” you need to take a break because Jewel E. Ann loves to torture her readers with lert turns, curveballs, and angst-filled stories. It isn’t a conscious choice (or maybe I’m wrong); it’s simply the types of stories she weaves. But What Lovers Do is different. Yes, as is the case with any story, there is a moment when the hero, Shep, and the heroine, Sophie, are separated, even though you hate any moment on the page without the two of them. Yet, through that time, Ann uses the space to bring her protagonists to important epiphanies. Their time apart is necessary for the impact of their happy ending. And that’s the ultimate promise of Ann’s What Lovers Do: that her lovers live a happily-ever-after. 

So what’s to love about this story? What makes it “disarmingly charming?”

In a word, Shep. Don’t come at me for starting with him instead of Sophie. Trust me. She has her appeal, and we’ll get to it because this story doesn’t steal your heart simply on Shep’s ministrations. But Shep allows Sophie to be the best version of herself because they are suited in ways that her former, “snake-like” boyfriends aren’t. Shep allows Sophie to escape life with him in a place she calls “Shep World.” He’s doting, insightful, and shows her the importance of living life now even if the timing seems wrong. One of my favorite things about Shep is his constant need to push her glasses up her nose on her face. That’s a swoon worthy action because it suggests his care of her. And Sophie doesn’t need care in a traditional female/male consideration. No. Shep partners with Sophie, loving her beyond measure and living to make her day lighter and brighter. Everyone who reads this story will want to live in Shep world because it’s a place where people are loved deeply and encouraged to be the best version of themselves. 

“‘He’s the best guy at the worst time…’”

“I will never get enough of Sophie Ryan. My sun. Always the brightest star. Warm and comforting. I miss her when she’s not with me. And every day, she’s the first thought in my head, my sunrise.”

However, Shep’s magic only exists because Sophie is his soulmate. It’s clear from their meeting. Sophie has aspects of Ann’s other rom-com heroines: a bit quirky, disarming, independent, but focused on the wrong thing. She is accomplished, loves dogs (as does Shep), but her past experiences with men shade her sense of self. She internally berates herself for much of the book because she hasn’t chosen boyfriends well in the past. She thinks her heart is too big, and she is too compassionate that it makes her gullible. While she is sacrificial in her love for others, family, friends, boyfriends, the issue isn’t Sophie; it’s the people who have taken advantage of her. And that’s the part of Sophie that requires her to do some hard work to move past. But every moment Sophie and Shep are on the page together, it is pure Jewel E. Ann magic. Their banter, their chemistry, and their love catapult you through What Lovers Do. It’s the reason I couldn’t stop reading, blowing through my daily reading goals. Reading Shep and Sophie’s story is a salve to a soul ravaged by my out-of-control life and our world. 

“This is the version of me that’s truly me. The woman who loves life, friendship, and laughter. I love to laugh. I don’t like taking life too seriously unless I’m forced to play that part. With Shep, I don’t have to play it.”

What Lovers Do is probably my favorite Jewel E. Ann rom-com. If you are looking for a romance that will truly allow you to escape, this is the book for you. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

What Lovers Do by Jewel E. Ann is now live! 

From bestselling author, Jewel E. Ann, comes a hilarious secret lovers story that redefines the meaning of friendship.

Shep’s found the female version of himself … and he thinks she’s perfect—perfectly unavailable.

Everyone loves Shep, the charismatic employee at Scottsdale’s newest pet store. He has shared custody of his two dogs with his annoying ex-wife and a smile that can disarm most women.

Except … Dr. Sophie Ryan. 

What starts out as a disastrous first meeting, involving a coffee catastrophe and mistaken flirting, turns into an unconventional friendship.

Fake phone sex. 

Dog park dates. 

And eighteen holes of golf. 

The problem? Sophie’s taken herself out of the dating pool for a mysterious reason, imprisoning Shep in the friend zone for eternity.

As their competitive personalities hit a boiling point, the gloves come off and so do their clothes. When Sophie’s “real” life threatens their relationship, can Shep let go of his past to chase the one that might get away?

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Meet  Jewel E. Ann

Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she’s not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.

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The world took everything from us.

The Difference Between Someday and Forever, the much anticipated and stunning conclusion to The Difference Trilogy from USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez is now live!

The world took everything from us.

As survivors of not only a plane crash, but two other impossible tragedies, we’d more than earned a life of peace. But time and time again, we were shown that fate had no intention of giving that to us.

Remi and I were soulmates. Plain and simple. Our love should have died in the depths of our darkness, but the sun still exists even when it’s not shining.

The secrets of our past threatened to destroy us at every turn, but for Remi, I would never stop fighting for our future.

The world took everything from us.
And we would stop at nothing until we took it all back—forever.

Fall in love today!
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Start the trilogy today!
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About Aly
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four hilarious children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys movies that can surprise her with a twist, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine by her side.

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