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✍🏻 Ready for your weekend read? It’s the perfect afternoon story. Kylie Scott’s The Rhythm Method is AVAILABLE. ✍🏻

The Rhythm Method, an all new rock star romance novella filled with surprises in the bestselling Stage Dive Series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!

Read my review HERE.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

It all started in Vegas…

After a wild and tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Evelyn Thomas and her rock star husband David Ferris have been happily married for years. Nothing needs to change, their life together is perfect. Which means that change in the shape of an unexpected pregnancy is bound to shake things up some. But could it be for the better?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yghvky
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/rhythmmethod

Excerpt

“In about five years,” he agreed, taking a swig from his bottle of beer. Because you could take the rock star to Paris and dress him in a three-piece suit, but he still wouldn’t be sipping champagne. Thank you very much.

“That’s the plan,” I said.

“And you do like your plans.”

The man was right about that. Some people could go through life flying by the seat of their pants. Content to not know what would happen next. I was not one of those people. I both knew and accepted this about myself. Know thyself and all that. Lists were my friends. Neatly ordered inventories of anything and everything going on in my life. Places to be. Things to do. Targets to be achieved at work. Planning was how I gave shape and context to my existence which in turn helped me live life to the fullest. Not that I didn’t mind taking a walk on the wild side now and then. I had woken up in Vegas married to a rock star, after all. But being organized was where I thrived. It was my happy place.

“I say we enjoy ourselves while we can.” His fingers crept beneath my long blonde hair to rub my neck. Guitarists’ hands were wonderful things. So much strength and dexterity. Not to mention the creativity.

I raised a brow. “Are you talking about the bathroom again?”

“The way I figure it, this suite has four rooms,” he said, voice low and husky. Sexy as fuck. My panties grew damper with every word he whispered. “The bedroom, bathroom, dining room, and this formal parlor or whatever the hell the butler called it. Now, given how much we’re paying per night, it would be wrong of us to not make the most of the place.”

“Oh.”

Add The Rhythm Method to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3A4gZXi

About Kylie Scott
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Connect with Kylie
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XujcZh
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GngiQq
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OiXx3I
Twitter: http://bit.ly/391pjJM
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Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2S7cc32
Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ
Stay up to date with Kylie by joining her mailing list:
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Website: https://kyliescott.com/

For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit:
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✍🏻 Who needs more of Tijan’s Bennett Mafia Universe? Well, Jonah Bennett is coming. Are you ready for this one? Check out this sneak peek and preorder your copy. ✍🏻

Jonah Bennett, an all-new sexy and fast paced novella in the Bennett Mafia Universe from New York Times bestselling author Tijan and 1,001 Dark Nights is coming November 16th, and we have a sneak peek!

A screech of brakes. 

A horn blaring. 

That was the only warning we got. 

Melissa and I were traveling. We’d taken time off from our residencies, mine in surgery and hers in family practice. We were in different locations. The driving distance wasn’t that far, but this time together was special to me. 

I had decided. I didn’t want to wait anymore.

That was my last thought as we came to a quick stop in our rental car. The traffic had frozen, bumper to bumper. 

“What the hell is going on?” Melissa asked.

I looked over at her and smiled. She was beautiful, like always. Big doe eyes. Long brown hair that had a slight curl. We’d been together for the last year. When I switched to go to medical school in the States, she was in the same year as me. We dated on and off for that year and the year after, but it was on and off for a reason. 

Then school happened. 

We graduated. 

We went into our specialties, but we decided to try again. 

I was happy that we had. I was happy with her. 

I was just happy. 

She was gorgeous. She was kind. Smart. She liked to tease me with this little sparkle in her eyes. She was also competitive, always pushing to get the best marks on each test and exam. She pushed me to do better, and that was a novel experience for me. I was used to pushing myself. No one in my family was in the medical field. It wasn’t what they did, but me… That was not me. I was the first to venture outside our family business. 

It wasn’t that I didn’t have their support. I did. They wanted me to go, to do better, to be better, but that’s all they had to offer. So I was left in the role of pushing forward, forging a new path. Though not with Melissa. She motivated me, and that was one of the many reasons I’d fallen in love with her. 

Right now, however, I was mostly focused on the fact that we had six days left to celebrate before going back to our normal, hectic lives. I reached over and threaded my fingers with hers, staring at the sparkling ring on her finger. 

“We should call our families tonight,” I suggested. “Tell them about the engagement.” 

She’d been glaring out the window at the traffic, but when I dropped a kiss on our fingers, she relaxed. 

She turned to me, that sparkle in her eyes. “Oh, you mean I’ll actually get to meet your family? Your very reclusive family that you’ve always said isn’t in the States and out of phone reach?” She was teasing, but sort of not. 

She hadn’t met my family for a reason, but they knew about her. 

Kai had her investigated. And if Kai had any files on her, then I knew Tanner got them as well. He probably had done a couple passes, too. Meaning, that he saw her in physical proximity, he knew her, but she wouldn’t have known who he was. Brooke wasn’t one to be left out. She insisted to overhear a phone call I had with Melissa one time. It was her way of “meeting” her. 

That was my family. 

But it was time. If she was going to marry me, she needed to know what she was marrying into. It was only fair, but once she knew, I’d have to be prepared that she might decide not to be with me—or worse, that she’d say something to someone else. 

I leaned back and shot her a grin. “When you meet them, you’ll know why.” 

The traffic still wasn’t moving forward, and more horns had started to blare. 

I frowned. “You think it’s an accident up there? That’s why we’re stalled?” 

“Oh.” Her smile melted away. 

If someone was hurt, we were supposed to go help. 

Melissa reached for her seatbelt at the same time I did. 

“Open the trunk,” I called as we rounded to the rear of the car. 

She found the button to pop it open, and I saw a first aid kit pushed back in the corner. I grabbed it, shutting the trunk. 

As I did, a guy came walking toward us, past the truck in front of us. Tall. Broad shoulders. White. He was in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, decked out like a stereotypical cowboy—probably Wrangler jeans and a shirt stolen from the set of an old Clint Eastwood movie. I catalogued all that out of habit. 

He saw me and stopped. 

He looked at Melissa. 

He turned back to me. “You’re Jonah Bennett?” 

I frowned. “Who’s asking?” 

“Do we know you?” Melissa stepped toward him, looking him over. The doctor in her came first, always. “Are you hurt? Is there a car accident back there where you came from—” 

She was concerned about him, concerned about others. 

That’s what she did, who she was, and why I loved her. 

He pulled a gun out and pointed it at her. 

She didn’t seem to register that. She was looking for blood on him when he pulled the trigger.

Synopsis

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tijan comes a new story in her Bennett Mafia universe…

Jonah Bennett wasn’t like his family. The mafia business was firmly what his brothers did, not him.

That changed the day a rival family killed his fiancée.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Reserve your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A3t52Z
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/JonahBen

Add Jonah Bennett to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3igoyUK

About Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.

Connect with Tijan
Amazon: https://amzn.to/30oxe0f
Facebook:http://bit.ly/2vreAub
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Vx4DpD
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2PyLhwy
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For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit:
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Stay up to date on all 1,001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu

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✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4 ⭐️ Review: Jana Aston’s One Night with a Nutcracker ✍🏻

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Jana Aston’s One Night with a Nutcracker is the Christmas read you need RIGHT NOW. Let me make a list of all the ways that this story will add some sweet happiness to your life:

  1. There are goats. That’s it. That’s all. 
  2. Sutton, the heroine, is a hippie girl who doesn’t take life too seriously. I mean…who wins an Airstream in a poker game and decides to basically squat on some land with a barn without thinking about the consequences. For years, she never considers that maybe she shouldn’t live there. But you can’t help but love her because she has a huge heart (see goats) and she makes great soap. 
  3. Who doesn’t love some enemies to lovers romance? I know I do. Add to that chemistry that screams off the page between Jake, the hero, and Sutton, and you will gobble the story. 
  4. Unlike the last book of this series, Elves with Benefits, there is a smidge of Christmas in this story. 
  5. Again, there are goats. With bows. Riding in a Porsche. Need I say more?

If you need a story to lose a little bit of time in, then you should read Jana Aston’s newest offering in her Reindeer Falls series. It isn’t meant to be taken seriously. In fact, you won’t be able to…it’s simply meant to let you escape for a little while. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A

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✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4 ⭐️ Review: Patricia D. Eddy’s Protecting His Target ✍🏻

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Patricia D. Eddy’s brand of romance marries the idea of formed families with fractured heroes and heroines. In doing so, it creates stories that feel grave and important. Add to that insta-love romances, and the depth of romance provides a backdrop for her compelling romantic suspense. To read a Patricia D. Eddy romance is to delve deeper into love, into life. It isn’t a light-hearted foray into love; it feels calculatingly necessary for romancelandia. 

Eddy’s newest story, Protecting His Target, returns her readers to her popular Away from Keyboard series. We are once again back with the Second Sight folks, specifically Ronan, the loner muscle who found himself shot in Eddy’s Rogue Protector. Ronan struggles to find his place in the Second Sight family and oftentimes waits for Dax, his boss, to relieve him of his duties out of some misguided sense of self wrought by his family of birth. He distances himself from this work family, thinking he’s misunderstood. The heroine of Protecting His Target is Zephyr. Zephyr has been on the run for four years, charged with the assassination of an important governmental employee. At the outset of this book, Zephyr is almost captured by the cartel that used to “own” her. Continually on the run, Zephyr struggles to trust anyone out of self-protection. Ronan crosses paths with Zephyr when he’s tasked with finding her and bringing her to the authorities. When he reads her file, he notices some inconsistencies, and he begins his search with doubts about her guilt. Once he meets Zephyr, he decides she couldn’t be guilty and goes to great lengths to protect her and clear her name. Unfortunately, he tries to do this without his Second Sight team, and he puts Zephyr and himself in danger. Will they lose their lives before they express their love for each other?

I love Eddy’s ability to craft militaristic, romantic suspense. She has this knack for pulling you into that aspect of her stories. Sitting on the edge of your seat, you hope for the best for Eddy’s heroes and heroines, but she doesn’t make it easy on her readers. Instead, as she does with Protecting His Target, she makes it nervewracking. <spoiler alert> Zephyr is captured at some point and tortured, and you find yourself gobbling the story to get to the good part. I love that feeling of need that Eddy creates in her stories. 

I also love the idea of formed family. It tethers her stories together whether it’s the Away from Keyboard or Gone Rogue series. It’s important for Eddy to remind readers that we aren’t alone, that we can create our own families when our birth ones let us down. It’s made incredibly clear in this newest book because Zephyr and Ronan are distinctly alone, abused and rejected by their blood-formed families. When they recognize the truth of family created by the Second Sight folks, the emotion of the story grows deeper. Couple that with the chemistry between Zephyr and Ronan, and you can’t help but love this story. 

Now, I’ve said this before, and I have to say it again. I’m not the biggest fan of Eddy’s insta-love. I’d love a bit more tension between her heroes and heroines in falling in love. However, I think she does this because the rest of the story can be anxiety-building that she needs a safe landing space for her readers in the predictable love between her couples. I will give her that. However, it does make for formulaic storytelling.

Once again, Patricia D. Eddy’s Protecting His Target reminds you why you can’t help but read her stories. From its well-paced action, its enduring love between the H and h, and the message of the power of family, the pages practically turn themselves to the most happily of ever afters. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A

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✍🏻 Goats, a Soap-making pseudo-farmer, and a hunky landowner, oh my! Ready for the next story in Jana Aston’s Reindeer Falls series? Run and grab One Night with a Nutcracker NOW. ✍🏻

ONE NIGHT WITH A NUTCRACKER (Reindeer Falls Book 5) by Jana Aston

Release Date: November 11th

AVAILABLE NOW!!! FREE IN KU!!!

https://bit.ly/NutcrackerRF5

Listen TODAY on Audio!!

Reindeer Falls Collection Volume #2:

Audio: https://bit.ly/RF2_Audio

Audible: https://bit.ly/RF2_AUDIBLE

ELVES WITH BENEFITS #4 is AVAILABLE NOW!!!

https://bit.ly/ElvesRF4

PREORDER BACHELOR ON THE SHELF #6!!!

https://bit.ly/BachelorRF6

Add to Goodreads:

https://bit.ly/RF_Book5_GR

Blurb:

My name is Jake Sheppard and I’m ambivalent about Christmas and the Christmas-themed town I grew up in. But when I find out my late uncle left me an old barn and acres of land, the decision to return home to build my dream golf course is an easy one.

Imagine my surprise when I arrive and find out I have a squatter.

An incredibly sexy squatter, with wavy blonde hair, green eyes, a free spirit… and a herd of goats.

Lexi hates my guts. Apparently evicting a non-paying non-tenant and her goats weeks before Christmas is grounds for war.

Except Lexi’s version of war includes flinging her clothing at me and, as it turns out, I might be in way over my head with this girl…

About the Author:

Jana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she’s ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. Jana’s novels have appeared on the NYT, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, some multiple times. She likes multiples.

Connect w/ Jana:

Instagram: http://bit.ly/IGJanaAston

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBJanaAston

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/GrindMeCafe

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Website: http://www.janaaston.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/NewsletterJana

Society 6: http://bit.ly/Society6Jana

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✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 5 ⭐️ Review: Catherine Cowles’s Beautifully Broken Redemption ✍🏻

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“I couldn’t describe it any other way than to say it felt like coming home.”

Catherine Cowles has written a gorgeous new story in Beautifully Broken Redemption. It suggests that we must become vulnerable in order to trust and love again after past hurts. This story, thankfully, takes us back to Cowles’s eponymous Sutter Lake. It follows Anna, a manager of Kennedy’s (Cain’s Kennedy) Hope House, the shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Anna’s superpower is caring for the people of the shelter, as well as her friends. However, she struggles to accept any assistance from other people. The past has taught her to be distrustful of people. It’s easier for her to give and difficult for her to take. When her sister dies suddenly, she is tasked with guardianship over her nephew and niece. Her parents threaten to take custody of them, and Anna will not allow it. Mason, the hero of this story, is an acquaintance, one whom Anna has felt a pull to. She decidedly ignores it, at least until the moment when she must make a huge decision to protect her nephew and niece. Mason turns out to be the guy to help. Unfortunately, danger lurks around the corner and threatens Mason and Anna’s happy ending. 

From the moment I began Beautifully Broken Redemption, I knew that I was going to love Cowles’s story. It has all the qualities of her storytelling: a broken H or h, high emotional walls that must tumble through an extreme soulful love, some danger that threatens the happiness of the H and h, and a gorgeous happily-ever-after. Anna and Mason’s story is all of those. 

Mason is a protector; he’s compassionate and insightful. The love he feels for Anna saves her from herself. Anna is a stalwart, a champion for people, but she struggles to champion for herself. Mason shows her how to let go of the guilt of her past so that she can relish living in the moment through his immense love for her. It doesn’t take long for these two to acknowledge their feelings. The complications of their journey truly come from outside forces, not their acceptance of their feelings for each other. I think when you have a heroine with a complicated past such as Anna’s it’s important to give that heroine the love of a lifetime. And Cowles writes this well. While Mason and Anna have a few struggles, specifically with issues around trust, the outside forces cause the greater strife of Beautifully Broken Redemption. Cowles deftly uses their love affair to undermine the bigger tragedies of this story. Like her other books, the story is fluid, and Cowles’s careful characterization of Mason and Anna keeps the reader engaged in the story. 

Catherine Cowles’s Beautifully Broken Redemption is the story you need right now especially if you love two fractured people finding big beautiful love in the face of danger. Every turn of the page of this book is an alert, a suggestion that you NEED Catherine Cowles’s stories in your life. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A

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✍🏻 Catherine Cowles has once again written a beautiful, heart-wrenching romantic suspense. Beautifully Broken Redemption is LIVE, and it is a gorgeous read. ✍🏻

She’s hiding secrets.
His demons are taunting him.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.

Beautifully Broken Redemption, a moving and gorgeously written standalone overflowing with swoony romance and breathtaking twists from Catherine Cowles, is out now!

She’s hiding secrets.

For Anna, keeping her deepest scars hidden from the world has always been a necessity—from the bruises of her childhood to the mistake that nearly cost her everything. To keep herself safe, she must keep everyone around her at a distance—especially the man who has tempted her since the moment they met.

His demons are taunting him.

Mason has done his best to bury the past by achieving more than he ever thought possible. But even with all of his success, his life feels empty.

When tragedy strikes, Anna is left fighting to protect the only family she has left. And Mason will do anything to keep her and her loved ones safe—even if that means the ring of wedding bells.

But as a new spark ignites between them, someone is watching.

And they’ll do whatever it takes to snuff out that light for good.

Discover your next read today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NuCwpA
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BeautifulBrokenRedemp
Apple Books: http://apple.co/37CAz1h
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3qOfpEP
Nook: http://bit.ly/2OUl51W

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3saN5ge

About Catherine Cowles
Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

Connect with Catherine
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IEQXSw
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Lc4mU0
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinecowles
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Website: https://www.catherinecowles.com/
Stay up to date with Catherine by joining her mail list:
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✍🏻 Kylie Scott has gifted her readers with a novella in her Stage Dive series. Trust me. You WANT The Rhythm Method. ✍🏻

The Rhythm Method, an all new rock star romance novella in the bestselling Stage Dive Series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

It all started in Vegas…

After a wild and tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Evelyn Thomas and her rock star husband David Ferris have been happily married for years. Nothing needs to change, their life together is perfect. Which means that change in the shape of an unexpected pregnancy is bound to shake things up some. But could it be for the better?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yghvky
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/rhythmmethod

Add The Rhythm Method to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3A4gZXi

About Kylie Scott
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Connect with Kylie
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XujcZh
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GngiQq
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OiXx3I
Twitter: http://bit.ly/391pjJM
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2EUrx11
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Imusk3
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2S7cc32
Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ
Stay up to date with Kylie by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/2TOOivT
Website: https://kyliescott.com/

For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/37fl0uT
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Y7uBQp
Website: https://bit.ly/2AIIr3A
Stay up to date on all 1,001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu

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✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Kylie Scott’s The Rhythm Method, a 1001 Dark Nights novella ✍🏻

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

How does one write about Kylie Scott’s The Rhythm Method? This 1001 Dark Nights novella connects us back to her popular series, Stage Dive, and that band’s famous rockers. Is it fun to be back with the guys? Yes. Is Mal still misbehaving? Absolutely. In fact, he has an important part to play in this book, and, in true Mal form, he is insistent that you, the reader, know that. The theme of formed family is still very much apparent in the chaos of Scott’s story, and the whole book feels nostalgic as the band is here. The Rhythm Method is a quick read that simply makes you feel good. 

Where I think it’s most important is the realism behind its quick story. The gravity of The Rhythm Method lies in the reality of becoming new parents. As I was reading Scott’s story, I was reminded of almost twenty-one years ago when I was a first-time mom. While my child’s birth isn’t as dramatic as the <spoiler alert>  one in this story, the feelings behind it are very similar. Scott uses the scope of this story to articulate the discord that happens after becoming a parent. Even more, she exhorts her readers on the ways to process it. Between the humor of its characters and the challenges post-birth, there is the admonition to “heal thyself” with therapy and support, whether familial or paid. 

By the end of The Rhythm Method, there is the promise of future stories in this world couched in hope, the hope that new parents can find their new normal with assistance and a fair amount of grace. This is exactly why I adore Kylie Scott’s storytelling: you get a ldose of fun with a heaping spoonful of truth in love. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A

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✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4 ⭐️ Review: Monica Murphy’s The Senior ✍🏻

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

It started, for me, with Falling for Her, a bully-esque new adult romance that, quite frankly, tired me out. Yet…I couldn’t stop reading the books of that series especially as Monica Murphy piqued my interest in her most unlikely pairing, Eli Bennett and Ava Callahan, in Addicted to Him and Meant to Be. After that, she had me hooked by Diego and Jocelyn. Needless to say, there was no turning back from Murphy’s The College Years series. This group, Jake, Hannah, Eli, Ava, Diego, Jocelyn, Jackson, Ellie, Tony, Hayden, Caleb, and Gracie, were simply “meant to be.” And the stories that Murphy has created just draw you into this world. There are times, however, when the actions of the characters are childish and immature. As a woman of middle age, I wanted to throw my phone at the wall in frustration. However, as a professor of this age group, I was compelled. Obviously, Murphy is writing fiction and it’s hyperbolized, but there is truth here for sure. What is interesting and telling about the newest book in this world, The Senior, is the depth of story Murphy has created about Eli and Ava. I’m certain Eli spent so much time in Murphy’s head shouting at her to write about him and Ava, and write about them, she did. 

At the start of this book, <spoiler alert> Eli and Ava are broken up. It takes much of The Senior for this to be remedied. If you’re a fan of The Callahans and The College Years series, Murphy is careful with their story. If you’re reticent to read it because you like them together (as do I), rest easy that she handles their story well. I don’t want to give away plot points because I’d hate to ruin the book for other readers. There is a way that, given their stories in The Callahans, she could have taken it, but Murphy might have alienated readers. 

What you get from The Senior is redemption and maturity for both Eli and Ava. When we leave them in Meant to Be, they have their “happy for now.” Yet, Eli has yet to work through his pain of abandonment. Obviously, this plays heavily in The Senior, and Murphy takes the scope of her newest book to force Eli to heal this personal issue. While Murphy doesn’t heal it in a way that might be more reasonable, by the end of The Senior, Eli has changed, and he is a better man than he is at its start. If I have to mourn anything in this book (Murphy has promised another book so this book doesn’t seem like the end, hence I don’t have to mourn its ending), it’s the evolution of Ava. The Ava of The Callihans is different from the Ava of The Senior. Her drive and ambition to change the world have been muted, and I miss that version of her. It’s the reason I gave this book 4 stars. 

I do believe that Monica Murphy has written Eli and Ava the best of happy endings, and they are beautifully resolved by the end of The Senior, something that had not been completed at the end of the duet of books in the earlier series. The epilogue of their story is a perfect storm of sweet, reminding you why you just can’t help reading this series.

In love and romance, 

Professor A