Tag: age-gap

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Meghan Quinn’s Bridesmaid by Chance ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-

Tropes: age gap; workplace romance; brother’s business partner; insta-attraction; forced proximity

In the final installment of Meghan Quinn’s Bridesmaid series, Bridesmaid by Chance, delivers a satisfying conclusion through the forbidden romance between Sloane and Hudson. Their chemistry—electric and complicated—drives a narrative that explores both personal growth and the delicate balance between family obligations and individual happiness.

The central relationship between Sloane and Hudson captivates from the first page. Their connection is forbidden on multiple levels—he’s her boss and her brother’s business partner—creating a tension that Quinn masterfully navigates. What makes this dynamic particularly compelling is the contrast between Sloane’s confident ownership of her sensuality and Hudson’s honorable resistance to his growing attraction to her. This push-and-pull creates moments that are both humorous and profoundly emotional.

Quinn weaves a narrative filled with complications that feel both authentic and engaging. When Hudson needs to appease a prospective partnership by volunteering Sloane as a stand-in bridesmaid, their professional relationship begins to blur. Their attraction eventually boils over, leading to a relationship that faces multiple obstacles: Hudson’s sense of obligation that temporarily drives him away from Sloane, her brother’s discovery of their relationship, and the eventual reconciliation that demonstrates significant character growth for all involved. Hudson’s realization of Sloane’s importance and her brother Jude’s acceptance of her autonomy create a satisfying emotional payoff.

The individual character arcs prove as compelling as the romance itself. Hudson, the perpetually responsible Hopper sibling who has sacrificed personal happiness for duty, finds himself transformed by Sloane’s influence as she teaches him to embrace life beyond his obligations. Meanwhile, Sloane battles perceptions about her age, underscored by the gap between her and Hudson, and fights for recognition of her emotional maturity. Her history—growing up in poverty and losing her parents—has forced an adulthood on her that others are slow to acknowledge. When she finally stands up to her brother and earns his respect, the moment resonates as a triumphant fulfillment of her character journey.

The appearance of characters from previous books adds both humor and emotional weight to the narrative, creating a sense of community that enriches the reading experience. The intimate scenes between Hudson and Sloane strike an effective balance—passionate without overshadowing the emotional core of their relationship. Quinn’s signature humor permeates the story, providing levity amid the more serious emotional developments.

Bridesmaid by Chance stands as the strongest entry in Quinn’s series, delivering the perfect blend of chemistry, character growth, and emotional resolution that romance readers crave. For those who have followed the series from the beginning, this conclusion offers a deeply satisfying payoff, while newcomers will find themselves immediately drawn into Quinn’s world of complex relationships and genuine emotion.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 J. Saman’s Undeniably Forbidden is LIVE! ONS to more! What’s not to love? ✍🏻

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Undeniably Forbidden by J. Saman is now live! 

From USA Today bestselling author J. Saman comes a steamy new standalone, brother’s best friend, age-gap, billionaire romance about a broody single dad doctor and the curvy nanny who brings him to his knees.

In my defense, I had no clue the gorgeous guy I had a wildly steamy night with was my brother’s best friend. Or the single dad of the little girl I was about to nanny.

I hadn’t seen Dr. Owen Fritz since I was twelve and he was twenty-four, but even back then, I didn’t care much about him.

He was doing his billionaire, master-of-the-universe, medical school thing, and I was too into art and books to notice anyone.

Now he’s cold and broody, but he doesn’t scare me the way he does everyone else.

He’s been scarred, but I’ve been scarred worse.

We both promise to leave that night in the past, vowing to keep this secret between us and stay professional from now on.

Especially since I’m living with him—sleeping down the hall from him—and his adorable little girl.

Until one night of hell changes everything and all those promises we’ve been struggling to keep don’t just break, they shatter.

Now there’s no holding him back.

And the more he watches me with those magnetic eyes or whisks me into dark corners and puts his heated hands on my body, the more I forget why what we’re doing is so undeniably forbidden.

We’re playing with an unstoppable fire.

And we’re both about to get burned.

  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

http://geni.us/UndeniablyForbidden

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3URHD36

Meet J. Saman

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: http://jsamanbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14923699.J_Saman

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsamanbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jsamansradtasticreaders

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jsamanbooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jsamanbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jsamanbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-saman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jsamanbooks/

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/jsamanbooks

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: Stacy Travis’s Love You Anyway ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-/B+

Stacy Travis’s Love You Anyway, the second book of her Buttercup Hill series, promises so much for this continued series of siblings. Stacy Travis has written about the undeniable chemistry between Colin, an astrophysicist hiding from scandal, and PJ, the youngest sister of the Corbett family. Some suspense is a running thread thus far in this series, although Travis treats us to a surprise in this second book. Colin and PJ’s “cat and mouse” foreplay drives the reader forward into the story. The age gap, the “will they/won’t they”, and the almost forbidden-esque nature of their coupling make for a story that keeps you engaged to the last page. 

I’m excited about the future stories in this series. I can’t wait to find out more about what’s lurking in Kingston Corbett’s mind. Stacy Travis’s Love You Anyway moves us decidedly and beautifully forward into this world of grapevines and casual living.

In love and romance,

Professor A

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Review, Uncategorized

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4 ⭐️ Review: Tia Louise’s A Little Taste ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tropes: grump/sunshine; single dad; small-town romance; age-gap; family feuds; romantic suspense; insta-attraction

Tia Louise’s A Little Taste has some of the magic highlighted in its pages. I’ll be honest. I liked Louise’s last series, Hamiltown Heat, but I didn’t love it. It was missing the levity you find in A Little Taste. There is something charming about Aiden, her MMC in this newest book, and Britt, the erstwhile FMC who steals his heart. I find the grump/sunshine or grumpy single dad tropes to be fairly charming, as a character such as Britt easily wins Aiden’s stubborn heart. And, honestly, it happens quickly in this book, a marker of Louise’s romances. 

In fact, it’s one of the aspects of Tia Louise’s books of which I’m not a fan. I prefer stories that require a bit more physical restraint initially, but Louise loves raising her steam level quickly. And boy, does she do it with Aiden and Britt. From apartment hallways to trucks to bedrooms to any available surface, Tia Louise’s requisite spice level doesn’t disappoint. 

Steam-level aside, A Little Taste charms its readers through a small-town feud between the town’s mystics and the town’s legal arm. It engages with a story couched in romantic suspense, as Britt finds herself embroiled in the secrets of her father’s death. Overarching all of this is the chemistry between Aiden and Britt, and the sweet ways Britt loves Aiden’s son giving him reasons to fall hard for her. 

I found myself entertained and titillated in equal measure with Tia Louise’s newest offering, A Little Taste. I’m very excited about the next book in the series because I loved Britt and Aiden’s story.   

In love and romance,

Professor A

Uncategorized

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4 ⭐️ Review: Willow Aster’s Ruin ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Willow Aster’s Kingdoms of Sin series offers us a world of royalty. Undergirding each standalone in this series is a larger mystery. There is something afoot in each of her books that the hero and heroine of that book must contend with. It’s the tie that binds each of them together. Can they be read as total standalones? Yes. However, for the breadth of the experience, you should read them all. It will make connections in ways that show Aster’s ability to world-build. 

Now, Ruin, her newest book, to date, ties with Downfall as my favorite. Even then, I prefer Ruin over Downfall. I think first books in series introduce a new series, hence making them the best. This isn’t always the case, but it’s usually the situation with me. Until now. Ruin offers a story that both grabs your attention and titillates you in equal measure. Why should you read Ruin? 

  1. Ava. Singlehandedly, Ava is my favorite character in the series of standalones thus far. Eden and Elias are the pushovers, to a certain degree, in Downfall and Exposed while Luka and Mara are emotionally dramatic in ways that undermine the romance of their stories. Eventually, they develop emotional maturity, and their relationships become more pleasurable to read. However, until that moment, from a reading standpoint, it can be frustrating. In my opinion, as the youngest character in the series, Ava has the greatest sense of self. Honestly, I struggle with the idea that she is a 17/18 year old because she is the most mature of any of the characters. In the first two books, characters vacillated back and forth between their feelings. Ava does give Gentry chances to accept their attraction and interest; however, she doesn’t chase him. She won’t push herself on Gentry. She knows her self and expects more. In fact, she is exponentially more emotionally mature than Gentry who is 7 or 8 years older in chronological age. She is the first character whom I have truly liked in this series and wanted more of her story. 
  2. The story itself takes an interesting turn that keeps you reading. It’s compelling how Aster introduces more of the underlying story of the kingdoms. In this book, she comes up with an interesting plot twist that seems fairly “out there.” Yet, Aster crafts it in such a way that you can suspend your disbelief. I did have some doubts about Ava’s physical abilities with the plot twist, some inconsistencies. However, they are minute and really quite inconsequential. Again, this story seemed the most compelling of the three books. 
  3. Gentry’s emotional development. In Ruin, Gentry reads like the most frustrating character. He, like Luka, Mara, and Elias of the first two books, can’t seem to make up his mind about his interest in Ava. To be fair, this book is an age-gap/forbidden story. Yet, he seems indecisive for too much of the story. When he finally accepts his attraction and want for Ava, the emotional depth of the story heightens, and it makes for a better read. The Gentry at the end of the book is 100 times better than the Gentry in the first and middle of the book. Keep that in mind as you begin this book. There is a big payoff at the end. 

While Ruin is my favorite story to date in the Kingdoms of Sin series, there are still some areas where I think Aster could revise. The narrative has an inconsistent flow at times: sometimes, it moves quickly through the action while at other times, it slows to a “snail’s pace.” In that space, I think Aster could have revised more. I’m hoping when we read Jadon’s story in the forthcoming, Pride, the pacing of the story will be more consistent, and the details balanced to the story. Ruin’s story reminds us that love shouldn’t have boundaries on it. Yes, Gentry and Ava have a large age difference, but age is simply a construct, as Willow Aster shows us. When one’s heart is kindled into a blazing fire by another, if both of them are adults, that age difference shouldn’t matter. Aster makes it clear that Gentry and Ava are soulmates, and their epilogue exemplifies a love bigger than a universe. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Uncategorized

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 5 ⭐️ Review: Skye Warren’s Mating Theory – live TODAY! ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m going to put this right here, right now: I think Skye Warren is a writing genius. There, I’ve said it. Now, I can move on. Warren is one of the first authors I read who took on the mantle of crafting universes for her characters. In past reviews for her other books, I’ve noted my excitement at her ability to weave in characters from prior books, so that you feel connected to this larger community. When a former character pops up, you know that Warren has taken care to drop us back into a community such as Tanglewood. For all of its darkness, Tanglewood is one of my favorite places BECAUSE Warren makes us want to live there. We want to meet Damon and Penny and Gabriel and Avery and Harlow and Christopher and Hugo and Bea and Blue and Hannah…and on and on. Warren makes us feel like we are life-long friends with her characters, and we hate to leave them. So…thankfully, Warren doesn’t make us. 

Enter Sutton Mayfair, one of the devastated heroes in Warren’s Trust Fund series. When we left him, Sutton had been spurned by the loves of his life, Harlow and Christopher. Rudderless and grieving the end of his love affairs with these two, Sutton has fallen into despair, anesthetizing himself and his grief in alcohol. Having agreed to act as Christopher’s best man, Sutton feels overwhelmed and unprepared for that folly. One night, he meets Ashleigh, a prostitute, and he feels a connection with her. As Sutton engages in the wedding festivities for Harlow and Christopher, Ashleigh becomes his lifeline, and she awakens something in him that helps repair his broken heart. However, is it possible for these two to have a future given her occupation and his trepidation about relationships, given his broken heart? Is it possible for the bastard son of an abusive man to find a happy ending?

From its first pages, Warren makes herself known as a poet. There is a lyricism in her words. Since poetry seems to be one of the connections between Sutton and Ashleigh, it makes you wonder if Warren’s own prose becomes poetry as an inspiration for her characters. There were these moments of heavy prose that stirred my little lit student heart. With words like this: “[u]fortunately. Unfortunately, I’ll always be his friend. Unfortunately, there are knives carving the inside of me, writing patterns of loss on the slick side of my skin. ‘Yes,’” you fall deeply into this world of loss and restoration. Every page that turns, Warren’s prose lays bare Sutton’s fractured soul and offers up Ashleigh as his balm. Warren’s words become the catalyst for redemption in her story. 

Even in its beginning, there is a tension in Sutton’s story. My heart hurt for him which made traveling through his story at times difficult. Even in the Trust Fund series, you vacillate between the emotion of his eventual rejection and the defenses he raises to protect himself from this rejection. There were times in the duet when I both despised him and hurt for him. Entering Mating Theory, I knew his journey would be a difficult one. I was curious how Warren would transfer our acceptance of Sutton with someone other than Christopher and Harlow. Interestingly enough, she does this with the act of empathy through the character of Ashleigh and the use of repetition to help us better understand his relationship with his past loves. First of all, Warren crafts Ashleigh in such a way that, while she is the youngest character, she reads as the wisest. She sees Sutton’s soul in ways that Harlow and Christopher failed. There is a moment on the day of Harlow and Christopher’s wedding that brilliantly exemplifies her care and compassion for him. It’s here where we begin to understand their connection to each other and its superiority over his relationships with Harlow and Christopher. Even more, Warren, through her use of repetition, illustrates his disconnect from the two. We realize that Sutton has idealized his bond with Harlow. Warren elucidates for us that Sutton doesn’t “know” Harlow as he supposed. Yet, Sutton recognizes Ashleigh’s pain and seems to see into her soul, into the essence of who she is. Warren imagines them as soul-mated, and it allows the reader to accept Sutton’s journey to love Ashleigh. This is necessary because we need to accept a love interest for Sutton beyond Christopher and Harlow, who have chosen each other before him. 

For me, this story is Sutton’s story. Ashleigh is a wonderful heroine who is the catalyst for Sutton’s restoration, and she has a clear story in this book. But this is more about a happy ending for Sutton. Don’t get me wrong. I love Ashleigh as the heroine. Again, for me, she’s wiser than the older, more mature adults, and her story is a heartbreaking one. However, I showed up for Sutton. Skye Warren ameliorated Sutton’s life in such a way that the message of second chances is clear. Even after heartbreak, we can find a better path, a richer life, and a deeper love. Moving beyond his past, Sutton finds a brighter future, one he truly deserves. Honestly, I loved Mating Theory a bit more than Warren’s Trust Fund duet because Sutton and Ashleigh’s story could be any of our own.  

In love and romance,

Professor A