Tag: band of brothers

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 Did you see it? Have you preordered it yet? Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward have revealed the cover for the final story in their The Rules of Dating series. Check out The Rules of Dating A Younger Man and get ready for another steamy story from this amazing romance duo. ✍🏻

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Title: The Rules of Dating a Younger Man
Authors: Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative
Photographer: Ren Saliba
Model: Shaun Collins
Release Date: September 15, 2024
 
 
BLURB

 

I was the last of my group of friends to find “the one.”

 

The guys would always tease me that I needed to hurry up and settle down.
But I was in no rush.
Until I met someone worth rushing for.
Alex was one of the weekend volunteers at Ryan’s House—a charity I founded to build housing near hospitals.
Little did I know she was the same person I’d been arguing with over email before the project started. At the time, I’d thought Alex was a dude.
In reality? She was a smoking hot blonde who captivated me from the moment we met in person.
Our chemistry was off the charts, and I fell hard pretty fast.
Unfortunately, Alex insisted I was too young for her. I hated that she felt that way. Because age was just a number.
Not only that, her words didn’t match the way she looked at me—like she was very interested.
I lived for the weekends we’d spend out of town volunteering. Alex and I side-by-side hammering during the day, while sharing intimate dinners together at the hotel at night.
Eventually, the walls she’d put up to protect her heart began to crumble.
Until fate threw us a doozy that I wasn’t sure we could come back from.
If I’d thought our age gap was the biggest hurdle, I didn’t know anything yet.
Rule number one for dating an older woman who insists you could never be together?

 

Don’t fall in love.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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VI KEELAND

 

 

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

 
 
 
PENELOPE WARD
 

 

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.
 
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
 
With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

 

 
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ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT & AUDIO
 
 
 

 

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Free in Kindle Unlimited
 
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new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Rebecca Jenshak’s Burnout ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A-

Tropes: bad boy/good girl; opposites attract; grump/sunshine; sports romance; alpha-hero; band of brothers

Who knew how refreshing an Olympic gymnast FMC and a motocross MMC could be as romantic characters? Let’s face it; there’s a run on hockey romance right now in romancelandia. Rebecca Jenshak has inhabited the world of college basketball, college hockey, and professional hockey at great length. Bringing us into the worlds of motocross and gymnastics was refreshing, and it raised the level of her storytelling. 

I couldn’t put down Jenshak’s Burnout for the first time in a bit. Knox and Avery’s banter, their compelling attraction, and the complication of their friends-with-benefits/situationship are enticing. I hated to leave them because Jenshak has created a chemistry between the two that is undeniable and engaging. Highlighting the tension of Knox’s need to care for his family is the emotional foundation of this story, and it draws the reader in. The way that Jenshak takes her reader to almost the end for Knox’s revelation about his feelings for Avery keeps you glued to the book. My one criticism is the ease at which Knox realizes this. He moves from failing to communicate with Avery to being all in which created a bit of a continuity issue for me. However, his profession of love is magnetic and romantic. Even more, the ending of Burnout and its bonus epilogue are adorable. 

Rebecca Jenshak earned a gold medal with Burnout. She should stand proudly on the podium and accept all the accolades for a compelling new story.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Kandi Steiner’s Learn Your Lesson, book 3 of her Kings of the Ice series ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

Tropes: single dad; teacher/nanny; forced proximity; hockey romance; band of brothers; forbidden; grump/sunshine; age gap; opposites attract; spicy lessons

Two weeks out and Kandi Steiner’s Daddy P still sits with me. Learn Your Lesson, book 3 of her Kings of the Ice series, is my favorite. Why? Well, for a number of reasons.

  1. Kandi Steiner’s writing voice has evolved. I’d like to think it has more to do with her personal life, but the angst of A Love Letter to Whiskey seems a thing of the past. Is there angst in Learn Your Lesson? Why yes there is! However, this isn’t “steal-your-soul-angst”; Steiner recognizes that people are fraught and it affects relationships. Every relationship has ups and downs, and as Will allows himself to love and be loved, he and Chloe must struggle through his battle. This is organic to Learn Your Lesson, and one of the reasons I adore their journey.
  2. Add a kid, and I’m in. Create an unique relationship between the kid, in this case, Ava and Chloe, and the emotional gravitas is built. Ava is everything you love in romance: precocious, adorable, and also fraught like her daddy. Like Chloe and Will, she also undertakes a character journey. While it isn’t the most important journey of the story, Steiner uses it to build Chloe’s character as the true hero of Learn Your Lesson.
  3. Steiner’s craftsmanship of Chloe is my favorite. She is a woman battling the matriarchal rule of her childhood and finding herself. She’s insightful, joyful, and independent. Her tenacity to bring joy into Will and Ava’s life is one of the draws to this story. She knows herself and her wants, and she goes after it. She’s the type of female character romance readers are drawn to.
  4. The band of brothers of the hockey team adds layers to the story. For one, it allows us to revisit the characters of the series’ first two books, but it evolves the characters who have stories to come. Steiner entices and invests us deeper into her series by bringing the old while mixing it with the future. I cannot wait for Aleks’s story based on how much more Steiner gifts us about him in this story.

I’m invested. Daddy P (Will) currently owns my heart in this series. What’s not to love about a recovering grump who falls hard for his sunshiney nanny? Everything!

In love and romance,


Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen’s My Dark Desire ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A

“You make my soul breathe fire, my beautiful dark desire.”

Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen’s newest book, My Dark Desire, begins with a content warning: “this is a dark romance and may contain triggering content.” Anyone who’s read dark romance from either of these two authors knows that their dark can grow dark quickly. Like its partner in crime, My Dark Romeo, My Dark Desire finds its darkness in its MMC’s behavior. When one is rich and powerful, one’s scruples can become gray…and Huntington and Shen’s MMC, Zach, is the grayest of grays. 

My Dark Desire is a modern-day Cinderella story with an FMC in Farrow with more backbone than your average dark romance FMC. What I loved the most about this story is Farrow’s capacity to bring Zachary Sun to his knees. It’s always my favorite part of a romance when the MMC seems like the most indomitable character in the room, but it’s clear from the moment this type of MMC meets his FMC, all bets are off. Huntington and Shen have imagined one of my favorite MMCs in this book: a seemingly impenetrable, robot of a man. This only means he will fall hard…and Zach Sun does just that. He becomes obsessed with Farrow. 

Thankfully, Huntington and Shen understand the chemistry between an MMC obsessed with his FMC and an FMC who simply cannot help herself when it comes to the MMC. Farrow and Zach are pure chemistry from the start. Their banter, push and pull, and fire set this story’s path—and it’s a blazing one. In fact, Huntington and Shen have written so much story in My Dark Desire that it’s 428 pages of a cat and mouse chase. 

What’s most compelling about My Dark Desire and by extension, My Dark Romeo, for that matter, is the creation of Romeo, Ollie, and Zach’s band of brothers trope. Usually, in dark romance, there is very little to save you from the wretchedness of the powerful character towards his/her prey. In this book, Huntington and Shen save you with the humor between these “brothers.” The choice to interrupt the narrative with text messages that will absolutely make you laugh out loud provides a respite from the growing tension between Zach and Farrow or Farrow and her step-family. The intentionality behind the layers of this book, ones that swirl between suspense, humor, and spice, drew me in and compelled me forward. There is something here for every type of romance reader. 

My favorite moment of this book came at the end. I haven’t exclaimed at the end of a book for its final line in a while, and Huntington and Shen end My Dark Desire brilliantly. So consider this my warning: if you’re a “read the end of the book to alleviate your anxiety” kind of person, do NOT read the epilogue before you’ve read the entire story. You will ruin the brilliant machinations of its authors. A day later and My Dark Desire is still taking up space in my brain. Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen have absolutely done it again with this book, and I am very ready for Ollie’s story…

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: J. Saman’s Irresistibly Dangerous ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: A- / B+

Tropes: forbidden relationship; marriage of convenience or fake marriage; band of brothers; best friends’ cousin; romantic suspense

“She’s my beauty, and I’m her beast.”

They say, “Be careful of the quiet ones.” J. Saman’s Irresistibly Dangerous showcases this truth through its sweeping drama for Lenox and Georgia. In fact, for me, this final book of her Irresistibly Yours series is my favorite, thanks to its driving plotline, detailed characterizations, and eroticism. Lenox is a dirty, dirty man.

Likes:

  • Lenox and Georgia’s journey of recompense. The upheaval of their constant back and forth makes for enjoyable reading.
  • The band of brothers situation that has been the foundation for this series. It’s on full display here with the added complication of the forbidden nature of Lenox and Georgia due to her cousins.
  • The general storyline. This is the romantic suspense of this series. While it isn’t much of a surprise, the suspense elements add another entertaining plotline to the book. Lenox working to find all the dirt on her CEO and his son is engaging.
  • Lenox’s protectiveness over Georgia. There is nothing more swoon worthy than a protective, fully consumed MMC. Saman has drawn Lenox well. Add to his characterization dom-feels, and it’s pure erotic fire.

Criticisms:

  • Georgia’s easy forgiveness of Lenox. I’m not partial to an FMC who forgives and forgets so easily or who is ready to get intimate with the MMC after he’s treated her with indifference. It always tweaks me.
  • Lenox’s constant reminders that he can’t be with Georgia. Saman took this further than I think it needed. When he finally decides to live his life on his own terms, I whispered a “finally” as it should have happened sooner. 

I have absolutely loved J. Saman’s Irresistibly Yours series. Generous stories coupled with keen character journeys have ingratiated themselves into my heart, and Lenox and Georgia’s Irresistibly Dangerous is the icing on the cake of this compelling series.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 They say to always be careful around the quiet broody ones. I’m fairly certain J. Saman has saved the very best for last with Irresistibly Dangerous, out NOW! ✍🏻

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Georgia Monroe. Billionaire Heiress. Stunning. My best friends’ cousin. The woman whose heart I broke six years ago. And now my fake wife. 

Irresistibly Dangerous  by J. Saman is now live! 

For the record, I knew I never should have touched her.

She was everything good in this world and I was everything but.

I was too broken to care about how off-limits my best friends’ cousin was.

And I didn’t want to stop.

She was the air I needed while drowning in darkness.

Until I broke her heart and finally forced myself to do the right thing and walk away.

Six years later she’s on my doorstep asking me for a favor I can’t say no to.

Only a marriage of convenience to Georgia Monroe is anything but convenient.

Not with how I still crave her despite the promises I made to never touch her again.

Not with the dangers lurking around us, coming after her in ways she knows nothing about.

I’m the only one who can help her.

Her dark knight. A silent hacker.

The cold, broody man who never felt worthy of her love.

But now everything is different.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and prove I deserve a second chance at owning this irresistibly dangerous woman’s heart.

No matter what comes my way. 

  Download today or read for FREE with #kindleunlimited

Amazon: http://geni.us/IrresistiblyDangerous       

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/46XCeL0 

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Meet J. Saman

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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

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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: Rebecca Jenshak’s In Your Wildest Dreams, a Wildcat Hockey series story ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: B/B-

Tropes: pro hockey romance; troubled ex-; he falls first; cinnamon roll hero; found family; band of brothers

Rebecca Jenshak’s next story in her Wildcat Hockey series, In Your Wildest Dreams, is an apt reminder that a golden retriever/cinnamon roll hero who falls first is a pure delight. Jenshak’s newest book focuses on the difficulty of her hero, Ash Kelly, falling for her heroine, Bridget, first. Jenshak deftly takes her readers through Bridget’s story about relationship violence and a manipulative ex. She complicates it for Ash when she makes the ex-boyfriend, the newest assistant GM for Wildcat Hockey. This sets in motion a secreted relationship with tons of spicy. In fact, that’s the failsafe for In Your Wildest Dreams. Ash and Bridget are pure fire. 

Where I think the story finds trouble is the machinations of the ex. Yes, Jenshak highlights the power of relationship abuse to keep a victim silent. Bridget’s eventual willpower and courage are commendable. However, throughout the story, I thought Ash’s inaction was a flaw. He has power through the entirety of the story, and it’s his agent and/or manager. Yes, Ash struggles with understanding his role on the team and the power of his generosity with his teammates. However, it was difficult to accept that he’d readily allow a new assistant GM to harm his professional life. With so many hockey books in the romance market, it’s difficult to accept this narrative flaw. 

That being said, I did enjoy Ash and Bridget’s journey in In Your Wildest Dreams. It’s possible that I loved the band of brothers trope even more, as Rebecca Jenshak has crafted a hockey series that underlines the power of brotherhood.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 Ash Kelly is Rebecca Jenshak’s most congenial MMC of her Wildcat Hockey series. You can’t help but fall in love with him in In Your Wildest Dreams. Grab it NOW! ✍🏻

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In Your Wildest Dreams by Rebecca Jenshak is now live! 

He’s the cocky, pro hockey player that tried to get my number during a game. Now he’s sidelined with an injury and I’m his new nurse.

The first time I met Ash Kelly, he stripped off his jersey and gave it to a little girl in the crowd, charming an arena full of fans in the process. Then he tossed me a puck and asked for my number. I was with my jerk ex-boyfriend, who was less than impressed with the whole thing.

The second time he crashes into my life it’s as my patient. There’s no way he should remember me, but he does. Being Ash’s nurse is torture. He’s stubborn and frustrating, and he won’t stop flirting with me now that he knows I’m single. He’s even recruited the entire hospital to help him win me over. And it’s working.

The more time I spend taking care of him, the more he breaks down my defenses. He’s kind and considerate, and he makes my heart race.

But I’ve sworn off dating and getting involved with a charming, handsome hockey player like Ash feels like a terrible idea. We go our separate ways again, despite our undeniable connection.

I should have known it wouldn’t be the last time. For some reason, the universe keeps throwing us together.

I’m finally ready to give him a chance, but there’s one little problem. My ex-boyfriend just got a new job as the assistant GM of the Wildcats. And the only thing he wants more than me is to screw over the man I’m falling for.

In Your Wildest Dreams is a hockey romance with a cocky, cinnamon roll hero, spice, banter, and a happily ever after. It’s the fourth book in the Wildcat Hockey series and can be enjoyed as a standalone.

  Download today on read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://geni.us/IYWDAmzn

Paperback: https://mybook.to/IYWDpb

Audible: https://geni.us/IYWDAudio

Narrated by: Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/46yeptt

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.

Sign up for her newsletter to be notified of new releases: https://rebeccajenshak.com/newsletter/

Connect with Rebecca

Website: https://www.rebeccajenshak.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16681160.Rebecca_Jenshak

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Jenshak/e/B074F258NP/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccajenshak

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1523746940998401

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccajenshak

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rebeccajenshak

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccajenshak

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-jenshak

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: Meghan Quinn’s He’s Not My Type ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: B+

Tropes: he falls first; close proximity; friends to lovers; pro hockey/sports romance; roommates; found family; band of brothers

I had eagerly anticipated Meghan Quinn’s He’s Not My Type, mostly because I’ve enjoyed her Vancouver Agitators series and secondly because I’ve been intrigued with Halsey Holmes. Insight into Professor A’s romance loves: broody, quiet, emotionally complex heroes/MMCs are my favorite. Hence, other than Silas Taters, I’ve hoped for Halsey’s story. 

For the most part, Quinn doesn’t disappoint with him. For one, what’s not to love about a “he falls first” trope for Quinn’s most internal character? Halsey falls deep, at first sight, for Blakely, her FMC. This creates two situations: his unrequited love grows to the point that he becomes awkward (very funny stuff) when he finally has the opportunity to date her, and two, his friends, the foundation of this series, are enlisted to help him. This provides pages upon pages of hilarious banter with this band of brothers we’ve all come to love. You’ll laugh out loud at their antics as they seek to aid Halsey in his pursuit of Blakely. Honestly, it’s the best part of He’s Not My Type…which is where the problem of this story lies.

You see, as much as I anxiously awaited this book, some aspects disappointed me…or, more concisely, confused me. For one, the pacing was strange. If you’ve read the first books of this series, you know that Halsey’s twin brother has died. I had wanted the background as well as the emotional journey that Halsey must undertake to work through the grief at the loss of his brother. Quinn does proffer that up, but she spends the last ten percent of the book working out Halsey’s emotions about it. What happens is a strange pacing situation in her book. The second issue is Blakely’s chemistry with Halsey. It’s clear that he pines for her. He’s attracted to her into speechlessness, but Blakely doesn’t return it until much later in the book. In fact, Blakely’s character journey feels pretty flat in contrast to Halsey’s, and it makes it difficult (at least for me) to accept her change of interest in Halsey…at least at first. Their physicality changes her impression of him. Quinn has Halsey morph from awkward broody quiet guy to alpha stud in the sheets. It’s not hard to understand Blakely’s change of heart, but it causes you to consider her reasons behind it. Then, when Halsey has his breakdown (again, in the last ten percent of the book), she’s all in and his emotional support. The emotional development of their relationship lacks the depth necessary to pull off the last portion of the story. At least, that’s how I felt in reading it. 

He’s Not My Type is less about the romance between Halsey and Blakely. That’s a foregone conclusion. Instead, it’s about the band of brothers and its impact on helping Halsey grieve. Much of that is couched in some delicious funny banter, but it’s more a deflection to the heart of this story: the love shared with teammates. Is this book typical Meghan Quinn? Indeed. Is it spicy? Absolutely! Halsey Holmes is a beast in the bedroom. But does the storytelling match the quality of the other Vancouver Agitators books? I’m not so sure. I am absolutely ready for Posey’s story; Quinn has set that up well. I’m thinking we might also get another character in this world, thanks to a crossover with the other books in her universe. I just hoped Halsey’s story would have had a stronger emotional impact than Meghan Quinn gifted us.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: Adriana Locke’s Flame, a Carmichael Family series book ✍🏻

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Overall Grade: B

Tropes: second chances; bodyguard; forced proximity; marriage of convenience; band of brothers

I have loved Adriana Locke’s Carmichael Family series from its first book, Flirt. I was ready for Foxx Carmichael’s story because he’s been the most mysterious, very little of his story divulged throughout the series. With mysterious texts about an animal to his brothers in the first four books of the series plus the Carmichael matriarch insisting on a new couch, there were mysteries to be divulged in this final book of the series. So many expectations in a single book, and Locke meets them, but I’ll be honest, the answers to these enduring questions are answered, but they aren’t as impactful as I had anticipated. Even more, while Foxx Carmichael shines in this book, his second chance/marriage of convenience romance with Bianca, the object of his undying affection, was a bit underwhelming. The necessary tension found in the earlier books of this series was profound. In this one, it seemed like a machination to move through the book. I didn’t believe the reason Foxx denies a relationship with Bianca at first, even more so, when Foxx and Bianca must marry each other, essentially deflating their emotional struggle. Locke deftly adds tension through Bianca’s relationship with her father, but, for me, it wasn’t enough to resurrect the necessary tension and resolution of this story. 

Did I fall in love with Foxx Carmichael? Indeed.

Was Bianca the perfect FMC for Foxx? For sure.

There was something missing, though, from Flame, this final book in Adriana Locke’s Carmichael Family series. I believe it was the pacing as it felt rushed, and it lacked the emotional punch of the first books of the series. Adriana Locke will always be a must-read author for me. I was just hoping for a bit more for our silent but deadly Carmichael brother.

In love and romance,

Professor A