best friend’s little sister – Professor Romance

Overall Grade: A- / B+

Tropes: one bed/forced proximity; brother’s best friend; best friend’s little sister; fake relationship

Do you ever start reading a book because you want to escape life? You find yourself lost in the pages, both laughing and crying in equal measure. Meghan Quinn’s Bridesmaid for Hire is the type of book to deliver you from the doldrums of life. Maggie, the best friend of Hattie, the FMC of The Way I Hate Him, is the FMC for this story, and I am so thankful Meghan Quinn found a space for her. Quinn has a way of writing characters’ misfortunes that will make you belly-laugh. Unfortunately, Brody, the MMC and best friend of Maggie’s brother, Gary, is the target in BFH. Everything that can go wrong for Brody, does, and it makes the reader laugh out loud.

One of the challenges of this book is building the chemistry between Maggie and Brody. And quite frankly, it takes some time to accept their attraction to each other. Meghan Quinn spends much of the first two-thirds of the story building the back story for Brody wooing his boss so that, at times, Maggie and Brody’s burgeoning attraction can get lost. Eventually, after some serious hardships and mishaps, Brody and Maggie find their stride, only to have Quinn upend their path forward. Thankfully, Meghan Quinn knows how to craft a happy ending for her characters, and Maggie and Brody find theirs. However, Quinn leaves her readers until almost the very end for that gift.

Meghan Quinn’s Bridesmaid for Hire is the book that will save you from the stress of life. Honestly, I laughed out loud so many times at Brody’s misfortunes that I hated for the book to end. This is Quinn’s superpower: finding humor in the midst of a difficult world.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 Annika Martin’s romances are pure deliciousness. Her broody misunderstood MMCs with her smarter-than-the-MMC FMCs create some of the best rom-com magic in romancelandia. Grab The Grumpy Billionaire TODAY! ✍🏻

November 16, 2023 professorromance

The Grumpy Billionaire by Annika Martin is now live!

I’m the most feared man on Wall Street…unfortunately, my best friend’s little sister hasn’t gotten the memo.

I brandish equations like lightning bolts and shatter fortunes with mere scribbles on a whiteboard. People up and down Wall Street steer clear of me—or come to regret it.

My walls are impenetrable as Alcatraz, and my self-control? Rock solid, my friend.

Except when it comes to her.

The woman I’ve secretly longed for. The only woman I can never have.

My best friend’s little sister, Stella.

Growing up, she saw me as a heartless robot. It couldn’t be further from the truth, but a promise I made to her brother binds me, and my code of honor is as rigid as my isosceles triangle.

I hadn’t laid eyes on her for years, but now she’s in the heart of Manhattan, and I’ve unintentionally sent her career into a nosedive. My solution? Offer her a job at my hedge fund.

Suddenly I’m the boss of her, faced daily with her sparkling eyes and gummy worm obsession–and her infuriating refusal to stay away from me.

Well, I buried my feelings for her once before. I’ll do it again—to the nth degree.

Download today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

https://geni.us/CdMjSez

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

Meet Annika

Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who loves reading, taking pictures of her cats, consuming boatloads of chocolate suckers, and helping animals. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out in Minneapolis coffee shops with her awesome husband and tending her out-of-control garden.

Stay up to date with Annika by joining her mailing list:

https://geni.us/AnnikaEmail

Connect with Annika

Facebook: http://bit.ly/AnnikaMartinFB

Reader Group: http://bit.ly/AMFabulousGang

Website: http://www.annikamartinbooks.com

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/AnnikaMartinBB

Instagram: http://bit.ly/AnnikaMartinIG

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Xhv8Rr

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@annikamartinauthor

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Devney Perry’s The Brood, a Calamity Montana romance ✍🏻

September 7, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: grump/sunshine; loner MMC; small town romance; traveling FMC; forced proximity; age gap; best friend’s little sister

“If there was a woman who could will me to love her until my dying day, it was Iris.”

The Brood by Devney Perry is a captivating addition to the Calamity Montana series, featuring the enthralling romance between Wilder and Iris. Perry masterfully weaves the grumpy/sunshine trope into their story, creating a dynamic that is both heartwarming and electrifying.

One of the central themes of the novel revolves around the idea of finding one’s home in the heart of another. Wilder and Iris, two seemingly opposite souls, discover a profound connection that transcends their initial differences. The journey they embark on, as they learn to understand and cherish each other, is beautifully portrayed. Perry’s ability to convey the depth of their emotional bond is truly commendable.

Another poignant theme is the notion of self-forgiveness and moving forward. Both Wilder and Iris carry burdens from their pasts, and their struggle to come to terms with them is depicted with a raw and touching authenticity. The narrative explores the complexities of letting go, learning to forgive oneself, and embracing the possibility of a brighter future.

Unlike previous installments in the Calamity Montana series, Perry intentionally pulls back from incorporating the other characters, emphasizing Wilder’s solitary life before meeting Iris. This choice serves to underscore the profound impact Iris has on Wilder’s world, highlighting the transformative power of their love.

The emotional depth of The Brood is further heightened by Perry’s easy prose. The author has a knack for delving into the hearts and minds of her characters, allowing readers to feel every joy, every pain, and every moment of vulnerability. The intimate scenes between Wilder and Iris are charged with palpable chemistry, adding a steamy layer to their already intense connection.

Devney Perry’s ability to infuse a tale with such heartfelt emotion is a testament to her storytelling prowess. For fans of the grumpy/sunshine trope, this novel is an absolute must-read. The themes of finding a home in another and the power of self-forgiveness resonate long after the final page is turned. The Brood is a testament to the enduring magic of love and the capacity for redemption within us all.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Nikki Sloane’s The Good Girl ✍🏻

September 6, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: brother’s best friend; best friend’s little sister; virgin heroine; prolific hero; series of interconnected standalones

“He wasn’t wrong. I was a good girl, but sometimes, especially when I thought about him, all I wanted was to be bad.”

And that, my friends, is the crux of Nikki Sloane’s deliciously steamy The Good Girl, another story in her Nashville Neighborhood world. Preston and Sydney (Preston of The Doctor and Sydney who is the little sister of The Frat Boy’s Colin) remind us what we love most about Nikki Sloane’s brand of romance: it’s pure spice. This story is an insta-attraction between her main characters. Sloane deftly weaves Preston and Sydney’s forbidden journey with themes about overwhelming parental expectations and the danger of falling in love (or lust) with your best friend’s little sister, lending more gravity to her story beyond just smutty romance. Preston’s journey into maturity redeems him from his role in Sloane’s The Doctor, and you can’t help but fall in love with him as he negotiates his intense attraction to Sydney while starting a business with her brother. If I have any criticism, it’s the forbidden nature of their relationship. This has nothing to do with Nikki Sloane’s ability to write romances. Her easy prose and the pacing of the characters’ progressions make for an unputdownable read. However, I’m weary of the protective older brother trope. I’m not a fan of a big brother having a “say” over his little sister’s choices. I’ll fight against this as long as I can, hoping that authors will allow little sister’s agency and autonomy.

If you’re looking for a quick bit of romance, one that will satiate your erotic hunger, Nikki Sloane’s The Good Girl is the perfect read.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 Preston’s story is finally HERE. He’s helping make a good girl…”bad.” Grab Nikki Sloane’s The Good Girl today! ✍🏻

August 29, 2023 professorromance

She’s ready to be naughty.

The Good Girl by Nikki Sloane is now live!

What are you supposed to do when your best friend’s little sister—a classic good girl—asks you to help her go bad?

You should say no.

You shouldn’t pretend to date her so she can piss off her parents.

You definitely shouldn’t agree to take her virginity and show her all the experiences she’s been missing out on.

And you really shouldn’t keep it a secret from her brother, the one who’s your best friend and business partner.

But I don’t always make the best choices. In fact, I can be kind of a dick sometimes.

And I know if I don’t do it, someone else will . . . and I can’t have that. If anything, it means I get to be the good guy for once.

I just wasn’t prepared for how gifted this good girl would be at going bad.

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

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pIju1P

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/40sjhfV

Nook: https://bit.ly/40qZQ6U

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3KWyakE

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3LhP1zQ

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/43NVDgu

Meet Nikki

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. Now she writes full-time and lives in Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and a pair of super destructive cats. She is a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA® & Vivian® Finalist, a Passionate Plume & HOLT Medallion winner, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist, and couldn’t be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Connect with Nikki

Website: https://www.nikkisloane.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/NikkiSloaneBB

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SbBUyM

Facebook: http://bit.ly/NikkiSloaneFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620479414890336/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorNSloane

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nikki-sloane

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

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

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Adriana Locke’s The Proposal ✍🏻

August 14, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: brother’s best friend; best friend’s little sister; forbidden relationship; surprise Vegas wedding; marriage of convenience

Adriana Locke’s The Proposal is the type of romance story made to binge-read. It is a book that you’ll pick up and won’t be able to put down. She’s lying to herself if she thinks this is a true standalone because it introduces us to a family BEGGING for their own stories, but I digress.

The highlight of The Proposal is the burning chemistry between her main characters, Renn and Blakely. Renn is the best friend of Blakely’s older brother, and these two have toyed with each other for years. The sexual chemistry is off the charts between these two, and Locke shows her prowess as a romance writer when you desperately need them to jump into bed together from almost the first page. It’s clear from the start that they are destined for each other, and Locke does a superb job of making them loveable characters.

The pacing of the story is also well done. While they have a moment of drama, for the most part, Renn and Blakely are connected almost immediately. It isn’t rushed; Locke keeps them simmering on the stove for the first portion of her story, but she knows when to turn up the heat. It’s the pacing of their story that actually makes it unputdownable.

Additionally, she doesn’t mire her story in the forbidden nature (bro code rules) of Renn and Blakely’s pairing, thank goodness. A serious pet peeve of mine is the older brother taking his ire too far with the MMC when he breaks the rules. Locke gives it space in her book, and Brock takes his responsibility to Blakely seriously. However, his friendship with Renn is more important than his anger over his perception of Renn’s breaking of the bro code rules. Thank you, Adriana, for moving us quickly over that plot point.

Ultimately, Renn’s cinnamon roll hero characterization made me love the book. His facade is built on his player status, but it’s clear that he’s pined for Blakely for a long time, adding depth to his character development. In fact, while Locke doesn’t name it as a trope in her promotional graphics, it seems Renn was the first to fall, making him even more delicious. His protectiveness over Blakely coupled with his ardor for her is the final enticement of The Proposal.

What does it say about Adriana Locke as an author that she builds families that create a fervor in her fans for more stories from one book? This is the case with The Proposal. Renn and Blakely’s story feels like a launching pad for more stories from Renn’s family. I’m hoping those characters speak to Adriana Locke because I’m ready to give her my money right now.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 What’s not to love about a swoony rugby f-boy? Renn Brewer will steal your heart when you realize he falls first! Grab Adriana Locke’s The Proposal today because it’s LIVE and a sizzling read! ✍🏻

August 14, 2023 professorromance

An unexpected proposal occurs when a Vegas oops marriage turns into a marriage of convenience between a rugby player and his best friend’s little sister.

The Proposal by Adriana Locke is now live!

Breaking News: Rugby’s bad boy marries his best friend’s little sister

If Renn Brewer would’ve asked me to marry him, I would’ve said no.

Why?

One, his reputation precedes him. His name is in the headlines at least once a month. Two, he’s not just my brother’s best friend. They’re teammates. And three, I’m in my self-care era.

Unfortunately, a version of me equates self-care with bad choices.

The cocktail in my hand—similar to the one that got me into this situation—is the prettiest shade of pink. It’s almost the same color as the giant rock on my left hand. And instead of discussing an annulment, I’m considering a 90-day marriage of convenience to the man I accidentally married in Las Vegas.

Renn didn’t propose marriage. But he does deliver a proposal I might be unable to turn down.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/43D5Snn

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/TheProposalAL

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3J9vq3t

Meet Adriana

USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.

She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.

Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.

Connect with Adriana

Website: www.adrianalocke.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379774.Adriana_Locke

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Adriana-Locke/author/B00NPBY8FE/

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

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

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

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/adriana-locke

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

Other: https://www.youtube.com/adrianalocke

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

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Melanie Harlow’s Hideaway Heart, book 2 of the Cherry Tree Harbor series ✍🏻

August 8, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: a little bit of hate to love; small town romance; forced proximity/one bed; bodyguard/music star romance; found family; opposites attract; cinnamon roll alpha hero; best friend’s little sister

“I didn’t have to let fear stand in the way.”

Melanie Harlow’s Hideway Heart handily reminds us of the power of fear. Both her MMC and FMC struggle with different types of fear (fear of relationships and the consequences of standing up for oneself), and Harlow does many things well in this book to illustrate these struggles. Making this the focus of her characters’ journeys creates a tension that expands and recedes, creating an explosive chemistry between Xander and Kelly Jo, the main characters of her book. From one minute to the next, Harlow deftly keeps her readers guessing as to when they will finally consummate their relationship. The eventuality of that becomes explosive, offering up some serious 4-star steam. Crafting this tension is one of Harlow’s standards, the reason for her dedicated fan base.

Additionally, the initial hate-to-love between Xander and Kelly Jo turns up the fire of their chemistry making their physical moments much spicier. Xander’s domination of Kelly Jo and her willingness to feign fighting him create shades of fanciful dub-con in this book. It’s not spicy enough or problematic enough to warrant a content warning, but it feels fresh in a Melanie Harlow romance.

Harlow also adds nuggets of suspense in Hideaway Heart, which is a great vehicle for highlighting Xander’s protectiveness. In book 1 and even in much of this book, Xander is carefree, a bit of a jokester, and seemingly easygoing. It becomes apparent through Xander’s care of Kelly Jo that there is a gravity to his character. Xander and Kelly Jo’s chemistry and connection are a result of Xander’s possessiveness towards Kelly Jo as he unravels the suspense of her story. The intentionality of Harlow’s choices for this part of the story highlights her giftedness as an author.

Add to all of this the feeling of “found family” for Kelly Jo with Xander’s family plus a sweet epilogue and bonus epilogue to round out the textures of Hideaway Heart. The balance of humor, saccharine, and fieriness creates the perfect confection of romance. I will say that I felt something missing from the story which I can’t put my finger on. I’m still a bigger fan of the first book of Harlow’s Cherry Tree Harbor series, Runaway Love. But it’s inconsequential enough for me in the grand scheme of this series. I’m absolutely looking forward to the rest of the Buckley siblings’ stories. The teases for them in Hideway Heart have already ramped up my anticipation.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s 4.5 ⭐️ Review: Catherine Cowles’s Glimmers of You ✍🏻

August 3, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister; small-town romance; hate to love; second chance at love; romantic suspense; forced proximity

“Kissing Grae was like downing a shot of whiskey set on fire. She burned through my system in a way that would leave scars in its wake.”

This is what Catherine Cowles does: she marries gorgeous prose with the type of romance that burns. Glimmers of You, the third book of her Lost & Found series, envelopes you like a warm blanket while you bear the brunt of the cold. Grae and Caden’s romantic journey is one fraught with unrequited love, familial trauma, and an outside threat. This is what Catherine Cowles does so well: she ingratiates her characters into your soul that you hate to leave her stories. Even more, other than the details of Caden’s wealthy family, her characters are relatable.

The crux of Grae’s story lies in her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Cowles deftly shows the impact of this diagnosis throughout the book. It not only affects her physically; diabetes has changed her familial relationships, causing her to strive toward greater independence. Cowles highlights the overprotectiveness of her family and early in the story, Caden’s; yet, she uses Caden’s early awareness of Grae’s frustration to help develop the awareness of the larger group. This is thoughtful in that it cultivates a stronger bond between Grae and Caden.

Additionally, Cowles’s pacing of Caden and Grae’s attraction feels “just right” for this romance. While the reader waits on tenterhooks for Caden to allow his love for Grae, it never feels overly wrought. It blooms under Grae’s empathy and understanding of Caden’s pain derived from the relationships with his father and brother and the death of his sister. Cowles shows us the power of love to heal these hurts as Grae shows she knows Caden better than anyone.

If I have any criticisms of Cowles’s storytelling, it’s the sometimes repetitiveness of her story elements, Her heroines, in general, tend to bear the trauma of her stories which can be predictable. That each of her small towns is rife with a variety of nefarious individuals could be perceived as problematic (I mean, who wants to live in a small town with so many violent individuals?). Lastly, while she does an apt job of disguising her villains, if you’re familiar with her romances, you know where to look to find them.

Even with those thoughts, Catherine Cowles is always a must-read for me. She suspends me in the time of her books, and she makes me fall in love with her characters. I pine for her stories, impatiently waiting for the next book to come.

“Loving people means exposing ourselves to the worst kind of pain […] But it also gives us the greatest beauty we’ll ever experience.”

In love and romance,

Professor A

Cover Reveal

✍🏻 Hell-ooo! Check out this yummy cover from Adriana Locke for her next story, The Proposal. ✍🏻

July 13, 2023 professorromance

Adriana Locke has revealed the gorgeous cover for The Proposal!

Releasing: July 27, 2023

Model Cover Design: Kari March Designs

Special Edition Cover Design: Staci Hart

Breaking News: Rugby’s bad boy marries his best friend’s little sister

If Renn Brewer would’ve asked me to marry him, I would’ve said no.

Why?

One, his reputation precedes him. His name is in the headlines at least once a month. Two, he’s not just my brother’s best friend. They’re teammates. And three, I’m in my self-care era.

Unfortunately, a version of me equates self-care with bad choices.

Renn didn’t propose marriage. But he does deliver a proposal I might be unable to turn down.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/43D5Snn

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/TheProposalAL

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3J9vq3t

Meet Adriana